Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried

Gottfried at the Montclair Film Festival in April 2016
Born (1955-02-28) February 28, 1955[1]
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Medium Stand-up, film, television
Years active 1970–present
Genres Satire, crude humor, blue comedy, improvisational comedy, black comedy, insult comedy
Subject(s) Religion, race relations, racism, pop culture, sex
Spouse Dara Kravitz (m. 2007)
Notable works and roles Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central Roasts
Host of USA Up All Night
Igor Peabody in Problem Child, Problem Child 2 and Problem Child 3
Iago in Aladdin
Digit in Cyberchase
Aflac Duck in the Aflac commercials
Host of Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast
Website http://www.gilbertgottfried.com

Gilbert Gottfried[1] (born February 28, 1955) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and voice actor. His numerous roles in film and television include voicing the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin, Digit in the children's cartoon/educational math-based show Cyberchase and Kraang Subprime in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Gottfried was also the voice of the Aflac Duck until 2011.

Since 2014, Gottfried has hosted a podcast titled Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, which airs new episodes each week featuring discussions of classic movies and celebrity interviews, most often with veteran actors, comedians and comedy writers.[2]

Career

Early career (1970–1998)

At age 15, Gottfried began doing amateur stand-up in New York City and, after a few years, became known around New York as "the comedian's comedian."[3] In 1980, Saturday Night Live was being retooled with a new staff and new comedians; the producers noticed Gottfried and hired him as a cast member for season 6.[4] Gottfried's persona in SNL sketches was very different from his later characterization: he rarely (if ever) spoke in his trademark screeching, obnoxious voice and never squinted. During his 12-episode stint, he was given very little airtime and seldom used in sketches. Gottfried recalls a low point was having to play a corpse in a sketch about a sports organist hired to play inappropriate music at a funeral. Despite this, he had one recurring character (Leo Waxman, husband to Denny Dillon's Pinky Waxman on the recurring talk show sketch, "What's It All About?") and two celebrity impersonations: David A. Stockman and controversial film director Roman Polanski.[5]

Gottfried at the 1991 Emmy Awards

Gottfried also played accountant Sidney Bernstein in the 1987 film Beverly Hills Cop II.

Although not a regular, he also appeared in The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys, as well as voicing the porch monkey and crazed dentist Dr. Bender and his son Wendell in The Fairly OddParents and the voice of Jerry the Belly Button Elf on Ren and Stimpy. Three of his most prominent roles came in 1990, 1991, and 1992, when he was cast as the adoption agent Igor Peabody in Problem Child and Problem Child 2 and the parrot Iago in Aladdin. When asked how he prepared for the role, Gottfried said, "I did the whole DeNiro thing. I moved to South America! I lived in the trees!" Gottfried reprised the role in Aladdin: The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the television series and various related media, such as Kingdom Hearts and House of Mouse. Gottfried also voiced Berkely Beetle in 1994's Thumbelina.

Gottfried was the host of the Saturday edition of USA Up All Night for its entire run from 1989-1998.

Voice acting, television and films (1999–present)

On the most recent version of Hollywood Squares, Gottfried was a regular guest. On one particular episode, he was the last square on the board for a five-square win, but both contestants repeatedly got his answers wrong, prompting Gottfried to yell "YOU FOOL!" with every incorrect response. It took seven tries before a contestant finally correctly agreed with him, specifically on a question of "smog" being a combination of smoke and fog.

Gottfried has provided the voice of the duck in the Aflac commercials and Digit in Cyberchase, as well as Mr. Mxyzptlk in Superman: The Animated Series. He also voiced a nasty wisecracking criminal genius named Nick-Nack in two episodes of Superboy (he also co-wrote an issue of Superboy: The Comic Book, which featured Nick-Nack's origin). On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Gottfried has made regular appearances.

