Andy Dick

Andy Dick

Dick at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Freaky Deaky
Birth name Andrew Roane Dick
Born December 21, 1965
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.[1]
Medium Stand-up, television, film, radio
Nationality American
Years active 1986–present
Subject(s) recreational drug use,
drinking culture
Spouse Ivone Kowalczyk (1986–1990; 1 son)

Andrew Roane "Andy" Dick (born December 21, 1965) is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. He is best known as a comic but is also known for his eccentric and controversial behavior. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio and was a supporting character on Less than Perfect. He briefly had his own program, The Andy Dick Show on MTV, and he is also noted for his outlandish behavior from a number of Comedy Central Roasts. He also landed in 7th place on the 16th season of Dancing with the Stars.

Early life

Dick was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on December 21, 1965, and he was adopted at birth by Allen and Sue Dick, and named Andrew Roane Dick. He was brought up Presbyterian,[2] and as a child, he spent time living with his family in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and Yugoslavia before moving to Chicago in 1979.[1] He attended Lassiter High School, which was being temporarily housed at George Walton Comprehensive High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Dick appeared in numerous theater productions during his high school years and was elected homecoming king his senior year in 1983. While in high school, Dick tended to use his name as a joke; and one day, he dressed in a homemade superhero costume and presented himself at school as "Super Dick".[3] Dick graduated from Joliet West High School in 1984, and is a friend of actor Anthony Rapp, whom he had known since childhood.[4] After graduating from high school, Dick joined Chicago's Second City, attended Columbia College Chicago,[5] and took improv comedy classes at iO Theater.

Career

Television

Dick holding a piñata with a cutout of Tom Green for The 1 Second Film in December 2004

Dick started his TV comedy career as a cast member on the sketch comedy program The Ben Stiller Show, which aired on the Fox Network from September 1992 to January 1993. Prior to this, Dick starred in an advertisement[6] for the original Sonic The Hedgehog game in 1991.

In 1993, on the 3rd night of David Letterman's new CBS show, Dick appeared as "Donnie the CBS Page Who Likes to Suck Up", during which he gave a watch to Letterman. The host then handed him a pencil, prompting Dick to cry and then walk backstage to much applause.

In 1994, Dick played the part of Pepé the stylist in the episode "Maggie the Model" on The Nanny. He also starred as Zachary Smart, the son of Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 in the Get Smart Fox television remake (a role he reportedly tried to escape in order to go into work with NewsRadio). In 2001, Dick starred along with Kieran Culkin on the short lived NBC summer television series Go Fish.

Dick has been a series regular on several sitcoms for their entire duration, including NewsRadio on NBC (1995–1999), portraying Matthew Brock, and on the ABC sitcom Less than Perfect as Owen Kronsky.

In 2001, his colleagues and producers, including himself, developed a show on MTV called The Andy Dick Show. The series ended in 2003 after three seasons. In 2004, he starred in a satirical reality television show, also on MTV, called The Assistant. The show spoofed themes and scenes from The Apprentice, The Bachelor, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Survivor, among others.

Dick had also had a guest shot on Star Trek: Voyager as the Emergency Medical Hologram Mark II in "Message in a Bottle".

He competed in the 8th season of Celebrity Poker Showdown. He finished in last place, behind Robin Tunney, Christopher Meloni, Macy Gray, and Joy Behar.

On May 16, 2007, Dick was roasted on The Howard Stern Show by Artie Lange, Lisa Lampanelli, Reverend Bob Levy, Sal Governale, Shuli, Colin Quinn, Benjy Bronk, Dave Atell, Greg Fitzsimmons, and Yucko the Clown.

In 2008, Dick appeared on episode No. 3 of The Real World: Hollywood to tell cast members that they would be taking improv classes.[7][8]

Dick has also made appearances on Comedy Central's The Gong Show hosted by Dave Attell.[9] He also came out on VH1's Sober House 1.[10]

Dick was depicted in the episode "Your Debt Your Life" of American Dad where he replaces Roger as the new tenant in the attic.

