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'{{Infobox actor | image = Fred Armisen by David Shankbone.jpg | imagesize = 200px | caption = Armisen at the 2008 [[Tribeca Film Festival]] | birthdate = {{birth date and age|1966|12|4}} | birthplace = [[Valley Stream, New York]], [[United States|U.S.]] | yearsactive = 1987–present | occupation = Actor, comedian, musician | birthname = | spouse = [[Sally Timms]] (1998–2004)<br />[[Elisabeth Moss]] (October 2009–May 2010, separated) | othername = | website = http://www.fredarmisen.com/}} '''Fred Armisen''' (born December 4, 1966) is an [[United States|American]] actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. ==Early life== Armisen was born and raised in [[Valley Stream, New York]], on [[Long Island]]. His mother is of [[Venezuela]]n descent and his father is of German and [[Japan]]ese ancestry.<ref>Muther, Christopher. [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/01/30/snl_star_armisen_drums_up_a_career_in_comedy "'SNL' star Armisen drums up a career in comedy"], ''[[Boston Globe]]'', January 30, 2004 (fee required for full article)</ref> He attended the [[School of Visual Arts]] ([[New York City|NYC]])<ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/fred-armisen/bio/196439 "Fred Armisen: Biography,"] ''TV Guide'', accessdate=2009-11-10.</ref> before dropping out to begin a career as a rock drummer.<ref name=nyt /> ==Career== ===Music=== Armisen began his career in 1988 when he moved from [[New York]] to [[Chicago]] to play drums for the [[punk rock]] band [[Trenchmouth]].<ref>[http://www.jimdero.com/News2003/FredArmisenFeb5.htm www.jimdero.com website]</ref> In the 1990s, he played background [[drum]]s with the [[Blue Man Group]] in Chicago. He plays drums on three tracks on [[Les Savy Fav]]'s 2007 album ''[[Let's Stay Friends]]''.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jiftxzthldhe Allmusic.com website]</ref> ===Television and film=== While playing with the band Trenchmouth, Armisen's interests switched to acting. In a January 2006 interview, he said, "I wanted to be on TV somehow. For some reason, I always thought it would be an indirect route; I didn't know that it would be comedy and ''Saturday Night Live''. I just wanted to do something with performing that would lead me there."<ref name="avclub">[http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44289/print/ Armisen interview], ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', January 2006.</ref> Armisen's subsequent television work, such as some "memorable [[Andy Kaufman]]-esque appearances"<ref name=cultcargo /> on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' as well as work for ''[[Crank Yankers]]'' and ''[[Adult Swim]]'', led in 2002 to a role as a featured player in the cast of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref name=cultcargo>[http://www.cultcargo.net/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=85 2006 Armisen interview], ''Cult Cargo'', ''date?'''</ref> In the 2004 season, he was promoted to a repertory cast member. Armisen has done a handful of supporting roles in comedy films, such as the creepy Italian man in the film ''[[Eurotrip]]'' and roles in ''[[Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo]]'', ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'', ''[[Deck the Halls (film)|Deck the Halls]]'', ''[[The Ex (2006 film)|The Ex]]'', ''[[The Promotion]]'', ''[[The Rocker (film)|The Rocker]]'' and ''[[Confessions of a Shopaholic (film)|Confessions of a Shopaholic]]''. ===''SNL'' characters and impressions=== {{Citations missing|section|date=October 2008}} The following is a partial list of notable roles Armisen has played in ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' sketches. ====Characters==== * [[Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update#Billy Smith|Billy Smith]] — a Native American stand-up comedian who tells Native American themed jokes that no one gets. * [[Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update#Fericito|Fericito]] — a [[Venezuela]]n nightclub comedian and host of ''[[Saturday Night Live TV show sketches#¡Show Biz Grande Explosion!