{{Short description|American comedian and actor (born 1956)}}
{{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=May 2018}} {{Lead too short|date=September 2024}} }} {{Infobox person | name = Emo Philips | image = Emo Philips Opening for Weird Al Yankovic at the Apollo Theater (40964853051).jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Philips in 2018 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|2|7}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|stand-up comedian|producer|writer}} | years_active = 1976–present<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/aug/06/edinburghfestival2001.edinburghfestival1|title=Remember Emo Philips?|author=Dessau, Bruce|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 6, 2001|access-date=May 30, 2018}}</ref> | website = {{url|emophilips.com}} | module = {{Infobox comedian|embed=yes | medium = Stand-up | genre = {{hlist|Black comedy|Surreal humor|wit|word play}} }} }} '''Emo Philips''' (born '''Philip Soltanec''', February 7, 1956) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. His stand-up comedy persona makes use of paraprosdokians spoken in a wandering falsetto tone of voice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emo Philips |url=http://www.emophilips.com/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=www.emophilips.com}}</ref>
== Career == The character of Emo Philips appears as a fidgety, possibly mentally disturbed, nervous but highly intelligent individual.<ref name="Spin1985">{{cite magazine|first=Melissa|last=Rossi|title=Extraterrestrial comic? Nerd god? Or less?|magazine=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-XEpPcqekMC&pg=PA13|date=October 1985|page=13}}</ref> Philips constantly moves throughout the routine, often shifting from sitting to standing positions, wandering from end to end on stage, playing with his hair or clothing, or going as far as to partially undress as he delivers punchlines. His comedy, which is largely self-deprecating, is often delivered in a modulated falsetto. His look (occasionally described as geeky, disco and vaudeville-inspired), particularly his hair—a 1970s-style bob with straight-lined front fringe—has been a signature part of his appearance and act for most of his career.
Philips has recorded three comedy albums. His album ''E=mo²'', recorded live at Caroline's in Manhattan, New York City won the 1985 New Music Award for best comedy album. It was later re-released along with his ''Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre'' album on a single CD. He also released an album called ''Emo'' in 2001. A joke of his was voted funniest religious joke ever in a 2005 online poll.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Philips|first=Emo|title=The best God joke ever - and it's mine!|date=29 September 2005|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/sep/29/comedy.religion|access-date=Jan 10, 2009|location=London|work=The Guardian}}</ref> In 2006, he appeared at the Newbury Comedy Festival. He was included in the top 50 of ''E4''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Comedians, and also appeared number 54 on Channel 4's top 100 greatest standups.
Aside from Philips's long career as a standup comic, he has been featured in acting roles on television series such as ''Miami Vice'' and ''The Weird Al Show''. In 2006, he appeared on British television, as a guest on the panel game ''8 Out of 10 Cats''. Philips has several voiceover credits in animation, including the animated improv series ''Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist''; improvised sitcom ''Home Movies''; talk show parody ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast''; scripted fantasy series ''Adventure Time'' as Cuber the mysterious storyteller; and the voice of Dooper in the animated series ''Slacker Cats''.<ref>{{cite web|title="Slacker Cats" Coming to ABC Family|url=http://www.catchannel.com/News/slacker-cats.aspx|access-date=2006-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611012815/http://www.catchannel.com/News/slacker-cats.aspx|archive-date=2007-06-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> he has also appeared on four episodes of ''@midnight'', in February 2015, April 8, 2016, a 1990s themed episode on September 26, 2016, and the finale episode on August 4, 2017.