Dick is a contestant on Season 16 of Dancing With the Stars.[11] He is partnered with former troupe member, Sharna Burgess.

Dick was on ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap July 14, 2013.

Films

One of his earliest film roles was a fictional version of himself the film adaptation of video game Double Dragon.

In 1993, Dick played himself in the mockumentary The Making of... And God Spoke. He also starred alongside MTV comedian Pauly Shore in the 1994 War Comedy film In the Army Now. In 1997, Dick had a supporting role alongside Luke Wilson and Jack Black in Bongwater, as Luke Wilson's gay friend who gives him a place to stay after his house burns to the ground. In 1999, Dick played a warm-hearted yet cowardly scientist that helped Dr. Claw in the movie Inspector Gadget.

In 2000, he made a cameo role in the motion picture Dude, Where's My Car?. That same year, he also appeared in the teenage comedy film Road Trip, playing a motel clerk. In 2001, Dick made a cameo in Ben Stiller's comedy Zoolander as Olga the Masseuse (Dick also made a cameo in Stiller's directorial debut, Reality Bites, back in 1994). In 2002, he was featured in the band Ash's music video "Envy" as a taxi cab driver. In 2003, he appeared in Will Ferrell's Old School as a gay sex education teacher, and as a villainous Santa in the movie The Hebrew Hammer. In 2005, Dick was featured in the documentary The Aristocrats. In 2006, he appeared in the film Employee of the Month as Lon, the optician who is strongly nearsighted. He also provided the voice Mombo in 2007's Happily N'Ever After and the voice of Boingo in Hoodwinked!.

His feature film directing debut was the 2006 film Danny Roane: First Time Director.

In late December 2008, Dick announced on his official website that he had finished writing a script for a film starring his alter-ego Daphne Aguilera titled, Daphne Aguilera: Get Into It.[12]

In 2009, Dick also made a cameo appearance as himself in the movie Funny People, where he tries to cheer up terminally ill Adam Sandler by making jokes about his oral sex.

Voiceover work

In 1998, he lent his voice to the villain Nuka in the Disney direct-to-video animated film The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and provided the voice of Boingo for the Hoodwinked! movies.

In 1999, he featured as the voice of Dilbert's assistant in the Dilbert animated series. He also was the voice of recurring character "Monkey Man" on the Nickelodeon TV series Hey Arnold.

In 2002, Dick provided the voice of Mr. Sheepman and various other characters in the short-lived animated series Clone High.

Dick provides the voice of Maurice from the radio station WCTR's segment "Gardening with Maurice" in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and he provided the voice of Aunt Beth in the 2006 video game Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. He also was the voice of Dylan in 'The Reef'.

As of October 2006, Dick has hosted his own radio program, The Shit Show, on Howard Stern's Sirius channel Howard 101 every Thursday night at midnight eastern.

On August 19, 2009, Dick became a downloadable character in the PlayStation Network's video game PAIN.[13]

In 2010, Dick voiced Jesus Christ in an episode of Mary Shelley's Frankenhole on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.[14]

Web series

While under house arrest in 2009, Dick created and starred in the five-episode web series House Arrest with Andy Dick. The series features Dick's interviews with celebrity guests including Greg Grunberg, Drew Pinsky, Mo Collins, Joey Greco, and Jennifer Coolidge.[15]

In 2012, Dick hosted Andy Dick Live!. Dick and Pauly Shore discussed the possibility of a sequel to In the Army Now during his appearance on the show.[16]

On September 19, 2013, Dick appeared in the first episode of the web series All Growz Up with Melinda Hill to talk about his early career and give advice to aspiring performers.[17]

Music

Dick is the lead singer of his comedy band Andy Dick and the Bitches of the Century. They've appeared together on TV, and released a self-titled album in 2002. On occasion, Dick has Rodleen Getsic perform as his opening act. Each night, she plays the song she wrote for him called "Fucker."

