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Kevin Pollak

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Not to be confused with Kevin Pollock.

Kevin Pollak
Pollak in 2008
Born
Kevin Elliot Pollak

(1957-10-30) October 30, 1957 (age 67)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • impressionist
  • podcast host
Years active1982–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 2008)​
Parents
  • Robert Pollak (father)
  • Elaine Harlow (mother)

Kevin Elliot Pollak (born October 30, 1957) is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and podcast host. He has appeared in over 90 films; his roles include Sam Weinberg in Rob Reiner's A Few Good Men, Jacob Goldman in Grumpy Old Men and its sequel Grumpier Old Men; Todd Hockney in The Usual Suspects, Phillip Green in Martin Scorsese's Casino, and Bobby Chicago in End of Days.

From 2016 to 2022, he played a recurring role in Better Things. From 2017 to 2023, Pollak was a regular cast member on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon.

Early life

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Pollak was born on October 30, 1957, in San Francisco, California.[1] He is the younger son of Elaine Harlow and Robert Pollak. He has one older brother, Craig, who lives in San Jose, California.[2] He attended high school at Pioneer High School in San Jose. Pollak was raised in Reform Judaism.[3]

Career

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Acting

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Pollak in 2011

As an actor, Pollak's roles include the best friend, family or confidant characters to the leading men, as he did in Ricochet (1991), A Few Good Men (1992), Grumpy Old Men (1993) and its sequel Grumpier Old Men (1995), Casino (1995), End of Days (1999), and The Wedding Planner (2001). However, he has also played a wide variety of parts, such as a comical brownie in Willow (1988), the philandering brother of Sarah Jessica Parker in Miami Rhapsody (1995), a criminal in The Usual Suspects (1995), a father in She's All That (1999), and a gangster in The Whole Nine Yards (2000). His most substantial role to date was in Deterrence (1999), in which he played the main character, a vice president who must take over for a deceased President and deal with a nuclear crisis.

Pollak briefly hosted Celebrity Poker Showdown in its first season. In December 2006, he played Karl Kreutzfeld in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries The Lost Room. Through 2008, he had a recurring role as a district attorney on the television series Shark. In March 2008, Pollak played himself in the web series The Writers Room on Crackle.[4] In 2010, he portrayed Sheriff Tom Wagner in Choose.[5]

In January 2010, Pollak was scheduled to host Our Little Genius on FOX, but the series was pulled before it could air on television. Pollak was then seen hosting Million Dollar Money Drop for FOX at the end of 2010; the show ran for 12 episodes.

In 2014, Pollak began a recurring role as Alvin Biletnikoff on the CBS sitcom Mom. His time on the show ended with the death of his character.

Starting in 2016, Pollak played the role of Marion in the FX series Better Things. His character was recurring throughout all five seasons.

In 2017, Pollak joined the cast of the Golden Globe–winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, an original series from Amazon, as Moishe Maisel, the main character's father-in-law.

In 2019, Pollak appeared in five episodes of the fourth season on Showtime's Billions, as Douglas Mason.[6]

Directing

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Pollak's directorial debut was on the horror web series Vamped Out, featured on the internet television platform Babelgum.[7] Jason Antoon, Seana Kofoed, Samm Levine and Pollak all acted in the ensemble cast. The screenbook was based on a simple joke that Antoon and Pollak had between them.[8] Pollak's feature film directorial debut, the comedy documentary Misery Loves Comedy, premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.[citation needed] The film sold North American rights to Tribeca Film, a US distribution company.[citation needed]

Pollak directed the comedy film The Late Bloomer, starring Johnny Simmons, which was released in 2016.[9]

Stand-up

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As a comedian, Pollak's most famous work was his 1991 HBO special Stop with the Kicking, directed by fellow comedian David Steinberg and produced by comedy writer Martin Olson. In July 2010, The Littlest Suspect, his most recent comedy special, was aired on Showtime. Comedy Central named Pollak one of the Top 100 Comedians of All Time.

