Jeff Garlin

Jeffrey Todd "Jeff" Garlin (born June 5, 1962) is an American comedian, actor, producer, voice artist, director, writer, podcast host and author. He has acted in many television shows and some movies, is an expert in magic, and is known for his role as Jeff Greene on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm, for which he was nominated for seven Emmys in his role as Executive Producer, and two wins for Producing from the PGAs.[2] He currently stars in the ABC sitcom, The Goldbergs.

As a multi-talented comedian who encompasses writing, producing, directing, acting and performing stand-up comedy, Jeff Garlin has honed a successful career that started at Second City in his hometown of Chicago. Influenced by the comedians of his childhood (such as Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, and Shelley Berman), Garlin enjoys telling stories, exploring his personal foibles and exposing his innermost thoughts for all to hear. Garlin both co-stars and executive produces the critically acclaimed HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000). The unique comedy, which is one of the rare television shows to become part of the national zeitgeist, stars Seinfeld (1989) creator Larry David with Garlin portraying his loyal manager. The series recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy, The Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Award from the Producers Guild of America and the AFI comedy series of the year award. Previously, Garlin was a series regular for three seasons on Mad About You (1992) in the role of Marvin. He also had his own self titled half hour special on HBO. Born and raised in Chicago and then South Florida, Garlin studied filmmaking and began performing stand-up comedy while at the University of Miami. He has toured the country as a stand-up comedian, is an alumnus of Chicago's Second City Theatre, and has written and starred in three critically acclaimed solo shows ("I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With," "Uncomplicated" and "Concentrated"). As a director he has directed Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) and both Jon Stewart ("Unleavened") and Denis Leary ("Lock-n-Load") in their HBO specials. Garlin was most recently seen on the big screen opposite Eddie Murphy in the Columbia/Tristar comedy Daddy Day Care (2003). As a newly unemployed father in the film, Garlin joins his pal (Eddie Murphy) in starting a full time day care business, despite the fact that neither can actually change a diaper. Jeff lives with his family in Los Angeles. His hobbies include eating puddin' and taking naps.

Lived with Conan O'Brien in Chicago, next to Wrigley Field.

Is a Chicago Bears fan.

Is an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He has sung "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" multiple times, including in the 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons.

Jeff Garlin actually had a stroke just prior to the filming of Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) and has noted, himself during the commentary, that in the early episodes, he would slur his words or phrases due to the temporary physical impairment.

Is a huge baseball fan.

An avid photographer, Jeff loves to shoot candid, un-posed, available-light pictures with his Leica M-series

Rangefinder cameras.

Stars in Direct TV's NFL Sunday Ticket commercials. [June 2005]

It used to be that people thought I was Norm from Cheers (1982). Ten years ago everyone would say that to me. Then, in the last year, I was at a newsstand in Studio City, and I saw George Wendt. He said he had just gone on an audition, and they said they were looking for a Jeff Garlin type. When referring to performing his lines after having had a stroke before the filming of Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000): "By the way, I'm convinced - no kidding around - that I got better faster because of the show; because I had to say things like that".

(2007, on After the Sunset (2004)) I had met Brett Ratner before, and he called and said, "Would you come down? This movie's not as funny as I thought it would be, and I want you to be in the beginning of the movie and try to help to liven it up". That was one of those moments when a director just says, "Do whatever you want, have a good time". Which I completely did. And I was taken aback by what a really wonderful guy Pierce Brosnan is. Really a great guy. Every bit of my comedy-every nuance-he was totally hip to what I was talking about. 'Cause I was really just fucking around.

