{{short description|American actor}} {{Infobox person | name = Mitch Silpa | image = Mitch Silpa from Runt 2021 film.jpg | caption = Silpa from Runt Premiere New York 2021 | occupation = Writer, director and actor | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|12|5}} | years_active = 1992–present }} '''Mitch Silpa''' (born December 5, 1971)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9815795:5247 |website=ancestry.com |access-date=2024-01-19 |ref=Record from California Birth Index for Mitchel Silpa |title=Join Ancestry® }}</ref> is an American writer, actor, and director who starred in NBC's ''The Rerun Show'', and has appearances in shows such as ''Brothers & Sisters'', ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', ''Desperate Housewives'', ''Gilmore Girls'', ''I'm with Her'', ''One on One'', ''Kitchen Confidential'', ''Reno 911!'', ''Joey'', and ''2 Broke Girls''.
== Early life == Silpa was born in Los Angeles, California. He began his career as a member of The Groundlings, an improv and sketch comedy troupe based in Los Angeles.<ref name="ground">{{cite news |title= Mitch Silpa 2010S Groundlings ALlumni |url= https://groundlings.com/people/mitch-silpa |work= groundlings.com |access-date= August 1, 2023}}</ref> He won over $20K at age 14 in the 80's on a kids' week episode of ''Card Sharks'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baKhbeexpEs |website=youtube.com |access-date=2024-01-19 |ref=Appearance on Card Sharks with the airdate of December 1980 |title=Card sharks money card Mitch win $22,200 |date=29 September 2018 }}</ref> and later appeared on a College Week of ''Scrabble'', ''Shop Til You Drop'', and ''Hollywood Showdown''.
== Career == Silpa is perhaps best known on the Internet for his David Blaine street magic parodies.<ref name="Wired">{{cite news|last=Hart|first=Hugo|title=David Blaine Spoof Reaps Riches for Groundlings Improv Troupe|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/06/hed-presto-life/|newspaper=Wired|date=2008-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Slatalla|first=Michelle|title=Video Seeks Its 90 Seconds of Fame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/fashion/19Cyber.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=2007-07-19}}</ref> In these parodies, Silpa masquerades as an intentionally low-quality likeness of Blaine. Actors Mikey Day and Michael Naughton also appear in these parodies, as best friends Evan and Peter whom Silpa terrorizes with his "magic".<ref name="Wired" /> He is also known for the "Two Old Queens Who've Just a Minute to Catch Up" viral video series created and performed by Silpa and Drew Droege.
He has had recurring roles on the TV shows ''All Rise'', ''Chad'', ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''Nobodies'', ''Desperate Housewives'', ''Gilmore Girls'', and ''In Plain Sight''. Silpa was a series regular on NBC's ''The Rerun Show''.<ref name="tv"/>
Silpa has had guest star roles in sitcoms such as The Comeback, ''Will & Grace'', ''2 Broke Girls'',<ref name="tv"/> ''The Middle'', ''Reno 911!'', and ''Curb Your Enthusiasm''.<ref name="tv"/> Although known for a more mature sense of humor, Silpa also acts in television shows that are for a younger audience such as ''I'm In the Band'',<ref name="tv"/> on Disney XD and ''iCarly'' on Nickelodeon. Silpa plays more serious roles like the character Deputy Everhardt in the television drama ''In Plain Sight''.<ref name="tv"/>
As for big screen appearances, one of Silpa's more notable characters is a flight attendant named Steve in the 2011 comedy film ''Bridesmaids''.<ref name="tv"/> He appeared in ''Spy'', ''The Heat'', ''The Way Out'', ''Happytime Murders'',<ref name="tv"/> ''Welcome to Me'', ''Unforgettable'', and ''The Boss''.<ref name="tv"/>
He created, wrote, and produced (with Jim Cashman) the Fox pilot ''Amy's Brother'' starring Michael Urie and Annie Mumolo. Silpa has been nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for his work on ''Saturday Night Live''.<ref name="tv">{{cite news |title= Mitch Silpa Credits |url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mitch-silpa/3030417007/ |work= tvguide.com |access-date= August 1, 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== He is gay.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Drew-Droege-and-Mitch-Silpas-ITS-MITCH-AND-DREW-AND-WEVE-NEVER-FELT-YOUNGER-is-Coming-to-The-Green-Room-42-20230505|title=Drew Droege and Mitch Silpa's IT'S MITCH AND DREW… AND WE'VE NEVER FELT YOUNGER is Coming to The Green Room 42|publisher=Broadwayworld.com|date=5 May 2023|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref>