Celebrity impressions

Podcasting

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In April 2009, Pollak partnered with Jason Calacanis on a weekly Internet talk show, Kevin Pollak's Chat Show. Guests for the show include film directors Kevin Smith and Mike Binder, comedians Jimmy Pardo and Bill Burr, and actors Nia Vardalos, Illeana Douglas, Bryan Cranston, Dana Carvey, Billy West, John DiMaggio, Matthew Perry, Jon Hamm, Paul Rudd, Adam Carolla, Anthony Cumia, Jason Alexander, Seth MacFarlane, Tom Hanks, Larry David and Jason Lee.

The guest interviews are very in-depth and typically longer than an hour in duration, sometimes exceeding two hours. Common topics include the guests' childhoods, how they got into the business they are in (typically show business), how they got inspired to start certain creative endeavors, and unique experiences they have had while working. Viewers can interact via chat room during the show, and sometimes questions for the guest posed in the chat room are answered live.

The show's self-described "Paul Shaffer" is actor Samm Levine.

Recurring segments and bits on the show include:

  • "The Larry King Game", which requires the guest to do a bad Larry King impression, reveal something about oneself (in the persona of Larry King) and then go to the phones and say a funny-sounding city
  • "Tweet Five", where Pollak reads the guest five questions from a Twitter user, usually in a this-or-that style
  • "Who Tweeted", in which a host (typically Samm Levine) reads tweets from the Twitter accounts of three female celebrities (the list of actresses varies, but typically includes Demi Moore (or, more recently, Justin Bieber), Tyra Banks, and Paris Hilton) and Pollak and his guest compete against each other game-show-style to guess who authored each tweet.
  • "You're Not Buffering", in which Pollak freezes mid-statement during his interview as though the show has paused due to internet lag, but he's actually still live. He then breaks his pause and says, "You're not buffering."

In 2012, Pollak began a new podcast called Talkin Walkin in which he spends an hour or more with a new guest in character as Christopher Walken. After three episodes, the show was rated in the top 5 of all comedy podcasts by iTunes.[citation needed]

He is the only person to ever go "2 for 2" (two exact matches), as a guest on the Sklar Brothers/Daniel Van Kirk podcast Dumb People Town, in the "Guess the Age" game. The feat was completed on the episode released on April 2, 2018.[10]

In 2018,[11] Pollak began hosting a comedy improvisation podcast called Alchemy This, on the network iHeartRadio. It features a regular cast of 5 members, Craig Cackowski, James Heaney, Chris Alvarado, Vanessa Ragland, and Joey Greer, as well as several guests.[12]

Poker

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Pollak is an avid poker player. He finished 134th out of 6,598 entrants in the 2012 World Series of Poker and won $52,718.[13] He also hosts weekly home games with Hollywood celebrities.

