Will Sasso

Will Sasso

Will Sasso at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010.
Born William Sasso[1]
(1975-05-24) May 24, 1975
Ladner, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Actor, comedian
Years active 1990–present
Website www.hamfatter.com

William "Will" Sasso (born May 24, 1975) is a Canadian actor and comedian, most notable for his five seasons as a cast member on MADtv from 1997 to 2002 and for starring as Curly in the 2012 film reboot of The Three Stooges.

Early life

Sasso was born in Ladner, British Columbia, Canada. His parents are Italian immigrants.[2] He graduated from Delta Secondary School in Delta, British Columbia in 1993. He credits his determination to become an actor and his respect for comedy to an "unhealthy addiction to television".

Career

At the age of 15 he landed his first agent and quickly began booking roles in television and film. Before moving from Vancouver to Los Angeles, California, Sasso starred for five seasons as quirky teen Derek Wakaluk on the award-winning Canadian dramatic series Madison.

MADtv

By the end of its second season (1996–1997), MADtv experienced its first big cast turnover. Three of the show's repertory performers (Bryan Callen, Orlando Jones and Artie Lange) left the cast. As a result, in 1997, casting executives at FOX had to cast replacements for the show. Sasso (along with Alex Borstein and Aries Spears) was selected to join the MADtv third season cast as a regular cast member.

Sasso is known for quirky characters such as the accident prone handyman Paul Timberman, Eracist member Hugh, singer Michael McCloud, Talkin' American host Rui Peranio and Mexican luchador Señor Bag of Crap.

Sasso also does many celebrity impersonations, including impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris Farley, Steven Seagal, Bill Clinton, Drew Carey, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Hulk Hogan, Scott Stapp, Fred Durst, George W. Bush, James Gandolfini (as himself and Tony Soprano), James Lipton, Jesse Ventura, Kenny Rogers, Michael McDonald, Lance Bass, Louie Anderson, Paul Shaffer, George Lucas, Randy Newman, Richard Simmons, Robert De Niro, The Rock, Steve Austin, Wayne Newton, Carroll O'Connor, (as Archie Bunker from All in the Family), Alan Hale, Jr. (as The Skipper from Gilligan's Island), William Frawley (as Fred Mertz from I Love Lucy), and William Shatner (as himself and as James T. Kirk).

Will began developing several network television projects with Disney/Touchstone for ABC in 2001 and in 2002, Sasso left MADtv to pursue the next stage of his career. Upon his exit, MADtv became known as "The House that Will Sasso built."

Professional wrestling

Sasso is a professional wrestling fan, and has made appearances with multiple American pro wrestling promotions.

Sasso engaged in a worked shoot angle with former world champion wrestler Bret Hart, which began on February 6, 1999 during Hart's second guest appearance on MADtv. In a sketch lampooning the election of Jesse Ventura to gubernatorial office, Hart "broke character" and attacked the cast members for making light of wrestling, apparently injuring Sasso. He then appeared in a later episode at the curtain call during the ending credits and again attacked Sasso in an "unscripted" assault. Sasso then appeared at ringside during the February 8, 1999 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, where Hart again attacked him. Sasso retaliated by interfering in Hart's match against Roddy Piper, making him lose the match and the WCW United States Championship. This led to a grudge match on the February 15, 1999 episode of Nitro, where Sasso appeared with castmate Debra Wilson, who turned on Sasso, making it a one-sided match.

Sasso's impersonation of Steve Austin impressed the WWF (as it was then still known, before its name changed to WWE) so much that they asked him to be part of the February 7, 2002 episode of WWF SmackDown!, appearing alongside Chris Jericho and Austin himself, as a means to promote Austin's upcoming "MADtv" appearance.

On the live April 9, 2012 broadcast of WWE Raw, he appeared along with the other actors in The Three Stooges movie, alternating between Curly and Hulk Hogan impersonations. He was chokeslammed by Kane.

Sasso also appeared on a WWE Main Event promo for Dolph Ziggler.

Recent years

Since leaving MADtv, Sasso's television appearances include four seasons as Carl Monari on Less than Perfect, as well as a role in Robson Arms. Sasso also played the role of Fortunio Balducci in Southland Tales. Sasso starred in $h*! My Dad Says, based on the Twitter feed Shit My Dad Says created by Justin Halpern. The show premiered in the fall of 2010 and its cancellation was announced on May 15, 2011.[3][4]

He also appeared in the 2002 Sum 41 music video "Still Waiting" as the manager for the band.

Sasso hosted the 2006 Canadian Comedy Awards in London, Ontario as well as the festival's "Sketch & Improv Showcases". Additionally, he was a host at the 2005-2006 NHL award ceremony. Sasso appeared on the CSI episode "The Chick Chop Flick Shop". He also appeared in the Childrens Hospital episode "Frankfurters".

