Nick Kroll

Nick Kroll
Kroll at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.
Born Nicholas Kroll
(1978-06-05) June 5, 1978
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater Georgetown University
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active 2004–present
Parent(s) Jules Kroll
Website www.nickkroll.com

Nicholas Kroll (born June 5, 1978)[1] is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for his role as Rodney Ruxin in the FX/FXX comedy series The League, and for creating and starring in the Comedy Central series Kroll Show and the Netflix series Big Mouth. He has had supporting roles in films such as I Love You, Man, Date Night, Get Him to the Greek, Dinner for Schmucks, and A Good Old Fashioned Orgy and more prominent roles in films such as Adult Beginners, Joshy, My Blind Brother, Sausage Party, Loving, Sing, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, The House, Uncle Drew, and Operation Finale.

Early life and education

Kroll was born in New York State, and raised in Yonkers, New York.[2][3] He is the son of Lynn and Jules Kroll, a businessman who founded Kroll Inc., a corporate investigations and risk consulting firm.[1][4] The youngest child in the family,[5] he has a brother, Jeremy, and two sisters, Vanessa and Dana.[1] He grew up in a Conservative Jewish family,[6] and attended the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester.[7] He went on to high school at Yonkers High School.[8] During this time, he also briefly attended The Mountain School in Vermont where he developed his fondness for hiking.[9] In 2001, Kroll graduated from Georgetown University.[5] He described himself as "a history major, and I minored in art and Spanish, but I found myself gravitating toward media studies as time went on."[10]

Career

Early in his career, Kroll contributed writing for Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show and MTV's Human Giant. In November and December 2008, he toured with Aziz Ansari on his Glow in the Dark comedy tour in the United States. Kroll's live work is a mix of standup, sketch and characters. In 2011, Comedy Central aired his stand-up special Thank You Very Cool. He has studied and performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC and LA and co-hosted the stand-up show Welcome to Our Week with Jessi Klein.

He is well-known as a performer for his characters such as Bobby Bottleservice, who has been featured in a number of online videos for the Funny or Die website, including the Ed Hardy Boyz and an audition tape for the MTV show Jersey Shore. Other characters include Ref Jeff and Fabrice Fabrice, and Gil Faizon of The Oh, Hello Show, who he created with writing partner John Mulaney. His character work features prominently in Kroll Show, a sketch comedy show on Comedy Central. Kroll was honored with the Breakout Star of the Year award from the 2013 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In recent years, Kroll has taken several non-comedic acting roles, such as that of Bernie Cohen in Loving and Rafi Eitan in Operation Finale, both historical drama films. He also co-created and stars in the animated series Big Mouth on Netflix.

The Oh, Hello Show

Most recently, Kroll toured the U.S. alongside John Mulaney in a show called Oh, Hello, with both in character as Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland, respectively. The show premiered on Broadway on September 23, 2016 and ran for six months to positive reviews. The Broadway performance was filmed and released on Netflix in 2017.[11]

Television

Kroll's first significant career success came when he co-starred in the ABC sitcom Cavemen, based on the Geico-insurance TV-commercial characters. Although the show was cancelled after seven episodes, he called his role “the most important experience of my professional career”.[12] He went on to VH1's Best Week Ever, and to guest-starring roles on Parks and Recreation, Community, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and New Girl. He made appearances on numerous Comedy Central series such as Reno 911!,[13] John Oliver's New York Stand Up Show, and The Benson Interruption, both performing as himself and in character.

Kroll had a starring role as Rodney Ruxin in the FXX comedy series The League, which aired October 29, 2009 to December 9, 2015. Concurrently, he created and starred in his own Comedy Central sketch series, Kroll Show, which aired January 16, 2013 to March 24, 2015. Kroll has a recurring role on Childrens Hospital on Adult Swim. His voice work includes the character Stu on the HBO animated series The Life & Times of Tim, as well as Andrew LeGustambos, the flamboyant, bisexual drama teacher in the animated Fox comedy series Sit Down, Shut Up.[14] voiced to sound like a "modern day Snagglepuss",[14][15] and as Reuben Grinder in the PBS Kids GO! series WordGirl. Kroll was one of the roasters on the Comedy Central Roast of James Franco.

In 2017, Kroll co-created, wrote, and starred in Big Mouth, an animated television show on Netflix.[16] The show features the experiences of a group of 7th graders in the throes of puberty. Two of the main characters are based on, and named after, Kroll and his best friend from childhood, Andrew Goldberg.[16] The second season premiered on October 5, 2018.

