David Cross Biography

David Cross (born April 4, 1964) is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian known primarily for his standup work, the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show, and his role as Tobias Fünke in the sitcom Arrested Development. Cross created, wrote, executive produced, and starred in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret; developed and had a prominent role in the Comedy Central animated sitcom Freak Show; and has a recurring role in the ABC sitcom Modern Family.

Early life

Cross was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Susi and Barry who emigrated from Leeds, England. Six months after his birth, Cross's family moved to Florida. After additional moves to New York and Connecticut, the family settled back in Roswell, Georgia, where Cross remained for nearly a decade. His family was poor and Barry left the family when Cross was ten years old, and Cross and Barry have not spoken since he was 19, though they both primarily resided in New York City until Cross sold his home there in 2011. Cross and his family were evicted from their home while living in Georgia. He spent some time living in motels and at friends' homes while growing up. He has two sisters, and once bailed his youngest sibling out of jail.

Career

Beginnings in comedy

Cross began performing stand-up comedy at 17. The day after he graduated from high school, Cross went to New York. Lacking a plan, he drifted around, working briefly for a lawn care company on Long Island, and later enrolled at Emerson College in Boston. He would drop out after only a semester, but during his time there, Cross joined This is Pathetic, a college sketch group, where he met John Ennis. In the summer of 1985, the two aspiring actors took a road trip to Los Angeles, although this did not significantly further their acting careers. In Boston, Cross began to perform stand-up more regularly. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, Boston had a booming comedy scene, although Cross did not fit the types of acts being booked most of the time. He recalls that it was "a loud-, dumb-, pandering-, racist-, homophobic-type scene".

In 1990, a new comedy scene began to emerge at the famous comedy club chain called Catch a Rising Star (where many of the comedians of the 1970s and 1980s got their start). Cross"?along with Janeane Garofalo, Louis C.K., and other comics"?appeared regularly several nights a week. Cross formed the sketch comedy group "Cross Comedy" with twelve other performers, and they put on a new show every week. They were known for playing tricks on the audience, such as introducing fake comics or planting fake hecklers. Cross became increasingly focused on his comedy work. Cross performed at the alternative comedy club Un-Cabaret in Los Angeles.

Cross continues to perform stand-up, in which he blends political commentary and satire. In 1999, he was given his own one-hour comedy special on HBO, entitled The Pride Is Back. He has released three recordings, Shut Up You Fucking Baby!, It's Not Funny, and Bigger and Blackerer. Cross' stand up material was featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. In 2004, Shut Up You Fucking Baby! was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. In 2003, he released his first tour film, Let America Laugh, and was named #85 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest stand-ups of all time. He appears on Un-Cabaret compilation albums, including Freak Weather Feels Different and The Good, the Bad and the Drugly.

Work on The Ben Stiller Show, Mr. Show and other programs

Cross began his professional television career as a writer on The Ben Stiller Show. The short-lived Fox Network series hired him toward the end of its run, and he occasionally made brief appearances in the sketches. He had a speaking role in "The Legend of T.J. O'Pootertoot", a sketch written almost entirely by Cross. It was during this period that he first met Bob Odenkirk, with whom he would later co-create the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show in 1995. Cross won an Emmy for his work on The Ben Stiller Show in 1993.

Cross later co-starred as Tobias Fünke in Arrested Development, which was originally intended to be only a minor role. He has also played smaller roles on programs such as Just Shoot Me!, The Drew Carey Show, NewsRadio, Strangers with Candy, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Since October 2005, Cross has appeared on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report as Stephen Colbert's arch-nemesis, a fictional liberal radio talk show host from Madison, Wisconsin named "Russ Lieber". Cross also developed an animated series for Comedy Central called Freak Show, which co-starred H. Jon Benjamin, and was cancelled due to low ratings. He has appeared several times on the MTV2 series Wonder Showzen.

Cross teamed up with "Mr. Show" Producer/Director Troy Miller and Odenkirk to produce a feature film Run Ronnie Run, based on one of their Mr. Show characters. The film satirized the reality television craze, and featured cameos from many stars; however, Odenkirk got into conflict with the studio New Line Cinema, and they then released it direct-to-video. In 1994 and again in 1999, Cross was a guest voice actor on Joe Frank's radio show, featured in the episodes "The Last Run", "A Hearing", "The O.J. Chronicles", and "Jam". In 2013, he returned, making an appearance in an episode of Frank's radio show, entitled "A Conversation."

