Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt

Oswalt at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
Born January 27, 1969
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Medium Stand-up, Television, Film
Nationality American
Years active 1988–present
Genres Observational comedy, Black comedy, Surreal humor
Subject(s) American culture, American politics, Pop culture, Current events, White privilege
Influences Jonathan Winters, Richard Pryor,[1] Emo Philips, Blaine Capatch, Bill Hicks, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jay Leno, Sam Kinison, Steve Martin,[2] Louis C.K.[3]
Spouse Michelle Eileen McNamara (m. 2005;[4] 1 daughter)
Notable works and roles Spence Olchin in The King of Queens
Remy in Ratatouille
Neil Kowalski in United States of Tara
Matt Freehauf in Young Adult
Website PattonOswalt.com

Patton Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor known for roles such as Spencer Olchin in the sitcom The King of Queens and for voicing Remy in the film Ratatouille.

Early life

Oswalt was born January 27,[5][6] 1969,[7] in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Carla and Larry J. Oswalt, a career United States Marine Corps officer.[4] He was named after General George S. Patton.[8] While a military brat, he later lived in Ohio and Tustin, California, before settling in Sterling, Virginia.[9] He is a 1987 graduate of Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia and subsequently graduated from the College of William and Mary, where he majored in English[10] and was initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.[11]

Career

Oswalt first began performing stand up comedy in the late 1980s or early 1990s, by his own reckoning.[12] After writing for MADtv and starring in his own 1996 comedy special for HBO, he went on to garner notable roles in films and television shows.[13] His most prominent and long-running role was as Spence Olchin on The King of Queens.[14] His first starring film role was as the voice of Remy, the lead character in the 2007 Pixar film Ratatouille.[13] He has also appeared in smaller roles in such films as Magnolia[13] and 22 Jump Street.

Oswalt wrote the comic book story "JLA: Welcome to the Working Week", a backup story in Batman #600; a story for Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon Noir #01 and a story for Masks: Too Hot for TV.[15] Expanding his voice artist repertoire, he began voicing the villainous character "Tobey" on PBS Kids GO! series WordGirl in 2007.[16] He also appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner. In August 2007, he appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.[17] In 2007, he appeared on an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, "The Original Fry Cook", as Jim. In 2008 Oswalt moderated a reunion panel of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast at the San Diego Comic-Con International.[18]

In 2009, Oswalt played Paul Aufiero, the leading role in Robert D. Siegel's 2009 directorial debut, Big Fan. He was to star in a 2010 Broadway revival of Lips Together, Teeth Apart.[19] However, the show was postponed then eventually canceled due to Megan Mullally's departure from the production when the director denied her request to replace Oswalt due to his lack of stage experience.[20]

He starred in the Showtime drama The United States of Tara as Neil, an employee of Four Winds Landscaping.[21] He also provided the voice of Thrasher, a robot protagonist from the Cartoon Network show, Robotomy.[22]

In January 2011, Oswalt released his first book, Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.[23]

In November 2011, Oswalt played the role of Hurlan Heartshe in the surrealist comedy miniseries The Heart, She Holler on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. Also in November 2011, Oswalt was depicted blowing the second-ever puff of 3D pot smoke in A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.[13] In December 2011, Oswalt played Matt Freehauf in Jason Reitman's black comedy Young Adult.[14] In 2012, he originated the role of Billy Stanhope on Two and a Half Men.[24]

As of September 2013, Oswalt narrates the TV series, The Goldbergs.[25] He also had a recurring role as Constable Bob Sweeney in the fourth season of the FX series Justified.

As of March 20, 2014, it was announced that Patton would be cast in the role of Agent Koenig on the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He later appeared in separate episodes as brothers Eric and Billy Koenig. He will continue to appear in the second season as Billy and a third brother Sam (as the original brother Eric is now deceased).

In January 2015 Oswalt's memoir Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film was published by Simon & Shuster.

Stand-up comedy

Patton Oswalt at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International.

Oswalt's stand up comedy covers topics ranging from pop culture frivolity such as comic book supervillains and 1980s glam metal to deeper social issues like American excess, materialism, foreign policy and religion. He also discusses his atheism in his stand-up. On February 28, 2009, Oswalt recorded his third comedy album at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington D.C. It premiered on Comedy Central as Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong on August 23, 2009, and was released on DVD August 25, 2009.[26]

Oswalt's album, Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour, was released on September 19, 2011. The extended and uncensored DVD of this special was released in April 2012, a few days after its television premiere on Comedy Central.[27][28]

Patton's newest comedy special Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time was to be released on January 16, 2014 via online movie streaming website Epix but was pushed back by the company for unknown reasons.[29] However, it did premiere on Comedy Central on April 6 and became available for purchase on April 8 in both DVD and CD format.[30]

Personal life

Oswalt married writer Michelle Eileen McNamara on September 24, 2005. Their daughter was born in 2009.[31]

Oswalt is an atheist,[32] and has referenced his atheism in his comedy specials, No Reason to Complain, Feelin' Kind of Patton, My Weakness is Strong, and Finest Hour. It was also referenced by Katt Williams in the opening act of The Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.