Personal life

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In 1995, Pollak married comedian Lucy Webb. They separated in 2005 and divorced in 2008.[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Right Stuff Dwight D. Eisenhower (voice) Uncredited[15]
1987 Million Dollar Mystery Officer Quinn
1988 Willow Rool
1990 Avalon Izzy Kirk
1991 L.A. Story Frank Swan
Another You Phil
Ricochet Lieutenant Larry Doyle
1992 The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them Eli
A Few Good Men LTJG Sam Weinberg, JAGC
1993 Indian Summer Brad Berman
Wayne's World 2 Jerry Segel
Grumpy Old Men Jake Goldman
1994 Clean Slate Rosenheim
1995 The Usual Suspects Todd Hockney
Miami Rhapsody Jordan Marcus
Canadian Bacon Stu Smiley
Casino Phillip Green
Grumpier Old Men Jake Goldman
Chameleon Matt Gianni
1996 House Arrest Ned Beindorf
That Thing You Do! Victor 'Boss Vic Koss' Kosslovich
1997 Truth or Consequences, N.M. Gordon Jacobson
1998 Buffalo '66 TV Sportscaster
Hoods Rudy
Outside Ozona Wit Roy
1999 Deal of a Lifetime Jerry
She's All That Wayne Boggs
The Sex Monster Jerry Berman
Deterrence President Walter Emerson
End of Days Bobby Chicago
2000 The Whole Nine Yards Janni Pytor Gogolak
Steal This Movie! Gerry Lefcourt
2001 The Wedding Planner John Dojny
3000 Miles to Graceland US Marshal Damitry
Dr. Dolittle 2 Riley / Alligator
2002 Stolen Summer Rabbi Jacobsen
Frank McKlusky, C.I. Ronnie Rosengold
Juwanna Mann Lorne Daniels
Mother Ghost Dr. Norris
The Santa Clause 2 Cupid Cameo
2003 Rolling Kansas Agent Brinkley Uncredited
Blizzard Archimedes
2004 Seven Times Lucky Harlan
The Whole Ten Yards Lazlo Gogolak
Our Time is Up Dr. Stern
Shark Tale Willie (voice)
2005 Hostage Walter Smith
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D Director (voice)
The Aristocrats Himself
Niagara Motel Michael
2006 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Cupid
2007 Numb Tom
2008 Otis Eli
Tortured Dr. Shaw Straight to DVD
2009 2:13 Dr. Simmons
Middle Men Curt Allmans
2010 Cop Out Hunsaker
Hoods Rudy
2011 Choose Sheriff Tom Wagner
Red State ATF Agent Brooks
The Big Year Eli
2012 Columbus Circle Klandermann Also co-writer and co-executive producer
The Magic of Belle Isle Joe Viola
2013 Chez Upshaw Heaton Upshaw Also producer
Max Rose Christopher Rose
3 Geezers! Kevin
A Country Christmas Max Schmucker
Grace Unplugged Frank 'Mossy' Mostin
2014 The One I Wrote for You Mickey
2015 Borealis 'Tubby'
Camino Donald
The Night Is Young Producer
Misery Loves Comedy Co-writer/director
2016 Compadres 'Tex The Banker'
Special Correspondents Geoffrey Mallard
The Tiger Hunter Frank Womack
War Dogs Ralph Slutzky
The Late Bloomer Director
2017 Axis Cru (voice)
Three Christs Dr. Orbus
2018 Lez Bomb George
Benjamin Rick
The Front Runner Bob Martindale
2019 Goalie Jack Adams
Teacher Bernard Cooper
Apparition Warden White
2021 Injustice The Joker / Jonathan Kent (voice)[16]
2023 Sweetwater Abe Saperstein [17]
2024 Goodrich Sy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Ewoks: The Battle for Endor Voice Characterization Television film
1987 Amen Photographer Episode: "Thelma's Choice"
1987 Thirtysomething Walter, the Bookstore Guy Episode: "But Not for Me"
1987 Who's the Boss? Scott Episode: "Yellow Submarine"
1988–89 Coming of Age Brian Brinker 15 episodes
1990 Partners in Life Eddie Hayes Television film
1991 Morton & Hayes Chick Morton 6 episodes
1995–96 The Drew Carey Show Mr. Bell 9 episodes
1997 Perversions of Science Pilot Episode: "Boxed In"
1997 The Don's Analyst Dr. Julian Riceputo Television film
1998 Ruby Bridges Dr. Robert Coles Television film
1998 From the Earth to the Moon Joe Shea Episode: "Apollo One"
1999–2000 Work with Me Jordan Better 5 episodes; also co-executive producer
2000 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Grasshopper / Mouse (voice) Episode: "Aesop's Fables: A Whodunnit Musical"
2001 Ed William Johnson Episode: "Live Deliberately"
2002 Life with Bonnie Sidney Portinbody Episode: "Duets"
2006 The Lost Room Karl Kreutzfeld Miniseries; 3 episodes
2007 The Staircase Murders David Rudolf Television film
2007–08 Shark D.A. Leo Cutler 8 episodes
2008 Picture This Tom Gilbert Television film
2008 Entourage Mr. Bob Levine Episode: "The All Out Fall Out"
2008–12 Easy to Assemble Kevin 4 episodes
2010 Our Little Genius Host
2010 Vamped Out Elliot Finke Web series; also director, creator, writer, and producer
2010 Million Dollar Money Drop Host
2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Gerald Crane Episode: "Theatre Tricks"
2012 Men at Work Pavel Episode: "Toilet of Eden"
2012 Childrens Hospital Kevin Pollak Episode: "Eulogy"
2013 Family Tree Marty Schmelff Episode: "Indians"
2014 Garfunkel and Oates Andrew Episode: "Road Warriors"
2014–15 Comedy Bang! Bang! Various 2 episodes
2014–15, 2020 Mom Alvin Biletnikoff[18] 15 episodes
2015 House of Lies Joe Gideon Episode: "Everything's So F**King Obvious, I'm Starting to Wonder Why We're Even Having This Conversation"
2015 Transformers: Robots in Disguise Fracture (voice) 4 episodes
2016 Angel from Hell Marv Fuller, M.D. 13 episodes
2016 Angie Tribeca Lieutenant Weinberg Episode: "Beach Blanket Sting-O"
2016 Drunk History Ciro Terranova Episode: "Food"
2017 The Good Fight Judge Kyle Gallo Episode: "Not So Grand Jury"
2017 Hot Date Father Episode: "Double Standards"
2017–22 Better Things Marion 8 episodes
2017–23 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Moishe Maisel Main cast; 32 episodes
2018 NCIS Albert Hathaway Episode: "Keep Your Friends Close"
2018 The Simpsons Ross (voice) Episode: "3 Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage"
2018 The Comedy Central Roast Himself Episode: "Bruce Willis"
2019 Billions Douglas Mason 5 episodes
2021 Impeachment: American Crime Story Bernie Nussbaum Episode: "Exiles"
2022 Willow Rool Episode: "Wildood"
2023–24 The Neighborhood Lamar Episodes: "Welcome to Fatherhood," "Welcome to the Opening Night," "Welcome to Grandfatherhood"
2023 The Santa Clauses Cupid Episode: "Chapter Eight: Floofy"[19]
2024 What We Do in the Shadows Cal Bodian Episode: "P.I. Undercover: New York"

