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{{short description|American actor and television writer}}
{{Short description|American actor and television writer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Peter Gross (disambiguation)}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Peter Gross (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{csv|[[Actor]]|[[writer]]}}
| occupation = {{csv|Actor|writer}}
}}
}}


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==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Grosz was born in [[New York City]], and was raised in [[Scarsdale, New York]].<ref name="Tablet">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/243037/the-chosen-ones-an-interview-with-peter-grosz | title=The Chosen Ones: An Interview With Peter Grosz | magazine=[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]] | access-date=January 27, 2018 | author=Aschenbrand, Periel}}</ref> Grosz is [[Jew]]ish.<ref name="Tablet" /> He attended Northwestern University, graduating in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Good Humor Man: Northwestern Magazine - Northwestern University |url=https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/spring2008/alumninews/wherearetheynow/sethmeyers.html |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=www.northwestern.edu}}</ref> One of his college roommates during that time was fellow actor [[Seth Meyers]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Q&A with Seth Meyers, Northwestern homecoming parade Grand Marshal |work=[[Daily Northwestern]] |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2011/10/19/thecurrent/artsentertainment/q-a-with-seth-meyers-northwestern-homecoming-parade-grand-marshal/ |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
Grosz was born in [[New York City]], and was raised in [[Scarsdale, New York]].<ref name="Tablet">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/243037/the-chosen-ones-an-interview-with-peter-grosz |title=The Chosen Ones: An Interview With Peter Grosz |magazine=[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]] |access-date=January 27, 2018 |author=Aschenbrand, Periel}}</ref> Grosz is [[Jew]]ish.<ref name="Tablet" /> For years he attended [[Camp Greylock]] in Massachusetts where he was a Red & Grey captain. He attended Northwestern University, graduating in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Good Humor Man: Northwestern Magazine - Northwestern University |url=https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/spring2008/alumninews/wherearetheynow/sethmeyers.html |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=northwestern.edu}}</ref> One of his college roommates during that time was fellow actor [[Seth Meyers]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Q&A with Seth Meyers, Northwestern homecoming parade Grand Marshal |work=[[Daily Northwestern]] |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2011/10/19/thecurrent/artsentertainment/q-a-with-seth-meyers-northwestern-homecoming-parade-grand-marshal/ |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
From 2002 to 2012 and 2014 on, Grosz has starred as one half of the "Two Guys" for the [[Sonic Drive-In]] commercials alongside fellow improviser [[T. J. Jagodowski]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/business/media/sonic-drivein-brings-back-longtime-spokesmen.html |title=Sonic Drive-In revives 'out of work' spokesmen |author=Andrew Adam Newman |date=February 21, 2012 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>Lazare, Lewis (June 19, 2014) [https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2014/06/19/thanks-sonic-two-funny-guys-are-headed-uptown.html "Thanks Sonic: Two (funny) Guys are headed Uptown"] ''[[Chicago Business Journal]]''</ref> In 2020, it was reported that Sonic's commercials would be going in a different direction, but that the "Two Guys" series would continue to be part of the chain's advertising in some way. Lori Abou Habib, Sonic's Chief Marketing Officer, said that the commercials are "a huge part of our voice, and they’ll be part of our brand going forward."<ref>Stanley, T. L. (February 20, 2020) [https://www.adweek.com/creativity/after-8-years-of-2-guys-ads-sonic-moves-in-a-new-direction-with-mother-la/ "After 8 Years of ‘2 Guys’ Ads, Sonic Moves in a New Direction With Mother LA"] ''[[Adweek]]''</ref> The two actors also appeared together in the 2006 film ''[[Stranger than Fiction (2006 film)|Stranger Than Fiction]]''.
From 2002 to 2012 and 2014 on, Grosz has starred as one half of the "Two Guys" for the [[Sonic Drive-In]] commercials alongside fellow improviser [[T. J. Jagodowski]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/business/media/sonic-drivein-brings-back-longtime-spokesmen.html |title=Sonic Drive-In revives 'out of work' spokesmen |author=Andrew Adam Newman |date=February 21, 2012 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>Lazare, Lewis (June 19, 2014) [https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2014/06/19/thanks-sonic-two-funny-guys-are-headed-uptown.html "Thanks Sonic: Two (funny) Guys are headed Uptown"] ''[[Chicago Business Journal]]''</ref> In 2020, it was reported that Sonic's commercials would be going in a different direction, but that the "Two Guys" series would continue to be part of the chain's advertising in some way. Lori Abou Habib, Sonic's Chief Marketing Officer, said that the commercials are "a huge part of our voice, and they’ll be part of our brand going forward."<ref>Stanley, T. L. (February 20, 2020) [https://www.adweek.com/creativity/after-8-years-of-2-guys-ads-sonic-moves-in-a-new-direction-with-mother-la/ "After 8 Years of ‘2 Guys’ Ads, Sonic Moves in a New Direction With Mother LA"] ''[[Adweek]]''</ref> The two actors also appeared together in the 2006 film ''[[Stranger than Fiction (2006 film)|Stranger Than Fiction]]''.