In 2004, Comedy Central featured Gottfried's stand-up material for Shorties Watchin' Shorties.[6] Gottfried was part of an online advertising campaign for Microsoft's Office XP software, showing, in a series of Flash-animated cartoons, that the Clippy office assistant would be removed. In 2006, Gottfried topped the Boston Phoenix's tongue-in-cheek list of the world's 100 Unsexiest Men. In April 2006, Gottfried performed with the University of Pennsylvania's Mask and Wig Club in their annual Intercollegiate Comedy Festival. Also in 2006, he made an appearance on the Let's Make a Deal portion of Gameshow Marathon (as a baby in a large high chair, he says "Hey Ricki, I think I need my diaper changed!"), and in the Dodge Viper in the big deal (where he tells the contestants "What were you thinking?!" because neither one picked it). He also guest-starred in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy as Santa Claus in the one-hour Christmas Special. He voiced Rick Platypus in an episode of My Gym Partner's a Monkey entitled "That Darn Platypus".

Gottfried at the Writers Guild of America East Solidarity Rally in Washington Square on November 27, 2007

He appeared as Peter's horse in an episode of Family Guy entitled "Boys Do Cry" (in which Peter Griffin is enthused to learn that Gottfried is providing the horse's voice). He also guest-starred in Hannah Montana as Barny Bittmen. In January 2009, Gottfried worked again with David Faustino for an episode of Faustino's show Star-ving.[7] In 2011, Gottfried appeared in the episode "Lost Traveler" on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Leo Gerber, a sarcastic computer professional working for the NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit, which producer Warren Leight said could become a recurring character.[8] Gottfried read a section from the hit book Fifty Shades of Grey in a June 2012 YouTube video, which was created with the aim of using Gottfried's trademark voice to make fun of the book's graphic sexual content.[9]

In 2013, Gottfried became a member of "Team Rachael" on the second season of Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. In March 2013 he appeared on ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap. He swapped wives with Alan Thicke.[10] He is also a commentator on truTV Presents: World's Dumbest....

On May 28, 2014, Sideshow Network premiered Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, an interview series where Gottfried and his co-host Frank Santopadre discuss classic movies and talk to "Hollywood legends and behind-the-scenes talents" who shaped Gottfried's childhood and influenced his comedy.[11] His first guest was Dick Cavett.

Gottfried was the third contestant fired during the seventh season of the NBC reality show The Celebrity Apprentice.

Gilbert's most recent role comes in 2016 where he plays the 'Pig Man' in a comedy/fantasy film Abnormal Attraction.[12]

Personal life

In the late 1990s, Gottfried met Dara Kravitz at a Grammy Awards party. They were married in 2007 and have two children together, daughter Lily and son Max.[13]

Controversy

September 11 joke

During his monologue at a Friars Club roast of Hugh Hefner three weeks after the September 11 attacks, Gottfried joked that he had intended to catch a plane, but could not get a direct flight because "they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first." This was one of the first public examples of 9/11 humor. Audience members responded with hisses and a cry of "Too soon!" Gottfried then abandoned his prepared remarks and launched into the venerable Aristocrats joke, winning back the audience.[14] Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza used Gottfried's monologue as a segment in their 2005 film The Aristocrats.[15]

