NewsRadio Geek

Background:

"I think I'm an A-list celebrity. Does Hollywood think I'm an A-list celebrity? Do I care? (Sticks out the finger) Does that answer your question?" Andy Dick.

Comedian Andy Dick, known for his wacky comedy and curly red hair, is widely recognized with his roles on such TV sitcoms as NBC’s “NewsRadio” (1995-1999; as the clumsy and simple-minded news reporter Matthew Brock), MTV's “The Andy Dick Show” (2001-2003; he wrote, directed and starred) and ABC’s "Less Than Perfect” (2002-2006; as Owen Kronsky). On the big screen, the funnyman was seen in Reality Bites (1994, with Janeane Garofalo), The Cable Guy (1996, with Jim Carrey), Inspector Gadget (1999, with Matthew Broderick) and Road Trip (2000, with Green). He recently wrote, directed and starred in the comedy movie Danny Roane: First Time Director (2006; also starring Jack Black and Mo Collins) and costarred as a legally blind optometrist in the newly-released movie, Employee of The Month (2006; starring Jessica Simpson and Dane Cook). His voice will be heard in the upcoming animated movie, Happily N'Ever After.

The 6' 1" tall comedian, who is notorious for occasional alcohol-fueled bad behavior, pleaded guilty to cocaine and marijuana possession after crashing his car in Hollywood in 1999. He returned to acting in 2001 and has vowed to remain sober. More personally, the openly bisexual star made headlines for his unique living arrangement: sharing a house with his ex-wife and their son, his new girlfriend and their two children, and his ex-wife’s new boyfriend.

“I'm clean and sober right now, yeah yeah yeah. Can't you tell? No, you know what? People can't. When I'm drunk, they think I'm sober, when I'm sober they think I'm on something, 'cause when I'm sober I have soooo much energy that they think: There's gotta be something wrong. And then when I'm drunk, I pretty much just act more normal. I'm just much more laid-back, I don't talk, I just sit there and listen, 'cause I'm drunk!” Andy Dick.


Navy Son

Childhood and Family:

On December 21, 1965, Andy Dick was born in Charleston, South Carolina. At birth, he was adopted by Allen and Sue Dick, who have both died of cancer (Allen in 1987; Sue in 1997). Because of his father’s profession as a US Navy submarine officer, Andy, and his adoptive brother Jeff, frequently traveled around the world. They have lived in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and Yugoslavia, before eventually settling in Illinois.

During his study at Joliet West High School (Joliet, Illinois), Andy was in numerous school productions and was elected homecoming king his senior year in the fall of 1983. After graduating from high school in 1984, the class clown briefly attended a local college and later abandoned school work for the Chicago comedy scene. He also attended Illinois Wesleyan University for one semester.

In 1986, Andy married Ivone Kowalczyk, an artist, and welcomed their first child together, son Lucas Dick, in 1988. Andy and Ivone later divorced in 1990. However, they continued to live together platonically for their son's benefit. They both entered long term relationships and eventually they, their son, her boyfriend, Andy's new girlfriend (Lina Sved; became involved in 1993), and the two children (son Jacob Dick (born in 1994) and daughter Meg (born in September 1997)) the girlfriend had with Andy, all shared the same home for many years.

"I bought an apartment building. I tricked out the penthouse, and that's where I live with my kids in L.A. My daughter is 9 and my second-oldest son is 12. My oldest son is 18 and he lives in my building in his own apartment." Andy Dick (on his life at home).


The Andy Dick Show

Career:

While still in high school, Andy Dick began his comedy career studying improv under Del Close and performed at Chicago's celebrated Second City and the ImprovOlympics while working as a delivery guy, a waiter and a tour guide. He soon graduated to appearances in local commercials and theatrical productions. After making his TV debut with a 1989 guest shot on ABC’s sitcom "Anything But Love," Dick moved to Los Angeles and found more TV jobs. He appeared in the TV movie Earth Angel (1991) and got his first regular role an ensemble member on Fox’s sketch comedy show “The Ben Stiller Show.” From 1992 to 1993, Andy created the memorable characters Manson Lassie and Skank the sock puppet for the show. Meanwhile, he was also spotted as a guest-host on “Talk Soup” and appeared on “The Nanny.”

After joining Stiller in his directorial debut, the romantic drama comedy Reality Bites (1994; starring Stiller, Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke), Andy starred as the son of agents 86 and 99 in the failed updated spin-off of the classic comedy series "Get Smart." He subsequently garnered wider attention when he was cast to play the regular role of the clumsy and simple-minded news reporter Matthew Brock (1995-1999) on the NBC ensemble sitcom "NewsRadio." The sitcom was a critical smash, making Dick a tabloid favorite. He also made headlines for his frequent drinking and marijuana use, as well as his unique living arrangement: sharing a house with his ex-wife and their son, his new girlfriend and their two children, and his ex-wife’s new boyfriend.

In 1998, Andy formed Dickly Entertainment. He appeared in the independent Bongwater (1998) and opposite Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998) as well as lent his voice to the evil lion Nuka in the direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. He wrote, produced and directed "image spots" for MTV and costarred with Matthew Broderick in director David Kellogg's film version of the 1980s animated series, Inspector Gadget (1999). He also guest starred as David Spade's romantic rival in Just Shoot Me and appeared as himself in Being John Malkovich.

The new millennium saw Andy appeared in several independent pictures and filmed memorable cameos in Road Trip, Loser, and Dude, Where's My Car?. He provided character voice for the NBC animated series "Sammy" (inspired by David Spade's own family tree), headlined the Family Channel Christmas movie Special Delivery, and starred as the gay best friend of an artist in director Don Scardino's take on Douglas Carter Beane's play, Advice From a Caterpillar. He also appeared as one of a trio of hippies in Scotland, Pa. (2001; was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001), Billy Morrissette's modern take on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" set in a 1970s Pennsylvania diner, and had a regular role on the NBC summer sitcom "Go Fish."

From 2001 to 2003, Andy scored his biggest coup by writing, directing and starring in his own MTV series, "The Andy Dick Show." During that time, he was cast as Owen (2002-2006) on ABC’s sitcom "Less Than Perfect" (starring Sara Rue) and plays Santa's evil son in writer-director Jonathan Kesselman's comedy The Hebrew Hammer (2003; with Adam Goldberg and Judy Greer). He also acted opposite Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell in Old School (2003) and starred in a new MTV spoof reality show dubbed, "The Assistant" (2004), which parodies Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice.”

More recently, Andy wrote, directed and starred (as an alcoholic TV actor who gets blackballed from the industry and then broke back into the business by directing a movie about himself) in the comedy movie Danny Roane: First Time Director (also starring Jack Black and Mo Collins). Moviegoers could also catch him playing Lon, the legally blind eyeglass salesman in a Costco-type store, in Greg Coolidge's newly-released comedy, Employee of the Month (starring Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson). He will lend his voice in the upcoming animated movie, Happily N'Ever After, alongside Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sigourney Weaver.

"I've been there, done that. I worked at Kmart in the shoe department. It feels like only yesterday I was wearing that brown clip-on tie and yellow shirt. I had the most fun I've had in a long time working on this movie." Andy Dick (on his role in Employee of the Month).

Awards:
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