(2007, on Michael Richards infamous comedy club meltdown) You know, I had stopped playing that club a while before that happened to Michael. I'd been on the same bill with him before at The Comedy Store, and two months before, he had his problem-I'm not even making this up-there was a night when the audience was 90 percent underage Korean kids. Now at the time, I'm probably a 43-year-old Jewish man. What living experience do I have to share with a room full of drunk Korean kids with fake IDs? As they say in Sweden, it's just not my audience. I'm having trouble as it is, and then behind me, one of the kids gets up onstage and starts taking pictures of his friends, from the stage. I felt something behind me, I turned around, and I came so close to punching this kid, just out of reflex, you know? But instead of punching him, I did what Michael Richards should have done. I put the mic down, and I walked out, and I never went back. When you allow 18-year-olds in the club, you know there are 16- and 17-year-olds there too, so you know that's not a good place to do comedy. So when Michael went up there, I'm sure he was very frustrated, and thought he was being interesting with his choices. I don't know that he thought he was being funny, but he thought he was being interesting and obviously said the most ignorant things he could possibly say. And now he's out of show business.

(2007, on The Michael Richards Show (2000)) That was, ah, not very enjoyable. I kind of clashed with Michael all week, because when you're an actor, you make choices, depending on your part, and I'm a pretty naturalistic actor, and he kept telling the director to tone me down, which I found very strange. Because I was getting laughs, and he didn't like that, I don't think. When we were done with shooting, I remember him getting up and thanking me for coming, and he hoped I'd had a good time. And I was rather shocked by that, and then I found out later that somebody told him to go do that. Now, that being said, I also want to say that I saw him do stand-up numerous times. I'm a big fan. I was a big fan of his on Seinfeld (1989), and a lot of his stand-up was really, really funny.

(2007, on Mad About You (1992)) I had just gotten done telling my agent that I didn't want to do any auditions unless I had more time to prepare. I didn't want to go on any more same-day auditions. So they call me for a same-day audition for Mad About You (1992), and I don't know why I said yes, but I did. It was this pretty big role, and I auditioned. Had a great audition, got the part, and when I went to report for work the first day, the character was down to one line. They said they were sorry, and-you never hear of this happening, but they were more than happy to pay me and cast somebody else, because they didn't want to insult me. But I wasn't any big deal, so I said, "No, I'll stick with it, what the heck". I wasn't doing anything else. And the producers, when they were watching us rehearse, they said, "We feel like we've got some sort of chemistry here, so we're going to come up with more for you". And they came up with a lot more. From this one little part, one line, one time only, I ended up being on the show for the last three years...I was working. That's really all it did for my career. I gained experience, and it was a very pleasurable experience. But it didn't do much in terms of the industry taking notice, if you will. I didn't get recognized a lot from it.

(2007, on Little Big League (1994)) I was cast out of Chicago. I hadn't done a lot of movie roles, so it was fun, even though it was small and there wasn't a lot to do. I just liked being on a movie set. I was there for probably a week. I've never seen the movie. Which is really... I mean, on Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000), I'm an executive producer, so I see all of them, but for the most part, unless it's my project? Something like, where I'm a producer? I don't watch it.

(2007) Fun with Dick and Jane (2005), I don't look back on fondly, though I got to meet Téa Leoni and hang out with her, and she's one of the coolest people I've ever worked with. I signed on to play Téa Leoni's old boyfriend, and we filmed a few different scenes, and they showed it for test audiences, and the audiences liked my character, so they were upset when Dick and Jane robbed me. And I thought, "Well, when they rob people, you should be upset. They're desperate". But, they decided to make me do re-shoots, which were unpleasant. They wrote the part for me originally, and it was supposed be fun, but it ended up being a huge pain in my butt. And it became, of all things, a huge hit.