In 2013, he teamed up with PETA and spoke out against chaining pet dogs, and sent a letter to the mayor and members of the city council of Newport News, Virginia, urging them to ban the practice.[33]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label Chart positions[34]
Top 200 US Comedy US Digital US Indie US Heat
2003 222 Chunklet Magazine — — — — —
2004 Feelin' Kinda Patton United Musicians — — — — —
2007 Werewolves and Lollipops Sub Pop 137 1 — 18 4
2009 My Weakness Is Strong Warner Bros. 67 1 5 — —
2011 Finest Hour Comedy Central Records 71 1 — 12 —
2014 Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time Comedy Central Records 54 1 19 9 —

EPs

Compilation album appearances

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Down Periscope Stingray Radioman
1998 Pulp Comics: Margaret Cho Various Television film
1999 Man on the Moon Blue Collar Guy
1999 Magnolia Delmer Darion
2000 Super Nerds Leslie Television film
2000 Desperate But Not Serious Auteur No. 1
2001 Zoolander Monkey Photographer
2002 ZigZag Shelly
2003 Run Ronnie Run Dozer
2003 Calendar Girls Larry
2004 Taxi Impound Cop
2004 Blade: Trinity Hedges
2004 Starsky and Hutch Disco DJ
2004 Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2[39] Himself Direct-to-video
2005 The Comedians of Comedy Himself
2006 Channel 101 Lenny Loves Carbs Guy Television film
2006 Amazing Screw-On Head, TheThe Amazing Screw-On Head Mr. Groin Television film
Voice only
2006 Failure to Launch Techie Guy
2007 Reno 911!: Miami Jeff Spoder
2007 Wrong Turn 2: Dead End Tommy Direct-to-video
Voice only
2007 Ratatouille Remy Voice only
Nominated—Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
2007 Balls of Fury The Hammer
2007 Super High Me Himself Documentary
Cameo
2008 Sex and Death 101 Fred
2008 All Roads Lead Home Milo
2009 Observe and Report Roger
2009 Big Fan Paul Aufiero Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Breakthrough Actor
Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
2009 Informant!, TheThe Informant! Ed Herbst
2010 Blood into Wine Himself Documentary
2011 Young Adult Matt Freehauf New York Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – Comedy
Palm Springs International Film Festival: Chairman's Vanguard Award (shared with ensemble)[40]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Virtuoso Award[41]
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor[42]
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2nd place)
Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place)
Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
2011 Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, AA Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Larry Juston
2012 Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Roache
2012 Nature Calls Randy
2013 Odd Thomas Ozzie P. Boone
2013 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Todd Maher
2014 22 Jump Street MC State History Professor
2015 Kitchen Sink Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Seinfeld Video Store Clerk Episode: "The Couch"
1995 MADtv Crip in Wheelchair Episode: "1.5"
1996 NewsRadio Guy Episode: "The Trainer"
1996–1998 Mr. Show with Bob and David Famous Mortimer
Man in Restaurant		 2 episodes
1997 Weird Al Show, TheThe Weird Al Show Seymour Episode: "Bad Influence"
1997 HBO Half Hour Comedy Hour Himself Stand-up special
1998 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Patton Voice only
2 episodes
1998–2007 King of Queens, TheThe King of Queens Spence Olchin 122 episodes
1999 Comedy Central Presents Himself Stand-up special
2000 Batman Beyond Eldon Michaels Voice only
Episode: "Sentries of the Last Cosmos"
2000–2004 Static Shock Specs/Spectral Voice only
3 episodes
2002 Man Show, TheThe Man Show Weepum Buzzkillus Uncredited
Episode: "Juggy Car Wash"
2002 Home Movies Helmet Voice only
Episode: "Renaissance"
2002–2003 Crank Yankers Boomer Voice only
4 episodes
2003–2006 Aqua Teen Hunger Force DP
Skeeter
Ezekial		 Voice only
3 episodes
2003–2007 Kim Possible Professor Dementor/Professor DeMenz Voice only
10 episodes
2004 Fairly OddParents, TheThe Fairly OddParents Crimson Chin Writer Episode: "The Big Superhero Wish"
2004 Tom Goes to the Mayor Zynx Voice only
Episode: "Pioneer Island"
2004–2009 Reno 911! Dungeon Master
Kenny Rogers Assassin
Boozehammer of Galen
Car Crash Movie Snob
Jillet-Ben Coe		 10 episodes
2005 Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker Carter Bogie Episode: "Kids Putt-Putt/Double Dutch"