Grosz worked as a writer for ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' from 2007 to 2010,<ref>{{cite news | author=Ms Interpreted | title="The Colbert Report" welcomes a new writer: Peter Grosz | url=http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/03/16/the-colbert-report-welcomes-a-new-writer-peter-grosz | work=Nofactzone | date=March 16, 2007 | access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> where he has appeared on screen at least four times: once as the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief, once as a version of himself on September 23, 2008,<ref>[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/185616/september-23-2008/peter-grosz-insults Colbertnation.com: Peter Grosz insults]</ref> once on May 13, 2010, to interrupt [[Stephen Colbert]]'s attempt to introduce guest band [[The Hold Steady]], only to perform the introduction himself, and on January 9, 2013, as McGnaw the Gluten-Free Beaver.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thought for Food - Wheat Addictions - The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/52uula/the-colbert-report-thought-for-food-wheat-addictions |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 6, 2021 |date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> In addition, the May 13, 2010 episode ended with Colbert wishing farewell to the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief; Grosz confirmed on his Facebook page that this was his last episode of the ''Report'' as a writer. Additionally, the birth of his child was announced on the show on March 9, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Baby Abraham Carter Grosz - The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/4bvnlr/the-colbert-report-new-baby-abraham-carter-grosz |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 6, 2021 |date=March 10, 2009}}</ref>
Grosz worked as a writer for ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' from 2007 to 2010,<ref>{{cite news |author=Ms Interpreted |title="The Colbert Report" welcomes a new writer: Peter Grosz |url=http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/03/16/the-colbert-report-welcomes-a-new-writer-peter-grosz |work=Nofactzone |date=March 16, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> where he has appeared on screen at least four times: once as the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief, once as a version of himself on September 23, 2008,<ref>[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/185616/september-23-2008/peter-grosz-insults Colbertnation.com: Peter Grosz insults]</ref> once on May 13, 2010, to interrupt [[Stephen Colbert]]'s attempt to introduce guest band [[The Hold Steady]], only to perform the introduction himself, and on January 9, 2013, as McGnaw the Gluten-Free Beaver.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thought for Food - Wheat Addictions - The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/52uula/the-colbert-report-thought-for-food-wheat-addictions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206234456/https://www.cc.com/video/52uula/the-colbert-report-thought-for-food-wheat-addictions |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 6, 2021 |date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> In addition, the May 13, 2010 episode ended with Colbert wishing farewell to the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief; Grosz confirmed on his Facebook page that this was his last episode of the ''Report'' as a writer. Additionally, the birth of his child was announced on the show on March 9, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Baby Abraham Carter Grosz - The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/4bvnlr/the-colbert-report-new-baby-abraham-carter-grosz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124170652/https://www.cc.com/video/4bvnlr/the-colbert-report-new-baby-abraham-carter-grosz |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 6, 2021 |date=March 10, 2009}}</ref>


Grosz joined the writing staff of ''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]'' in 2014.
Grosz joined the writing staff of ''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]'' in 2014.


Grosz recurred on the [[HBO]] comedy series ''[[Veep (TV series)|Veep]]'', playing callous oil lobbyist Sidney Purcell over four of the first five seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2003994/|title=Peter Grosz|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-02-01}}</ref> He also played [[Mike Pence]] on ''[[The President Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-april-with-the-president-show-comedy-1491240851-htmlstory.html |title=With 'The President Show,' Comedy Central commits to peak Trump |author=Christie D'Zurilla |date=April 3, 2017 |website=[[LATimes.com]] |access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref>
Grosz recurred on the [[HBO]] comedy series ''[[Veep (TV series)|Veep]]'', playing callous oil lobbyist Sidney Purcell over four of the first five seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2003994/|title=Peter Grosz|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-02-01}}</ref> He also played [[Mike Pence]] on ''[[The President Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-april-with-the-president-show-comedy-1491240851-htmlstory.html |title=With 'The President Show,' Comedy Central commits to peak Trump |first=Christie |last=D'Zurilla |date=April 3, 2017 |website=[[LATimes.com]] |access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref>