Producer

In addition to the TV show he's produced for himself, Dick became a producer of The 1 Second Film by donating $111.11 to the non-profit collaborative film project in 2004, while dining at Swingers Diner in Los Angeles. Later that year at the Toronto Film Festival, comedian Tom Green became a producer by donating $120, effectively outbidding Dick. This sparked an ongoing bidding war in which Green and Dick battle for top billing in the film's credits, in which anyone can be listed for a minimum donation of $1. Both will be prominently featured in The 1 Second Film's feature-length making-of documentary, which will accompany the 90 minutes of producer credits.

Personal life

Family

Dick was married to Ivone Kowalczyk from 1986 to 1990, with whom he has a son, Lucas (b. 1988).[18] He also has a son and a daughter with Lena Sved.[19]

In a 2006 interview with the Washington Post, he stated that he was bisexual.[20]

Legal troubles

On May 15, 1999, Dick drove his car into a utility pole in Hollywood. He was charged with the possession of cocaine, cannabis, and drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and hit-and-run driving.[21] He later pleaded guilty to the felony of cocaine possession and two other misdemeanor charges: cannabis possession and possession of a "smoking device". After Dick completed an 18-month drug diversion program, a judge dismissed the felony and misdemeanor drug charges against him.[22]

On December 4, 2004, Dick was arrested for indecent exposure after he exposed his buttocks at a local McDonald's.[23]

On July 16, 2008, Dick was arrested in Murrieta, California, on suspicion of drug possession and sexual battery. He exposed the breasts of a 17-year-old female after he allegedly grabbed and pulled down her tank top and brassiere. During a search of his person, police reported finding a small quantity of cannabis and one alprazolam tablet (for which Dick did not have a prescription) in his front pants pocket.[24][25] He was released from jail after posting $5,000 bail. Dick eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and marijuana possession, he was sentenced to three years probation, pay about $700 in fines, and was ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet for one year.[26]

On January 23, 2010, Dick was arrested about 4 a.m. at a bar in Huntington, West Virginia, on charges of sexual abuse after reportedly groping a bartender, and a patron.[27][28] He was released from jail after pleading not guilty and posting $60,000 bail.[29][30] On June 29, 2011, Dick was formally indicted by a Cabell County Grand Jury for two counts of first degree sexual abuse. Dick pleaded not guilty during a formal arraignment in Cabell County Circuit Court in Huntington on July 29, 2011. After receiving the not guilty plea, Judge Paul Ferrell set a trial date of January 17, 2012.[31] After several delays, on May 21, 2012, Dick was given a six-month pre-trial diversion. An assistant prosecutor has said that the agreement states if Dick stays out of legal trouble for six months, the criminal charges will be dismissed.[32] In January 2012, the two alleged victims filed a civil suit against Dick for unspecified damages.[33]

Controversies

In 2005, Dick stirred controversy in Edmonton, Alberta, at Yuk Yuk's comedy club when he dropped his pants and exposed his genitals to the audience. Amid the uproar, he was ushered off the stage and the second night was cancelled.[34]

On August 16, 2006, Dick made a widely publicized appearance at the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner. He licked the faces of Farrah Fawcett, Carrie Fisher, and Patton Oswalt, and groped and bit the hand of Mandy Stadtmiller, who wrote about Dick's appearance for Page Six of The New York Post.[35] Dick, who holds that Stadtmiller "slanted" the incident,[36] returned to rehabilitation after the roast.

