A doughy comic actor who came to prominence as a quick-with-a-quip sidekick on
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Richter initially honed his sense of humor in myriad improv troupes and stage shows. In the early '90s, friend Robert Smigel introduced him to O'Brien, and Richter quickly landed a writing gig on the talk show. His noticeable chemistry with O'Brien earned him an on-camera promotion, and for seven seasons, he provided dry support to the wacky carrot-top host. In 2000, Richter struck out on his own, playing small sarcastic roles on the big screen, and headlining the quirky cult sitcom
Andy Richter Controls the Universe, which was prematurely axed (although his subsequent series, the atrocious
Quintuplets, deserved to die). While he remained a formidable small-screen presence as a perennial guest star, Richter continued to search for an appropriate showcase for his offbeat talents.
Andy Richter Fast Facts:
- Performed with the improv groups Annoyance Theater, Comedy Underground and ImprovOlympic.
- Portrayed Mike Brady on stage in The Real Live Brady Bunch in Chicago and Los Angeles and met his wife, Sarah Thyre, during the L.A. run.
- Played one of serial killer John Wayne Gacy's victims in a Hard Copy reenactment early in his career.
- Made movie debut (along with David Letterman) in 1994's Cabin Boy.
- Andy Richter Relationships:
- Gloria Swenson - Mother
- Larry Richter - Father
- Mercy Richter - Daughter
- Sarah Thyre - Wife
- William Richter - Son
- Andy Richter Awards:
- 1999 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program - Nominee
- 1996 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- College:
- Attended University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Urbana, IL; attended Columbia College, Chicago, IL
