{{Short description|American comedian and actor (born 1959)}} {{pp-pc}} {{Infobox comedian | name=Rick Shapiro | image=Rick Shapiro in the film Timeless..jpg | caption=Rick Shapiro in the film ''[[Timeless (film)|Timeless]]'' | birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1959|4|13}} | birth_place=[[New Jersey]], United States | medium = Stand-Up<br>Television<br>Film<br>Writer | active = early 1980s–present | genre = [[Improvisational comedy]]<br>[[Observational comedy]]<br>[[Black comedy]]<br>[[Blue comedy]] | website = [http://www.rickshapiro.tv/ RickShapiro.tv] }}
'''Rick Shapiro''' (born April 13, 1959) is a [[Los Angeles]]–based [[comedian]] and [[actor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cringehumor.net/index.php?/comedians/rick_shapiro |title=Cringe Comedians: Rick Shapiro |publisher=Cringehumor.net |access-date=2011-01-13}}</ref>
==Life and career== Shapiro was born in [[New Jersey]]. Spending his early years in [[New York City]] and New Jersey, Shapiro started his career in the early 1980s as a comedian at [[Catch a Rising Star (comedy clubs)|Catch A Rising Star]] on Broadway.<ref name="observer.com">{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2004/05/recovery-rick-restands-up/|title=New York Observer: Article about Shapiro |date=17 May 2004 |access-date=2014-08-16}}</ref> Besides performing regularly on stage,<ref name="observer.com" /> throughout the 1990s he acted and starred in multiple films by [[Louis CK]], including ''[[Ice Cream (1993 film)|Ice Cream]]'' (1993) and ''[[Tomorrow Night (film)|Tomorrow Night]]'' (1998).<ref>See filmography below</ref> Additionally, he portrayed the re-occurring character "Angry Poet" in ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''.<ref name="observer.com" /> In 1998, Shapiro released his first comedy CD called ''Unconditional Love'', which Billboard called "hard-edged and uncompromising".<ref name="Inc.1998">{{cite book|title=''Unconditional Love'' Review|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DQoEAAAAMBAJ_2|access-date=27 February 2014|series=Billboard|date=1998-09-05|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DQoEAAAAMBAJ_2/page/n132 26]–}}</ref>
In the 2000s, Shapiro's career continues in multiple fields. He is performing stand-up comedy nationally and internationally, debuting a one-man show in 2007 in the [[Edinburgh Festival]],<ref>Produced by Calvin Wynter at The Green Room.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/comedy-rick-shapiro-the-green-room-edinburgh-460708.html |title=A rant to remember |first=Julian |last=Hall |work=Independent |date=2007-08-08 |access-date=2011-01-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027043600/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/comedy-rick-shapiro-the-green-room-edinburgh-460708.html |archive-date=October 27, 2010}}</ref> and touring Australia in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://gaggingforit.comedytragics.com.au/2009/10/rick-shapiros-first-australian-tour/|title=List of Australian tour dates from 2009.|access-date=17 August 2014|archive-date=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090731/http://gaggingforit.comedytragics.com.au/2009/10/rick-shapiros-first-australian-tour/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He had his first video game appearance in 2008, portraying the character Mason Waylon on the radio station PLR in ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'', a guest on a talk show who eventually drills holes in the heads of the two other guests.
Shapiro has an active acting career, appearing in numerous film and television productions. In film, his most recent roles are in ''[[Top Five]]'' by [[Chris Rock]], portraying T-Rick in the movie ''[[Project X (2012 film)|Project X]]'', and acting in the German comedy ''[[Timeless (film)|Timeless]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/filmTimeless |title=Official facebook-site of the film "Timeless", with production photos.|access-date=16 August 2014}}.</ref> His television credits include Jerry in ''[[Lucky Louie]]'' by Louis C.K. on [[HBO]]. Additionally, he appears in a scene originally filmed for the pilot of ''[[Louie (U.S. TV series)|Louie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzbzQdeUfbs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727003145/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzbzQdeUfbs |archive-date=2011-07-27 |url-status=dead|title=LOUIS CK DVD of LOUIE season 1 Extra Scene |publisher=Louis C.K |access-date=2011-06-21}}</ref>
Shapiro's first book ''Unfiltered'',<ref>Published by Paradisiac Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0692028285}}</ref> containing over 200 previously unreleased writings, was released in 2012 along with his second CD, ''Catalyst for Change''.<ref>Produced by Stand-Up Records</ref>