Since February 20, 2012 he's hosted the Ten Minute Podcast with Bryan Callen and Chris D'Elia (who've, since 2016, been replaced by Tommy Blacha and Chad Kultgen). [5]

Sasso began posting on Vine, creating a running gag of being uncontrollably able to reproduce lemons out of his mouth.[6] In addition, he posts videos in characters impersonating the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Cosby, Hulk Hogan and Robert De Niro. As of September 2014, he has two million followers.[7]

In 2015 & 2016 he hosted a comedy prank show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's TV program Fool Canada.[8]

In 2016 he began a recurring role as the character Yanis, on the sixth season of Showtime's comedy-drama Shameless (U.S. TV series).

Characters

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger
  • Big Cute (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Big Roy Rasmussen / Lt. Tiny Malone (Rocket Revengers)
  • Bill Clinton
  • Canadian Brad (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Corey (Vine)
  • Curly Howard (The Three Stooges)
  • David Greco (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Dixon
  • Doug the bartender/bouncer ("How I Met Your Mother")
  • Elvis Presley
  • Everybody's Dad (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Frank Nitti
  • Gerald Massey
  • Gunter (Hoppy Potty)
  • Jesse Ventura
  • John Henry Michelle Carter / Chase (Pretty White Kids with Problems)
  • Honey Dipper Dan
  • Hugh (The Eracists)
  • Hulk Hogan
  • Kenny Rogers
  • Michael McCloud (Behind the Music)
  • Mike Tyson
  • Mr. Henderson (The Brightlings)
  • Mr. Sasso (Story Time With Mr. Sasso)
  • Paulie (Paulie's Furniture)
  • Paul Shondrag
  • Paul Timberman (Timberman's Workshop)
  • Pete Sechelowski (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Pollo Loco (Buenos Dias, San Diego)
  • Professor Gigglepepper
  • Professor Edward Lickenhaffenfillypassenbeck
  • Randy Newman
  • Robert De Niro
  • Rui Peranio (Talkin' American)
  • Santa Claus (Finding Mrs.Claus)
  • Señor Bag of Crap (Mexican Wrestling Federation)
  • Shawna (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Sheriff (The Son of Dolemite)
  • Steven Seagal
  • Stone Cold Steve Austin
  • Swede-Hating Paul (Ten Minute Podcast)
  • Tammany
  • The Rock
  • Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)
  • Torey (Vine)
  • Will (Will's Little Sister)
  • Willbot 10,000 (Ten Minute Podcast)

Filmography

Film Name Year Role
Ernest Goes to School 1994 Russell
Ski School II 1995 Tomcat Collins
Magic in the Water Shy Young Orderly
Doctor Who 1996 Pete
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Pizza Delivery Guy
Happy Gilmore Mover # 1
Malicious Guy
The 6th Man 1997 Scrubby D
Beverly Hills Ninja Chet Walters
Brown's Requiem 1998 "Fat Dog" Baker
Drop Dead Gorgeous 1999 Hank Vilmes
Best in Show 2000 Dale
Still Waitingmusic video 2002 Record Company Executive
Dawg Willie Smits
The Hot Chick 2003 Mr. Garbajian (deleted scenes)
A Mighty Wind Phil
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story 2005 voice of Randy Newman/James Lipton
Dark Ride 2006 Hospital Aide
Southland Tales 2007 Fortunio Balducci
Lower Learning 2008 Jesse Buchwald
College Road Trip Deputy O'Malley
Year of the Carnivore 2009 Dirk
National Lampoon's 301: The Legend of Awesomest Maximus 2010 Awesomest Maximus
Life As We Know It Miss Pennsylvania's Husband
For Christ's Sake Alan
Division III: Football's Finest 2011 Terry Lockwood
The Three Stooges 2012 Curly Howard
The Right Kind of Wrong 2013 Neil
Movie 43 Jerry (The Pitch)
Hit By Lightning 2014 Seth
Henchmen 2016
Army of One 2016 Roy

Television

References

  1. ↑ Will Sasso at the Internet Movie Database
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY-qsN1EFmQ
  3. ↑ "CBS Announces 2010-2011 Primetime Schedule" (Press release). CBS Television Network. May 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/15/the-defenders-s-my-dad-says-and-mad-love-canceled-by-cbs/92704/
  5. ↑ http://tenminutepodcast.com/
  6. ↑ "WATCH: It Is Impossible Not To Laugh At This". Huffington Post. March 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ https://vine.co/WillSasso
  8. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/foolcanada
  9. ↑ "Robson Arms - Season 3". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
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