Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia
Born (1978-06-20) June 20, 1978[1]
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, United States[1]
Medium Stand-up, theatre, radio, television, film
Nationality American
Years active 2004-present
Spouse Jen Stein (m. 2007)
Children 1
Website www.birbigs.com

Mike Birbiglia (born June 20, 1978) is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is a frequent contributor to This American Life and The Moth, and has released several comedy albums and television specials. His feature-length directorial debut Sleepwalk with Me (2012), based on his one-man show of the same name and in which he also starred, won awards at the Sundance and Nantucket film festivals. He also wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy-drama Don't Think Twice (2016). His 2010 book Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor. Birbiglia has appeared in films such as Your Sister's Sister (2011), Cedar Rapids (2011), and Trainwreck (2015), played a recurring role in Orange Is the New Black, and has guest starred in episodes of Girls, Inside Amy Schumer, and Broad City.

Early life

Birbiglia was born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, the son of Mary Jean (née McKenzie) and Vincent Paul Birbiglia. He is the youngest of four children.[2] He is of part Italian descent.[3] Birbiglia attended St. John's High School, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts for one year, and graduated from St. Mark's School, Southborough, Massachusetts in 1996.[4][5] He says seeing comedian Steven Wright perform inspired him to begin writing jokes at age 16.[6] He subsequently attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., graduating in 2000.[7] During college he performed as a member of the Georgetown Players Improv Troupe, worked as a server in a comedy club, and began performing at DC Improv (The Improv ) in Washington, D.C.[8][6]

Early career (2000–2008)

Birbiglia moved to New York in 2000,[9] and appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2002.[8] He told his first story on stage at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, in 2003, and eventually became a semi-regular contributor to The Moth storytelling series.[10] He released his first album, Dog Years, in 2004,[11] followed by My Secret Public Album, Volume 1a (2005) a compilation of his appearances on The Bob and Tom Show. His next two albums, Two Drink Mike (2006), and My Secret Public Journal Live (2007) were released on Comedy Central Records. My Secret Public Journal Live was named one of the best comedy albums of the decade by The A.V. Club[12]

In 2007 Birbiglia starred in the independent feature film Stanley Cuba, which debuted at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and played in the Brooklyn and Milan film festivals.[13][14][15] In 2008 CBS picked up a sitcom pilot loosely based on Birbiglia's life and featuring himself, Bob Odenkirk and Frances Conroy that ultimately never aired.[16][9] He later called the failure of his pilot "the luckiest thing that ever happened to me."[17]

Sleepwalk and beyond (2008–present)

In 2008, Birbiglia opened Sleepwalk with Me, a one-man show that straddled standup comedy and theater, off-Broadway at the Bleecker Street Theater.[18][19] The show was presented by Nathan Lane, and the New York Times called it "simply perfect".[20] Time Out New York named it their "Show of the Year" in 2009.[21]

Birbiglia adapted his material into the 2010 book Sleepwalk with Me, and Other Painfully True Stories and the 2011 album Sleepwalk With Me Live. The book debuted at #29 on the hardcover nonfiction New York Times Bestseller List[22][23] and number four on the hardcover nonfiction section of the Washington Post Political Bookworm Best Sellers.[24] The book was also a finalist for the 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor.[25] Sleepwalk With Me Live debuted at #1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts.[26]

Birbiglia performing in 2016

Birbiglia made his directorial debut with Sleepwalk with Me, based on his one-man show and which he wrote, directed, and starred in. The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and won the NEXT Audience Award.[27] It was selected in the "Festival Favorites" category at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas [28] and also appeared in the Nantucket Film Festival where it won the award for best writer/director.[29] The film was produced by Jacob Jaffke and This American Life's Ira Glass and stars Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn, and Cristin Milioti and has cameos by Glass, Kristen Schaal, Wyatt Cenac, David Wain, Jessi Klein, John Lutz and Marc Maron.[30]