Film

Kroll starred in A Good Old Fashioned Orgy and had supporting roles in comedy films such as Sausage Party, Sing, Dinner For Schmucks, Date Night, Get Him to the Greek, Adventures of Power, and I Love You Man.

In 2017, Kroll had a voice role as villainous mad scientist Professor Poopypants in the DreamWorks animated superhero film Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. Although many critics only either mentioned his character in passing, some pointing out his similarities with Albert Einstein,[17][18][19] or his "committed" performance,[20][21] Matt Zoller Seitz took particular note of his performance, praising it as "irrepressibly silly" with "an orange juice spit-take voice". Seitz further stated that "[t]he way Kroll savors every syllable of his alternately peevish, self-pitying and nonsensical dialogue—aided mightily by the animators, who've given the character a fireplug body and a waddling walk—transforms the ridiculous into the sublime."[22]

Book

  • Bennett, Roger; Kroll, Nick; Shell, Jules (2005). Bar Mitzvah Disco. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-1400080441.

Personal life

In May 2013, Kroll began dating comedian and actress Amy Poehler. Kroll is mentioned several times in her 2014 memoir, Yes Please.[23] They ended their relationship in 2015.[24]

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
2008The Negotiating TableWGA employeeShort film
2008Adventures of PowerVersatio Bakir
2009I Love You, ManLarry
2010Date NightThe Maître D
2010Get Him to the GreekKevin McLean
2010Dinner for SchmucksJosh
2010Little FockersYoung Doctor
2011A Good Old Fashioned OrgyAdam Richman
2014Adult BeginnersJake WentonAlso writer
2015VacationColorado Cop
2015Knight of CupsNick
2016JoshyEric
2016My Blind BrotherBill
2016Sausage PartyDouche (voice)
2016LovingBernie Cohen
2016SingGunter (voice)[25][26]
2017Captain Underpants: The First Epic MovieProfessor Poopypants (voice)
2017The HouseBob Schaeffer
2018Uncle DrewMookie
2018Operation FinaleRafi Eitan
2019The Secret Life of Pets 2Larry (voice)In production
2019The Addams FamilyUncle Fester (voice)In production
Television shows
Year Title Role Notes
2006Late Night with Conan O'BrienVariousEpisode: "2269"
2006Cheap Seats without Ron ParkerTodd LazarovEpisode: "NFL/MLB Arm Wrestling"
2006Samurai Love God(voice)Miniseries
2007Human GiantFabrice Fabrice, Various, Brolin DiBiasi2 episodes
2007–2008CavemenNick Hedge8 episodes
2008Best Week EverHimselfEpisode: "November 14, 2008"
2008–2009Worst WeekAdam6 episodes
2008–2011Childrens HospitalNicky, Dr. Geza6 episodes
2008–2012The Life & Times of TimStu (voice)30 episodes
2009Reno 911!El Chupacabra3 episodes
2009Mayne StreetPaparazzoEpisode: "There's Ben"
2009Sit Down, Shut UpAndrew LeGustambos (voice)13 episodes
2009–2010WordGirlReuben Grinder (voice)2 episodes
2009–2015The LeagueRodney RuxinMain cast; also writer
2010Nick Swardson's Pretend TimeHeadmasterEpisode: "I Just Got Voodoo'd"
2010John Oliver's New York Stand-Up ShowHimselfEpisode: "1.1" (as Fabrice Fabrice), "1.5"
2011CommunityJuergenEpisode: "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism"
2011PortlandiaDaniel PrisonEpisode: "Baseball"
2011–2012American Dad!Dry Cleaner, Student, Andy Dick (voice)4 episodes
2011–2015Parks and RecreationThe Douche5 episodes
2012–2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Various5 episodes
2013–2015Kroll ShowVarious characters23 episodes; also co-creator, executive producer, writer
2013New GirlJamieEpisode: "Chicago"
2013Burning LoveKhris4 episodes
2013The Greatest Event in Television HistoryJeremy BayEpisode: "Hart to Hart"
2013The SoupHimselfEpisode: "9.55"
2013Comedy Central Roast of James FrancoRoasterTV special
2013Family GuyRicky (voice)Episode: "Into Harmony's Way"
2013Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!Himself3 episodes
2013The Jeselnik OffensiveHimself2 episodes
2014Drunk HistoryRonald ReaganEpisode: "Hollywood"
2014MulaneyJesse Tyler MunozEpisode: "It's a Wonderful Home Alone"
2015Brooklyn Nine-NineAgent KendrickEpisode: "Windbreaker City"
2015Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtChristopher "Tristafé" MicelliEpisode: "Kimmy Rides a Bike!"
2015The Grace Helbig ShowHimselfEpisode: "Nick Kroll & Tyler Oakley"
2015The SimpsonsLem (voice)Episode: "Halloween of Horror"
2015SuperMansionCleb (voice)Episode: "Babes In The Wood"
2016Animals.Jerry (voice)Episode: "Pigeons."
2016Bajillion Dollar Propertie$Graham SimonEpisode: "Predator Party"
2016Mr. Neighbor's HousePhoto Joe (voice)TV special
201732nd Independent Spirit AwardsHimself (host)TV special
2017Bob's BurgersMr. Desanto / Customer (voice)Episode: "Ain't Miss Debatin'"
2017Oh, Hello on BroadwayGil FaizonTV special
2017I'm SorryLonEpisode: "Weekend Alone"
2017–presentBig MouthNick Birch / various voices20 episodes; also co-creator, executive producer, writer
2017At Home with Amy SedarisRandy FingerlingEpisode: "Gift Giving"
201833rd Independent Spirit AwardsHimself (host)TV special
2018PortlandiaGil FaizonEpisode: "Peter Follows P!nk"

