Dave Attell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dave Attell |
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Attell in 2009
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| Born | January 18, 1965 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film |
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David Attell (born January 18, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He is well-known for hosting the TV show Insomniac with Dave Attell on Comedy Central.
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Early Life and Education
Dave Attell was born in Queens, a part of New York City. He grew up in Rockville Centre, New York, which is on Long Island. He went to South Side High School.
After high school, Dave studied communications at New York University. He graduated in 1987. Soon after, he started performing comedy at "open-mic nights." These are events where new comedians can try out their jokes for an audience.
Comedy Career Highlights
Dave Attell's first TV appearance was in 1988 on a show called Stand-Up Spotlight on VH1. Many other famous comedians like Lewis Black and Wanda Sykes also appeared on this show early in their careers.
Working on Popular TV Shows
In 1993, Dave appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. The creator of Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels, saw him and asked Dave to join SNL as a writer. He also sometimes performed on the show during the 1993–94 season.
Later, in 1999, Dave became a regular commentator on The Daily Show, a satirical news show. His part was called "The Ugly American." He returned to the show for its final episode with host Jon Stewart.
Hosting His Own Shows
One of Dave Attell's most famous shows was Insomniac with Dave Attell, which started in 2001 on Comedy Central. On this show, Dave would travel to different cities late at night. He would explore what was happening while most people were asleep, like visiting diners, clubs, and other unique places.
In 2008, Dave hosted The Gong Show with Dave Attell for Comedy Central. This show was a new version of a popular show from the 1970s. It featured unusual acts, and a panel of celebrity judges would decide if they were good enough or if they should be "gonged" off the stage.
In 2014, Comedy Central also launched Comedy Underground with Dave Attell. This was a late-night stand-up comedy show filmed live in New York City.
Comedy Specials and Tours
Dave Attell has had several comedy specials on TV. His first one-hour special, Dave Attell: Captain Miserable, aired in 2007 on HBO. Another special, Dave Attell: Road Work, came out in 2014 on Comedy Central.
In 2018, Dave toured with fellow comedian Jeff Ross on the "Bumping Mics Tour." They even filmed a three-part series for Netflix called Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell. This series showed their performances and what they were like off-stage.
Most recently, in 2024, Dave Attell released a new Netflix comedy special called Dave Attell: Hot Cross Buns.
Film and TV Appearances
Dave Attell has also appeared in many films and television shows, often playing funny characters or himself.
Selected Films
- 2001: Pootie Tang as Frank
- 2006: Scary Movie 4 as Knifeman (a small role)
- 2009: Funny People as Himself (a small role)
- 2010: Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo as The G.P.S. (voice role)
- 2015: Trainwreck as Noam
- 2018: I Feel Pretty as Really Tan Dude
Selected Television Shows
- 1995–1997: Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist as Dave (voice role)
- 1996–1997: Everybody Loves Raymond as Dave (2 episodes)
- 2001–2004: Insomniac with Dave Attell as Himself (44 episodes)
- 2005: Arrested Development as Himself (2 episodes)
- 2008: The Gong Show with Dave Attell as Himself (8 episodes)
- 2014: Louie as Dave
- 2017: Bob's Burgers as Scalper (voice role)
- 2018: The Simpsons as Luke (voice role)
- 2018: Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell as Himself (3 episodes)
- 2024: Mr. and Mrs. Smith as Kosher Food Mart Clerk
Video Games
- 2004: Outlaw Golf 2 as Commentator
- 2009: Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust as Merv Wallski
Stand-up Comedy Releases
- 1996: HBO Comedy Half-Hour (Special)
- 1999: Comedy Central Presents (Special)
- 2003: Skanks for the Memories... (Album)
- 2005: Hey, Your Mouth's Not Pregnant! (DVD)
- 2006: Dave Attell's Insomniac Tour (Special)
- 2007: Dave Attell: Captain Miserable (Special)
- 2014: Dave Attell: Road Work (Special)
- 2024: Dave Attell: Hot Cross Buns (Special)