In addition to starring in Sleepwalk with Me, Birbiglia has appeared in films such as Trainwreck, Going the Distance, Cedar Rapids, Your Sister's Sister and The Fault in Our Stars. He has also guest-starred in episodes of Girls, Inside Amy Schumer, and Broad City.[31] He played the role of Danny Pearson on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black in its third and fourth season, with which he shared the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.[32]

In 2011, Birbiglia mounted his second one-man show, My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, which ran for four months off-Broadway and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show.[33] He toured My Girlfriend's Boyfriend around the world with tour dates in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. On June 2, 2013, Birbiglia performed it for the last time at Carnegie Hall.[34][35] My Girlfriend's Boyfriend was featured as the number one stand-up special of 2013 by Vulture,[36] Paste,[37] The Laugh Button[38] and Laughspin.[39] It was also named one of Time Out New York's Best Comedy Specials of 2013.[40] Flavorwire listed the special as one of the top 20 funniest stand-up specials of all time.[41]

For his second film, Birbiglia's drew upon his early experience with improv in Don't Think Twice (2016), which centers on a fictional Manhattan improv troupe.[6][42] Birbligia also stars among an ensemble cast including Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher, and Chris Gethard.[43] The film was nominated for several awards, including the Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy[44] and St. Louis Film Critics Association award for Best Comedy.[45]

Birbiglia's Thank God for Jokes comedy special was released on Netflix on February 28, 2017.[46]

In April 2017, Birbiglia announced a tour of his newest show titled The New One.[47] The tour started with 25 cities and, in December 2017, featured a limited podcast titled The Old Ones. The podcast features Mike Birbiglia analyzing his old stand up with guests including his brother Joe Birbiglia, comedians Pete Holmes and John Mulaney, film producer and director Judd Apatow, contributor to 'This American Life' Ira Glass and his wife.[48] The New One made its off-broadway debut at the Cherry Lane Theatre on July 26 and was scheduled to run through August 2 before a high demand for tickets extended the show's run to and through August 26.[49]

The show then received a Broadway transfer, with performances beginning October 25, 2018 and running through January 20, 2019 at the Cort Theatre

On This American Life

Birbiglia is a regular contributor to the Public Radio International-distributed program This American Life.[50][51]

Personal life

Birbiglia has rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which once caused him to run out of a second-story window of a motel he was staying in Walla Walla, Washington, while on tour. As a result of the accident, Birbiglia received 33 stitches in his leg.[10][52][53]

Birbiglia is married to Jen Stein. They have one daughter, Oona.[54]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Stanley Cuba Stanley
2010 Going the Distance Toby the Waiter
2011 Cedar Rapids Trent
2011 Your Sister's Sister Al
2012 Sleepwalk with Me Matt Pandamiglio Also director, writer
2014 The Fault in Our Stars Patrick
2014 Adult Beginners Braden
2014 Annie Social services inspector
2015 Digging for Fire Phil
2015 Hot Pursuit Steve
2015 Trainwreck Tom
2016 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Blond CMZ Reporter
2016 Don't Think Twice Miles Also director, writer, producer
2016 Tramps Scott
2017 The Guardian Brothers Health inspector English version; voice[55]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Girls Brian Episode: "Vagina Panic"
2013–2014 Inside Amy Schumer Various 2 episodes: "Slow Your Roll" and "Wingwoman"
2015–2016 Orange Is the New Black Danny Pearson 12 episodes
2017 Broad City Richard Miller Episode: "House-Sitting"
2018 Billions Oscar Langstraat 3 episodes: "Hell of a Ride," "The Flaw in the Death Star," "The Third Ortolan"
2018 Summer Camp Island Howard Voice role

Standup specials

  • What I Should Have Said Was Nothing: Tales From My Secret Public Journal (2008)
  • My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2013) - also released as a comedy album
  • Thank God for Jokes (2017) - Netflix Originals special

