DAVID CROSS

:''This article refers to the comedian and actor, for other people named David Cross, see David Cross (disambiguation)''
'David Cross' (born April 4, 1964) is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer and actor.

Contents
Biography
Early life
Television career
Recent career developments
Personal life
Discography
Filmography
Television
Movies
Music videos
Video games
Quotations
References
External links

Biography


Early life

Cross was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Susi, a computer retailer.[1] Cross attended Northside High School of the Performing Arts in Atlanta, Georgia (now known as North Atlanta High School). He was a member of the Class of 1982. He was elected Treasurer of his Senior class and was voted Most Humorous by his classmates. According to the Northside High School Yearbook of 1982, his most embarrassing moment was "being asked this ridiculously immature question" ("What was your most embarrassing moment?"). He grew up in Roswell, Georgia and briefly attended Emerson College in Massachusetts, but dropped out within a year and began his stand-up career. He was part of several comedy troupes in the Boston area, including Cross Comedy, which occasionally performed before and during concerts featuring local bands, most notably the Cavedogs.
Television career

Cross began his professional television career as a writer on ''The Ben Stiller Show.'' The short-lived Fox Network program hired him toward the end of the series' run, and he occasionally made brief appearances in the sketches. Most notably, he had a speaking role in one of the show's most ambitious sketches, "The Legend of T.J. O'Pootertoot", which was written almost entirely by Cross.
It was during this period that he first met Bob Odenkirk, with whom he would later co-create the HBO sketch comedy series ''Mr. Show'' in 1995. Cross later co-starred in another Fox production as Tobias Fünke in ''Arrested Development'', which was originally intended to be only a minor role. In addition to these larger roles, he has played various lesser roles on shows like ''Just Shoot Me'', ''The Drew Carey Show'', ''NewsRadio'', ''Strangers with Candy'', and ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force''. Since October 2005, Cross has been appearing as Stephen Colbert's archnemesis, a fictional liberal radio talk show host named "Russ Lieber" from Madison, WI on Comedy Central's ''The Colbert Report''. He is currently working on an animated series for Comedy Central called ''Freak Show'', which costars H. Jon Benjamin. Cross has appeared several times in the MTV2 show ''Wonder Showzen''.
Cross later teamed up with Bob Odenkirk to produce a feature film, based on one of their ''Mr. Show'' characters, called ''Run Ronnie Run''. The film was satirical of the reality TV craze, and had cameos from many stars. However, Cross and Odenkirk came into creative conflict with the director, Troy Miller, and after nearly two years of production, New Line Cinema sent it straight to DVD. In 1994 and again in 1999, Cross was a guest voice actor on Joe Frank's radio show, featured in the episodes "The Last Run", "A Hearing", "The OJ Chronicles" and finally, "Jam".
Recent career developments

