ACTOR FUN FACTS & BIO
Judge: Dave Foley
As the presiding improv judge on NBC's new improvisational comedy series, "Thank God You're Here," Foley says, "It's nice to finally have a job where my tendency to be judgmental can be fully embraced." Having mastered the art of sketch comedy with the cult favorite Canadian troupe "The Kids in the Hall" and a weekly comedy series as small town fish out of water at a New York radio station in the critical success "NewsRadio," funnyman Dave Foley has evolved into one of Hollywood's leading comedic actors. Foley was most currently seen on NBC's "Will & Grace" as "Stuart," an eccentric new client of "Will's" (Eric McCormack) who falls for "Jack" (Sean Hayes) and as host of Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown."
Born and raised in Toronto, Foley attended alternative high schools where he began performing stand-up comedy for a creative writing project. His interest in improv led him to comedy workshops, where he met and teamed with Kevin McDonald in 1982. One year later they formed "The Kids in the Hall."
By 1989, the "Kids" troupe had its own series on the Canadian Broadcasting Co. and later on HBO, where it aired until 1991. CBS and Comedy Central picked the show up right away, where it ran from 1992-1995, garnering several Emmy nominations along the way. In 1996, "The Kids" released the feature film, "Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy" for Paramount Pictures. "The Kids in the Hall" can currently be seen daily in syndication on Comedy Central.
After "Kids," Foley went on to star in the NBC comedy "NewsRadio" in 1995, as the seemingly unflappable Dave Nelson, the news director of WNYX, a Manhattan 'all news' radio station. His television guest appearances include "King of Queens," "Grounded For Life," "Just Shoot Me," "Becker," "Mr. Show" and "Mad TV."
Foley's feature film credits include "Blast From The Past," "Dick," "Whitecoats," "My Boss' Daughter" and "Stark Raving Mad." He also played astronaut Al Bean in HBO's critically acclaimed and Golden Globe winning mini-series "From Earth to the Moon," produced by Tom Hanks.
Foley, also an accomplished writer, wrote and starred in the 1999 film "The Wrong Guy." In 2002 he was credited as writer, director, executive producer and star of the television special "True Meaning of Christmas." In addition to his many roles in front of the camera, Dave has leant his unique voice to a number of animated roles in such projects as "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut," "Cyber World," "It's Tough to Be A Bug," "What's New Scooby Do?" and "A Bug's Life."
Foley attributes most of his interest in the performing arts to such stellar role models as Frank Zappa, Jerry Lewis, The Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton and Monty Python.