(2007, on Arrested Development (2003)) Years and years ago, I had a deal with a company called Witt-Thomas to do a television series for Fox, and they were going to team me up with Mitchell Hurwitz. You know, I'm a young comedian, he's a young writer, and they were going to team us up to create a TV show. I had specific ideas of what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to write a part for my friend Amy Sedaris, who nobody knew at the time. And Mitch, God bless him, said, "Yeah, let's do it. Let's write it together". I go, "Together?!" Because back then, people didn't do that. A writer wrote it for you, and that was it. And when he said that, I think the studio freaked out, and they split us up. They put him on The Golden Palace (1992), which was the sequel to The Golden Girls (1985). And then they put me with this other writer who didn't see things my way, and it was really a horrible experience. So it took all these years later before I got a phone call asking if I wanted to be on Arrested Development (2003). When I got the phone call, I still hadn't seen Arrested Development (2003). I went out and got the DVDs shortly thereafter, and I became a freak for the show. It's still one of my all-time favorite shows, and the idea that I was on that show is amazing to me. What an honor. And God, I loved every second of it.

(2007, on turning down the sequel to Daddy Day Care (2003)) I have to be blunt. They wanted me for the sequel, but they didn't offer me enough money. And if I'm gonna be in a big piece of shit like that, I'm gonna need a lot of money. By the way, if they had offered me a lot of money, they could have made the movie even stinkier, and I still would've done it.

(2007, on Daddy Day Care (2003)) I was in my late 30s, and I'd done Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000), and I was sort of settled into the way my career and life were going to be. And I'd had some health problems. I remember driving and seeing a big billboard in L.A. for an Eddie Murphy movie, and thinking, "Wow, I guess I'll never be able to star in a movie with Eddie Murphy", you know? And then a year later, I found myself on a set co-starring with Eddie Murphy. And he let me do most of the funny stuff, which surprised me. He was really generous. And I think he's the funniest person I've ever worked with. What I mean by that is: I'm very confident in my comedic ability. I think I'm very funny. And something would happen on the set, and I'd think of something funny to say, and before I could say anything, around the time I would think it, Eddie would say something. And I'm not exaggerating when I say this: A hundred out of a hundred times, what he said was funnier than what I was going to say. There was not even once where I went, "Oh, mine was funnier". No, he was funnier every single time. That really blew my mind.

(2007, on his role in Baywatch (1989)) I was at a wedding, and one of the producers of Baywatch (1989) was an uncle of the gal getting married. I mean the girl getting married. "Gal". I sound like I'm 90. Anyway, he said to me that he produced Baywatch (1989), and I said, "I love that show! Pretty colors and bosoms, what more do you need?" And he said "Would you ever be on it?" And I said, "I'd love to be on Baywatch!" So they wrote a part for me as an evil disc jockey who takes over the beach, and I worked with Pamela Anderson. I remember I had to do a fantasy sequence with her, and I was supposed to kiss her. It was the first day of working, and I also had just gotten married the week before. And I moved out to L.A. just that week. And here I am, on a beach, in a Baywatch bathing suit, running in slow motion on the beach, with Pamela Anderson. And we're supposed to kiss, and she didn't want to kiss me. But at the end of the week, she goes, "I really like you, I'd so totally kiss you now". I'm actually happy the way it worked out.

Garlin was born in Chicago, Illinois to Gene[3] and Carole (née Crafton) Garlin.[4] He grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois,[5] where his father had a family plumbing supply business called Bilko and his mother was active in community theater. He has a younger brother, Michael.[6] Garlin is Jewish[7] and attended Hebrew school.[8][9]

Garlin says he has wanted to be a comedian since he was eight, when he saw Jimmy Durante perform in Chicago.[7] Garlin attended Melzer Elementary School in Morton Grove, Illinois.[10] He enjoyed playing sports at school, but had to stop, because he has Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a heart ailment.[6][6]

When Garlin was in sixth grade, his father sold his supply business and the family relocated to South Florida.[10] He graduated from Nova High School, Davie, Florida in 1980. He attended Broward Community College, followed by a stint at the University of Miami studying film, but eventually dropped out. He began performing stand-up comedy there.[11][dead link]

In 1984, aged 22, Garlin moved back to Chicago to pursue a stand-up comedy career. He performed with the comedy troupe The Second City.[12] He worked in the box office with Stephen Colbert.[13]

