Jump to content

Ron Sparks (comedian)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by JJMC89 (talk | contribs) at 05:54, 10 April 2016 (WP:FIX + general fixes) (AWB [12001]). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ron Sparks
Ron Sparks performing at the 2013 YYComedy Festival in Calgary.
Born (1977-05-20) May 20, 1977 (age 47)
Canada
Websitemyspace.com/sparksnation

Ron Sparks (born May 20, 1977) is a Canadian comedian, actor and writer. He was born in Chatham-Kent, Ontario and lives in Toronto, Ontario. He is best known as an alternative comedian and frequent guest on CBC Radio 1's The Debaters, and on TV as a regular and favourite juror on MuchMusic's highest-rated show, Video on Trial, also starring as The Judge in the Stars on Trial Christmas special and various other VOT spin-offs.

Biography

Sparks first began performing with York University's Vanier Improv Company as a student. His sketch troupe, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, were nominated four straight years (2003–2006) for Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Sketch Troupe, winning in 2003 and 2004. In 2006 they won a third Canadian Comedy Award for Best Taped Live Performance for the CBC Television special Sketch with Kevin McDonald.

He began performing stand-up in April 2003 at The ALTdot COMedy Lounge and won that year's Tim Sims Award, given to Toronto's most promising new comedy act, then followed it up with the 2004 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Stand-up Newcomer, becoming the first person to win both. Frank Magazine described him as "the next stand-up wunderkind". Stand-up credits include the Halifax, Winnipeg and Just for Laughs Comedy Festivals. He was named JFL's Toronto Homegrown Champion in 2007 and has performed in various JFL shows including Set List, The Alternative Show with Andy Kindler and The Debaters.

On television he stars in MuchMusic's highest rated show Video on Trial and its spin-off, Stars on Trial. He has also been a regular on various Ed the Sock series and The Toronto Show. His CTV Comedy Now! stand-up special aired in 2008 and won a WorldFest Award and two Canadian Comedy Awards. He has also made appearances on CBC Radio's Brave New Waves and Out Front.

He has written his own series of shorts for The Comedy Network, From the Desk of Ron Sparks, and for various other series including This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Little Mosque, Life's a Zoo and Crash Canyon.

Currently Sparks has a weekly live show in Toronto, The Newsdesk with Ron Sparks, which he also does as a weekly segment on 102.1 The Edge. He is also a regular guest on CBC Radio's The Debaters.

He has also won several awards as a playwright.

He is not related to fellow comedian Hal Sparks.

In 2006 he offered to fight Uwe Boll who had challenged his critics to a series of boxing matches leading up to the release of his movie Postal, but Boll declined due to Sparks's size advantage because he would be fighting five boxers back-to-back.

He is the subject of The Essential Actor's Guide: Spotlight on Ron Sparks, part of a series of 32 books about actors; other subjects in the series include Javier Bardem, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Tommy Lee Jones, Heath Ledger, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet.

Video on Trial

In newer episodes of Video on Trial he is listed as having fake occupations instead of just "comedian". He has been billed as such things as (in order of use):

Filmography

Year Title Role
1999 Yellow Jacket The Suit
1999 Let's Get Real! Captain Amazing
2000 Fangs of My Heart Voice
2002 Sweetener Businessman
2002 Frequency Zero Oke
2003 The Toronto Show Ron the Hollywood Correspondent
2003 Ed & Red's Night Party Himself
2003 Cream of Comedy Nominee/Winner
2004 Ham & Cheese Comedy Club Patron
2005 From the Desk of Ron Sparks Various Characters
2005 Ed's Nite In Park Ranger Ron
2005 Canadian Comedy Shorts Various Characters
2005 – present Video on Trial Himself
2005 Reel Review Correspondent
2005 Stars on Trial The Judge
2006 The Ha!ifax Comedy Festival Himself (Stand-up)
2006 Sketch with Kevin McDonald Various Characters
2006 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards Presenter
2006 Video on Trial: Holiday Crap Juror
2006 Video on Trial: 80s Videos Special Juror
2007 Canadian Comedy Awards: Nice Special Stand-up
2007 Dark Rising Soldier
2008 The Jon Dore Television Show Farting Writer
2008 Comedy Now! Stand-up
2008 Sox in a Box Beans
2008 Crazy Hobo Hobo Expert/Narrator
2008 Other People's Stuff: Jan & Wayne Skylar from Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job! Dr. Steve Brule
2009 The Newsdesk with Ron Sparks News Anchor Ron Sparks
2009 Snuff: The Film Snuff
2009 Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf Greg
2010 How to Fry a Turkey The Chef
2010 This Movie Sucks! Co-host
2010 The Desk Vice Principal Rucker
2011 The Debaters Himself
2011 The Invasion Report Blirn!
2011 The Trial Mr. Testman
2011 iMobiles Gary the Penguin (voice)
2011 Dark Rising: The Savage Tales of Summer Vale Cartright
2011 Flu Bathrobed Dancer
2012 The Firm Bailiff
2012 The L.A. Complex Patient (one episode)
2012 By George Alan Ladd, III / Chewbacco / Nien Nund
2012 The Train Alfred
2013 Straight Man The Doctor
2014 Flickers! Various (6 episodes)
2014 Satisfaction Lawn Tractor Customer (1 episode)
2014-2015 Meet the Family Various (3 episodes)
2015 Captain Blast! The Vice President
2016 The Beaverton Food Scientist