Cross maintains a notable stand-up career consisting of material that often blends left-wing political commentary and sharp satire. He has released two highly-successful CDs to date, ''Shut Up You Fucking Baby!'' and ''It's Not Funny''. He was also given his own one-hour comedy special on HBO in 1999 entitled ''The Pride Is Back''. In 2004, ''Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!'' was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Cross released his first tour film in 2003 entitled ''Let America Laugh'', and was named number 85 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.
In 2004, Cross provided voices for a Marine in the Xbox game ''Halo 2'', and a store clerk named in the game ''. Both characters were often whiny and humorous in nature. He was the voice of the violent, alcoholic "Happy-Time Harry" doll in ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force'' (credited as Sir Willups Brightslymoore). 2004 saw him direct the music video ''10am Automatic'' for the two man blues-rock band The Black Keys. The video spoofs public access television.
In April 2005, Cross criticized stand-up comedian Larry the Cable Guy in a ''Rolling Stone'' interview, saying "It's a lot of anti-gay, racist humor — which people like in America — all couched in 'I'm telling it like it is.' He's in the right place at the right time for that gee-shucks, proud-to-be-a-redneck, I'm-just-a-straight-shooter-multimillionaire-in-cutoff-flannel-selling-ring-tones act. That's where we are as a nation now. We're in a state of vague American values and anti-intellectual pride." This caused Larry to devote a chapter to Cross and the "P.C. left" in his book ''GIT-R-DONE'', claiming that Cross had "screwed with my fans, it was time for me to say something". Cross responded with an Open Letter to Larry the Cable Guy posted on his website.[2] He continues to mock Larry in his stand-up, and satirized Blue Collar TV during a guest appearance on ''Wonder Showzen''. In December 2005, he ended his performance on Comedy Central's "Last Laugh '05" by yelling "GIT-R-DONE!", Larry the Cable Guy's catch phrase, mockingly to the audience as he left the stage. He also pokes fun at Larry the Cable Guy's comedy in Freak Show, with a character called "Danny the Plumber Guy".
Cross appeared in The Strokes' music video for "Juicebox" as a bad local Morning Zoo radio DJ. He also appeared in The New Pornographers' video for "Use It" and, along with Bob Odenkirk and John Ennis, Yo La Tengo's video for "Sugarcube". He also appeared, along with Janeane Garofalo, in Superchunk's video for "Watery Hands". Cross contributes to ''Vice Magazine'', writing a column titled '"My America".
In 2005, he contributed to the UNICEF benefit song, "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?". In October of 2005, Cross was sued by Nashville club owner Thomas Weber, accusing Cross of taping him without permission for ''Let America Laugh'' in violation of Weber's privacy rights. Weber put up a website called werenotlaughing.com. In April 2006, the case against David Cross himself was dismissed, leaving Thomas Weber to face Warner Music, Subpop Records, WEA Corporation, and the Alternative Distribution Alliance.
Cross played the character Nathaniel Hörnblowér in the Beastie Boys concert film ''Awesome; I Fuckin Shot That!'' in the fictional segment "A Day in the Life of Nathaniel Hörnblowér", which was released in 2006 in theaters and on DVD.
Personal life

Cross is an atheist of Jewish descent.[3][4] He has publicly declared his intense dislike of bands like Creed, Evanescence, P.O.D., and Staind (once saying in his act, "I would rather hear the death rattle of my only child than listen to that shit") as well as the decision of so-called "alternative rock" radio stations to play them and other similar bands. Cross once met Scott Stapp, lead singer of Creed, at a celebrity poker game, who greeted him by sardonically saying, "Thanks for the words." Cross went on to win first place in that game.[5]
Cross gave some rather harsh words for Inside the Actors studio host James Lipton, calling him "pretentious". He also parodied him on an episode of Mr. Show. Lipton would later guest star as the Warden along side Cross in Arrested Development.

Discography



★ ''Shut Up You Fucking Baby!'' (2002) 2CD

★ ''Let America Laugh'' (2003) DVD

★ ''Rock Against Bush Vol. 1'' (2004) CD/DVD (featured clip on bonus DVD)

★ ''It's Not Funny'' (2004) CD

Filmography


Television


★ ''The TV Wheel'' (Pilot) (1995)

★ ''Mr. Show with Bob and David'' (1995)

★ ''The Drew Carey Show'' (1996, 1997) - Earl

★ ''NewsRadio'' (1996, 1998)

★ ''Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist'' (1997)

★ ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast'' (1997)

★ ''David Cross: The Pride Is Back'' (1999)

★ ''Tenacious D'' (1999)

★ ''Home Movies'' (2001)

★ ''Just Shoot Me'' (1999, 2000, 2003)

★ ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force'' (2002) - Happy Time Harry

★ ''Oliver Beene'' (2003) - Voice Over

★ ''Arrested Development'' (2003-2006) - Dr. Tobias Fünke

★ ''Crank Yankers'' (2003, 2004)

★ ''Celebrity Poker Showdown'' (2004)

★ ''The Colbert Report'' (2005-present) - Russ Lieber

★ ''Last Laugh 2005'' (2005)

★ ''Tom Goes to the Mayor'' (2005)

★ ''Wonder Showzen'' (2006)

★ ''Freak Show'' (2006) - Benny, Primi & Various

★ ''Night of Too Many Stars'' (2006) - Himself

★ ''Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'' (2007) - Pizza Man
Movies