In 2004, Cross provided voices for a Marine in the Xbox game Halo 2, and a store clerk named Zero in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He also was the voice of the violent, alcoholic "Happy-Time Harry" doll and Bert Banana in Aqua Teen Hunger Force (although the part was credited as Sir Willups Brightslymoore). He has also made guest appearances in the Adult Swim series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. He directed the music video for The Black Keys' song "10am Automatic", a spoof of public-access television.

Cross appeared in The Strokes' music video for "Juicebox" as a bad local "morning zoo" radio DJ. He also appeared in The New Pornographers' video for "Use It", in Superchunk's video for "Watery Hands" (along with Janeane Garofalo), and in Yo La Tengo's video for "Sugarcube" (along with Bob Odenkirk and John Ennis). Cross contributes to Vice magazine, writing a column titled "My America".

In 2005, he contributed to the UNICEF benefit song "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" and appeared in one of PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaigns.

In the Beastie Boys' 2006 concert film Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!, Cross played the character Nathaniel Hörnblowér in the fictional segment "A Day in the Life of Nathaniel Hörnblowér". In the Bob Dylan biographical film I'm Not There, Cross played the role of poet Allen Ginsberg. Both Bill Lawrence and Zach Braff of Scrubs were eager to have Cross cameo on the show as Tobias Fünke, but because of the series' cancellation, the plan never came to fruition.

Cross provided commentary on the Vicarious music video DVD for the band Tool. He has previously performed comedy as an opening act for the band, and its members appeared on Mr. Show several times. He played Ian Hawke in Alvin and the Chipmunks, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and voiced Crane in the 2008 movie Kung Fu Panda, a role which he has continued through most of the animated franchise.

Cross starred in a pilot for HBO called David's Situation which filmed in May 2008 and included many Mr. Show alumni at the taping. On August 6, 2008, Bob Odenkirk announced on bobanddavid.com that David's Situation would not be produced.

Cross' comedy series The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, which he co-wrote with writer Shaun Pye, has run on Channel 4 in the UK and the cable channel IFC in the U.S.

In 2009, Cross released his first book, I Drink for a Reason. The book features memoirs, satirical fictional memoirs and material from Cross that originally appeared in other publications.

In September 2009, Cross performed at his own comedy stage at the ATP New York 2009 music festival, for which he picked Eugene Mirman, Jon Benjamin & Jon Glaser and Derrick Brown & The Navy Gravy to join him. In 2009 Cross, along with Jon Benjamin, created and wrote for Paid Programming, a live action television pilot for Cartoon Network's late night programing block, Adult Swim. Paid Programming was not picked up for a full series, and Benjamin referred to it as an "abject failure".

On March 29, 2010 Cross's first comedy special in six years, "Bigger and Blackerer", was streamed on Epix HD. A CD with "slightly different content" was released on May 25, 2010.

Cross starred alongside Julia Stiles and America Ferrera in the dark comedy It's a Disaster, which premiered at the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival. Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired the US distribution rights to the film, and plans to release it in select theaters starting April 13, 2013.

Personal life

Although he was raised Jewish, Cross is now an atheist and does not practice Judaism.

In August 2011, after two years of dating, Cross became engaged to actress Amber Tamblyn. The couple wed on October 6, 2012.

On September 26, 2013, Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler revealed that Cross was the first investor in the crowdfunding platform. Strickler included Cross among the "friends and family" who first financed Kickstarter in 2006.

Controversies

In October 2005, Cross was sued by Nashville club owner Thomas Weber, who accused Cross of taping him without permission for Shut Up You Fucking Baby and Let America Laugh in violation of Weber's privacy rights. In April 2006 the case against Cross himself was dismissed and the case proceeded with Warner Music, Subpop Records, WEA Corporation, and the Alternative Distribution Alliance.

In a 2012 interview with Playboy magazine, Cross revealed that he had snorted a small amount of cocaine at the 2009 White House Correspondents' Dinner. Cross said, "It wasn't like I got high...It was just about being able to say that I did it, that I did cocaine in the same room as the president."

Criticisms

Larry the Cable Guy

In April 2005, Cross criticized stand-up comedian Larry the Cable Guy in a Rolling Stone interview, saying, "It's a lot of anti-gay, racist humor"?which people like in America"?all couched in 'I'm telling it like it is.' He's in the right place at the right time for that gee-shucks, proud-to-be-a-redneck, I'm-just-a-straight-shooter-multimillionaire-in-cutoff-flannel-selling-ring-tones act. That's where we are as a nation now. We're in a state of vague American values and anti-intellectual pride." In response, Larry devoted a chapter in his book GIT-R-DONE to Cross and the "P.C. left", claiming that Cross had "screwed with my fans, it was time for me to say something". Larry claimed that Rolling Stone was baiting comedians to attack him, and they turned to Cross only after Lewis Black refused (due to the fact that Larry and Lewis are good friends). Cross responded with An Open Letter to Larry the Cable Guy posted on his website. He continued to mock Larry in his stand-up, satirizing Blue Collar TV during a guest appearance on Wonder Showzen. In December 2005, he ended his performance on Comedy Central's Last Laugh '05 by mockingly yelling "GIT-R-DONE!" (Larry the Cable Guy's catchphrase) to the audience as he left the stage. He pokes fun at Larry's comedy in Freak Show with a character called "Danny the Plumber Guy".