In the late 1980s, Garlin was briefly roommates with Conan O'Brien, who was then a comedy writer.[6] He remains close to O'Brien, and after O'Brien was removed as host of The Tonight Show in 2010 so that Jay Leno could return, Garlin stated that he would not be a guest on the show again.[12][13]

Garlin was hired by comedians Denis Leary (Lock-n-Load) and Jon Stewart (Unleavened) to help develop their specials. He worked as a stage director for their shows and edited the scripts. He worked with Larry David in this same way. He continues to do standup, where he says he improvises a lot on stage, and feels very relaxed, "maybe too relaxed [laughs]."[6]

Garlin has a variety of television and film appearances to his credit, as an actor and a stand-up, including Dr. Katz, Arrested Development, Everybody Loves Raymond, Late Show with David Letterman, Tom Goes to the Mayor, The Life and Times of Tim, The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Entourage.[14]

Garlin with the cast of The Goldbergs From 1997–99, Garlin spent three seasons on NBC's Mad About You in the role of Marvin.[15] He co-starred and executive produced the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2013, Garlin signed onto the ABC sitcom, The Goldbergs.[16] He had a recurring role on the series Wizards of Waverly Place as Uncle Kelbo, appearing in three episodes over the first three seasons.[17]

Nine years after making an uncredited début as Gut Gut in Spring Break (1983),[17] Garlin earned his first film credit in 1992 in Dolly Parton's comedy Straight Talk.[18] He had a small role in RoboCop 3 as "Donut Jerk" after a member of the casting crew witnessed Garlin eating a doughnut while leaving Krispy Kreme with an additional two dozen doughnuts. He also had cameo appearances in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999.[17] Other cameo appearances include Run Ronnie Run!, After the Sunset, Fat Albert, and Sleepover. He appeared in Steven Soderbergh's Full Frontal (2002) and with Eddie Murphy in Daddy Day Care (2003). In 2005, he had a small role in Fun with Dick and Jane.[17]

In 2008, Garlin appeared in The Rocker as Stan, and also played Ed Lawson in Strange Wilderness. He lent his voice to the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story 3, as Buttercup. He appeared as Sid, alongside Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, in the 2010 comedy-action film The Bounty Hunter. He played Ed Burch in Laggies, released in 2014.[17]

His feature directorial debut, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (which he also wrote), premiered to favorable reviews at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. It opened in September 2007. The film co-starred Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt.[19]

In 2006, Garlin directed This Filthy World, a one-man show performed by director John Waters. He was a voice actor in WALL-E, an animated film by Pixar that was released June 27, 2008, as the Captain of the Axiom spaceship.[20] Garlin executive produced the documentary Finding Vivian Maier (2013).[21] During 2013, he executively produced the documentary film, Finding Vivian Maier.

In 2013, Garlin directed his second film, Dealin' with Idiots,[22] which was inspired by his experiences with his two sons in Little League.[16][23] The entire movie was improvised.[21]

On February 23, 2010, Garlin released a book, My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World, a memoir which documents his journey to lessen both his physical and carbon footprint.[citation needed]

As of January 10, 2013, Garlin is a host on the comedy podcast network Earwolf.[24] His show, called By The Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin, consists of unscripted talks rather than formal interviews. The debut episode featured Garlin's Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star Larry David. The twice-monthly installments are recorded in front of a live audience at Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles.[24]

Garlin married Marla Beth Cahan in 1994. They have two sons: James (b. 1996), and Duke (b. 2000). They live in Los Angeles and Chicago.[2]

Garlin is a practitioner of transcendental meditation, which he does twice a day.[25] He says that it has helped him with the symptoms of ADD.[26]