On December 18, 2018, Grosz appeared on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' as [[Stephen Miller (political advisor)|Stephen Miller]], [[Senior Advisor to the President of the United States|Senior Advisor]] for policy to US [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]], in a sketch with Colbert about Miller's appearance on ''[[Face the Nation]]'' the previous Sunday.<ref>{{Citation|last=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|title=Stephen Miller Has A Bad Hair Day|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6ZvcqnaNg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/lN6ZvcqnaNg |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-12-19}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
On December 18, 2018, Grosz appeared on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' as [[Stephen Miller (political advisor)|Stephen Miller]], [[Senior Advisor to the President of the United States|Senior Advisor]] for policy to US [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]], in a sketch with Colbert about Miller's appearance on ''[[Face the Nation]]'' the previous Sunday.<ref>{{Citation|last=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|title=Stephen Miller Has A Bad Hair Day|date=December 18, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6ZvcqnaNg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/lN6ZvcqnaNg |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


Grosz has also routinely appears as a panelist and has been a guest host on the [[NPR]] show ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]''.
Grosz also routinely appears as a panelist and has been a guest host on the [[NPR]] show ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]''.

In April 2023, he made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut playing [[Robert Sarnoff]], President of [[NBC]], in the Tony Award-winning play ''[[Good Night, Oscar]]'', opposite Tony Award winner [[Sean Hayes]].


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==


=== Acting ===
=== Acting ===

==== Film ====
==== Film ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 40: Line 42:
!Title
!Title
!Role
!Role
!Notes
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|-
|2005
| 2005
|''[[The Weather Man]]''
| ''{{sortname|The|Weather Man}}''
|Shelly's Archery Instructor
| Shelly's Archery Instructor
|
|
|-
|-
|2006
| 2006
|[[Stranger than Fiction (2006 film)|''Stranger than Fiction'']]
| ''[[Stranger than Fiction (2006 film)|Stranger than Fiction]]''
|IRS Co-Worker #5
| IRS Co-Worker #5
|
|
|-
|-
|2008
| 2008
|''[[The Promotion]]''
| ''{{sortname|The|Promotion}}''
|Guy in Windbreaker
| Guy in Windbreaker
|
|
|-
|-
| 2014
|2015
|''[[Slow Learners]]''
| ''Drifters''
| Albert
|Dr. Mark Sonderskov
| Short film
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Slow Learners]]''
| Dr. Mark Sonderskov
|
|
|-
|-
|2017
| rowspan="2"|2017
|[[Aardvark (film)|''Aardvark'']]
| ''[[Aardvark (2017 film)|Aardvark]]''
|Anthony
| Anthony
|
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Rough Night]]''
|2017
| Cliff
|''[[Rough Night]]''
|Cliff
|
|
|-
|-
|2021
| rowspan="2"|2021
|''[[Things Heard & Seen]]''
| ''[[Things Heard & Seen]]''
|Martin
| Martin
|
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Here Today (film)|Here Today]]''
|2021
| Doctor Joe
|''[[Here Today (film)|Here Today]]''
|Doctor Joe
|
|
|-
|-
|2022
| rowspan="2"|2022
|''[[The Menu (2022 film)|The Menu]]''
| ''{{sortname|The|Menu|dab=2022 film}}''
| Sommelier
|
|-
| ''[[Who Invited Charlie?]]''
| Trey Reynolds
|
|
|Post-production
|}
|}


