{{short description|American comedian and actor (born c. 1961, as Bruce Church)}} {{about|the comedian|the singer who was previously known as Bruce Bruce|Bruce Dickinson}} {{Infobox comedian |image = |imagesize = |caption = |pseudonym = |birth_name = Bruce Church |birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|42|2003|2|28}} |birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia |occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|actor}} |medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|television|film}} |active = 1980s–present |website = {{official URL|bruce-bruce.com}} }} '''Bruce Church''' (born {{circa|1961}}),<ref name=CONDRAN>{{cite news |last=Condran |first=Ed |date=February 28, 2003 |title=A split decision in a split second |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/425832574/ |work=The Record |page=79 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|426832574}} |url-access=subscription |quote=Bruce, 42, was tapped to play the good-natured security guard in "The Wash," an update of the Seventies smash "Carwash."}}</ref><ref name=HARRIS>{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Chandra |date=February 27, 2004 |title=Heavyweight of hilarity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/776544722/ |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |page=94 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> better known by his stage name '''Bruce Bruce''', is an American comedian and actor.
He hosted BET{{'}}s ''ComicView'' from 2000 to 2002 and has appeared in such films as ''The Wash'' (2001), ''XXX: State of the Union'' (2005), ''Idlewild'' (2006) and ''Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector'' (2006).<ref name=HARRIS/><ref name=CHATTANOOGA>{{cite news |date=December 30, 2011 |title=Bruce Bruce and Friends |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/913094395/ |work=Chattanooga Times Free Press |page=H8 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|913094395}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2005 he became the spokesperson for Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits.<ref name=CALL>{{cite news |date=September 22, 2005 |title=Bruce Bruce book has everyone calling him 'Baby James Brown' |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/238503752/ |work=Call & Post |page=SH3 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|238503752}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Early life == Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Bruce was the only child of a divorced mother.<ref name=MORAN>{{cite news |last=Moran |first=Clarice |date=January 18, 2002 |title=Funny funny |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/656720228 |work=The News & Observer |page=I33 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He grew up in "The Bluff" neighborhood of northwest Atlanta, an area that has a history of crime and poverty.<ref name=HO>{{cite news |last=Ho |first=Rodney |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Two comics big on laughs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/423311549/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |page=D4 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Bruce was funny from a young age and was a class clown.<ref name=HARRIS/> He looked up to his uncle, Paul, whom he referred to as "the funniest man in the world" during a 2002 interview.<ref name=MORAN/><ref name=HOLTZCLAW>{{cite news |last=Holtzclaw |first=Mike |date=November 1, 2002 |title=Laughing at life Bruce Bruce's comedy is meant for everyone |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/343182073/ |work=Daily Press |page=D1 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|343182073}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> As a child he was inspired by comedians such as Flip Wilson and Jackie Gleason, and was later influenced by Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Redd Foxx and Milton Berle.<ref name=MORAN/><ref name=HOLTZCLAW/>
He worked as a barbecue chef, then as a sales person for Frito-Lay, where he was asked to perform comedy during corporate meetings.<ref name=CHATTANOOGA/><ref name=MORAN/> He took his routine to the Comedy Act Theater in Atlanta before moving to Los Angeles in 1989.<ref name=CONDRAN/><ref name=CHATTANOOGA/>
== Career == Bruce made his first appearance on HBO{{'}}s ''Def Comedy Jam'' in 1993, which he refers to as his "first big break".<ref name=CONDRAN/> He made his ''Showtime at the Apollo'' debut the following year.<ref name=CONDRAN/>