|¡Show Biz Grande Explosion!]]'' * [[Adult Students|Gabe Fisher]] — a Jewish man who takes many adult classes as a member of the [[Adult Students]]. * [[Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update#The Kelly Brothers|Gunther Kelly]] — a man who performs songs on [[Weekend Update]] with his brother Patrick (played by [[Will Forte]]) * Leonard — The strange [[Europe]]an host of the foreign music show ''Club Traxx''. * [[Rialto Grande|Mackey]] — a senile drummer who often does rimshots at inappropriate moments and appears in the "[[Rialto Grande]]" sketches. * [[The Schoeners|Nooni Schoener]] — a quirky, foreign art dealer who appears with his wife Nuni Schoener (played by [[Maya Rudolph]]) in the "[[The Schoeners]]" sketches) * Frondi — a mentally challenged character who criticizes Ben Affleck's movie [[Gigli]] to Ben himself. * Manuel Ortiz - Host of 'The Manuel Ortiz' show on television dominicana where he "helps with whatever it is" his audience are going through. * Nicholas Fehn — a political commentator whose mind races and wanders so much that he is incapable of finishing a sentence without starting a new one. * [[Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update#Roger A. Trevanti|Roger A. Trevanti]] — Greedy studio head and [[AMPTP]] member who rails against the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike]]. *Roger Brush – a producer of multiple talk shows that help people with their problems, who stars when the actual hosts are sick, repeatedly tells the person relating his/her problem to speak up, and, after not relating to their problem at all, offers them either useless advice based on his experience or no help at all. *Garth, part of the duo Garth and Kat, a musical duo who come to [[Weekend Update]] unprepared and make up songs on the spot, alongside [[Kristen Wiig]]. ====Impressions==== <!-- DO NOT ADD NON-RECURRING IMPRESSIONS HERE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NOT NOTED BY A RELIABLE THIRD PARTY PUBLICATION --> Armisen has done [[impression]]s of political figures such as [[Hugo Chávez]], [[Vicente Fox]], [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], [[Barney Frank]], [[George H. W. Bush]], [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]], and [[Mike Gravel]]. He has also impersonated celebrities such as [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Desi Arnaz]], [[Corbin Bleu]], [[Sam Waterston]], [[Joy Behar]], [[George Carlin]], [[Dov Charney]], [[Howie Mandel]], [[Alan Osmond]], [[Liberace]], [[David Gregory (journalist)|David Gregory]], [[Larry King]], [[Penny Marshall]], [[David Lee Roth]], [[Gene Simmons]], [[Lawrence Welk]], [[Paul Lynde]], [[Randy Newman]], and [[John Oates]]. His list of impressions has also included: * [[Barack Obama]] — recurring in Season 33 and Season 34 episodes as the Democratic presidential candidate (Season 33), the Democratic nominee, President-Elect, and President (Season 34), beginning on February 23, 2008. * [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] — parody of the musician as the host of a talk show called ''[[Saturday Night Live musical sketches#The Prince Show|The Prince Show]]'', with [[Beyoncé Knowles]] (played by [[Maya Rudolph]]) as his co-host. Armisen, a fan of Prince since childhood, created the sketch as a way of improving his chances of meeting the musician.<ref name="avclub"/> * [[Steve Jobs]] — [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] CEO who appears on [[Weekend Update]] to show off strange new technology. Armisen has stated that Steve Jobs is the celebrity he enjoys impersonating most.<ref name="armstronginterviews">{{cite web | last=Armstrong | first=Josh E | publisher=Armstrong Interviews | title= Seven Questions with Fred Armisen |url=http://armstronginterviews.com/2008/seven-questions-with-fred-armisen/ | accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> * [[David Paterson]] - Governor of New York ===Other work=== In 1998 he posed as a music journalist for the short film ''Fred Armisen’s Guide to Music and South by Southwest''. It was filmed by then-girlfriend [[Sally Timms]] and featured Armisen's "pranking musicians and industry types" during the [[South by Southwest Festival]] in [[Austin, Texas]].<ref name="austin">[http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A520560 Smooching Deadlines], November 5, 1998 column in ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''</ref> [[Image:Fred Armisen.jpg|right|thumb|Armisen performing at [[Webster Hall]] in 2001.]] Armisen is part of '''ThunderAnt''', a comedy duo with former [[Sleater-Kinney]] guitarist [[Carrie Brownstein]]. The duo specializes in creating comedic short skits oftentimes about independent vocations such as one man shows, feminist bookstores, and bicycle rights activists. Armisen has directed music videos for bands like [[The Helio Sequence]]. Armisen also had a role in the [[Wilco]] documentary ''[[I Am Trying to Break Your Heart]]'', which featured footage from his stint opening for front man [[Jeff Tweedy]]'s 2001 solo tour. He also appeared in video segments on Blue Man Group's How to be a Megastar Tour 2.0. Armisen occasionally writes for [[Pitchfork Media]] and interviewed [[Cat Power]] for that company.