Discography

  • 2004: Dog Years (out of print) (self-produced, winner of the "Just Plain Folks" comedy album of the year)
  • 2005: Invite Them Up (Comedy Central Records compilation CD of NYC indie comics)
  • 2005: My Secret Public Album, Volume 1a (weekly guest spots on The Bob and Tom Show)
  • 2006: Two Drink Mike
  • 2007: My Secret Public Journal Live
  • 2011: Sleepwalk with Me Live
  • 2013: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
  • 2017: Thank God for Jokes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Title Category Result
2003ECNY AwardStand-up comedyBest Male Stand-upWon
2009Nightlife AwardsSleepwalk with MeOutstanding Comedian in a Major EngagementWon
Outer Critics CircleOutstanding Solo ShowNominated
Lucille LortelOutstanding Solo ShowNominated
Drama DeskOutstanding Solo PerformanceNominated
2011Outer Critics CircleMy Girlfriend's BoyfriendOutstanding Solo ShowNominated
Drama DeskOutstanding Solo PerformanceNominated
Lucille LortelOutstanding Solo ShowWon
Thurber Prize for American HumorSleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True StoriesN/AFinalist
2012Sundance Film Festival Audience AwardSleepwalk with Me (Film)Best of NEXTWon
Gotham AwardsBreakthrough Actor[56]Nominated
2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Orange is the New Black Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
Lucille LortelMike Birbiglia: Thank God For Jokes[57]Outstanding Solo ShowNominated
2017 Just For Laughs Awards Stand-up comedy Stand-Up Comedian of the Year[58]Won
Kurt Vonnegut Humor Award[59] N/A N/AWon

