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Bobcat Goldthwait

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Bobcat Goldthwait at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival

Robert Francis 'Bobcat' Goldthwait (born May 26 1962) is an American comedian and most commonly known for his eccentric performance of the deranged Officer Zed in the Police Academy movie franchise.

Biography

He was born in Syracuse, New York in 1962. He decided on a career as a comedian at an early age and was performing professionally while still in high school at the age of 15. He and classmate Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) performed in a comedy duo, billing themselves as "Bobcat and Tomcat". Early in his career, he cowrote with Boston comedy writer Martin Olson who is listed as writer on his first two comedy specials, Share the Warmth (HBO) and Don't Watch This Show (Cinemax). Goldthwait became recognized as a solo stand-up comedian and had two televised concert specials in the 1980s: An Evening with Bobcat Goldthwait — Share the Warmth and Bob Goldthwait — Is He Like That All the Time?.

Goldthwait has appeared in several movies. His first major role was in the Police Academy series. He starred in the 1986 comedy film One Crazy Summer, which also starred John Cusack, and his other big role was in the 1987 comedy film Burglar with Whoopi Goldberg. He also starred in Scrooged with Bill Murray. In 1992, Goldthwait wrote, directed, and starred in the movie Shakes the Clown. He also made a cameo appearance as an insane writer in the 1994 film Radioland Murders.

During the fall of 1993 Goldthwait did stand up material as an opening act for Nirvana on what would be their final North American tour.

He has made several guest appearances on talk shows as well as comedy programs including The Ben Stiller Show. On May 9 1994, Goldthwait made a controversial appearance on Tonight Show with Jay Leno where he set a couch on fire. This incident was then the basis of the plot for his subsequent appearance on The Larry Sanders Show. He was also in the fifth episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, "Bobcat". He would later party with Space Ghost had The Ramones not stolen the cake.

One of the most recognizable features of Goldthwait's performances is his voice. Goldthwait has voiced characters on the television series Capitol Critters (1992), The Moxy Show (1995), Unhappily Ever After (1995–1999), The Tick (1995), Hercules (1998–1999), and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000). Goldthwait has also appeared as himself hosting the comedy quiz show Bobcat's Big Ass Show (1998).

Goldthwait released his first comedy album in 1988, entitled "Meat Bob". A second album, "I Don't Mean to Insult You, But You Look Like Bobcat Goldthwait", was released on Comedy Central Records on September 23 2003. His film, "Windy City Heat", has won a Comedia Award for Best Comedy Film at Montreal's Just for Laughs Film Festival in 2004.

Goldthwait married Ann Luly in 1986 at the age of 24. The couple have two children (now grown), Tasha and Taylor, and divorced in May 1998. Goldthwait met his next fiancée, Nikki Cox, when they co-starred on Unhappily Ever After in July 1998 was engaged in June of 1999, but they were no longer engaged as of January 2005.

The March 28 2005 article of the New York Post announced that Bobcat Goldthwait was the new director of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live". He has been directing the show since the Fall season of 2004. Since joining, the ratings went up to over 2 million viewers per night. The numbers have jumped up to 50% with tough-to-attract teens. In May of 2006, he left to pursue his film career as a filmmaker, but maintains contact with Jimmy Kimmel and still directs for television.

Goldthwait's most recent feature, Sleeping Dogs Lie (originally titled Stay), starring Melinda Page Hamilton was in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was part of the "Independent Dramatic Features" competition. Sleeping Dogs Lie is about a youthful, impulsive sexual encounter which opens the door to a dark comedy about the complexities of honesty. It was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the "Dramatic Features" category. Goldthwait's film "Stay" was recently bought by Roadside Attractions & Samuel Goldwyn Films at the 2006 Sundance Film Festivalfor the North American rights to the film. Gaumont also bought it for the international rights to the film. The film's U.S. release was on October 20 2006. "Sleeping Dogs Lie" will be released on February 21, 2007 under Gaumont in France - over 250 screens wide. It will also be released in the UK on March 16, 2007 as well.

Trivia

  • Since 2000, he's directed other segments for shows on Comedy Central including Chappelle's Show, The Man Show and Strip Mall.
  • Bobcat featured in a television promotion for Nirvana's In Utero album [1], and is also thanked in the album's liner notes.
  • Recently between June 9 - June 17 2006, Goldthwait attended the 2006 CineVegas Film Festival. He's also the panelist for the CineVegas "Outlaw Cinema Panel", which started on June 11. Reviews after this day complemented him as the most talkative and the most interesting panelist.
  • He played "The Sandman" in an episode of children's TV show "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" entitled "Tale of the Final Wish".
  • "Sleeping Dogs Lie" (a.k.a. "Stay") is in the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival (Canada), London Film Festival (United Kingdom), San Sebastian Film Festival (Spain).
  • On Hollywood Squares, Goldthwait was asked the question, "What does Michael Jackson do in his spare time?" and he jokingly replied, "Blows Bubbles." After the show, he was told that he was never to return, for he was banned - as claimed by Bobcat on his "I Don't Mean to Insult You, But You Look Like Bobcat Goldthwait" album.
  • Bobcat played a major part in the emergence of the Boston Comedy scene, and is featured in the documentary When Standup Stood Out.
  • Played the part of Bert in Mary Poppins while attending St. Matthew's grade school.
  • New girlfriend: Sarah de sa Rego, his Co-Producer of "Sleeping Dogs Lie" and longtime friend.
  • Directed "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on ABC from 2004 thru 2006.
  • Finished up his final gigs as a stand-up comic in 2005. The official final gig took place in Vegas on September 2005.
  • Featued in the Twisted Sister videos for the songs Leader Of The Pack and Be Chrool To Your School, both off the Come Out and Play Album.
  • On October 18 2006, Bobcat was interviewed on the comedy podcast Keith and the Girl.

Quotes

PARK CITY '06: Bobcat Goldthwait: "I'm really more interested in the excitement and the creativity of making a movie...than...the possibility of success." [2]

Bobcat Goldthwait: One Man and His Dog: "Since I stopped doing stand-up, I am so much happier. Like I said, I used to be so angry, but I have sort of stopped that war. I'm not bitter any more. Bitterness is a form of self-obsession. It took me a long time to learn that."

"What else have you learned?"

"That I was always hiding behind a persona. That being famous for being famous is vain and silly. That I would rather keep on living in an apartment than make things that I wouldn't want to watch. That I am really not happy being on camera. That directing for other people is the thing that makes me really happy. And I've learned" - he gives a playful and rebellious look - "how to shut the fuck up." [3]

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