★ ''Destiny Turns on the Radio'' (1995) - Ralph Dellaposa

★ ''The Truth About Cats & Dogs'' (1996) - Male Radio Caller/Bookstore Man

★ ''The Cable Guy'' (1996) - Sales Manager

★ ''Waiting for Guffman'' (1996) - UFO Expert

★ ''Men in Black'' (1997) - Newton, the Morgue Attendant

★ ''Small Soldiers'' (1998) - Irwin Wayfair

★ ''Ghost World'' (2000) - Gerrold

★ ''Chain of Fools'' (2000) - Andy

★ ''One Day...'' (2001) - The Turd

★ ''Life Without Dick'' (2001) - Rex

★ ''Pootie Tang'' (2001) - Pootie Tang imposter

★ ''Dr. Dolittle 2'' (2001) - Dog/Animal Groupie #2

★ ''Scary Movie 2'' (2001) - Dwight Hartman

★ ''Men in Black II'' (2002) - Newton, the Video Store Attendant

★ ''Martin & Orloff'' (2002) - Dan Wasserman

★ ''Run Ronnie Run'' (2002) - Ronnie

★ ''Melvin Goes to Dinner'' (2003) - Seminar Leader

★ ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (2004) - Rob

★ ''Awesome; I Fuckin Shot That! (2006)

★ ''She's the Man'' (2006) - Principal Gold

★ ''Curious George'' (2006) - Junior Bloomsberry (voice)

★ ''School for Scoundrels'' (2006) - Ian

★ ''I'm Not There'' (2007) - Allen Ginsberg

★ ''Alvin & The Chipmunks'' (2007) - Ian

★ ''Cat Tale'' (2008) - Stork (voice only)
Music videos


★ "Watery Hands" by Superchunk (1997) - Actor

★ "Sugarcube" by Yo La Tengo (1997) - Actor

★ "10am Automatic" by The Black Keys (2004) - Director

★ "Juicebox" by The Strokes (2005) - Actor

★ "Use It" by The New Pornographers (2005) - Actor
Video games


★ ''Halo 2'' (2004) - Marine

★ '' (2004) - Zero

Quotations



★ "I don't think Osama bin Laden sent those planes to attack us because he hated our freedom. I think he did it because of our support for Israel, and our ties with the Saudi family and all our military bases in Saudi Arabia. You know why I think that? Because that's what ''he fucking said!'' Are we a nation of 6-year-olds? Answer: yes." — from ''It's Not Funny''

★ (On the strong political nature of his stand-up act): "I've always been a bit of a news junkie, but not as much as I am now. Hopefully that will change in a matter of months and I can go back to making more abortion jokes." — Creem interview[6]

★ (On his atheism and Judaism) "I'm an atheist, I don't believe in God, so therefore I would think that I can't be Jewish, basically because ... Judaism is predicated on a belief in God. So if I don't believe in God I can't be Jewish right? But... no... you can't. Judaism is the only religion that does this, it came up with this bullshit, arbitrary rule, that if your mother's Jewish, then you're Jewish. So it doesn't matter what I believe in, just Jew for life." - ''Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!'', 2002

★ "The Bible truly is one of the funniest books I've ever read. ... It was written thousands of years ago, when people were even dumber than they are today. ... It's absurd to believe in that shit." - ''Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!'', 2002

References


1. http://www.filmreference.com/film/33/David-Cross.html
2. Open Letter to Larry the Cable Guy
3. http://www.avclub.com/content/node/22961
4. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=981142
5. David Cross, It's Not Funny (Sub Pop 2004) (CD)
6. http://www.creemmedia.com/_site/BeatGoesOn/DavidCross/BushSucks001.html

External links





Bob Odenkirk and David Cross website

David Cross: An eye for a tooth and a tooth for an eye ''That Other Paper''

LX.TV Interview w/ David Cross

David Cross Bonnaroo Interview

★ Music For America Video Interview, parts 1 and 2 and parts 3 and 4

Interview by Brian M. Palmer

★ David Cross on DOs & DON'TS & Friends show at VBS.TV

Kittenpants.org interview

Cross On Atheism

Whatever Happened To: that lawsuit against David Cross?

Scene Missing Magazine interview

L.A. RECORD Feature

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