2006 Clark and Michael Realtor Internet television program
2006 Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner Roaster Television special
2006 Patton Oswalt: No Reason to Complain Himself Stand-up special
2006 Squidbillies Shecky Chucklestein Voice only
Episode: "Survival of the Dumbest"
2006–2007 Batman, TheThe Batman Cosmo Krank/Toymaker
Marty Slack		 Voice only
2 episodes
2007 Human Giant Frat Boy
Let's Go Fan
The Wire Fan		 3 episodes
2007 SpongeBob SquarePants Jim Voice only
Episode: "The Original Fry Cook"
2007 Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav Roaster Television special
2007 Reaper Leon Episode: "Leon"
2007–2008 American Dad! Bob Cinema
Ticket Man		 Voice only
2 episodes
2007–2008 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Joshua Beard
Beaver Boys Doctor		 3 episodes
2007–2014 WordGirl Theodore "Tobey" McCalister III
Robot
4th Grader
Irate Driver 		Voice only
Main cast
2008 Lewis Black's Root of All Evil Himself 6 episodes
2009 Flight of the Conchords Elton John Impersonator Episode: "Prime Minister"
2009 Iron Chef America Himself Episode: "Symon vs. Nawab: Pineapple"
2009 Venture Bros., TheThe Venture Bros. Wonderboy Voice only
Episode: "Self-Medication"
2009 Dollhouse Joel Mynor 2 episodes
2009 Patton Oswalt: My Weakness Is Strong Himself Stand-up special
Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
2009–2010 Community Male Nurse Jackie 2 episodes
2009–2011 United States of Tara Neil 21 episodes
2009–2011 Bored to Death Howard Baker 4 episodes
2010 Sarah Silverman Program, TheThe Sarah Silverman Program Vincent Van Guy Episode: "A Good Van is Hard to Find"
2010 Neighbors from Hell Pazuzu Voice only
10 episodes
2010 Caprica Baxter Sarno 6 episodes
2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Volunteer Center Guy Voice only
Episode: "Volunteers"
2010–2011 Robotomy Thrasher Voice only
10 episodes
2011 Futurama Unattractive Giant Monster Voice only
Episode: "Benderama"
2011 Jon Benjamin Has a Van Steven Drears Episode: "House on the Lake"
2011–present Heart, She Holler, TheThe Heart, She Holler Hurlan 20 episodes
2011 Raising Hope Rubin Episode: "Bro-gurt"
2011 Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour Himself Stand-up special
Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
2012 High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange, TheThe High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Clyde the Pac Man Ghost Voice only
Episode: "Generic Holiday Special"
2012 Bob's Burgers Moody Foodie Voice only
Episode: "Moody Foodie"
2012 Metalocalypse Dr. Bartholomew Grahsrihajul [sic]
Klokateer		 Voice only
2 episodes
2012–2013 Two and a Half Men Billy Stanhope 5 episodes
2012 The Simpsons T-Rex Voice only
Episode: "The Day the Earth Stood Cool"
2012–2014 Comedy Bang Bang Himself 2 episodes
2012 Burn Notice Colin Schmidt 3 episodes
2013 Portlandia Thor83 2 episodes
2013, 2015 Justified Constable Bob Sweeney 5 episodes
2013 Parks and Recreation Garth Blundon Episode: "Article Two"
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series
2013 Axe Cop Sockarang Voice only
Main cast
2013–present The Goldbergs Adult Adam Goldberg Voice only
Narrator
2013 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Fire Marshall Boone 2 episodes
2014 29th Independent Spirit Awards Host Television special
Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials
2014 Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time Himself Stand-up special
Nominated—American Comedy Award for Comedy Special of the Year
Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
2014 Mighty Med Ed Season 1, Episode 10: "Lockdown"
2014–present Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Eric, Billy, and Sam Koenig[43] 5 episodes
2014 Modern Family Ducky Episode: "Las Vegas"
2014 Drunk History Charles Sumner Episode: "Charleston"
2014 Gravity Falls Franz Voice only
Episode: "The Golf War"
2014–present BoJack Horseman Pinky Penguin Voice role
2015 Veep Teddy Sykes
the Chief of Staff to Vice President Doyle		 Season 4

Video games

Year Title Role
2005 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Radio Caller on Heartland Values with Nurse Bob
2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories New World Order Caller/Reporter
2007 Ratatouille Remy
2007 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am DP
Skeeter
2012 Kinect Fun Labs: Kinect Rush – A Disney Pixar Adventures: Snapshot Remy
2013 Metro: Last Light