James Lipton

Cross has criticized Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton on a Mr. Show sketch and in his stand-up performance The Pride Is Back, calling him "pretentious." Lipton, who thought that Cross's impression of him was not good-natured, would later appear alongside Cross in Arrested Development, in the recurring role of Prison Warden Stefan Gentles. During filming, Cross was impressed with Lipton's acting and comedic ability, and the two became good friends. On one commentary track for season four of Mr. Show, Cross discussed the encounter, complimenting Lipton for his professionalism and performance, saying that he liked Lipton personally but still "didn't care for" Inside The Actors Studio.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Responding to critics of his decision to appear in the critically panned but commercially successful Alvin and the Chipmunks, Cross noted that the film paid for a summer home, and more than "all my other projects combined: book, TV show, the two pilots, Year One, yeah." Although he has admitted to taking the role primarily for the money, he has said that he does not regret doing so or consider it to be "selling out" as he has nothing against entertainment designed for children to enjoy that does not send a bad message. Cross reprised his Chipmunks role in the film's two sequels. In 2011, Cross said that making Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, the third film, was, in contrast, "the most unpleasant experience I've ever had in my professional life." He stated that this was due to clashes with one particular producer involved in the movie that he would not name, though he specified that it was not anyone in the cast, nor the director, and later posted a note to his Facebook page clarifying that it was not executive producers Janice Karman or Ross Bagdasarian either, whom he stated "were never anything but warm, giving, and gracious" and regretted that some speculated they were the producers to whom he referred.

Discography

Comedy albums

Year	Title
2002	Shut Up You Fucking Baby!
2004	It's Not Funny
2010	Bigger and Blackerer

Tour documentary

Year	Title
2003	Let America Laugh

Compilation appearances

Year	Title
2004	Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1
2005	Invite Them Up
2007	Comedy Death-Ray

Bibliography

Year	Title	Publisher
2009	I Drink for a Reason	Grand Central Publishing, New York (ISBN 978-0-446-57948-3)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995	Destiny Turns on the Radio	Ralph Dellaposa
1996	The Truth About Cats & Dogs	Male Radio Caller/Bookstore Man
1996	The Cable Guy	Sales Manager
1996	Waiting for Guffman	UFO Expert
1997	Who's the Caboose?	Jaded Guy
1997	Men in Black	Newton, the Morgue Attendant
1998	Small Soldiers	Irwin Wayfair
1998	The Thin Pink Line	Tommy Dantsbury
1999	Can't Stop Dancing	Chapman
2000	Chain of Fools	Andy
2001	Ghost World	Gerrold
2001	Dr. Dolittle 2	Dog #2	Voice
2001	Pootie Tang	Pootie Tang imposter
2001	Scary Movie 2	Dwight Hartman
2002	Life Without Dick	Rex
2002	Men in Black II	Newton, the Video Store Attendant
2002	Martin & Orloff	Dan Wasserman
2002	Run Ronnie Run	Ronnie	Also writer DVD Exclusive Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere Movie Nominated " DVD Exclusive Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere Movie
2003	Melvin Goes to Dinner	Seminar Leader	Phoenix Film Festival Copper Wing Award
2004	Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind	Rob
2006	Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!	Nathaniel Hörnblowér
2006	She's the Man	Principal Gold
2006	Curious George	Junior Bloomsberry	Voice
2006	School for Scoundrels	Ian Winsky
2007	Crashing	Man in Space
2007	The Grand	Larry Schwartzman
2007	I'm Not There	Allen Ginsberg
2007	Battle for Terra	Giddy	Voice
2007	Alvin and The Chipmunks	Ian Hawke
2008	The Toe Tactic	Timmy	Voice
2008	Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs	Yivo	Voice Direct-to-video
2008	Kung Fu Panda	Crane	Voice
2008	The Legend of Secret Pass	Loo	Voice
2009	Meltdown	Ham Sandwich	Short
2009	Year One	Cain
2009	Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel	Ian Hawke
2010	Megamind	Minion	Voice
2011	Fight For Your Right Revisited	Nathaniel Hörnblowér	Short
2011	Megamind: The Button of Doom	Minion	Voice Short
2011	Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked	Ian Hawke
2011	Kung Fu Panda 2	Crane	Voice
2011	Demoted	Ken Castro
2012	It's a Disaster	Glenn Randolph
2013	Kill Your Darlings	Louis Ginsberg
2015	Kung Fu Panda 3	Crane	Voice