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result
2009Denver Film Critics Society AwardDenver Film Critics Society Award for Best Acting EnsembleI Love You, ManNominated
2015People's Choice Award[27]Favorite Sketch Comedy TV ShowKroll ShowNominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nick Kroll". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  2. Phelan, Kevin (12 December 2014). "Rye native Nick Kroll talks 'Kroll Show'". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. Petersen, Anne Helen (5 March 2015). "Nick Kroll's Walk In the Park". BuzzFeed.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. Barnett, Megan (1 December 2010). "Nick Kroll: The other, other Kroll". Fortune. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 Kroll, Nick. "Make 'Em Laugh: Nick Kroll (C'01)". Georgetown Alumni Online. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. Schleier, Curt (28 October 2016). "Comedian Nick Kroll is serious about being funny". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  7. Serico, Chris (16 January 2013). "'Kroll Show' star Nick Kroll recalls Rye upbringing". Newsday Hudson Buzz blog via Serico Stories. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  8. Gordon, Barry (16 August 2011). "Growing Up in Rye Helps TV Star". Rye, New York: Rye.Patch.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  9. Goldman, Andrew (13 January 2013). "Taking A Hike". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  10. Kroll in Heisler, Steve (29 October 2009). "Nick Kroll". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  11. Kurp, Josh. "John Mulaney And Nick Kroll's Broadway Show 'Oh, Hello' Is Coming To Netflix". Uproxx.com. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  12. Petersen, Anne Helen (5 March 2015). "Nick Kroll's Walk In the Park". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  13. WTF with Marc Maron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_frQMqxdvUw
  14. 1 2 Jensen, Michael (15 January 2009). "Fox's animated "Sit Down, Shut Up" includes bisexual male character". After Elton. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  15. "Sit Down, Shut Up". (official site) Fox. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  16. 1 2 Gross, Terry. "Best Of: Nick Kroll & John Mulaney / 'Shape Of Water' Fish Man". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  17. Jones, Oliver (2 June 2017). "'Captain Underpants' Is an Inspired and Subversive Piece of Animated Silliness". Observer. Observer Media. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  18. Russo, Tom (1 June 2017). "Feeling silly? 'Captain Underpants' is here for you". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  19. Greenblatt, Leah (2 June 2017). "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is a 'tighty-whitey triumph' with charm to spare". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  20. Berardinelli, James (1 June 2017). "Captain Underpants (United States, 2017)". Reelviews. James Berardinelli. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  21. Oller, Jacob (2 June 2017). "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie". Paste Magazine. Paste Media Group. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  22. Seitz, Matt Zoller (2 June 2017). "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Movie Review (2017)". RogerEbert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  23. Johnson, Zach. "Amy Poehler Breaks Her Silence on Calling It Quits With Will Arnett: "Getting a Divorce Really Sucks"". E! Online. E!. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  24. Blasberg, Derek. "Nick Kroll, Comedy's Ultimate Tool, Is Actually a Pretty Decent Guy". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 13 January 2017. (He and Amy Poehler split up in 2015 after two years of dating.)
  25. Yuen, Jenny (11 September 2016). "TIFF 2016: Matthew McConaughey optimistic about 'Sing'". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  26. Trumbore, Dave (11 November 2015). "Meet the Animated Animals of Illumination Entertainment's 2016 Musical Comedy, 'Sing'". Collider. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  27. Toomey, Alyssa (4 November 2014). "Jennifer Lawrence, Shailene Woodley and Robert Downey Jr. Among People's Choice Nominees, Plus Find Out Who's Hosting!". E!. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
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