Dennis Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dennis Miller |
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Miller in 2005
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| Birth name | Dennis Michael Miller |
| Born | November 3, 1953 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film, radio |
| Education | Point Park University (BA) |
| Genres | Political satire, observational comedy, wit, sarcasm, sketch comedy |
| Subject(s) | American politics, culture, conservatism, libertarianism, pop culture, current events |
| Spouse |
Carolyn (Ali) Espley
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 2 |
Dennis Michael Miller (born November 3, 1953) is an American comedian, talk show host, writer, and political commentator. He is known for his smart and often sarcastic humor.
Miller is considered one of the top stand-up comedians of all time by Comedy Central. He was also ranked as the best host of Saturday Night Live (SNL)'s Weekend Update by Vulture.com.
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Early life and first steps
Miller was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Castle Shannon. He was a shy kid who loved playing street football, backyard baseball, and watching lots of television. His mother, Norma, raised him and his four younger siblings.
His first dream of becoming a comedian came when he saw comedian Kelly Monteith perform. Monteith was kind enough to answer young Miller's questions, making him think, "Man, I'm going to work hard at this; ...seems like fun."
Miller went to Keystone Oaks High School, where he was known for his humor. He was part of the Physical Fitness Club and worked on the school newspaper. He graduated in 1971, planning to become a sports writer.
At Point Park University, Miller studied journalism. During his senior year, he wrote for the South Hills Record, adding humor to his sports stories. He graduated in 1976.
Starting a comedy career
After college, Miller worked several different jobs, like a deli clerk, a janitor, and an ice cream scooper. He realized he didn't want to stay in these jobs forever. This made him even more determined to start his comedy career.
He then worked at Point Park's Recreation Room, managing the bowling alley and video games. People there nicknamed him "Commish." He would sit on pool tables, telling jokes and practicing his comedy on the people who gathered there.
Becoming a stand-up comedian
In 1979, after watching a Robin Williams comedy special, Miller decided to chase his dream of being a stand-up comedian. He started performing at open-mic nights in Pittsburgh. He was very nervous at first, even backing out of his first two attempts. When he finally performed, most of his family was there to support him.
Miller developed a special stage presence to help with his fears. He would act like a very confident person, keeping his hands in his pockets or adjusting his cuffs. He also liked to show a "hipper-than-thou" (cooler than everyone else) personality, but then make fun of it for laughs.
He saved up $1,000 and moved to New York City to boost his comedy career. It was tough at first, as he spent most of his savings on a small room on his first day.
While in New York, Miller entered a humor writing contest judged by famous comedians like Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Cosby. Out of about 15,000 entries, he tied for second place and won $500!
He also gained more attention when he entered the New York Laff-Off Contest. Many famous comedians tried out, but Miller, with only about ten minutes of polished material, earned one of the few spots. He received a standing ovation and made it to the finals. Even though he didn't win, many talent agents saw him, leading to more shows.
Miller worked day jobs like bartending and payroll clerk while performing at New York comedy clubs. After about a year, he returned to Pittsburgh.
Television career
Miller's big break in television came in 1985 when he was discovered by Lorne Michaels at The Comedy Store. He joined Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a cast member from 1985 to 1991.
On SNL, he became famous for hosting Weekend Update, a fake news segment. He would start his reports with "Good evening, and what can I tell ya?" and end with "Guess what, folks? That's the news, and I... am... outta here!" Fans loved his sarcastic way of speaking and his unique laugh. Other comedians like Dana Carvey and Tom Hanks even made fun of his style on the show.
Miller left SNL in 1991 because he wanted to achieve more for his young son. In 1992, he hosted his own late-night talk show, but it only lasted seven months.
Dennis Miller Live on HBO
In 1994, Miller started hosting Dennis Miller Live, a half-hour talk show on HBO. On the show, he would interview one guest about a current topic. He and his writing team won five Emmy Awards for the show. It aired 215 episodes over nine years before ending in 2002.
The CNBC show
In 2004, Miller got an offer to host a prime-time political show on CNBC called Dennis Miller. The show sometimes featured a chimpanzee named Mo, who would swing around the studio and even pretend to read a magazine!
The show included a daily news segment called "The Daily Rorschach," where Miller would give long, funny comments on news events, similar to his Weekend Update role. The show later added a live audience and a panel discussion with different political views. CNBC canceled the show in 2005 to focus more on financial news.
Radio career
In 2007, Miller launched The Dennis Miller Show, a three-hour weekday talk radio program. It aired on over 250 stations across the country.
His radio show included serious discussions about American culture, current events, and politics. He often had guests from politics and entertainment, and he also took calls from listeners. On Fridays, he had a special segment called "Dennis Ex Machina" where listeners could call in about any topic.
By 2011, his show had about 2.25 million listeners each week. Miller ended his radio show in 2015 after his contract finished.
Other projects
Miller still performs stand-up comedy at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, mixing old and new jokes, including some political ones.
He has also written four books based on his stand-up comedy and TV monologues: The Rants (1996), Ranting Again (1999), I Rant, Therefore I Am (2000), and The Rant Zone (2001).
Miller has appeared in several movies, playing both funny and serious roles. Some of his films include The Net, Murder at 1600, and Joe Dirt. He also played himself in Thank You for Smoking.
Comedic style
Dennis Miller is known for his relaxed but sharp sense of humor. He often uses sarcasm and wit. His special way of telling jokes is called a "rant." These usually start with him saying, "Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but..." and end with, "...of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."
Personal life
Dennis Miller married Carolyn "Ali" Espley in 1988. She used to be a model. They live in Santa Barbara, California, and have two sons, born in 1990 and 1993.
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Miller para niños
