Mark DeCarlo
- Live Entertainers
Long before Mark was lauded for his voice characterization of Hugh Neutron in the Academy Award-nominated film and TV series Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, he was punished for doing the exact same thing in school. Nuns don't dig silly voices coming from the rear of math class. So, after 12 years of parochial education in Chicago, Ill., Mark escaped to UCLA and began his stand-up comedy career. Broke, he appeared on the NBC game show Sale of the Century, and 11 shows later, retired as Sale's all-time champion, winning $115,736 and the world's ugliest eelskin coat. Without an immediate need to wait tables, Mark decided to perform in front of them.
He founded The Frayed Knots!, a six-member improv/sketch group, and directed and performed with the group for five years. In 1988, Mark was hired by The Second City, as a founding member of the legendary troupe's West Coast sketch company. Mark performed in several original revues before the quake-ravaged theater closed in 1990. Episodic TV appearances and bit parts in films led, somehow, to a hosting gig on a silly dating show. Studs became a breakout hit in syndication, but was mysteriously canceled at the peak of its popularity, after 580 episodes. So Mark hit the road, performing his stand-up act at venues such as the Improvs, Laugh Factories — even The Comedy Store — and anywhere two or more gathered in the name of yuks.
In May 1994, he created, executive-produced and hosted the groundbreaking late-night comedy/talk show Goodnight America for its only season. In 1997, Mark returned to Fox to host Big Deal, a primetime Sunday night comedy show. Mark also hosted The X Show, the popular FX late-night comedy, during its first season, ending his run in June 2000, after 220 episodes, to act in Seinfeld, Boy Meets World, Evening at the Improv, Matlock, The Ben Stiller Show and HBO's Tracey Takes On... and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Mark also has voiced characters on cartoons, including Duckman, Real Monsters, Rugrats, the No.1 IMAX box office hit Santa vs. the Snowman and Steve Oedekerk's Thumb series of comedy specials on Showtime, Thumbtanic, Thumb Wars: The Phantom Cuticle and The Godthumb.
Mark thrives behind the camera as well. In 1998, he formed GlugginMARX Productions with Mark L. Walberg, to create and produce TV shows. Their first effort, the Hallmark Channel's Sunday Dinner, featured celebrities reuniting with their families to cook and share stories. The Jack Cash Show, a comedy game show, features Mark as the voice of Jack Cash, the cartoon donkey host.
Mark's film career is on the rise, too. He played God in the romantic comedy Three Days. He's also appeared in Three to Tango; A Wake in Providence; A Fare to Remember; Betty Thomas' R3, a new Guffman-esque comedy about reality TV; Garry Marshall's Raising Helen; Raising Genius, a comedy with Wendy Malick and Steven Root; and Mobsters & Mormons (to be released fall 2005). In addition, Mark wrote and will star in the feature film Mr. MOJO, "a romantic comedy with the Blues."
Last, he recently completed work on a two comedy pilots, The Best for Comedy Central and Bar Car. He also guest stars on Fox's Oliver Beene. He's currently working on Ant Bully and Barnyard, two new animated feature films.
When not eating all over the country for the Travel Channel's Taste of America with Mark DeCarlo, he lives in the Hollywood Hills.