On December 2, 2006, Dick angered an audience at the The Improv in Los Angeles by shouting "You're all a bunch of niggers!" following an improvised set with comedian Ian Bagg. This was a direct reference to Michael Richards' use of the same epithet to insult hecklers two weeks earlier.[37] He later issued an apology via his publicist:

I chose to make a joke about a subject that is not funny, in an attempt to make light of a serious subject. I have offended a lot of people, and I am sorry for my insensitivity. I wish to apologize to Ian, to the club and its patrons and to anyone who was hurt or offended by my remark.
—Andy Dick

On February 2, 2007, Dick was forcibly removed during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, after repeatedly touching guest Ivanka Trump. Kimmel called in his security guards Uncle Frank and Veatrice Rice, who assisted as Kimmel dragged Dick off the set by his legs.[38] Kimmel later said "Andy did a segment, he was a little out of it. (When) she (Ivanka) came out, he wanted a big, wet kiss. It was time for Andy to go, so I escorted him out by his feet." Kimmel added, "He always makes me a little uncomfortable, you have no idea what he's going to do next." Kimmel also said he had spoken to Dick afterwards and that Dick was not upset about the incident.[39]

On July 17, 2007, at the Laugh Factory comedy club in Los Angeles, Dick was in an altercation with his former NewsRadio co-star Jon Lovitz, who claimed that, a year earlier, Dick had approached Lovitz at a restaurant and said, "I put the Phil Hartman hex on you; you're the next one to die," and demanded an apology from Dick. Lovitz has accused Dick of reintroducing Hartman's wife, Brynn Omdahl, to cocaine, who had a relapse, killed Hartman while he slept in his Encino, California home, and then shot herself.[40] When Lovitz joined the cast of NewsRadio as Hartman's replacement in its fifth and final season, he told Dick: "I wouldn't be here now if you hadn't given Brynn that cocaine."[41]

In 2009, Dick appeared on Sober House, a Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew spin-off focusing on a sober living environment. Dick approached Dr. Drew Pinsky to ask for help with his addictions and agreed to enter the Sober Living facility. In the penultimate episode, Dick explained that his drinking led to many of the public incidents for which he has become notorious, and had ruined many of his relationships. In that episode, he visited a number of the people whose lives he had so affected, such as comedian Mo Collins, to apologize for disclosing information to her husband which led to her divorce.

On October 25, 2010, Dick was seen exposing himself and making a commotion at Café Audrey in Hollywood.[42]

On January 11, 2011, Dick was thrown out of the AVN Awards, a pornographic movie awards ceremony, after repeatedly groping and stalking adult film actress Tera Patrick and drag queen Chi Chi LaRue.[43] He later claimed to have stayed clean for at least three months after this relapse.

On April 29, 2011, Dick was at a party connected with the Newport Beach Film Festival. He appeared intoxicated, exposed himself, urinated on a backdrop and afterwards destroyed it by pulling it down. The organizers claimed that this caused thousands of dollars of damage and considered suing Dick over the incident.[44]

In August 2011, Dick was a guest on Greg Fitzsimmons' radio show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and gave an antisemitic rant directed toward Howard Stern. He labeled Stern a "money grubbing Jew" as well as repeatedly calling him a "hook-nosed Jew".[45]

