{{Short description|American stand-up comedian}} {{Redirect|Love Master}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Craig Shoemaker | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964 |11|15}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | medium = Stand-up, television, film, books | active = 1980–present | genre = Observational comedy | subject = Impressions, everyday life, marriage, parenting | spouse = Nancy Allen <br>({{abbr|m.|married}} 1992; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 1995)<br/> Carolyn Ann Clark <br>({{abbr|m.|married}} 1998; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 2005)<br/> Mika Sogawa <br>({{abbr|m.|married}} 2008; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 2023) | children = 4 | website = {{URL|http://www.craigshoemaker.com/}} }}
'''Craig Shoemaker''' (born November 15, 1964) is an American stand up comedian, actor, author, writer and producer. He was named Comedian of the Year at The American Comedy Awards on ABC and garnered two NATAS Emmy awards. He is best known for his 90-minute stand-up special, ''Daditude''.
==Life and career== Craig was born in Mount Airy and grew up in the Philadelphia area, He graduated from Springfield Township High School.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/179810755/ Philadelphia Inquirer - July 2, 1998]</ref> He attended Temple University, financing his college years by working as a bartender and being an emcee for comedy shows. He also attended California University of Pennsylvania. Shoemaker received a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Radio, television and film.
"Shoe's" stage, film and TV acting credits are extensive and wide ranging. Shoemaker was Earvin "Magic" Johnson's sidekick for three episodes of the ill-fated late nite talk show, ''The Magic Hour'' before being fired during a commercial break.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abramovich |first=Seth |date=August 8, 2025 |title=Et Tu, Magic Johnson? The Late Night Shows That Failed to Launch |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/late-night-shows-failed-launch/thicke-of-the-night/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Recently, he co-starred as Bandit in the critically acclaimed movie ''Middle Man''. He had a recurring character named Wilson Gromling, the head of Pawnee's Liberty or Die Party, on NBC's ''Parks & Recreation'', and a five episode run on ''The Bold & The Beautiful.'' He also played the snooty film professor in the horror sequel ''Scream 2''. As a writer, Craig joined the writing staff for season two of the iconic sitcom reboot ''Fuller House''. His best-selling book, ''LoveMaster'd: A Digital Journey to Love & Happiness'', has been critically acclaimed by the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Dr. Drew Pinsky, inspiring readers worldwide in managing through personal difficulties.
In 2003, he founded LaughterHeals.org, a nonprofit group dedicated to using laughter as a healing modality. Previously, Shoemaker hosted a weekly podcast and webcast, "Laugh It Off," and currently tours the world speaking about the healing powers of laughter. Currently they are in preproduction on the documentary ''Live 2 Laugh'', with Shoemaker serving as producer and writer.
As a producer, Craig has been a creative force in several independent features and television shows. He wrote, produced and starred in the cult classic ''Totally Baked'', and his movie ''The LoveMaster'' was honored at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. Currently, Craig is producing a number of feature films with European partners, including the soon-to-be-released ''Working with Warhol'' and two projects currently in production, ''Breakfast with Charly'' and ''The Boogeyman Chronicles''. He was hired as lead writer on the animated show ''Bad Zoo'', and along with animator David Feiss is developing two other cartoons, ''From the Crib'' and ''ChickenShip''. He is also performing stand up with Bill Bellamy on their joint project, the "Make America Laugh Again Tour," and just started the production company Really Big Shoe Media, with a current slate of over 25 television and film projects in varying genres.
==Personal life== Shoemaker was first married to actress Nancy Allen in September 1992.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/184475665/ Philadelphia Daily News - September 9, 1992]</ref> They divorced in 1995.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/155447119/ Los Angeles Times - October 19, 1995]</ref> He next married actress Carolyn Ann Clark in February 1998.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163753/bio/ Carolyn Ann Clark - Biography - IMDb.]</ref> The couple had two sons, Justin (b. July 25, 1998) <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/craigshoemakerfanpage/posts/pfbid0v7XjEvXQ4GfwDMDyS5ogPUFCF7EXXxd3vj7Ma6LJ7nJVZbLXuHZjuD111hPyY6mgl craigshoemakerfanpage]</ref> and Jared (b. July 1, 2004),<ref>[https://x.com/thelovemaster/status/1278351249889320961 Craig Shoemaker - Twitter]</ref> though they divorced in 2005.
Craig married to Mika Sogawa, in Maui on June 21, 2008.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/craigshoemakerfanpage/posts/pfbid0ftLbLL7DTS5p19jSC3g3UED8NbGBcpG8PnZ9f5dEGv61MWBwARWX64sZ2kUPv9FCl craigshoemakerfanpage]</ref> They had a son, Jackson Kai (b. September 8, 2009),<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/craigshoemakerfanpage/posts/pfbid0ycYxSSwL4AK7MGccGEp2xXUPpC33L2QeqonXNquTfAC7nav7CvghUXXYr6R5baY7l craigshoemakerfanpage]</ref> and a daughter, Chloe Akeila (b. January 14, 2014).<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/craigshoemakerfanpage/posts/pfbid0ijuDfaHYry7rXKcaukw2VgczemsM9nBa6gU4k9FS9GwKRJEqFaeXDs8G6Mwipcyxl craigshoemakerfanpage]</ref> They divorced in 2023.