== Filmography == === Film === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1988 |''Hell on the Battleground'' |Soldier #2 | |- |2002 |''The Master of Disguise'' |Henchman | |- |2004 |''Along Came Polly'' |J.C. Superstar Director | |- |2008 |''Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy'' |Mitch | |- |2011 |''Bridesmaids'' |Flight Attendant Steve | |- |2012 |''Love, Sex and Missed Connections'' |Derek | |- |2013 |''The Heat'' |Dealer | |- |2014 |''Such Good People'' |Oliver | |- |2014 |''Welcome to Me'' |Derek | |- |2015 |''Spy'' |Colin / Frederick | |- |2016 |''Hickey'' |Terry | |- |2016 |''The Boss'' |Guard Clemmons | |- |2017 |''Unforgettable'' |Dinner guest | |- |2018 |''The Happytime Murders'' |Tommy | |- |2019 |''Runt'' |Mr. Talley | |- |2019 |''Loners'' |Frank Wilson | |- |2022 |''The Way Out'' |Dale | |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2002 |''The Rerun Show'' |Various roles |7 episodes |- |2003 |''The Mullets'' |Director |Episode: "Love Freakin' Story" |- |2003 |''Reno 911!'' |Hotel clerk |Episode: "Garcia's Anniversary" |- |2003, 2004 |''Gilmore Girls'' |Terrence |2 episodes |- |2004 |''I'm with Her'' |Naked man |Episode: "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 1" |- |2004 |''Joey'' |Tim |Episode: "Joey and the Perfect Storm" |- |2004 |''Malcolm in the Middle'' |Bartender |Episode: "Kitty's Back" |- |2005 |''The Bad Girl's Guide'' |Balding Guy in Mercedes |Episode: "The Guide to Procrastination" |- |2006 |''One on One'' |Blane |Episode: "Missing the Daddy Express" |- |2006 |''Freddie'' |Jaques |Episode: "Recipe for Disaster" |- |2006 |''The Other Mall'' |Jean store rep |Television film |- |2006 |''Kitchen Confidential'' |Alfredo |Episode: "Praise Be Praise" |- |2006–2007 |''Desperate Housewives'' |Jerry |3 episodes |- |2007 |''Case Closed'' |Brothel DJ |Television film |- |2008 |''Brothers & Sisters'' |Quinn |Episode: "Compromises" |- |2008 |''iCarly'' |Doctor |Episode: "iStage an Intervention" |- |2008 |''Night Writer'' |Lou |Television film |- |2009 |''Electric Spoofaloo'' |Kiko |Episode: "Lady Gaga's Fierce Factor" |- |2009 |''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' |Salesman |Episode: "Officer Krupke" |- |2010 |''I'm in the Band'' |Jimmy Howard |Episode: "Izzy Gonna Sing?" |- |2011 |''In Plain Sight'' |Deputy Everhardt |2 episodes |- |2011 |''2 Broke Girls'' |Jeffrey |Episode: "And the Pop-Up Sale" |- |2013 |''Ben and Kate'' |Patrick |Episode: "Gone Fishin'" |- |2013 |''Another Period'' |Marquis de Sainsbury |Episode: "Pilot" |- |2013 |''The Client List'' |Delivery Man |Episode: "Whatever It Takes" |- |2014 |''My Gimpy Life'' |George |Episode: "Viral Superstar" |- |2014 |''The Middle'' |Todd |Episode: "The Wonderful World of Hecks" |- |2014 |''Go-Go Boy Interrupted'' |Rich |Episode: "How to Exit Gracefully After a One Night Stand" |- |2014 |''Anger Management'' |Mr. Hornsby |Episode: "Charlie Plays Hide and Go Cheat" |- |2015 |''Cougar Town'' |Mobster |Episode: "This One's for Me" |- |2016 |''Comedy Bang! Bang!'' |'Baretta' Producer |Episode: "Gillian Jacobs Wears a Gray Checkered Suit and a Red Bow Tie" |- |2016 |''Con Man'' |Head of Marketing |Episode: "Gum Drop" |- |2016–2017 |''Mike Tyson Mysteries'' |Various roles |3 episodes |- |2017 |''Will & Grace'' |Maitre D' |Episode: "A Gay Olde Christmas" |- |2017, 2018 |''Grey's Anatomy'' |Tim Ruggles |2 episodes |- |2017–2018 |''Nobodies'' |Ethan |12 episodes |- |2018 |''Rel'' |William |Episode: "Brittany's Mom" |- |2019–2023 |''All Rise'' |DDA Clayton Berger |10 episodes |- |2020 |''Crazy in Love'' |Arthur |2 episodes |- |2022 |''Classified'' |Larry |Television film |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=0798170}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Silpa, Mitch}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:American male television actors Category:American gay actors Category:American gay writers Category:American LGBTQ directors Category:LGBTQ people from California Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male film actors
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