Bryan Callen

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Bryan Callen
Born: January 26, 1971
New York, New York
Occupation: Actor, Comedian

Bryan Callen (born January 26, 1971) is an US actor and comedian. Callen is most notable for being one of the original cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv.

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[edit] Biography

Bryan Callen was born on January 26, 1971 in New York, New York. He graduated from the Bronx high school, Morris High School, in 1989. Bryan’s father, Randy Callen, was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian who left Bryan's mother, Toni McBrier, when found out she was pregnant. His mother raised him and his half sister, Kelsey, in The South Bronx of New York City. Callen also had a half brother, Fear Factor host Joe Rogan, from his father's side. Although the family was very poor, Callen was a happy child who liked to draw and play. Callen was a good mimic when he was very young and he showed natural ability in art and music. When he was older, Callen began doing plays to make extra money and found he liked it.

After graduating from Morris High School, he went to American University on a scholarship (where he was only 14 years old as a student there in 1985!), majored in drama, and graduated with honors. In 1993, he moved to Los Angeles where he was discovered in a comedy club by producers who were looking for talent for a late night sketch show called MADtv. As of March 2006, Callen currently lives in Venice, California.

[edit] Career

[edit] MADtv

Bryan Callen as Motivational speaker, Al Casdy.
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Bryan Callen as Motivational speaker, Al Casdy.

Callen was one of the original nine cast members of MADtv when the series aired in 1995. Nearly every week, Callen would introduce audiences to strange but funny characters. Callen's most popular characters included monkey-brained Pool Boy from the Cabana Chat with Dixie Wetworth sketches, motivational speaker Al Casdy, frustrated Linder son Mark Linder "relationship challenged" death row inmate, Jeremy Anderson.

Callen also was noted for his celebrity impressions. Before Pat Kilbane or Will Sasso joined the cast, he impersonated Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Luke Perry, Robert De Niro, and Steven Seagal. Callen's impersonation of Bill Clinton was well known in a parody of the 1996 U.S. Presidential Election debate where he faced off against the new and improved U.S. Senator Bob Dole (as played by David Herman) who reinvented himself into "Bob Dolemite" in order to win over the youth vote.

[edit] Characters

  • Al Casdy
  • Jeremy Anderson
  • Mark Linder (Joel & Connie)
  • Pool Boy (Cabana Chat with Dixie Wentworth)
  • Tony Bright (Incredible Findings)

[edit] Impressions

[edit] Other television projects

Aside from MADtv, Callen has had many television, theatrical and movie roles. His television credits include NewsRadio, Oz, Frasier, Suddenly Susan, NYPD Blue, Law & Order: SVU, CSI, Sex & the City, 7th Heaven, Rude Awakening, Less Than Perfect, Stacked, Las Vegas, and Reba. Most recently he starred in the Showtime series Fat Actress as "Eddie".

[edit] Catch Phrases

  • "See? Do you see?" - Al Casdy, Motivational Speaker

[edit] Trivia

  • Callen is half Native-American, a quarter Irish, and a quarter Scottish.
  • He was the last minute replacement for Craig Anton who was initially suppose to be the eighth original MADtv repertory cast member. Instead, Anton was included as a featured player on the show.
  • Callen's half brother is Fear Factor and the former Man Show host, Joe Rogan.
  • Callen's hobbies include karate (has a black belt), boxing, wrestling and fencing.
  • Callen is ambidextrous.
  • Although his height is commonly listed as 5'10," Callen actually only reaches a height of 5'8."
  • As a youth Callen immersed himself in the New York hardcore punk scene making many friends including John Joseph of the influential hardcore-metal crossover band, Cro-Mags.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
2006 Scary Movie 4 President's Aide
2005 D-WAR Dr. Austin
2003 Deliver Us From Eva Theo Wilson
2002 Live From Baghdad American Hostage #2
2003 Bad Santa Bartender
2003 The Goldfish Duncan Poole
2002 Run Ronnie Run Hollywood Agent
1998 Driven To Drink Bartender
1995 Mail Bonding Poet

[edit] External links

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