On May 8, 2010, Craig received an honorary doctorate in Humanities/Humanistic Studies from California University of Pennsylvania.<ref>[https://www.passhe.edu/news/releases/10-4-20-Commencement.html Commencement programs scheduled at PASSHE universities - April 10, 2010]</ref>
== Film == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1997 |''The Lovemaster'' | | |- |1997 |''Scream 2'' |Artsy Teacher | |- |1998 |''Safe House'' |Stuart Bittenbinder | |- |1998 |''Pleasantville'' | | |- |2006 |''Comic Relief'' | | |- |2007 |''Totally Baked: A Pot-u-Mentary'' | | |- |2008 |''Dark Honeymoon'' |Pete | |- |2008 |''Craig Shoemaker: The Lovemaster... Unzipped'' | | |- |2012 |''Should've Been Romeo'' | | |- |2016 |''Middle Man'' |Bandit | |}
== Select television series== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1984 |Simon & Simon | | |- |1987 |The Bronx Zoo (TV series) | | |- |1989 |Studio 5-B | | |- |1990 |Night Court | | |- |1990 |''Matlock'' | | |- |1990 |Neon Rider | | |- |1990-1993 |Murder, She Wrote | | |- |1991 |''FBI: The Untold Stories'' | | |- |1991 |Parker Lewis Can't Lose | | |- |1992 |Walter & Emily | | |- |1992 |Room for Two (American TV series) | | |- |1992 |Tales from the Crypt (TV series) | | |- |1993 |''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' |Louis |1 episode |- |1993 |Coach (TV series) |Ferguson |1 episode |- |1993 |Street Justice |Ben |1 episode |- |1996 |''Roseanne'' |Phil |1 episode |- |1997 |''Cow and Chicken'' |Boy (voice) |1 episode |- |1997-1999 |''I Am Weasel'' | | |- |1998 |The Magic Hour |Self/Sidekick |3 episodes |- |1998 |''My Generation'' (Host) | | |- |2001 |''The Hughleys'' | | |- |2001 |''Family Law'' | | |- |2002-2004 |''Team Supremo'' | | |- |2008 |Comedy Special: ''Unzipped'' (Comedy Central) | | |- |2012 |Comedy Special: ''Daditude'' (Netflix) | | |- |2013 |''Parks and Recreation'' | |Twice recurring role |- |2013 |''The Bold and the Beautiful'' | | |- |Various |''The View'' | | |- |2014 |''Awkward'' | | |- |2018 |''Enlightened Up'' | | |- |2019 |Comedy Kitchen | | |- |2021- |WolfPac | | |}
== Awards == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Platform !Award |- |2006 |XM Nation Awards |Big Schtick Award for Most Popular Routine or Joke |- |2004 |Communicator Crystal Awards |"Shoe Sticker Hook-Up" from the Craig Shoemaker Shoe |- |2007 |Elevate Film Festival |Best Supporting Actor |- |1997 |American Comedy Awards |Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic |- |1986 |Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards |Craig Shoemaker (''Twice Winner'') |} ==Books== * {{cite book |last1=Shoemaker |first1=Craig |last2=Kushner (illustrator) |first2=Sarah |last3=Novak |first3=Robert |last4=Bennett |first4=Marc |year=2002 |title=What You Have Now ... What Your Daddy Had Then |publisher=Bennett/Novak and Company, Inc. |ISBN=978-0971345409}} * {{cite book |last1=Shoemaker |first1=Craig |last2=Kushner (illustrator) |first2=Sarah |year=2004 |title=What You Have Now ... What Your Mommy Had Then |publisher=Bennett/Novak and Company, Inc. |ISBN=978-0971345423}} * {{cite book |last=Shoemaker |first=Craig |title=Lovemaster'd: A Digital Journey to Love and Happiness |publisher=FriesenPress |location=Victoria, BC |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4602-4459-3}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0794705}} * [http://www.laughterheals.org/ Laughter Heals charity] * [https://www.instagram.com/officialcraigshoemaker/ Craig Shoemaker IG] * [https://www.facebook.com/craigshoemaker1/ Craig Shoemaker Facebook] * [https://www.craigshoemaker.com/ CraigShoemaker.com]
{{American Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comic}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoemaker, Craig}} Category:1964 births Category:20th-century American comedians Category:21st-century American comedians Category:American game show hosts Category:American male comedians Category:American male film actors Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:American male television actors Category:American male voice actors Category:American stand-up comedians Category:PennWest California alumni Category:Comedians from Philadelphia Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Philadelphia Category:People from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Category:Temple University alumni