Japanese tsunami jokes

In March 2011, Gottfried made a series of jokes on his Twitter account about the earthquake disaster in Japan.[16] Aflac, which does 75% of its business in Japan, responded by firing Gottfried on March 14, 2011, and announced a casting call for his replacement as the voice of its duck mascot.[17] He was replaced by Daniel McKeague (who did an impression of Gottfried) on April 26, 2011.[18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1984 The House of God Paramedic
1985 Bad Medicine Tony Sandoval
1987 Beverly Hills Cop II Sidney Bernstein
1988 Hot to Trot Dentist
1989 Never on Tuesday Lucky Larry Lupin
1990 The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Johnny Crunch
1990 Seriously... Phil Collins snooty executive
1990 Problem Child Mr. Peabody
1991 Problem Child 2 Mr. Peabody
1991 Horror Hall of Fame 2 Boris
1992 Aladdin Iago the Parrot (voice)
1992 Highway to Hell Hitler
1994 Aladdin: The Return of Jafar Iago the Parrot (voice)
1994 Thumbelina Berkeley Beetle (voice)
1994 Saved By The Bell: Wedding In Las Vegas Burt Banner
1994 Double Dragon Walter
1995 Problem Child 3 Dr. Peabody
1996 Aladdin and the King of Thieves Iago the Parrot (voice)
1996 Escape from it,s a Wonderful life angry man on porch
1996 Be Cool About Fire Safety Seymour Smoke
1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player' Tony the Doorman
1998 Dr. Dolittle Compulsive Dog (voice)
1999 Goosed Alan Levy
2001 Longshot Mr. Chadwick
2002 Back by Midnight Security Guard
2004 Funky Monkey Dr. Spleen
2004 The Amazing Floydini magic store owner
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Duck
2005 The Aristocrats
2007 Farce of the Penguins "I'm Freezing My Nuts Off" Penguin (voice)
2008 Gilbert Gottfried: Dirty Jokes
2009 The Lindabury Story
2010 Jack and the Beanstalk Grayson
2011 Miss December The Police Officer
2013 Beecher Baby Bouncer
2014 A Million Ways to Die in the West Abraham Lincoln
2016 Sharknado: The 4th Awakens Ron McDonald
2017 Animal Crackers Mario Zucchini (voice)
2016 The Comedian's Guide to Survival Himself
2016 Abnormal Attraction Pig Man[12]
2016 Director's Cut Superintendent
2016 Unbelievable Major le Brande
2016 Gender Bender dr montalto
2016 Hospital Arrest Jerome Carter
2016 life animated Potter peligun
2017 The Comedian treavor
2017 Neutron Zombies Red Head Zombie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1980–1981 Saturday Night Live Various sketches
1983–1984 Thicke of the Night Various sketches
1987 The Cosby Show Mr. Babcock "Say Hello to a Good Buy"
1990 Superboy Nick-Nack
1991 Night Court Oscar Brown
1993–1995 Bonkers Two-Bits
1993 Problem Child Mr. Peabody
1994–1995 Aladdin (TV series) Iago the Parrot (voice)
1994 Beavis and Butthead Gus Baker
The Ren & Stimpy Show Jerry the Bellybutton Elf / Porkchop Monster (voice)
1994–1997 Duckman Art DeSalvo (recurring role)
1994–1995 Wings (1990 TV series) Lewis (guest role)
1995 Married... with Children
Adventures in Wonderland Mike McNasty
Bump in the Night Stink Bug
1995–1996 Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat Additional Characters
1996 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Roy
In the House Mr. Comstock
Adventures from the Book of Virtues
Escape From It's a Wonderful Life angry man on porch
Big Bag Troubles the Cat segment
1996–2000 Superman: The Animated Series Mr Mxyzptlk
1997 Bear in the Big Blue House Large Possum (voice)
1998 Cosby Cellmate "Fifteen Minutes of Fame"
Noddy Jack Frost "Jack Frost is Coming to Town"[19]
Hercules Cilon
1999 Dilbert TV Series Accounting Troll (voice) "Hunger"
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (TV series) Himself Episodes 503 and 506
2000 Clerks: The Animated Series Voice of Jerry Seinfeld and Patrick Swayze
Timon & Pumbaa The Woodpecker
2001–2005 The Fairly OddParents Dr. Bender / Wendel
Disney's House of Mouse and Mickey's House of Villains Iago the Parrot
2002–present Cyberchase Digit and Widget
2002 Son of the Beach Noccus Johnstein "Chip's A Goy" and Hamm Stroker's Suck My Blood
Celebrity Deathmatch Himself "Gottfried in the Arena"
2003 Becker Alan
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Comic "Last Laugh"
2004 Home Movies Tonko the Parrot
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Various sketches
VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project and I Love Toys
2005 Billy and Mandy Save Christmas Santa Claus (voice)
2007 The Emperor's New School Season 2, Episode 11
Family Guy Peter's Horse (voice)
My Gym Partner's a Monkey Rick Platypus (voice) "That Darn Platypus"
2008 Hannah Montana Barney Bitman "(We're So Sorry) Uncle Earl"
VH1's I Love the New Millennium 4 Episodes
The Comedy Central Roast: Bob Saget
The Replacements Himself "A Buzzwork Orange"
Back at the Barnyard Barn Buddy
Big & Small Small
Sesame Street Denny the Distractor "Hurry Up, You're Running Out of Time"
The View Horny the Dwarf Joy's Month in ReView
The Weird Al Show Himself
Pyramid Himself Celebrity Guest
Hollywood Squares Himself Regular
2009 Star-ving Himself "Gilbert's Kid"
The Comedy Central Roast: Joan Rivers
Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy Himself
2010 'Til Death Tommy Guest starred
The Comedy Central Roast: David Hasselhoff
Robotomy Tickle Me Psycho
2011 The Comedy Central Roast: Donald Trump
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Leo Gerber
2012 The Comedy Central Roast: Roseanne Barr
The Burn with Jeff Ross
2013–present TruTV Presents: World's Dumbest...
2013 Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off
Celebrity Wife Swap "Gilbert Gottfried/Alan Thicke"
MAD Linkong, Father and Crash
2014 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Ranginald Bagel
The Celebrity Apprentice 7
Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends Himself
Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas Mr. Greenway
Last Comic Standing' Himself
Big Brother 16 Otev (voice)
Newbridge Tourism Board Presents: We're Newbridge, We're Comin' To Get Ya!
Anger Management Dudley Guest starred
2014-2016 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Kraang Subprime (voice)
2016 Mighty Magiswords Prohyas' stomach Guest starred
Transformers: Robots in Disguise TBA (voice)