Line 93: Line 102:
!Title
!Title
!Role
!Role
!Notes
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|-
|2007
| 2007
|''Science Digest''
| ''Science Digest''
|Brad Crane
| Brad Crane
|Episode: "Animal Guy"
| Episode: "Animal Guy"
|-
|-
|2011
| 2011
|''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''
| ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''
|Minyan Member #2
| Minyan Member #2
|Episode: "Mister Softee"
| Episode: "Mister Softee"
|-
|-
|2012
| 2012
|''[[Key & Peele]]''
| ''[[Key & Peele]]''
|David Schwartzman
| David Schwartzman
|Episode: "Landlord"
| Episode: "Landlord"
|-
|-
|2012–2019
| 2012–2019
|''[[Veep]]''
| ''[[Veep]]''
|Sidney Purcell
| Sidney Purcell
|12 episodes
| 12 episodes
|-
|-
|2013
| rowspan="2"|2013
|''[[The Chris Gethard Show]]''
| ''{{sortname|The|Chris Gethard Show}}''
|Chef Michael Dinaldi
| Chef Michael Dinaldi
|Episode: "Let's Sell Out with Real Late Night Characters"
| Episode: "Let's Sell Out with Real Late Night Characters"
|-
|-
| ''[[Inside Amy Schumer]]''
|2013
| Jason's Father
|''[[Inside Amy Schumer]]''
| Episode: "Clown Panties"
|Jason's father
|Episode: "Clown Panties"
|-
|-
|2014
| 2014
|[[Deadbeat (TV series)|''Deadbeat'']]
| ''[[Deadbeat (TV series)|Deadbeat]]''
|Jeremy Goldberg
| Jeremy Goldberg
|Episode: "The Ghost in the Machine"
| Episode: "The Ghost in the Machine"
|-
|-
|2014–2015
| 2014–2015
|''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]''
| ''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]''
|Various characters
| Various characters
|12 episodes
| 12 episodes
|-
|-
|2015–2016
| 2015–2016
|''Cop Show''
| ''Cop Show''
|Manager
| Manager
|18 episodes
| 18 episodes
|-
|-
|2016
| rowspan="3"|2016
|[[Vinyl (TV series)|''Vinyl'']]
| ''[[Vinyl (TV series)|Vinyl]]''
|Nate Druker
| Nate Druker
|2 episodes
| 2 episodes
|-
|-
| ''[[Odd Mom Out]]''
|2016
| Dylan Unger
|''[[Odd Mom Out]]''
| Episode: "The O.D.D. Couple"
|Dylan Unger
|Episode: "The O.D.D. Couple"
|-
|-
| ''[[Jon Glaser Loves Gear]]''
|2016
| Photographer
|''[[Jon Glaser Loves Gear]]''
| Episode: "Photography"
|Photographer
|Episode: "Photography"
|-
|-
|2019
| rowspan="5"|2019
|''[[A President Show Documentary: The Fall Of Donald Trump]]''
| ''{{sortname|A|President Show Documentary: The Fall Of Donald Trump}}''
|[[Mike Pence]]
| [[Mike Pence]]
|Television film
| Television film
|-
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Loudest Voice}}''
|2019
|''[[The Loudest Voice]]''
| [[Alan Colmes]]
| Episode: "2001"
|[[Alan Colmes]]
|Episode: "2001"
|-
|-
| ''[[You're Not a Monster]]''
|2019
| Frankenstein / Freddy / Cannibal
|''[[You're Not a Monster]]''
| 4 episodes
|Frankenstein / Freddy / Cannibal
|4 episodes
|-
|-
| ''[[Living with Yourself]]''
|2019
| Too Hip
|''[[Living with Yourself]]''
| Episode: "Va Bene"
|Too Hip
|Episode: "Va Bene"
|-
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Marvelous Mrs. Maisel}}''
|2019
| Bernie Zucker
|''[[The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel]]''
| 3 episodes
|Bernie Zucker
|3 episodes
|-
|-
|2020
| rowspan="2"|2020
|[[Little America (TV series)|''Little America'']]
| ''[[Little America (TV series)|Little America]]''
|Man with Yarmulke
| Man with Yarmulke
|Episode: "The Silence"
| Episode: "The Silence"
|-
|-
| ''[[At Home with Amy Sedaris]]''
|2020
| Amy's Date
|''[[At Home with Amy Sedaris]]''
| Episode: "First Dates"
|Amy's Date
|Episode: "First Dates"
|-
|-
|2021
| rowspan="3"|2021
|[[Search Party (TV series)|''Search Party'']]
| ''[[Search Party (TV series)|Search Party]]''
|Roger Carrots
| Roger Carrots
|Episode: "Something Sharp"
| Episode: "Something Sharp"
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Crew|dab=2021 TV series}}''
| Director
| Episode: "Hot Mushroom Meat"
|-
| ''[[Gossip Girl (2021 TV series)|Gossip Girl]]''
| Mr. Spencer
| Episode: "You Can't Take It with Jules"
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Fleishman Is in Trouble (miniseries)|Fleishman Is in Trouble]]''
| Camp director
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2023
| ''[[New Amsterdam (2018 TV series)|New Amsterdam]]''
| Eric
| Episode: "Right Place"
|-
| ''[[White House Plumbers (miniseries)|White House Plumbers]]''
| [[Earl Silbert]]
| Episode: "True Believers"
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Elsbeth (TV series)|Elsbeth]]''
| Leonard Rosen
| Episode: "A Classic New York Character"
|}