In the 2001 he appeared in the comedy film ''The Wash'' in the role of DeWayne, a good-natured security guard.<ref name=CONDRAN/> He played the role of Lime Pimp (a pimp wearing a bright green suit), in the 2004 film ''Hair Show'' starring Mo'Nique and appeared as himself in the Burt Reynolds film ''Cloud 9'' (2006).<ref name=CONDRAN/><ref name=HARRIS/> In 2012, he played Chubby Man in the romantic comedy ''Think Like a Man''.<ref name=THRASHER>{{cite news |last=Thrasher |first=Don |date=January 17, 2014 |title=Bruce Bruce, Earthquake on comedy bill at Schuster Center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/430382509 |work=Dayton Daily News |page=44 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
He hosted episodes of BET{{'}}s ''ComicView'' between 2000 and 2002 and ''Coming to the Stage'' in 2004.<ref name=HARRIS/><ref name=CHATTANOOGA/> Bruce was featured in an episode of ''Comedy Central Presents'' in 2003 and released his one-hour comedy special ''Bruce Bruce Live'' that same year.<ref name=HARRIS/><ref name=CHATTANOOGA/> He released his one-hour special ''Losin' It'' in 2011.<ref name=THRASHER/>
Bruce appeared in the video for the Quad City DJ's 1996 single "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)".<ref name=CHATTANOOGA/> He is mentioned by name in the lyrics of the Ying Yang Twins{{'}} their 2003 song "Salt Shaker" and he made an appearance in the video.<ref name=CHATTANOOGA/> He has collaborated several times with the Atlanta-based hip-hop duo Outkast: He appeared in the video for the 2001 single "So Fresh, So Clean".<ref name=CONDRAN/> In the film ''Idlewild'' he played the role of Nathan, the assistant to The Real Angel Davenport, a character played by Patti LaBelle.<ref name=BLOUNT>{{cite news |last=Blount |first=Mike |date=August 26, 2010 |title=Bruce Bruce dishes on comedy |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/747831945/ |work=Hattiesburg American |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|747831945}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=GHIANNI>{{cite news |last=Ghianni |first=Tim |date=January 13, 2005 |title=Two times the fun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275892659/ |work=The Tennessean |page=D1 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Bruce also played Golf Ball Eddie, a quick-talking bookie, in ''Who's Your Caddy?'' starring Big Boi.<ref name=THRASHER/>
Bruce's tends to avoid topical subjects in his stand-up act, preferring observational topics from everyday life.<ref name=HOLTZCLAW/> While he does deal with adult subject matter, Bruce is known for performing with very little profanity.<ref name=MORAN/><ref name=HOLTZCLAW/><ref>{{cite news |last=Cheshier |first=Tajuana |date=November 5, 2004 |title=Bruce Bruce brings wit to Oman |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436457629/ |work=The Jackson Sun |page= |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|436457629}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Bruce is notable for his size.<ref name=WATERHOUSE>{{cite news |last=Waterhouse |first=Jon |date=September 2, 2004 |title=Onstage: Bruce Bruce serious about being funny |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/337147261/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |page=P10 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|337147261}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He is 6 feet tall and in 2012 he told ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' "I was almost 500 lbs at one point. I'm now down to about 350."<ref name=HO/><ref name=GHIANNI/> He is also known for wearing brightly-colored suits, some of which he designed himself.<ref name=HARRIS/>
== Personal life == Bruce was married for 10 years.<ref name=GHIANNI/> He and his wife divorced in 1989.<ref name=CONDRAN/><ref name=GHIANNI/> He has one daughter and two sons.<ref name=HARRIS/>
He divides his time between Los Angeles and Atlanta, and collects Buick muscle cars.<ref name=CHATTANOOGA/><ref name=WATERHOUSE/>
He published his autobiography ''Baby James Brown'' in 2005.<ref name=CALL/>
==Filmography== * ''Dollar'' (2000) * ''The Wash'' (2001) * ''The Sunday Morning Stripper '' (2003) * ''Hair Show'' (2004) * ''XXX: State of the Union'' (2005) * ''Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector'' (2006) * ''Idlewild'' (2006) * ''Cloud 9'' (2006) * ''Who's Your Caddy?'' (2007) * ''Think Like a Man'' (2012) * ''Top Five'' (2014) * ''Maron'' (2015) - Himself (1 episode) * ''BET's ComicView'' * ''The Trap'' (2019) * ''Undercover Brother 2'' (2019)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{officialwebsite|http://www.bruce-bruce.com}} * {{IMDb name|id=1049593}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, Bruce}} Category:Living people Category:African-American male actors Category:African-American stand-up comedians Category:American male film actors Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American male television actors Category:20th-century American comedians Category:21st-century American comedians Category:1965 births Category:20th-century African-American people Category:21st-century African-American people Category:African-American male comedians Category:American male comedians Category:Comedians from Atlanta