Video games

Year Title Role
1999 Disney's Arcade Frenzy Iago the Parrot
2002 Kingdom Hearts Iago the Parrot
2006 Kingdom Hearts II Iago the Parrot
2014 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Mister Mxyzptlk

Commercials

References

  1. 1 2 "Gilbert Gottfried. New York Times".
  2. gilbertgottfried.com/podcast
  3. "About Gilbert". Gilbertgottfried.com. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  4. Edgers, Geoff (October 30, 2014). "The first time Prince could have saved Saturday Night Live". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  5. Wright, Megh (October 3, 2012). "Saturday Night's Children: Gilbert Gottfried (1980-1981)". Splitsider. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  6. "Cook, Ross, Corbett, Vega". Comedy Central. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  7. Bill Jensen & Ryan Stewart (2008-03-27). "The 100 unsexiest men in the world – Ultimate Lists". ThePhoenix.com. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  8. "Keck's Exclusives: Gilbert Gottfried to Annoy SVU Cast - Today's News: Our Take". TVGuide.com. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  9. "Gilbert Gottfried reads Fifty Shades of Grey". Youtube.com. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  10. Itzkoff, Dave (2013-03-10). "Vulgarity's Abrasive Master, but Not at Home". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  11. "Sideshow Network".
  12. 1 2 "Abnormal Attraction (2016)". IMDb.
  13. "Discussion of: What It's Like Being Married to Gilbert Gottfried - 'NYT' takes a look at Gottfried's marriage ahead of 'Celebrity Wife Swap'". Newser.com. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  14. DiGiacomo, Frank (2005-08-07). "Why Have a Night Like This in Times Like These?". The New York Observer. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  15. Ebert, Roger (2005-08-12). "The Aristocrats". Roger Ebert.com. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  16. "The 10 Worst Gilbert Gottfried Tsunami Jokes". BuzzFeed.
  17. 1 2 Cina, Mark (2011-03-14). "Gilbert Gottfried Fired as Aflac Duck After Japan Tweets". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  18. "The Aflac Duck's New Voice Comes From a Minnesota Sales Manager". Yahoo. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  19. "NODDY - Jack Frost Is Coming to Town". KET. 1999-06-06. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  20. 1 2 3 "Gilbert Gottfried bio". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  21. Rhodes, Joe (31 May 1991). "Another Pop Culture Moment". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  22. Macarthur, Kate (January 1, 2001). "Slim Subway spokesman has expanding influence". Advertising age. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  23. Stenger, Richard (12 April 2001). "Microsoft's 'Clippy' headed for the trash". CNN. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  24. Gentilviso, Chris (2010-08-18). "25 Worst (We Mean Best) Infomercials - Shoedini". Time. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  25. Steinberg, Dan (2012-06-25). "Brian Orakpo, Gilbert Gottfried do Eastern Motors jingle - DC Sports Bog". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  26. Brokenbough, Aaron (January 29, 2015). "Snoop Dogg and Gilbert Gottfried star in Eat24's Super Bowl commercial". Retrieved February 1, 2015.

External links

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