<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/39649-interview-cat-power/ Pitchfork Feature: Interview: Cat Power]</ref> Fred appeared as Jens Hannemann on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' on October 19, 2007, promoting a 28-minute DVD called ''Fred Armisen presents Jens Hannemann: "COMPLICATED DRUMMING TECHNIQUE"''.<ref>[http://www.dragcity.com/products/fred-armisen-presents-complicated-drumming-technique Jens Hannemann "COMPLICATED DRUMMING TECHNIQUE"] on Drag City Educational Music DVD</ref> In 2010, Armisen briefly joined [[Joanna Newsom]]'s tour for her album [[Have One On Me]] as his character Jens Hannemann.<ref>[http://stereogum.com/316111/fred-armisen-joins-joanna-newsom-in-concert/video/ Fred Armisen Joins Joanna Newsom In Concert]</ref> On ''SNL'', Armisen often plays musical instruments in sketches, has two recurring characters who are musicians (Mackey the drummer from the Rialto Grande and Ferecito from ''Showbiz Grande Explosion'') or impersonates famous figures in the music world such as [[Liberace]], [[Phil Spector]], [[Lou Reed]], and [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]. Armisen appeared in the official music video for [[Man Man]]'s song "Rabbit Habits", playing a man who charms his [[wiktionary:blind date|blind date]] ([[Charlyne Yi]]) but runs away after she turns into a [[werewolf]].<ref>[http://www.punknews.org/article/33015 Man Man: "Rabbit Habits (with Fred Armisen, Brett Gurewitz, others)"]</ref> Along with [[Bill Hader]] and [[Jason Sudeikis]], Armisen voiced radio characters in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]. Armisen performed as a singer/drummer/comedic actor in the Blue Man Group's "How to be a Megastar Live!" He played the part as a salesman on TV who advertises for the "Megastar Rock Manual." He also drummed in the performance and was a backup singer. ==Marriages== Arimsen was married to English singer and songwriter [[Sally Timms]] from 1998 to 2004.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Armisen became engaged to actress [[Elisabeth Moss]] in January 2009.<ref name="peopleengagement">[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20254502,00.html "Mad Men Actress and SNL Star Are Engaged"], ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2010-08-13.</ref> The two had met in October 2008 when Moss' fellow ''[[Mad Men]]'' star, [[Jon Hamm]], hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' and Moss joined Hamm in onstage skits.<ref>Barnes, Brooks. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/arts/television/07barn.html "She’s Nothing Like Peggy, or Is She?"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 5, 2009</ref> The couple married on October 25, 2009 in [[Long Island City]], New York.<ref name="peoplewedding">"[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20315431,00.html Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss Marries SNL's Fred Armisen]", ''People'', 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2010-08-13.</ref> Their split was reported on August 13, 2010, but reportedly took place in May.<ref name=thrsplit>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id4800d851700dee9e012874e530b233d "Fred Armisen and Elisabeth Moss Split"], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', August 13, 2010</ref> In August 2010, media outlets reported Armisen was dating fellow ''Saturday Night Live'' cast-member [[Abby Elliot]].<ref>Oh, Eunice, and Charlotte Triggs. [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20414197,00.html "Fred Armisen and Abby Elliott's Relationship in 'Early Stages'"], ''People'', August 19, 2010</ref> ==Discography== {| class="wikitable" |- | '''Year''' || '''Title''' |- | 1996 || ''The Broadcasting System'' |- | 1994 || ''Trenchmouth Vs. the Light of the Sun'' |- | 1993 || ''Inside the Future'' |- | 1991 || ''Construction of New Action: Volume 1: First There Was Movement'' |} ==Television credits== {| class="wikitable" style="font size: 90%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | First Episode ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Notes |- |rowspan="2" | 1999 | ''Fred'' | Himself-Various | unknown | writer, director, music |- | ''[[Reverb (TV series)|Reverb]]'' | Interviewer | unknown | |- |rowspan="2" | 2001 | ''[[Late Friday]]'' | Father Fred/ Fericito | "Episode 1.8" | 2 episodes |- | ''Premium Blend'' | Sergeant Fred | "October 12, 2001" | 2 episodes |- |rowspan="2" | 2002 | ''[[Late World with Zach]]'' | Various | Unknown | 1 episode |- | ''Next!'' | Various | "Pilot" | Failed TV pilot |- | 2002–present | ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' | Various | "[[Matt Damon]]/ [[Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band]]" | 138 episodes |- | 2003 | ''[[Crank Yankers]]'' | Chip Douglas | "Episode 2.1" | voice only, 13 episodes |- |rowspan="2" | 2004 | ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' | Poncho/ Robot Husband | "Hypno-Germ" | voice only, 2 episodes (one in 2008) |- | ''Comedy Lab'' | Jeremy | "12:21" | 1 episode |- |rowspan="3" | 2005 | ''Looking For A Thrill: An Anthology of Inspiration'' | Himself | | TV documentary |- | ''New York Noise'' | Himself | "Beggars Group 10th Anniversary in NYC Party" | 1 episode |- | ''[[Squidbillies]]'' | Miguel/ Jesus/ Hippie Killed with Chainsaw | "Take This Job and Take It" | voice only, 4 episodes |- |rowspan="3" | 2006 | ''[[Freak Show (TV series)|Freak Show]]'' | various | "Elections" | 3 episodes, voices |- | ''Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Event of Autism Education'' | Himself/ [[Prince]] | | TV special |- | ''[[Tom Goes to the Mayor]]'' | Phillip Priest | "Jeffy the Sea Serpent" | voice only, 1 episode |- |rowspan="2" | 2007 | ''[[30 Rock]]'' | Raheem Haddad | "Somebody to Love" | 1 episode |- | ''Tim and Eric Nite Live'' | Dr. Pat Gordon Hall | "Episode 1.3" | 1 episode |- |rowspan="4" | 2008 | ''[[Human Giant]]'' | Dr. Marker | "Still Here, Man. Still Here" | 1 episode |- | ''[[The Sarah Silverman Program]]'' | Taylor Magenheim | "Patriot Tact" | 1 episode |- | ''[[Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday]]'' | Various | "Episode 1.1" | 6 episodes |- | ''[[Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!]]'' | K.J. Nutt/ Tennis Buddy | "Pepperoni" | 2 episodes |- |rowspan="4" |2009 | ''[[Parks & Recreation]]'' | Raul | "Sister City" | 1 episode |- | ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'' | Himself | "Episode 85" | 1 episode |} ==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" style="font size: 90%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#BOC4DE;" | Notes |- | 1998 | ''Guide to Music and South by Southwest'' | Various | Short film, writer, director |- |rowspan="2" | 2002 | ''[[I Am Trying to Break Your Heart]]'' | Himself | |- | ''[[Like Mike]]'' | New Age Dad | |- |rowspan="2" | 2003 | ''Frank International Film Festival'' | Frank | Short film, video |- | ''[[Melvin Goes to Dinner]]'' | Vesa | |- |rowspan="3" | 2004 | ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'' | Tino | Nominated [[MTV Movie Award]] for Best Musical Performance |- | ''[[Eurotrip]]'' | Creepy Italian Guy | |- | ''[[Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie]]'' | Tino | Video |- | 2005 | ''[[Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo]]'' | Frenchman | uncredited |- |rowspan="5" | 2006 | ''[[Deck the Halls (film)|Deck the Halls]]'' | Gustave | [[How to be a Megastar|How to be a Megastar Live!]] (Blue Man Group) |- | ''[[The Ex (2006 film)|The Ex]]'' | Manny | |- | ''[[Griffin & Phoenix]]'' | unknown | |- | ''Kiss Me Again'' | Professor Szabo | |- | ''[[Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny]]'' | Security Guard | |- | 2007 | ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters]]'' | Time Lincoln | voice only |- |rowspan="6" | 2008 | ''[[Baby Mama (film)|Baby Mama]]'' | Stroller Salesman | |- | ''[[Christmas on Mars]]'' | Noachis | |- | ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' | Pervert/ Hot Dog Vendor/ Internet Nerd | Video Game |- | ''Largo'' | Himself | |- | ''[[The Promotion]]'' | Scott Fargas | |- | ''[[The Rocker (film)|The Rocker]]'' | Wayne Kerr | |- |rowspan="2" | 2009 | ''[[Confessions of a Shopaholic (film)|Confessions of a Shopaholic]]'' | Ryan Koening | |- | ''[[Post Grad]]'' | Guacanator Pitchman | |- |rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''[[Cop Out (2010 film)|Cop Out]]'' | Russian Lawyer | |- | ''[[Our Family Wedding]]'' | Phillip Gusto | |- |2011 | ''[[The Smurfs (film)|The Smurfs]]'' | [[Brainy Smurf]] | ''filming'' |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official|http://www.fredarmisen.com}} * {{imdb|0035488}} * {{Amg name|347644}} * {{myspace|farmisen}} * [http://howtobeamegastar.com Official Blue Man Group How to be a Megastar Live Homepage] {{SNLCurrentCast}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Armisen, Fred}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actors from New York]] [[Category:American comedy musicians]] [[Category:American drummers]] [[Category:American film actors]] [[Category:American impressionists (entertainers)]] [[Category:American music video directors]] [[Category:American sketch writers]] [[Category:American stand-up comedians]] [[Category:American television actors]] [[Category:American television writers]] [[Category:American actors of Japanese descent]] [[Category:American actors of German descent]] [[Category:American people of Venezuelan descent]] [[Category:Hispanic and Latino American actors]] [[Category:People from Valley Stream, New York]] [[Category:Valley Stream Central High School alumni]] [[fr:Fred Armisen]] [[pl:Fred Armisen]] [[pt:Fred Armisen]]'