Bobcat Goldthwait

Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait (born May 26, 1962) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, rabid stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice. Goldthwait was ranked as the 61st greatest comedian of all time by Comedy Central.

Personal life
Goldthwait was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Kathleen, a department store employee, and Tom Goldthwait, a sheet metal worker. He was raised in a Catholic working class family. Goldthwait 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 attended St. Matthew's grammar school in East Syracuse, New York, where he met fellow comedian and voice-over actor Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) in first grade. He and Tom graduated together from Bishop Grimes High School in East Syracuse, New York, in 1980. They formed a comedy troupe with East Syracuse native Tom Nettle, called The Generic Comics. (Although nicknamed Bobcat and Tomcat, they did not appear as a comedy team together.) Early in his career, Goldthwait also co-wrote 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).

He was engaged in 1999 to Nikki Cox. , but they ended their relationship in 2005.

Stand-up and acting
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? He became known for his unique brand of comedy, which combines elements of political satire and often bizarre or somewhat unsettling black comedy.

Goldthwait and Robin Williams appeared on the same bill together, but not as a comedy team, using the names "Jack Cheese" and "Marty Fromage." Goldthwait used the name Jack Cheese when he appeared in the film Tapeheads; when Williams made a cameo as Mime Jerry in Goldthwait's Shakes the Clown, he was billed as Marty Fromage.

Goldthwait has appeared in several movies. His first major role was Zed 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 and John Goodman. He also starred in Scrooged with Bill Murray. He notably starred in Hot to Trot in 1988 with John Candy and Dabney Coleman. 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. In 1985, Goldthwait appeared in Twisted Sister's official video to the songs "Leader of the pack" and "Be Chrool to Your Scuel", from the album Come Out and Play. 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, as well as the promo video for the band's album In Utero, and once fooled an interviewer during a phone interview, impersonating Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl.

An emblematic moment: a guest on one of the last episodes of The Arsenio Hall Show, Goldthwait became demonstrably upset that the program was being cancelled. At the time it was widely believed that Paramount Studios had refused to renew Hall's contract because Late Night with David Letterman was now moving to CBS, and Goldthwait took his anger out on Paramount. He stood on the set's couch, spray-painted "Paramount Sucks" on a glass wall, knocked over some video equipment, then threw cushions from the couch into the audience (they cheered).

Goldthwait announced his retirement from stand-up in 2005 and performed a "final" run in Vegas in September 2005; He briefly resumed touring in early 2008 (from January through April); He performed again in 2009, doing stand-up in Winnipeg on April 3 & 4, and again in Omaha on August 28 and 29; He returned to Winnipeg for 4 shows on April 9 and 10, 2010.

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 had been directing the show since the fall season of 2004). While there, ratings for the show increased to over 2 million viewers per night, and jumped 50% with teens; however, in May 2006 Goldthwait left to pursue his film career. Goldthwait maintains contact with Kimmel (they are friends) and still directs for television and film. He returned to directing segments for Jimmy Kimmel Live in the summer of 2007.

Guest appearances
In 1992, Goldthwait appeared as a guest-co-host of the second episode of The Ben Stiller Show.

Goldthwait appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1993, where he tossed furniture and ran around the set, then into the audience. He has also made several guest appearances on talk shows as well as comedy programs. On May 9, 1994, Goldthwait appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where he briefly lit the guest chair on fire. As a result, he was fined $2,700 plus the cost of the chair ($698); he was also required to tape several public service announcements about fire safety. The incident was later the basis of the plot for his subsequent appearance on The Larry Sanders Show and also inspired a pseudo-fire safety PSA on MadTV. He was also in the 5th episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, "Bobcat," "Surprise," the 37th episode, "Anniversary" and an uncredited appearance in the episode "Kentucky Nightmare."

One of the most recognizable features of Goldthwait's performances is his voice. He has voiced characters on the television series Capitol Critters (1992), The Moxy Show (1995), Unhappily Ever After (1995–1999), The Tick (1995), Hercules: The Animated Series (1998–1999), Lilo and Stitch 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 was also a semi-regular guest in the later seasons of the Tom Bergeron-version of Hollywood Squares in 1998.

Most recently, Goldthwait was a featured guest on the August 20, 2009, episode of Adam Carolla's podcast. And on August 26, 2009 returned to guest on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show with old friend Robin Williams which he revealed a tattoo on his buttocks of an anthropomorphized cymbal with a mustache and slanted eyes (a pun on the cliched Chinese symbol tattoo).

Goldthwait appeared in September 2010 on an episode of LA INK, where shop owner Kat Von D gave him a tattoo of a potato impaled on a fork on his upper right arm. Goldthwait chose the design to remind himself of where he came from and to tell close friends and family that he hasn't lost his sense of humor. He also displayed his older tattoo of a cymbal with a moustache on his buttocks.

