Tom Papa Biography

Thomas Ludovico Papa (born November 10, 1968) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, television/radio host.

Early life

Papa was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey and later Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, where he graduated from Pascack Hills High School in 1986.

He is a graduate of Rider University.

Career

Stand-up comedy

Tom Papa's most recent stand-up "Freaked Out" aired on Epix and Netflix in July 2013. Tom has recorded three stand up specials for Comedy Central, the most recent of which is the one-hour stand-up special, Tom Papa Live in New York City that was shot at the Union Square Theater and directed by Rob Zombie. The special appeared on Comedy Central on January 8, 2012. Tom has thirteen appearances on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2005 he released his debut comedy album Calm, Cool, & Collected. He is a frequent guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman. His one man show Only Human opened to rave reviews at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.

Tom started his stand-up career in New York City in 1993 playing open mics and hosting at the Stand Up New York comedy club. Papa got his first big break when he was hand-picked by comedian Jerry Seinfeld to perform on his tour after meeting at the Comedy Cellar in New York.

Radio

Tom is the host of the popular hit Sirius/XM radio show Come to Papa that airs on channel 99. The weekly program has attracted some of the biggest names in comedy including Mel Brooks, Ray Romano, Dick Cavett, Carl Reiner and Jerry Seinfeld. In addition to his interviews Tom also writes and performs Come to Papa Live which is a version of a classic radio play combined with standup performance, music and sketches. Come to Papa Live is performed once a month alternating between The Village Underground in New York and Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles. Guests on Come to Papa Live include Matt Damon, Sara Silverman, Joel Mchale, Andy Richter, Jim Gaffigan and many more. Past interviews, live shows and podcasts can be found on Itunes and Cometopapalive.com

TV/FILM

Tom just completed hosting the FOX show Boom! which aired in the summer of 2015. He also has a recurring role as Luff, in 'The Knick' starring Clive Owen that airs on HBO and Cinemax. Tom appeared in Chris Rock's movie Top Five and Tom starred as Ray Arnett alongside Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra which aired on HBO on May 26, 2013. This is his second film with director Steven Soderbergh.

He played opposite Matt Damon in Steven Soderbergh's 2009 film The Informant! He also played the title character of El Superbeasto and starred opposite Paul Giamatti in the Rob Zombie animated feature The Haunted World of El Superbeasto. He played himself in Comedian, and lent his voice to the animated feature Bee Movie.

In 2010 Papa hosted NBC's The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons.

His other TV appearances include a Inside Amy Schumer, The Jim Gaffigan Show, a recurring role on The New Adventures of Old Christine, VH1's I Love the '70s, I Love the '80s, and I Love the '90s series. He is currently one of three hosts, (including Michael Ian Black and Seth Herzog), on National Geographic Channel's US version of the British game show Duck Quacks Don't Echo.

Filmography

Film

• Analyze That (2002)
• Comedian (2002)
• The Life Coach (2005)
• Bee Movie (2007)
• The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)
• The Informant! (2009)
• Behind the Candelabra (2013)
• Top Five (2015)

TV

• Comedy Central Presents (2001 and 2007)
• Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (Unknown episodes, 2002)
• Come to Papa (4 episodes, 2004)
• The New Adventures of Old Christine (2 episodes, 2008)
• The Marriage Ref (2010)
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
• Late Night with David Letterman
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Behind the Candelabra (2013)
• Duck Quacks Don't Echo (2014)
• Inside Amy Schumer (2015)
• The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015)
• The Knick (US TV series) (2014-)
• Boom! (2015-)

Discography

• Calm, Cool, & Collected (BSeenMedia, 2005)
• Tom Papa - Live in New York City (Comedy Central Records, 2012)
• Freaked Out - (2013)