Garlin had surgery in Oklahoma City when he was in his late 20s to correct Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a heart condition, an extra pathway in the heart that result in tachycardia.[6] Garlin said he was an early recipient (#72) of the surgery, which millions of people have now had done. In February 2000, before filming began on Curb Your Enthusiasm, he had a stroke, when he was 37 years old. During the early episodes of Season One, he had noticeably slurred speech, although his speech later improved. He also has type II diabetes, which he controls with diet and exercise.[6]

Garlin has written about his issues with food and has discussed his weight issues publicly.[25] Garlin said: "I think people look at fat people as having a lack of willpower, when willpower has nothing to do with it. I didn’t change my life until I approached everything like an addict. I haven’t had sweets in almost three years because I know if I have one cookie, just like if an alcoholic has his first drink, I’m off to the races and I’m back eating sugar again."[26]

Year Film Role Notes

1983 Spring Break Gut Gut Uncredited

1992 Straight Talk Bob

Hero News Vendor

1993 RoboCop 3 Donut Jerk

1994 Little Big League Opposing Little League Manager

1995 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Agent Reese

1997 The Love Bug Highway Patrolman

1998 Senseless Arlo Vickers

1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Cyclops

Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm Jeff Greene

2000 Bounce Emcee

2002 Run Ronnie Run! Birthday Woman's Friend

Naked Movie Writer No. 1

The Third Wheel Office Worker Uncredited

Full Frontal Harvey

2003 Daddy Day Care Phil

2004 Sleepover Mr. Corky

Outing Riley Partner in Architects' Firm Uncredited

After the Sunset Ron

Fat Albert Jer Uncredited

2005 Fun with Dick and Jane Boss

2006 The Jeff Garlin Program Jeff

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With James Aaron Also writer/director

The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour 3: The Jerkinators! Shirley

2007 Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot Lenny

2008 Strange Wilderness Ed Lawson

The Rocker Stan

WALL-E Captain B. McCrea Voice only

2010 The Bounty Hunter Sid

Toy Story 3 Buttercup Voice only

2011 Hawaiian Vacation Buttercup Voice only

Cars 2 Otis[27] Voice Only

Sin Bin Dean Theatard

2012 ParaNorman Perry Babcock Voice only

Safety Not Guaranteed Mr. Britt

2013 Dealin' with Idiots Max Morris Also writer/director

2014 Laggies Ed Burch

Television[edit]

Roseanne – Fred (1989)

Open House – Brian (1990)

Baywatch – Larry 'Loomin' Large (1994)

Gross Ratings – Jack Bekins (1996)

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist – Jeff (1997)

Mad About You – Marvin (1997–1999)

Self Storage – Duncan Baumgartner (2000)

The Michael Richards Show – Ed (2000)

Late Friday – Himself/Host (2001)

Three Sisters – Joel (2001)

Dead Last – Ron Belson (2001)

What About Joan? – Steinie (2001–2002)

King of the Hill – Dan (2002)

Everybody Loves Raymond – Produce Manager Jimmy (2001–2003)

Greetings from Tucson – Executive (2003)

Crank Yankers – Jeff (2003)

Tom Goes to the Mayor – Pat Croce (2004)

Pudding Wars – Tobey (2005)

Duck Dodgers – Camoman (2005)

Yes, Dear – Howie (2005)

MADtv – Hank Whitley (2005)

Arrested Development – Mort Meyers (2005–2006, 2013)

Hooked – Mr. Waterhouse (2006/I)

Campus Ladies – Mr. Hubney (2006)

Shorty McShorts' Shorts – Duke (2007)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Barry Freeburg (2007)

The Life & Times of Tim (2008)

BURN-E – Captain (uncredited) (2008)

Curb Your Enthusiasm – Jeff Greene (2000–2011)

Wizards of Waverly Place – Uncle Kelbo (2008–2010)

Entourage – Roger Jay (2010)

Community – Himself (2011)

The Goldbergs – Murray Goldberg, series regular (2013–present)

Repeat After Me - Himself (2015)