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2001 "Another Perfect Day" American Hi-Fi
2011 "Excuse" The Ettes
2013 "The Magic Clap" The Coup
2014 "Foil" "Weird Al" Yankovic

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ "aspecialthing.com :: View topic – THE AST INTERVIEW: PATTON OSWALT". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  2. ↑ "The AST Interview: Patton Oswalt". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Patton Oswalt: The AST Interview". Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Michelle McNamara, Patton Oswalt". The New York Times. September 25, 2005.
  5. ↑ Abernathy, Samantha (January 7, 2012). "One For The Road: Have A KFC Bowl For Patton Oswalt's Birthday". Gothamist.
  6. ↑ Tobey, Matt "Happy Birthday, Patton Oswalt!". CC: Insider. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Patton Oswalt: Biography, Latest News & Videos". TV Guide. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  8. ↑ Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! (October 15, 2011). "Comedian Patton Oswalt Plays Not My Job". NPR. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ Oswalt, Patton (2011). Zombie Spaceship Wasteland. Scribner. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4391-4908-9.
  10. ↑ Chaney, Jen (December 15, 2011). "Patton Oswalt gets philosophical, but he's still funny". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame". phikappatau.org. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ He relates this in 2009's Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Patton Oswalt biography and filmography". Tribute. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Luippold, Ross (November 22, 2011). "Patton Oswalt Pranks 'King of Queens' By Standing Perfectly Still For Entire Scene (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  15. ↑ "A Look Inside: 'King of Queens' Patton Oswalt talks 'JLA: Workweek' – Comic Book Resources". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Patton Oswalt to Host 39th Annual Annie Awards – Animation Magazine". Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Patton Oswalt – AskMen". AskMen. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Exclusive interview with Jim Mallon, Trace Beaulieu, and Joel Hodgson of Mystery Science Theatre 3000". Tor Books. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  19. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (December 22, 2009). "Megan Mullally and Patton Oswalt Will Have Lips Together, Teeth Apart on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  20. ↑ Healy, Patrick.McNally Play Is Postponed After Mullally’s Departure"The New York Times, March 25, 2010
  21. ↑ "Showtime : Video : Series : Featured". Showtime. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  22. ↑ "CN Premieres Robotomy on Oct. 25 – Animation Magazine". Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland: A Book by Patton Oswalt: Patton Oswalt: 9781439149096: Amazon.com: Books". Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  24. ↑ Hughes, Jason (February 28, 2012). "'Two and a Half Men': Patton Oswalt Plays Walden's Bitter Old Business Partner (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  25. ↑ Brian Lowry TV Columnist @blowryontv (September 17, 2013). "TV Review: ‘The Goldbergs’". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  26. ↑ The date of the DVD release was mentioned during commercial breaks the night of the special's Comedy Central premiere on August 23, 2009.
  27. ↑ Hartlaub, Peter (May 13, 2012). "Sf gate – DVD review: 'Finest Hour' by Patton Oswalt". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  28. ↑ L. Ray, Austin. "Patton Oswalt Finest Hour special review". The Spit Take. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  29. ↑ http://www.nerdist.com/2014/01/patton-oswalts-tragedy-plus-comedy-equals-time-airs-on-epix-and-twitter-sort-of/
  30. ↑ http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/17/patton-oswalt-tragedy-plus-comedy-equals-time-to-premiere-sunday-april-6-on-comedy-central/245607/
  31. ↑ Leckart, Steven (June 26, 2007). "Ratatouille Star Patton Oswalt on Geeks vs. Nerds". Wired. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  32. ↑ Koski, Genevieve (August 31, 2011). "Interview: Patton Oswalt". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Patton Oswalt: A Stand-Up Guy for Chained Dogs". PETA. January 8, 2013.
  34. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/328332/patton+oswalt/chart?f=315
  35. ↑ "Chunklet". Chunklet. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Chunklet". Chunklet. October 22, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Chunklet". Chunklet. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  38. ↑ Comedy Death Ray. "Comedy Death Ray: Music: Various Artists". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  39. ↑ Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 by Various Artists
  40. ↑ "Palm Springs Film Festival Names 'Young Adult' for Vanguard Award". indieWire. December 13, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  41. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (February 4, 2011). "SBIFF 2012: Virtuosos Include Hilarious Patton Oswalt, Shirtless Andy Serkis". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Central Ohio Critics Award Nominations". indieWire. January 3, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  43. ↑ http://www.tvguide.com/News/Agents-SHIELD-Season2-Lawless-Blood-Diamond-1084954.aspx

External links

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