Comic

Background:

“I don’t have credibility, I’m a comedian. I’m not Ed Murrow up on the roof in a London fog reporting on the blitz.” Dennis Miller

An alumnus of “Saturday Night Live” (1985-1991), comedian Dennis Miller was critically celebrated for his weekly talk show “Dennis Miller Live” (1994-2002), which won him five Emmy Awards and three Writers Guild of America Awards, as well as earned nine Emmy and three Writers Guild of America Award nominations. He also gave notable performances in his standup telecast: Dennis Miller: State of the Union Undressed (1995), as well as the Emmy-nominated Dennis Miller: Citizen Arcane (1996) and Dennis Miller: The Raw Feed (2003).

Apart from standup and talk show stages, Miller delivered comedy through four self-authored books: “The Rants” (1996), “Ranting Again” (1999), “I Rant, Therefore I Am” (2000) and “The Rant Zone” (2001). He has appeared in commercials for Miller Lite beer, M&Ms, Acura, Pizza Hut, Victoria’s Secret, and several others.

“I can't fight ‘em (the labels). All I know is, I consider myself a new moderate. I think that moderates used to be in the middle, with opinions on everything. I have wildly swinging opinions. I’m pro-gay marriage, I’m pro-killing terrorists. You put ‘em all together in some ideological fengshui, and I’m right in the middle.” Dennis Miller

The comedian is often labeled as a neolibertarian or postlibertarian because of his liberal views on every issue except terrorism and the Iraq War. He is married to Ali Epsley and is the father of two.


President’s Men

Childhood and Family:

“I remember seeing All the President’s Men and thinking Redford looked cool in his crinkled tie.” Dennis Miller on his career choice

Born on November 3, 1953, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dennis Miller took journalism classes at Pittsburgh’s Point Park College because of journalists’ hip image portrayed in movies. Letting loose his smart comedic talent, Dennis tried standup and submitted jokes to Playboy magazine, which one eventually became the “Joke of the Year” (1970). Dennis, who once worked as a janitor and ice cream scooper, later headed to New York to pursue an entertainment career.

Dennis is married to Ali Epsley (wed on April 10, 1988). They have two children together, Holden (born in 1990) and Marlon (born in 1993).


Live on HBO

Career:

“My goal in the stand-up shows is not to stand up there and lecture. It’s to make them laugh so hard their bellies hurt.” Dennis Miller

In New York, Dennis Miller performed standup in big clubs like “Catch a Rising Star” and “The Comic Strip.” He also tried Los Angeles’ “The Improv” club before returning home to deliver monologues for the local “PM Magazine” and to host a teen magazine-show.

Miller’s fortune came when producer Lorne Michaels invited him to be a skit actor for “Saturday Night Live,” in which he began performing in 1985. Joining the show until 1991, Miller was best known for delivering the SNL news session “Weekend Update” in his own sarcastic style. He also portrayed two recurring fictional characters, Koko the fairy and standup comedian Steve, as well as impersonated such celebrities as Gary Hart and The Beatles’ George Harrison.

In 1990, the comedian released a standup CD titled The Off-White Album. Not long afterward, he tried acting with a supporting turn in the comedy film Madhouse (1990), as Wes.

Two years later, Miller started his own talk show titled “The Dennis Miller Show,” which he also wrote and executive produced. However, the series was taken off the air six months after first airing due to low ratings. The host of The 1994 Billboard Music Awards telecast then made a dramatic acting debut with the role of Mark Lewyn in the drama film Disclosure (1994), adapted from the novel by Michael Crichton.

The same year, Miller headlined his own weekly comedy talk show for HBO titled “Denis Miller Live” (1994-2002), directed by Debbie Palacio. Miller, who also executive produced and wrote his show, delivered a witty style in interviewing and was later handed five Emmys and three Writers Guild of America awards for his efforts. Additionally, he received nine Emmy and three Writers Guild of America award nominations.

While hosting the talk show, Miller also performed in the self-written/produced standup special program Dennis Miller: State of the Union Undressed (1995, TV) and won an American Comedy award for Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special. Before long, he could also be seen acting with Sandra Bullock in the thriller The Net (1995, as Dr. Alan Champion) and playing himself in an episode of the sitcom “The John Larroquette Show” (1995). His second TV standup performance in Dennis Miller: Citizen Arcane (1996, also wrote and produced) brought him an Emmy nomination.

Miller had his first leading role, as Rafe Guttman, in the horror comedy film Bordello of Blood (1996) before joining actors Wesley Snipes and Diane Lane in the cop thriller Murder at 1600 (1997, played Detective Steve Stengel). Following his standup performance in Dennis Miller: The Millennium Special - 1,000 Years, 100 Laughs, 10 Really Good Ones (1999, TV) and his guest appearance in the sitcom “The Norm Show” (1999), the comedian joined the announcing team for “NFL Monday Night Football” from 2000 to 2002.

In 2001, the comedian carried out the turn of talk show host Zander Kelly in the David Spade-starring romantic comedy Joe Dirt. He next guest performed as Charlie Bixby in the high school-set comedy drama “Boston Public” (2003).

The intelligent comedian then made an Emmy-nominated standup performance in Dennis Miller: The Raw Feed (2003, TV) and hosted a self-titled talk show for CNBC (2004-2005), before making a cameo appearance in Jason Reitman’s star-studded satirical comedy Thank You for Smoking (2005), based on the novel by Christopher Buckley.

Recently, Miller took a supporting role as Dr. Langley in the TV film Let Go (2006), directed by actress Bonnie Hunt. He also performed standup in the telecast Dennis Miller: All In (2006), which unfortunately received only lukewarm response from both viewers and critics alike.


Awards:

- Writers Guild of America: Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series, “Dennis Miller Live,” 2001
- Writers Guild of America: Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1999
- Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1998
- Writers Guild of America: Comedy/Variety - Music, Awards, Tribute - Special Event, Dennis Miller: Citizen Arcane, 1997
- Writers Guild of America: Variety - Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1996
- Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1996
- Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1996
- Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1995
- Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program, “Dennis Miller Live,” 1994
- American Comedy: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication, Dennis
- Miller: State of the Union Undressed, 1996