==== Theatre ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|-
| 2023
|2021
| ''[[Good Night, Oscar]]''
|[[The Crew (2021 TV series)|''The Crew'']]
| [[Robert Sarnoff]], President of [[NBC]]
|Director
| [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut
|Episode: "Hot Mushroom Meat"
|}
|}


Line 205: Line 242:
!Year
!Year
!Title
!Title
!Notes
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|-
|2007
| rowspan="2"|2007
|''UCB Comedy Originals''
| ''UCB Comedy Originals''
|Episode: "2 Square"
| Episode: "2 Square"
|-
|-
| ''[[The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show]]''
|2007
| 8 episodes
|''[[The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show]]''
|8 episodes
|-
|-
|2007–2010
| 2007–2010
|''[[The Colbert Report]]''
| ''[[The Colbert Report]]''
|189 episodes
| 189 episodes
|-
|-
|2008
| 2008
|''[[The Daily Show]]''
| ''[[The Daily Show]]''
|Episode: "Indecision 2008: Election Night - America's Choice"
| Episode: "Indecision 2008: Election Night - America's Choice"
|-
|-
|2011
| 2011
|''Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: A Royal Pain in the News''
| ''Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: A Royal Pain in the News''
| rowspan="2" |Television special
| rowspan="2"|Television special
|-
|-
|2014
| 2014
|''[[66th Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
| ''[[66th Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
|-
|-
|2014–2015
| 2014–2015
|''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]''
| ''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]''
|44 episodes
| 44 episodes
|-
|-
|2017
| 2017
|''[[The President Show]]''
| ''[[The President Show]]''
|21 episodes
| 21 episodes
|-
|-
|2020
| 2020
|''[[At Home with Amy Sedaris]]''
| ''[[At Home with Amy Sedaris]]''
|2 episodes
| 2 episodes
|}
|}


Line 274: Line 310:
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:Comedians from New York City]]

Latest revision as of 01:56, 29 November 2024

For those of a similar name, see Peter Gross (disambiguation).
Peter Grosz
Born
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, writer

Peter Grosz is an American actor and television writer. He is most recognizable for appearing in Sonic Drive-In's "Two Guys" commercials, in which he appears as the straight man in a double act with improvisational comedian T. J. Jagodowski until it was replaced by families in 2020.

Early life and education

[edit]

Grosz was born in New York City, and was raised in Scarsdale, New York.[1] Grosz is Jewish.[1] For years he attended Camp Greylock in Massachusetts where he was a Red & Grey captain. He attended Northwestern University, graduating in 1996.[2] One of his college roommates during that time was fellow actor Seth Meyers.[3]

Career

[edit]

From 2002 to 2012 and 2014 on, Grosz has starred as one half of the "Two Guys" for the Sonic Drive-In commercials alongside fellow improviser T. J. Jagodowski.[4][5] In 2020, it was reported that Sonic's commercials would be going in a different direction, but that the "Two Guys" series would continue to be part of the chain's advertising in some way. Lori Abou Habib, Sonic's Chief Marketing Officer, said that the commercials are "a huge part of our voice, and they’ll be part of our brand going forward."[6] The two actors also appeared together in the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction.

Grosz worked as a writer for The Colbert Report from 2007 to 2010,[7] where he has appeared on screen at least four times: once as the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief, once as a version of himself on September 23, 2008,[8] once on May 13, 2010, to interrupt Stephen Colbert's attempt to introduce guest band The Hold Steady, only to perform the introduction himself, and on January 9, 2013, as McGnaw the Gluten-Free Beaver.[9] In addition, the May 13, 2010 episode ended with Colbert wishing farewell to the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief; Grosz confirmed on his Facebook page that this was his last episode of the Report as a writer. Additionally, the birth of his child was announced on the show on March 9, 2009.[10]

Grosz joined the writing staff of Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2014.

Grosz recurred on the HBO comedy series Veep, playing callous oil lobbyist Sidney Purcell over four of the first five seasons.[11] He also played Mike Pence on The President Show.[12]

On December 18, 2018, Grosz appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor for policy to US President Donald Trump, in a sketch with Colbert about Miller's appearance on Face the Nation the previous Sunday.[13]

Grosz also routinely appears as a panelist and has been a guest host on the NPR show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!.