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Event Award Result
2003 Ron Sparks Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award Tim Sims Award Won
2003 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew Canadian Comedy Awards Best Sketch Troupe Won
2003 Laughing Matters Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – TV Special or Episode Nominated
2004 Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best Stand-up Newcomer Won
2004 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew Canadian Comedy Awards Best Sketch Troupe Won
2005 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew Canadian Comedy Awards Best Sketch Troupe Nominated
2005 From the Desk of Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best One Person Show Won
2006 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Sketch with Kevin McDonald Canadian Comedy Awards Best Taped Live Performance Won
2006 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew Canadian Comedy Awards Best Sketch Troupe Nominated
2006 The Newsdesk with Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best One Person Show Nominated
2007 Plan LIVE from Outer Space Canadian Comedy Awards Best Play Won
2008 The Newsdesk with Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best One Person Show Nominated
2009 Life's A Zoo Banff Rockie Award Best Music or Variety Program Nominated
2009 Ron Sparks, Comedy Now! Canadian Comedy Awards Best Taped Live Performance Won
2009 Ron Sparks, Comedy Now! Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – TV Won
2009 Himself, Comedy Now! Worldfest Bronze Award Best TV Special, Comedy Won
2010 Debaters, Monotheism vs. Polytheism (Ron Sparks vs. Sean Cullen) Canadian Comedy Awards Best Radio Program Won
2011 This Movie Sucks! Canadian Comedy Awards Best TV Show Won
2012 The Trial Canadian Comedy Awards Best Film Nominated
2012 The Trial (Kevin MacDonald & Ron Sparks) Canadian Comedy Awards Best Direction – Film Nominated
2012 The Newsdesk with Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best One Person Show Nominated
2012 Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best Male Stand-up Won
2012 Ron Sparks' Celebrity Roasts Canadian Comedy Awards Best Comedic Play, Revue or Series Nominated
2012 Debaters, Fast Food is Evil (Alan Park vs. Ron Sparks) Canadian Comedy Awards Best Radio Program or Clip Nominated
2013 The Newsdesk on The Edge 102.1, shared with Fearless Fred Kennedy Canadian Comedy Awards Best Radio Program or Clip Nominated
2013 Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best Male Stand-up Nominated
2014 This Hour Has 22 Minutes WGC Awards Best Television Series – Comedy Nominated
2014 Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best Male Stand-up Nominated
2014 Meet the Family Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – Television Nominated
2014 This Hour Has 22 Minutes Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – Television Nominated
2014 Meet the Family Canadian Comedy Awards Best TV Series Nominated
2015 Ron Sparks Canadian Comedy Awards Best Male Stand-up Nominated
2015 Meet the Family Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – Television Nominated
2015 This Hour Has 22 Minutes Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing – Television Won
2015 Meet the Family Canadian Comedy Awards Best TV Series Nominated

Other awards:

  • Voted "North America's Sexiest Comedian" at the 2007 Canadian Comedy Awards "Statelessness of the Industry" address against Nicole Arbour. (This was the comedy community's response to Arbour's having billed herself with that title despite never having won it. Neither comedian was in attendance.)
  • Winner of York University competition for playwrights, 2000 and 2001. 2nd place in 1999. 3rd place in 2001.
  • Grand Theatre Stage Presence Competition winner for young playwrights in 1997.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Sparks_(comedian)&oldid=714509540"