Sleeping Dogs Lie
Goldthwait's third feature film 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. The film was bought by Roadside Attractions & Samuel Goldwyn Films at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for the North American rights to the film, and was released on October 20, 2006. Gaumont bought the international rights to the film. It was released on February 21, 2007 by Gaumont in France, and on March 16, 2007 in the UK.

Awards
His film Windy City Heat won a Comedia Award for Best Comedy Film at Montreal's Just for Laughs Film Festival in 2009.

Discography

 * Meat Bob (1988) Chrysalis Records
 * I Don't Mean to Insult You, but You Look Like Bobcat Goldthwait (September 23, 2003, Comedy Central Records)

Filmography

 * World's Greatest Dad (2009) - Writer and Director, and The Limo Driver (Cameo)
 * Jimmy Kimmel Live (2004–2006) - Himself
 * Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006) - Writer and Director
 * Windy City Heat (2003) (TV) - Himself
 * Chappelle's Show (2003) - Himself
 * Crank Yankers (2002) TV Series -
 * Strip Mall (2000) TV Series
 * The Man Show (1999) TV Series
 * Leroy & Stitch (2006) (TV) (voice) - Additional Voices
 * A Halfway House Christmas (2005) (voice) - Narrator
 * Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003–2004) - Nosy
 * Windy City Heat (2003) (TV) - The Director
 * Grind (2003) - Bell Clerk
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003) - Michael Borland
 * Crank Yankers (2003) - Steven Goldstein
 * That '70s Show (2003) (Episode 5x17 The Battle of Evermore (a.k.a. Pioneer Days)) - Eli
 * Hansel and Gretel (2002) (voice) - Troll
 * Mickey's House of Villains (2002) (V) (voice) - Pain
 * Disney's House of Mouse (2001–2002) - Pain
 * Jackie Chan Adventures (2002) - The Monkey King
 * Blow (2001) - Mr. T
 * Late Friday (2001) TV Series - Host
 * G-Men from Hell (2000) - Buster Lloyd
 * Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000) (voice) - XL
 * Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000 video game) (voice) - XL
 * Lion of Oz (2000) (voice) - The Silly Oz-Bul
 * Sonic Underground (????) - Amear
 * Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999) (V) (voice) - Pain
 * The Army Show (1998) - Used Car Salesman
 * Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998) (voice) - Jet the Turtle
 * Hollywood Squares (1998) - Himself
 * Hercules: The Animated Series (1998) TV Series - Pain
 * Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular (1998–1999) -
 * Stories from My Childhood (1998) TV Series -
 * Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1997) - Merlin
 * Hercules (1997) (voice) - Pain
 * Hercules (1997 video game) (voice) - Pain
 * Mad TV (1997) - Host
 * Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1997) - Bob
 * Dog's Best Friend (1997) (TV) -
 * The Tick (1996) - Uncle Creamy
 * Living Single (1996) - Mugger
 * Arli$ (1996) -
 * Tales from the Crypt (1990–1996) - Billy Goldman, Big Bad Wolf (Voice only)
 * Encino Woman (1996) (TV) - Yogi
 * Unhappily Ever After (1995–1996) (TV) - Mr. Floppy
 * Sweethearts (1996) - Charles
 * Back to Back (1996) (TV) - Psycho
 * Out There (1995) (TV) - Cobb
 * Beavis and Butt-head (1995) - Bum
 * Destiny Turns on the Radio (1995) - Mr. Smith
 * Duckman (1994–1995) - Indian
 * ER (1995) - Mr. Conally
 * The Moxy Show (1995) TV Series (voice) - Moxy
 * Dave's World (1994) -
 * Radioland Murders (1994) - Wild Writer
 * The John Larroquette Show (1994) - Boss's Nephew
 * The Moxy Show (1994) TV Series (voice) - Moxy
 * Eek! The Cat (1993) - Rudolph
 * Herman's Head (1993) - Suzie's Jealousy
 * Freaked (1993) - Sockhead as Tourist/Voice of Sockhead
 * Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1993) - Sandman
 * The Golden Palace (1992) - The Killer
 * Married... with Children (1992) - Zemus
 * Shakes the Clown (1992) - Shakes the Clown; Writer and Director
 * Capitol Critters (1992) TV Series - Muggle
 * Little Vegas (1990) -
 * Meet the Hollowheads (1989) - Cop #1
 * Cranium Command (1989) - Adrenal Gland
 * Scrooged (1988) - Eliot Loudermilk
 * Tapeheads (1988) - Don Druzel (billed as "Jack Cheese")
 * Hot to Trot (1988) - Fred P. Chaney
 * Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) - Officer Zed
 * Burglar (1987) - Carl Hefler
 * One Crazy Summer (1986) - Egg Stork
 * The Vidiots (1986) (TV) - Herman Kraylor
 * Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) - Cadet Zed
 * Twisted Sister: Come Out and Play (1986) (V) - Store Clerk & Teacher
 * Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) - Zed
 * Massive Retaliation (1984) - Deputy
 * Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980) - Man on steps of hotel