References

  1. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Mike Birbiglia: Biography". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Edward-J-Patton-NY - User Trees". Genealogy.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lee Enterprises. "Comedian Birbiglia invites us to sleepwalk". stltoday.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ Birnbach, Lisa; Kidd, Chip, True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World, Random House Digital, Inc., 2010. Cf. p.68
  5. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia '96 Comedy Show" Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., St. Mark's School website, Thursday, May 5, 2011
  6. 1 2 3 Bacic, Ryan (12 October 2017). "Mike Birbiglia started in improv. Everything since has gone according to plan". Washington Post.
  7. ↑ Regen, Heather (October 7, 2010). "Considerate comedy from Mike Birbiglia". Georgetown Voice. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "To Mike Birbiglia's Parents: It's OK If Your Son Sticks To Comedy". All Things Considered. NPR. March 23, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Phillips, Michael (July 28, 2016). "Why failure is 'essential' to Mike Birbiglia". Chicago Tribune.
  10. 1 2 "Spending The Night With Sleepwalker Mike Birbiglia". Fresh Air. WHYY. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  11. ↑ Galtney, Smith (December 18, 2008). "Mike Birbiglia". Broadway.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  12. ↑ Staff (November 16, 2009). "The best comedy albums of the decade | Music | Best of". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  13. ↑ Weight, Rachel (January 23, 2007). "Introducing Stanley Cuba". Santa Barbara Independent.
  14. ↑ "STANLEY CUBA by Per Anderson - Narrative Feature Film @ Brooklyn Film Festival". www.brooklynfilmfestival.org. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  15. ↑ "Stanley Cuba | 8° Film Festival Internazionale di Milano". www.miff.it. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  16. ↑ Adalian, Josef (15 March 2008). "CBS greenlights 'Mike Birbiglia' pilot". Variety.
  17. ↑ Fox, Jesse David (19 July 2016). "Mike Birbiglia's Quest to Create Comedy of Communion". Vulture.
  18. ↑ Scheck, Frank (November 17, 2008). "For Cryin' & Laughin' Out Loud". New York Post. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Theater Review: Sleepwalk With Me – Theater and Musical Production Reviews". Variety. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  20. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (November 14, 2008). "Theater Review – 'Sleepwalk With Me' – Mike Birbiglia in a One-Man Show at the Bleecker Street Theater". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  21. ↑ Borden, Jane (December 18, 2009). "Best (and Worst) of 2009". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories Hits NY Times Bestseller List". BroadwayWorld.com. October 21, 2010. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  23. ↑ Schuessler, Jennifer (October 22, 2010). "Best Sellers: Hardcover Nonfiction". New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  24. ↑ Levingston, Steven (October 24, 2010). "Political Bookworm: Book World: Best Sellers". Washington Post. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  25. ↑ McCarthy, Sean (August 22, 2011). "2011 Thurber Prize Finalists: Mike Birbiglia, David Rakoff, and Rick Reilly". The Comic's Comic. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Comedy Albums, Week of May 7, 2011". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  27. ↑ Rich, Katey. "Top Sundance Prizes Go To Beasts Of the Southern Wild, The House I Live In, And More". Cinemablend.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  28. ↑ Odam, Matthew (February 15, 2012). "SXSW adds Seth MacFarlane, 'Blue Like Jazz', 'Sleepwalk With Me' and more". Austin360.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk With Me Wins Nantucket Film Festival Award". theater mania. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Sleepwalk With Me (2011)". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Outstanding Film and Television Performances Honored at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". www.sagawards.org. January 30, 2016.
  33. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Chad Deity, Angels, Christian Borle, Laurie Metcalf Are Lortel Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  34. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Mike Birbiglia's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend Plays Carnegie Hall June 2". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  35. ↑ Fox, Jesse David. "Birbiglia Is Already Working on His Second Feature, 'My Girlfriend's Boyfriend'". Splitsider. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  36. ↑ Fox, Jesse. "The Top Ten Stand-up Specials of 2013". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  37. ↑ Staff. "The 10 Best Stand-Up Specials of 2013". Paste. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  38. ↑ "The Laugh Button's Best Comedy Albums of 2013". The Laugh Button. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  39. ↑ Gadino, Dylan. "The 10 Best Comedy Albums of 2013". Laughspin. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  40. ↑ Seabaugh, Julie. "Best Comedy Specials of 2013". Time Out. New York. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014.
  41. ↑ Bailey, Jason. "The 50 Funniest Stand-Up Specials of All Time". Flavorwire. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  42. ↑ Coyle, Jake (July 20, 2016). "Birbiglia gives improv its first close-up on the big screen". AP News.
  43. ↑ Holden, Stephen (21 July 2016). "Review: 'Don't Think Twice': Mike Birbiglia's Smart Comedy". The New York Times.
  44. ↑ Davis, Clayton (10 January 2017). "Denver Film Critics Society Nominations: Doubling Down on the Aaron Taylor-Johnson Surge". AwardsCircuit.com.
  45. ↑ Wilson, Calvin (December 12, 2016). "St. Louis Film Critics Association announces nominations for awards". stltoday.com.
  46. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia's 'Thank God For Jokes' Premieres on Netflix Next Week". Splitsider. Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia announces 25 city tour with topless selfie!". Mike Birbiglia. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  48. ↑ "The Old Ones with Mike Birbiglia". iTunes. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  49. ↑ Clement, Olivia (July 26, 2018). "Mike Birbiglia: The New One Begins Off-Broadway". Playbill.
  50. ↑ "Contributors List: Mike Birbiglia". This American Life. Chicago Public Radio. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  51. ↑ Orr, Christopher (July 22, 2016). "Mike Birbiglia's Quiet Ambition". The Atlantic.
  52. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia". The Adam Carolla Show. October 14, 2010. Archived from the original (podcast) on October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  53. ↑ Klimek, Chris (October 9, 2009). "Comedian Mike Birbiglia returns to the scene of the crime". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  54. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia on President Obama's Parenting Advice". People. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015.
  55. ↑ Lee, Ashley (January 17, 2017). "Edward Norton, Bella Thorne, Jim Gaffigan Join Animated 'Guardian Brothers'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  56. ↑ Morfoot, Addie (November 29, 2012). "Oh, Russell Roasted!". Variety. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  57. ↑ "2016 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations Announced". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Mike Birbiglia Archives". Just For Laughs ComedyPRO. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  59. ↑ Cooper, Breanna. "Mike Birbiglia won't tear you a new one". NUVO. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
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