Filmography

Television

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Crisafulli, Chuck (July 26, 1997). "What's the Frequency, Andy?". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ Interview by Steven Lawson. "Comedian Andy Dick talks about comedy, Christians, and talking to God". Beliefnet.com. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  3. ↑ Guerrero, Lucio (June 4, 2006). "The Chicago Connection: They're ours – a surprising look at celebs' ties to the Windy City". Newsbank.
  4. ↑ Wiegand, David (February 21, 2006). "From musical to memoir, actor Anthony Rapp comes up with dramatic making-of 'Rent' story and moving personal one". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  5. ↑ "Illinois Wesleyan: Did You Know?". Iwu.edu. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  6. ↑ The ad in question. Youtube.com (July 16, 2009). Retrieved on 2011-12-23.
  7. ↑ Video of Episode 3 of The Real World: Hollywood at mtv.com
  8. ↑ "Summary page for Episode 3 of The Real World: Hollywood at". Mtv.com. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Funny TV Shows & Comedy Television Series - Comedy Central". Comedy Central.
  10. ↑ Sober House
  11. ↑ "Dorothy Hamill and Andy Dick among 'Dancing' stars". New York Post. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  12. ↑ Andy Dick confirms Daphne Aguilera movie at andydick.com
  13. ↑ "Bio Andy Dick".
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Adult Swim – Frankenhole – Season 1". Wiki.adultswim.com. June 30, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  15. ↑ Miller, Liz Shannon. "Andy Dick Tries to Share His House Arrest". Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ Lyons, Margaret. "No One Wants an in the Army Now Sequel, Do They?". Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  17. ↑ Chestang, Raphael. "Andy Dick Talks Making Out with an "Old" Lady". Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Top Pops". People. June 20, 2005. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  19. ↑ "WTF Podcast".
  20. ↑ Booth, William (October 8, 2006). "What Makes Andy Dick Tick?". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 16, 2012. ... Just because I've been with guys, and I'm bi, doesn't mean I'm gay.
  21. ↑ "Comedian Andy Dick Arrested for Investigation of Sexual Battery, Drug Use". Fox News. July 17, 2008.
  22. ↑ Kelly, David (July 17, 2008). "Andy Dick is arrested in drug and battery case". Los Angeles Times.
  23. ↑ "Andy Dick Posts Bail". July 17, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Dick Busted on Sex Charges Outside Chicken Joint". Tmz.com. July 16, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  25. ↑ The Press-Enterprise (July 16, 2008). "Andy Dick arrested in Murrieta on suspicion of drug possession, sexual battery". Pe.com. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Comedian Andy Dick arrested for public intoxication at Marie Callender's". Los Angeles Times. May 3, 2011.
  27. ↑ E! News article: "Andy Dick Arrested for Sexual Abuse".
  28. ↑ "Andy Dick WV Jail Mugshot". Wvjails.info. January 23, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  29. ↑ Oliver, Kealan (January 25, 2010). "Andy Dick Arrested for Crotch Grabbing at Funny Bone; Insert Joke Here". CBS News. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Andy Dick charged with felony, shows still on". The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV). January 23, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Comedian Andy Dick Back in Cabell County Court". WSAZ-TV. July 29, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Comedian Andy Dick, charged with felony sex abuse, to undergo pretrial diversion program". The Republic (Columbus, Indiana). AP. May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Boyd County Men Sue Andy Dick Over Alleged Assault". January 24, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012. Two Boyd County men who say they were sexually assaulted by comedian Andy Dick at a West Virginia nightclub in 2010 have filed a civil lawsuit seeking unspecified damages.
  34. ↑ "Dick Causes Storm in Club". Contactmusic.com. April 19, 2005. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Comic's Worst Gross-Out Ever" The New York Post, August 16, 2006
  36. ↑ "What Makes Andy Dick Tick?" The Washington Post, October 8, 2006
  37. ↑ (2006). "Andy Dick apologizes for racial slur" USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2006.
  38. ↑ "Andy Dick Bothers Ivanka Trump & Is Forcibly Removed From Jimmy Kimmel Live Show". Starpulse.com. February 5, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Jimmy Kimmel Speaks Out About Andy Dick Talk-Show Controversy". Hollywood.com. WENN.com. February 8, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  40. ↑ July 17, 2007 (July 17, 2007). "Comic Clobbers Comic in L.A". New York Post. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Comics' feud takes bloody turn". Boston Herald. July 18, 2007. p. 17.
  42. ↑ "PHOTOS: Deja Vu! Andy Dick Makes His Privates Public Again". Radar Online. Radar Online, LLC. October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2012. Dick was sitting with a group of about four people and kissed one of the guys on the lips before whipping out his privates and fleeing the scene. "He stood up, took out his d*ck and said something like, 'This is me!'"
  43. ↑ "Annoying Andy Gets the Boot". New York Post. November 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  44. ↑ Chang, Richard (May 16, 2011). "Newport film festival considers legal action against Andy Dick". Orange County Register. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  45. ↑ August 18, 2011 (August 18, 2011). "Andy Dick Goes on Anti-Semitic Tirade Against Howard Stern". Foxnews.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  46. ↑ "The Reef 2: High Tide". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  47. ↑ "Freaky Deaky". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 8, 2012.

External links