Web

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Year Title Role Notes
2009–2019 Kevin Pollak's Chat Show Himself/host Podcast
2018–2020 "Alchemy This" Himself/host Podcast

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1995 National Board of Review Best Acting by an Ensemble The Usual Suspects Won [20]
1999 Satellite Award Best Actor – Miniseries/Television Film From the Earth to the Moon Nominated
2015 Edinburgh International Film Festival Best Documentary Feature Misery Loves Comedy Nominated
2018 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Won
2019 Won

Book

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  • Pollak, Kevin; Goldsher, Alan (2012). How I Slept My Way to the Middle: Secrets And Stories From Stage, Screen, And Interwebs.

References

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  1. ^ "JUF : Tweens : Celebrities : Kevin Pollak". Juf.org. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "Mercury News: Search Results". Nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  3. ^ Miller, Gerri (November 21, 2018). "'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Is Back in Time for Hanukkah". Jewish Journal. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Fresh Chicken and Roadents Populate New Comedy Site". TV Guide. March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  5. ^ "You Have 60 Seconds to 'Choose' Who Dies: Your Mom or Dad?". Bloody Disgusting. February 5, 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Kevin Pollak (I)". IMDb. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "Vamped Out – Babelgum". Babelgum.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "Maniac (2012) – Dread Central". Dreadcentral.com. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  9. ^ Kilday, Gregg (August 25, 2015). "Johnny Simmons Starring in Kevin Pollak's 'The Late Bloomer'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Dumb People Town: Kevin Pollak – Hold On Loosely". Art19. Retrieved April 4, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Introducing Alchemy This". Alchemy This. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  12. ^ "Meet the Fab 5". Alchemy This. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "KEVIN POLLAK — WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA, United States — WSOP.com". World Series of Poker. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  14. ^ "Kevin Pollak files for divorce". Yahoo! News India. August 10, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2008. [dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "DC's 'Injustice' Sets Cast for Animated Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. July 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Lang, Brent (October 11, 2022). "Briarcliff Entertainment Buys Sweetwater, Drama About Pioneering African American NBA Player (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Kevin Pollak to Play Anna Faris' Father on CBS' 'Mom' (Exclusive)". TV Guide. December 10, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  19. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (October 17, 2023). "Santa Clauses Season 2 Trailer: Eric Stonestreet's Mad Santa Is Out for Revenge — Plus, Tracy Morgan's Easter Bunny Makes His Debut". TVLine. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Kevin Pollak – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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