In 2013, Rick Shapiro was diagnosed with [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laughspin.com/2013/05/03/comedian-rick-shapiro-diagnosed-with-parkinsons-disease-exclusive/|title=Laughspin: Article about the diagnosis|access-date=18 August 2014|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083632/http://www.laughspin.com/2013/05/03/comedian-rick-shapiro-diagnosed-with-parkinsons-disease-exclusive/|archive-date=19 August 2014}}</ref> As of August 2014, he is practically symptom-free and is productive,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/tracy-demarzo/parkinsons-disease-depression-and-our-lives/10152430786209902|title=Facebook-Note by Rick Shapiro's wife and manager Tracy DeMarzo|access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref> and in 2014–15, Shapiro appeared in the role of Marc Maron's eccentric neighbor, Bernie, in the IFC comedy series ''Maron''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788617/|title=Rick Shapiro}}</ref>
==Style== Shapiro is mainly known for his stream-of-consciousness monologues on stage that can run for more than an hour, in which he addresses many topics that are controversial or considered taboo by most comedians.<ref name="observer.com" /> His comedic style has been described as "explosive".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.filmdreh-in-stuttgart-urlaub-von-der-ehefrau.91997747-cd6d-4ca4-b158-5dba234b4f8c.html|title=Stuttgarter Zeitung: Article about filming "Timeless", mentioning Shapiro's style.|access-date=17 August 2014}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thespittake.com/2012/04/05/rick-shapiro-unfiltered-paradisiac-publishing/|title=Review about Shpairo's book "unfiltered".|access-date=2014-08-17}}</ref>
==Filmography (excerpt)== * ''[[Joey (1986 film)|Joey]]'' (1986) as Larry * ''[[True Love (1989 film)|True Love]]'' as Kevin * ''[[Caesar's Salad (1990 film)|Caesar's Salad]]'' (1990) (short film)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290912/|title=IMDB-Page of Caesar's Salad.|access-date=16 August 2014}}.</ref> * ''[[Ice Cream (1993 film)|Ice Cream]]'' (1993) as Man's Brother (short film)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8QzcS7g52g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/w8QzcS7g52g |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Official youtube-upload of "Ice Cream" on Louis C.K.'s profile.|access-date=16 August 2014}}{{cbignore}}.</ref> * ''[[Brunch (1995 film)|Brunch]]'' (1995) as Old Woman (short film)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmRXLBuDv8c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/OmRXLBuDv8c |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Official youtube-upload of "Brunch" on Louis C.K.'s profile.|access-date=16 August 2014}}{{cbignore}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2284836/trivia?item=tr1742172|title=According to IMDB, this film was first aired in 1995. In the youtube upload abouve, the copyright reads 1998.|access-date=16 August 2014}}.</ref> * ''[[Highjacker (1998 film)|Highjacker]]'' (1998) as Highjacker (short film)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s7Su3mjjIM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/9s7Su3mjjIM |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Official youtube-upload of "Highjacker" on Louis C.K.'s profile.|access-date=16 August 2014}}{{cbignore}} Please note: Although the upload is titled "Hijacker" in the youtube-description, the film is clearly called "Highjacker" in the actual film's opening credits.</ref> * ''[[Tomorrow Night (film)|Tomorrow Night]]'' (1998) as Tina * ''[[Pootie Tang]]'' (2001) as Shakey * ''[[Lucky Louie]]'' (2006–2007) as Jerry * ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' (2008) as [[Public Liberty Radio|Waylon Mason]] * ''[[Louie (U.S. TV series)|Louie]]'' (2010) uncredited * ''[[The League]]'' (2011) as Bum * ''[[Project X (2012 film)|Project X]]'' (2012) as T-Rick * ''[[Top Five]]'' (2014)<ref>{{IMDb title|tt2784678|Finally Famous}} Please note: IMDB refers to the film as "Finally Famous". According to the film's wikipedia-page, its title has officially been changed to "Top Five". In the filmography it is therefore listed as "Top Five"</ref> as Biker AA Guy; Uncredited * ''Maron'' (2014–2016) as Bernie * ''[[Timeless (film)|Timeless]]'' (2016) as State's Attorney / Special Agent / Paratrooper / Repairman * ''[[Heart, Baby]]'' (2017) as Shaky J
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://rickshapiro.tv}} * {{IMDb name|788617}} * [http://www.pocreations.com/shapiro_observer.html "Recovery Rick Re-Stands Up"] by [[Ryan Blitstein]], ''New York Observer,'' May 17, 2004. * [http://www.jesterjournal.com/RickShapiro.htm Performance at the UCB Theater, July 3, 2008] {{Grand Theft Auto}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shapiro, Rick}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:American male comedians]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:People with Parkinson's disease]] [[Category:20th-century American male actors]] [[Category:21st-century American male actors]] [[Category:20th-century American comedians]] [[Category:21st-century American comedians]] [[Category:Stand Up! Records artists]] [[Category:Comedians from New Jersey]]