Dane Cook facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dane Cook
Cook in 2011
Born	Dane Jeffrey Cook (1972-03-18) March 18, 1972 (age 53) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Comedian actor
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Kelsi Taylor ​ (m. 2023)​
Comedy career
Medium	Stand-up, film, television
Genres	Observational comedy
Subject(s)	Human behavior Relationships Current events gender differences

Dane Jeffrey Cook (born March 18, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian and movie actor. He is known for his energetic performances and for making jokes about everyday life. He has released six popular comedy albums, including Harmful If Swallowed (2003) and Retaliation (2005).

Cook was one of the first comedians to use a personal website and the social media site Myspace to connect with fans. This helped him become very popular. He has starred in many movies, such as Employee of the Month (2006), Good Luck Chuck (2007), and My Best Friend's Girl (2008). He was also the voice of Dusty Crophopper in the animated movies Planes (2013) and Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014).

He was the second comedian ever to perform for a sold-out crowd at the famous Madison Square Garden arena. In 2006, his album Retaliation became the most successful comedy album in 28 years and went platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies.

Early Life and School

Cook was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has an older half-brother, Darryl, and five sisters. He grew up in a Catholic family with Irish roots.

As a child, Cook said he was quiet and shy. But in his junior year of high school, he started acting and doing stand-up comedy, which helped him become more outgoing. After high school, he studied graphic design in college. He wanted a backup plan in case comedy didn't work out. Today, he still uses his design skills to create his own merchandise, like the cover of his album Harmful If Swallowed.

Career as a Comedian and Actor

Getting Started in Comedy

In 1990, Cook began performing stand-up comedy at local clubs. A tough moment came in 1992 when he was scheduled to perform at the Boston Garden. The crowd was there for music and was not expecting a comedy act. They were impatient and threw things onto the stage. Cook and his group had to leave the stage, but he was determined to one day return and have a successful show there.

In 1994, Cook moved to New York City to continue his career. Two years later, he moved to Los Angeles, where he still lives. His big break came in 1998 when he appeared on Comedy Central's show Premium Blend. In 2000, he got his own half-hour special on Comedy Central Presents.

Rise to Fame in the 2000s

In 2003, Cook released his first album, Harmful If Swallowed, which became a platinum-selling hit. His second album, Retaliation (2005), was even more successful. It reached the top 5 on the Billboard music charts, making him the most successful comedian on the charts since Steve Martin in 1978.

In 2005, Cook filmed his first HBO special, Vicious Circle, at the TD Garden in Boston. This was a big moment for him, as he had returned to the city where he had a tough show years earlier. That same year, he went on a college tour called Tourgasm with his friends, which was filmed for an HBO documentary series.

On November 12, 2007, Cook performed two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in one night. This was a huge achievement, as only one other comedian had ever sold out the large arena. The show was filmed for his third album, Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden.

Cook at Comic Con in 2007 promoting Good Luck Chuck

Movie Career

Cook started his film career with small parts in movies like Mystery Men (1999). His first leading role was in the 2006 comedy Employee of the Month, co-starring Jessica Simpson.

In 2007, he took on a more serious role in the movie Mr. Brooks, which starred Kevin Costner. That same year, he starred in two more comedies: Good Luck Chuck with Jessica Alba and Dan in Real Life with Steve Carell. In 2008, he starred in My Best Friend's Girl with Kate Hudson.

One of his most famous roles was providing the voice for Dusty Crophopper, the main character in the Disney animated movie Planes (2013). He returned to voice the character in the sequel, Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014).

Comedic Style

Cook is known for his energetic stage presence and for telling long, detailed stories. He has said that his on-stage personality is a mix of his mother's playful, cartoon-like energy and his father's confident way of speaking. This combination allows him to talk about many different topics in his shows, from everyday observations to relationships.

Some people in the comedy world have praised Cook for his ability to connect with a large, young audience. Comedian Jim Breuer has called him a "tremendous performer." Other comedians, like Paul Provenza, have said that Cook's comedy has matured and improved over the years.

However, his style is not loved by everyone, and some critics have called his humor unfunny. Early in his career, there were also discussions about whether some of his jokes were too similar to those of another comedian, Louis C.K.. The two comedians later appeared together on C.K.'s TV show Louie in an episode that talked about the issue.

Personal Life

Cook's half-brother, Darryl McCauley, worked as his business manager for many years. In 2008, Cook discovered that Darryl and his wife had stolen millions of dollars from him. They were later found guilty in court and ordered to pay the money back.

In 2017, Cook began dating Kelsi Taylor. The couple got married on September 23, 2023, in Hawaii.

Tours

Cook at Madison Square Garden in 2008

• Tourgasm 2005
• Dave Attell's Insomniac Tour 2006
• Rough Around The Edges Tour 2007
• Globo Thermo Tour 2008
• Isolated Incident 2009
• Under Oath 2013
• Tell It Like It Is Tour 2019

Discography

Albums

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Cook at a USO tour in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Dane Cook para niños