BIOGRAPHY:

Began his professional career as a stand up comic in the Seattle area in the mid '80s, though was acting in Seattle theater since a child. He got his proverbial 'big break' in 1990 as a stand up on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. An HBO special followed as well as a two year deal for his own show at Fox television, which did not produce a series. While at Fox he wrote and starred in several short films for the TV show "The Sunday Comics" (1991) which led to a starring role in the film Baby's Day Out (1994). Several other movies followed including Little Giants (1994) where he played overzealous father Mike Hammersmith (aka Spike's Dad), the presidents secret service agent Mitch in Mars Attacks! (1996) and muscular dope Christie in McHale's Navy (1997).

During the 1995 Super Bowl he was in a popular Miller Lite beer commercial where he played hard luck quarterback Elmer Bruker, the man who was on every winning Super Bowl team, but never played. In 1996 he replaced Lowell the mechanic (played by Thomas Haden Church on the NBC series "Wings" (1990) and in 1999 he played bartender Tom Vanderhulst on the short lived CBS series "Maggie Winters" (1998) with Faith Ford.

He has also played more serious rolls, including playing a detective in both Martin Scorsese's The Departed (2006) and the Cohen brothers film The Man Who Wasn't There (2001). He lives in New York and has a production company Sky Blue House Productions.

TRIVIA:

At the age of three his family moved to Saint-Jovite, Quebec, and he was put in a boarding home where he learned to speak fluent French. He hated the experience so much he refused to speak the language upon his return 18 months later, except to translate for his younger sister, who only spoke French.
Purchased many items at the Chasin's restaurant auction including the bar and the Frank Sinatra booth.
1988 Peoples Choice winner San Francisco Stand Up Comedy Competition, second place overall. Former 2nd place winners include Robin Williams, Kevin Pollock and Ellen Degeneres.
As a young teenager, he stumbled upon the movie set of _Scorchy (1976)_ (qv) while wandering in downtown Seattle. After seeing some of the movie being filmed and jumping into several background shots he met the star, Connie Stevens. He has stated this is where made up his mind to pursuit a career in movies.
His father is Italian/Irish, thus his middle name Carlo.
Former occupations include ranch hand, hay buck and logger.
Was a waiter for one day.
Winner of the United Cerebal Palsey Stand-up Comics Take a Stand (1988) (TV) (The search for Hollywoods hottest new comic)".

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