In April 2023, he made his Broadway debut playing Robert Sarnoff, President of NBC, in the Tony Award-winning play Good Night, Oscar, opposite Tony Award winner Sean Hayes.

Filmography

[edit]

Acting

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2005 The Weather Man Shelly's Archery Instructor
2006 Stranger than Fiction IRS Co-Worker #5
2008 The Promotion Guy in Windbreaker
2014 Drifters Albert Short film
2015 Slow Learners Dr. Mark Sonderskov
2017 Aardvark Anthony
Rough Night Cliff
2021 Things Heard & Seen Martin
Here Today Doctor Joe
2022 The Menu Sommelier
Who Invited Charlie? Trey Reynolds

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Science Digest Brad Crane Episode: "Animal Guy"
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Minyan Member #2 Episode: "Mister Softee"
2012 Key & Peele David Schwartzman Episode: "Landlord"
2012–2019 Veep Sidney Purcell 12 episodes
2013 The Chris Gethard Show Chef Michael Dinaldi Episode: "Let's Sell Out with Real Late Night Characters"
Inside Amy Schumer Jason's Father Episode: "Clown Panties"
2014 Deadbeat Jeremy Goldberg Episode: "The Ghost in the Machine"
2014–2015 Late Night with Seth Meyers Various characters 12 episodes
2015–2016 Cop Show Manager 18 episodes
2016 Vinyl Nate Druker 2 episodes
Odd Mom Out Dylan Unger Episode: "The O.D.D. Couple"
Jon Glaser Loves Gear Photographer Episode: "Photography"
2019 A President Show Documentary: The Fall Of Donald Trump Mike Pence Television film
The Loudest Voice Alan Colmes Episode: "2001"
You're Not a Monster Frankenstein / Freddy / Cannibal 4 episodes
Living with Yourself Too Hip Episode: "Va Bene"
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Bernie Zucker 3 episodes
2020 Little America Man with Yarmulke Episode: "The Silence"
At Home with Amy Sedaris Amy's Date Episode: "First Dates"
2021 Search Party Roger Carrots Episode: "Something Sharp"
The Crew Director Episode: "Hot Mushroom Meat"
Gossip Girl Mr. Spencer Episode: "You Can't Take It with Jules"
2022 Fleishman Is in Trouble Camp director 2 episodes
2023 New Amsterdam Eric Episode: "Right Place"
White House Plumbers Earl Silbert Episode: "True Believers"
2024 Elsbeth Leonard Rosen Episode: "A Classic New York Character"

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
2023 Good Night, Oscar Robert Sarnoff, President of NBC Broadway debut

Writing

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Year Title Notes
2007 UCB Comedy Originals Episode: "2 Square"
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show 8 episodes
2007–2010 The Colbert Report 189 episodes
2008 The Daily Show Episode: "Indecision 2008: Election Night - America's Choice"
2011 Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: A Royal Pain in the News Television special
2014 66th Primetime Emmy Awards
2014–2015 Late Night with Seth Meyers 44 episodes
2017 The President Show 21 episodes
2020 At Home with Amy Sedaris 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b Aschenbrand, Periel. "The Chosen Ones: An Interview With Peter Grosz". Tablet. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "The Good Humor Man: Northwestern Magazine - Northwestern University". northwestern.edu. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Q&A with Seth Meyers, Northwestern homecoming parade Grand Marshal". Daily Northwestern. October 18, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  4. ^ Andrew Adam Newman (February 21, 2012). "Sonic Drive-In revives 'out of work' spokesmen". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  5. ^ Lazare, Lewis (June 19, 2014) "Thanks Sonic: Two (funny) Guys are headed Uptown" Chicago Business Journal
  6. ^ Stanley, T. L. (February 20, 2020) "After 8 Years of ‘2 Guys’ Ads, Sonic Moves in a New Direction With Mother LA" Adweek
  7. ^ Ms Interpreted (March 16, 2007). ""The Colbert Report" welcomes a new writer: Peter Grosz". Nofactzone. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  8. ^ Colbertnation.com: Peter Grosz insults
  9. ^ "Thought for Food - Wheat Addictions - The Colbert Report". Comedy Central. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "New Baby Abraham Carter Grosz - The Colbert Report". Comedy Central. March 10, 2009. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Peter Grosz". IMDb. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  12. ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (April 3, 2017). "With 'The President Show,' Comedy Central commits to peak Trump". LATimes.com. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  13. ^ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (December 18, 2018), Stephen Miller Has A Bad Hair Day, archived from the original on December 15, 2021, retrieved December 19, 2018
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