Ant (comedian)
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Ant | |
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| Born | Anthony Steven Kalloniatis August 22, 1967 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor Comedian Television host |
| Years active | 1991 – present |
| Website | www |
Ant (born Anthony Steven Kalloniatis; August 23, 1967)[1][2] is an American stand-up comedian and actor.[3]
Ant performed at comedy clubs across the USA beginning in 1991. In 1995, he was a semi regular cast member on the WB series Unhappily Ever After, spending 4 seasons on the sitcom.
With the end of that show and looking for ways to supplement his income, Ant recruited several men to become internet models. His involvement in the voyeur cam business is documented in the 2001 film WebCam Boys, which he also co-produced and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.[4]
Ant appeared as a contestant on Last Comic Standing, and has appeared in six of that show's seven seasons (season 1,[5] 2 and 3 contestant, 4 guest and 5 a talent judge). That same year, he released a comedy album on Comedy Central Records, Follow My Ass. In 2005, he released the comedy DVD, Ant: America's Ready worldwide.
He was the host of VH1 reality series Celebrity Fit Club and was a regular judge of talent on Steve Harvey's Big Time. His television series, U.S. of Ant, premiered on MTV Network's gay-targeted Logo cable channel in the summer of 2006. Ant also frequently appears as a commentator on such shows as VH1's Best Week Ever and CNBC's Dennis Miller, and is a regular guest on The Tyra Banks Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as The Howard Stern Show.
In 2007, he appeared along with Snoop Dogg as a guest star on MTV's sketch comedy show Short Circuitz.
Ant also appeared as a regular celebrity guest on the game show, To Tell The Truth, alongside Jackée Harry, Meshach Taylor and John O'Hurley.
In 2008, he was a contestant on VH1's reality competition Celebracadabra, where celebrities trained with established magicians, and competed in an elimination-format contest. Ant has a fear of clowns (more commonly known as Coulrophobia). This was revealed in the second episode while looking for a costume. Ant was eliminated in episode 2 and brought back in episode 4, but did not go on to win.
Ant is "pro-the-death penalty" which he mentioned on his show, U.S. of Ant episode 3, North Carolina.
He was a talent judge in NBC's 5th season of Last Comic Standing, along with Kathleen Madigan and Alonzo Bodden.
On September 30, 2008, it was reported that Ant is suing British presenters Ant & Dec for using his name in the United States. The suit, among other things, alleges trademark infringement and fraud. The case is still pending in the District Court of Boston.[6]
On November 18, 2008, Ant's longtime friend and off- and on-again partner, Richard P. Scofield, died in his arms.[7] Ant held an online memorial service for Scofield and people who knew him from his online life.
References
- ^ http://podcast.itm-1014.com/klsx1/520762.mp3
- ^ Carter, Alan (April 2, 1993). "Ticket to Stardom: L.A.'s Traffic Schools for Offenders put Actors' Careers in the Fast Lane". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "ANT" (Blog). JustUsBoys.com Magazine.
- ^ "Shadows on the Wall: FILM FESTIVAL REVIEWS".
- ^ "IMDB Online Resource". Retrieved March 27, 2003.
- ^ Smith, Emily (September 29, 2008). "UK Sun Newspaper". The Sun. London. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- ^ "ANTs Official Youtube Page". Retrieved November 22, 2008.