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992"1993	The Ben Stiller Show	Boyfriend / Stage Manager	Writer Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program (1993)
1995	A Bucket of Blood	Charlie	TV movie
1995"1998	Mr. Show with Bob and David	Host/Various	Creator, writer Nominated " Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program (1998, 1999) Nominated " Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics (1998)
1996"1997	The Drew Carey Show	Earl	Episodes: "Drew and the Unstable Element" "Two Drews and the Queen of Poland Walk Into a Bar"
1996, 1998	NewsRadio	David Theo	Episodes: "Houses of the Holy" "Chock"
1997"1998	Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist	David	Voice Episodes: "Big Fat Slug" "Paranoia"
1997"2000	Tenacious D	Comic Dressed as Nun	Co-creator, writer, executive producer
1998	Hercules	Fear	Voice Episode: "Hercules and the Owl of Athens"
1999, 2000, 2003	Just Shoot Me!	Donnie DiMauro	Episodes: "Slow Donnie" "Donnie Returns" "Donnie Redeemed"
2000	Strangers with Candy	Dr. Trepanning	Episode: "Is My Daddy Crazy?"
2001	Home Movies	Guy in Grocery Store	Voice Episode: "Brendon's Choice"
2002"2003	Aqua Teen Hunger Force	Happy Time Harry Bert Banana	Episodes: "Dumber Dolls" "The Last One" "Bible Fruit"
2003"2004	Oliver Beene	future Oliver David Beene	Voice Series regular
2003	King of the Hill	Ward Rackley	Voice Episode: "Witches of East Arlen"
2003"2004	Crank Yankers	Benjamin Dubois Ray Shanty	2 episodes
2003"2006, 2013	Arrested Development	Dr. Tobias Fünke	Series regular Nominated " Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2005, 2006)
2004	Pilot Season	Ben	Voice Episodes: "Hope Springs Eternal" "Reunited"
2005	Tom Goes to the Mayor	Todd	Voice Episode: "Calcucorn"
2005"2007	The Colbert Report	Russ Lieber	Voice 7 episodes
2006	O'Grady	Randy Harnisch	Voice Episode: "Big Jerk on Campus"
2006	Wonder Showzen	T-Totaled Timbo Junkyard Jessip Storytime Hostage	Episodes: "Middle America" "Horse Apples" "Cooperation"
2006	Freak Show	Benny Primi Various	Voice Series regular
2006	Family Guy	Jerry Kirkwood	Voice Episode: "Prick Up Your Ears"
2007"2008	Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!	Pizza Boy Pussy Doodles Artist Lou	Episodes: "Abstinence" "Innernette" "Greene Machine"
2007	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Ronnie Chase	Episode: "Bombshell"
2007	Odd Job Jack	Julius J	Episode: "King Ho"
2008	David's Situation	David	Failed pilot
2008	Human Giant	Peter Burns	Episodes: "Still Here, Man. Still Here." "She Be a Witch"
2009	Important Things with Demetri Martin	Co-worker	Episode: "Chairs"
2009	Paid Programming		Failed pilot Co-creator
2010"2011	Running Wilde	Dr. Andy Weeks	7 episodes
2010"2012	The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret	Todd Margaret	Creator, writer, associate producer
2011	Archer	Noah	Voice Episodes: "Heart of Archness: Part I" "Heart of Archness: Part II" "Heart of Archness: Part III"
2011	Soul Quest Overdrive	Bert	Voice
2011"2012	Modern Family	Duane	Episodes: "Door to Door" "Hit and Run" "Little Bo Bleep"
2012	Mary Shelley's Frankenhole	Jim Belushi John Belushi	Voice Episode: "Robert Louis Stevenson's Belushi"
2012"2013	Comedy Bang Bang	Chef Himself	2 Episodes

Music videos

Year	Title	Role
1997	"Watery Hands" by Superchunk	Actor
1997	"Sugarcube" by Yo La Tengo	Actor
2004	"10 A.M. Automatic" by The Black Keys	Director
2005	"Juicebox" by The Strokes	Actor
2005	"Use It" by The New Pornographers	Actor
2006	"Vicarious" DVD by Tool	Commentary
2011	"Make Some Noise" by Beastie Boys	Actor

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2004	Halo 2	Marine	Voice G-Phoria Award for Best Voice Male Performance
2004	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas	Zero	Voice
2009	Brütal Legend	The Screamer	Voice