He has appeared in feature films including 1989's ''UHF'' (as Joe Earley, a rather clumsy school shop teacher who accidentally saws his thumb off) and ''Desperation Boulevard'' in 1998. Additionally, he appeared in the original 1992 version of ''Meet the Parents'' (also executive producer) and was an associate producer of the 2000 remake.<ref>{{cite web|title=Emo Philips|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0680073/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr4|website=imdb.com|access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref>
Around 2001, Philips began to appear more often after a hiatus in the 1990s.{{fact|date=November 2024}}
"Weird Al" Yankovic and Philips toured together throughout the US in 2018, in Yankovic's the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour,<ref>{{cite web|title=Weird Al's facebook page|url=https://www.facebook.com/weirdal/posts/10155536586691005 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/70358446004/10155536586691005 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|website=facebook.com|access-date=19 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and again in the 2022 iteration. On November 5, 2011, Emo married actress and screenwriter Kipleigh Brown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kipleigh Brown - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1089247/|website=IMDb}}</ref>
== Discography == * 1985: ''E=mo²'' * 1987: ''Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre'' * 2001: ''Emo'' * 2003: ''E=mo² plus the Entire Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre'' == Filmography == {{Pending films key}} === Film === <!-- Rowspans are only allowed for the "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Emo Philips' film credits}} |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1988 ! scope="row" | ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' | Nimrod | Film debut role |- | 1989 ! scope="row" | ''UHF'' | Joe Earley | |- | 1992 ! scope="row" | ''Meet the Parents'' | Video Store Employee | Independent film<br />Also executive producer and writer of title theme song |- | 1992 ! scope="row" | ''The Can Man'' | The Can Man | Short film |- | 1995 ! scope="row" | ''The Fan'' | {{N/A}} | Screenwriter<br />Direct-to-video |- | 1998 ! scope="row" | ''Desperation Boulevard'' | {{N/A}} | |- | 2000 ! scope="row" | ''Meet the Parents'' | {{N/A}} | Associate producer<br />Remake of the 1992 film |- | 2005 ! scope="row" | ''The Aristocrats'' | Himself | Documentary |- | 2006 ! scope="row" | ''Relative Strangers'' | Guest at Hoedown | |- | 2008 ! scope="row" | ''The Seventh Python'' | Himself | Documentary |- | 2014 ! scope="row" | ''Rise of the Kitchen Appliances'' | Blender | Voice role<br />Short film |- | 2015 ! scope="row" | ''American Dirtbags'' | Gundealer's Brother-in-Law | |- | 2017 ! scope="row" | ''Dying Laughing'' | Himself | Documentary |- | 2020 ! scope="row" | ''Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe'' | Meeks Servant | Voice role |- | 2022 ! scope="row" | ''Weird: The Al Yankovic Story'' | Salvador Dalí | |- | {{TableTBA}} ! scope="row" {{Pending film|Stalking Emo}} | Himself | Post-Production |- | {{TableTBA}} ! scope="row" {{Pending film|Under the Smogberry Trees}} | Himself | Post-Production |} === Television === <!-- Rowspans are only allowed for the "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Emo Philips' television credits}} |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1984—89 ! scope="row" | ''Late Night with David Letterman'' | Himself | Episode: "Dated 25 September 1984" |- | 1985 ! scope="row" | ''Miami Vice'' | Rat Race Contestant | Episode: "Phil the Shill" |- | 1986 ! scope="row" | ''The Bob Monkhouse Show'' | Himself | Episode: "#3.6" |- | 1987 ! scope="row" | ''Emo Philips Live! at the Hasty Pudding Theatre'' | Himself | Television special |- | 1987 ! scope="row" | ''Stand-Up America'' | Himself | 1 episode |- | 1987 ! scope="row" |''The Max Headroom Show'' | Himself | Episode: "#1.5" |- | 1987 ! scope="row" | ''The Secret Policeman's Third Ball'' | Himself | Television special |- | 1987 ! scope="row" | ''Showtime at the Apollo'' | Himself | Episode: "#1.7" |- | 1988 ! scope="row" | ''Saturday Live (British TV programme)'' | Himself | Episode: "#3.5" |- | 1988 ! scope="row" | ''Howard Stern's Negligeé and Underpants Party'' | Himself | Television film |- | 1988 ! scope="row" | ''2nd Annual American Comedy Awards'' | Himself | Television special |- | 1989 ! scope="row" | ''The Hippodrome Show'' | Himself | Episode: "#1.5" |- | 1989—90 ! scope="row" | ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' | Himself | Episode: "9 February 1990" |- | 1990 ! scope="row" | ''The Lowdown'' | Himself | Episode: "Making People Laugh" |- | 1990 ! scope="row" | ''Emo Philips: Comedian and Mammal'' | Himself | Television special |- | 1991 ! scope="row" | ''Molson Canadian Comedy Releaf'' | Himself | Television special |- | 1991 ! scope="row" | ''Amnesty International's Big 30'' | Himself | Television special |- | 1995—96 ! scope="row" | ''Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist'' | Emo | Voice role<br />2 episodes |- | 1997 ! scope="row" | ''The Weird Al Show'' | Dr. Philips / The Slawmeister | 2 episodes |- | 1998 ! scope="row" | ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast'' | Himself | Episode: "Curses" |- | 1999 ! scope="row" | ''Behind the Music'' | Himself | Episode: "Weird Al Yankovic" |- | 1999—2004 ! scope="row" | ''Home Movies'' | Shannon | Voice role<br />3 episodes |- | 2001 ! scope="row" | ''Late Show with David Letterman'' | Himself | Episode: "October 5, 2001" |- | 2002 ! scope="row" | ''Late Friday'' | Himself | Episode: "#2.12" |- | 2004 ! scope="row" | ''The World Stands Up'' | Himself | Episode: "#1.2" |- | 2004—05 ! scope="row" | ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' | Himself | 2 episodes |- | 2005 ! scope="row" | ''Just for Laughs'' | Himself | 2 episodes |- | 2006 ! scope="row" | ''8 Out of 10 Cats'' | Himself | Episode: "#3.7" |- | 2007 ! scope="row" | ''Scott Bateman Presents'' | Himself | Episode: "One" |- | 2007 ! scope="row" | ''100 Greatest Stand-Ups'' | Himself | Television special |- | 2007—09 ! scope="row" | ''Slacker Cats'' | Dooper | Voice role<br />10 episodes |- | 2010 ! scope="row" | ''Iron Core Talk'' | Himself | 1 episode |- | 2012—16 ! scope="row" | ''Adventure Time'' | Cuber / Flour Demon | Voice role<br />6 episodes |- | 2014 ! scope="row" | ''Review'' | Georgie | Episode: "Revenge; Getting Rich; Aching" |- | 2014 ! scope="row" | ''TripTank'' | Karl | Voice role |- | 2016 ! scope="row" | ''Funny as Hell'' | Himself | Episode: "#6.6" |- | 2016—17 ! scope="row" | ''@midnight'' | Himself | 3 episodes |- | 2017 ! scope="row" | ''Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom'' | {{N/A}} | Writer<br />Episode: "Welcome to Ben's Palace" |- | 2017 ! scope="row" | ''SXSW Comedy with Natasha Leggero: Part 2'' | Himself | Television special |- | 2017—19 ! scope="row" | ''Welcome to the Wayne'' | Dennis O'Bannon | Voice role<br />6 episodes |- | 2018 ! scope="row" | ''Hunky Boys Go Ding-Dong'' | Cecil | Television film |- | 2019 ! scope="row" | ''Le Lineup du Bordel'' | Himself | 2 episodes |- | 2019 ! scope="row" | ''Crashing'' | Himself | Episode: "The Viewing Party" |- | 2019 ! scope="row" | ''Vendors'' | Len | Television film |} === Video games === <!-- Rowspans are only allowed for the "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Emo Philips' video game credits}} |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2015 ! scope="row" | ''Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations'' | Cuber | Voice role |} === Music videos === <!-- Rowspans are only allowed for the "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Emo Philips' music video credits}} |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Artist ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1999 ! scope="row" | "It's All About the Pentiums" | 'Weird Al' Yankovic | Directed by 'Weird Al' Yankovic |} == References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} {{wikiquote}} * {{IMDb name|0680073}} * [http://www.bobclaster.com 1988 KCRW radio interview "Bob Claster's Funny Stuff" with performance excerpts] {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Philips, Emo}} Category:1956 births Category:20th-century American male actors Category:American male comedians Category:Living people Category:People from Downers Grove, Illinois Category:American male film actors Category:Male actors from Chicago Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American stand-up comedians Category:Comedians from Chicago Category:20th-century American comedians Category:21st-century American comedians Category:Male actors from DuPage County, Illinois