Hal Sparks

Actor/comedian /musician Hal Sparks began his professional career as a teenager in Chicago. As a member of the famed Second City Troupe, his quick wit and affable personality quickly gained him recognition and acclaim. In 1987 he was named the "Funniest Teenager In Chicago" by the Chicago Sun Times. After a successful run with Second City, Sparks moved to Los Angeles and immediately began performing at numerous comedy clubs, including The Improv, The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory and The Ice House, as well as at Comic Relief's American Comedy Festival. Hal is currently lending his voice to the lead character of "Tak" in the animated Nickelodeon series of the same name, which premiered on September 1st. He most recently shared judging duties with Rosanne Barr on the Nick at Nite comedy competition series "America's Funniest Mom" airing in April 2007. From 1999 - 2000, Sparks was the host of the Emmy-award winning "Talk Soup" on E! Entertainment Television, winning rave reviews from fans and critics alike. For five seasons, Sparks co-starred as Michael on the hit Showtime series "Queer As Folk," based on the controversial and critically acclaimed British series. Named "Outstanding Drama Series" at the 12th Annual GLAAD Awards, "Queer As Folk" is about the lives of a group of gay men living in Pittsburgh. Focusing on their relationships, their careers, their loves and ambitions, the series is a brave, realistic, humorous and sometimes graphic portrayal of a world never before seen on U.S. television. In 2006, Sparks appeared on the FOX musical competition series "Celebrity Duets" and hosted the WB reality series "Survival Of the Richest." He is also one of the stars of the VH1 hit pop culture series "I Love The 90's," "I Love The 80's," "The 80's Strike Back" and "I Love The 70's." His television credits include guest-starring roles on "CSI," "Frasier," and "One on One." He also co-starred in the Showtime Original feature "Bleacher Bums," adapted from the critically acclaimed play of the same name. Hal starred opposite Peter Riegert, Wayne Knight and Brad Garrett in this classic baseball comedy. In 2004 Sparks appeared in the box office hit "Spiderman 2." He also co-starred in the 20th Century Fox comedy, "Dude, Where's My Car?," "Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star" and "Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town" with Billy Bob Thorton. Sparks also provided the voices for two animal characters, a bee and a fish, in the 20th Century Fox film "Dr. Dolittle 2." His numerous television appearances include "The Tonight Show," "Larry King Live," "Charlie Rose," "Good Morning America," "The View," "Politically Incorrect," MTV and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." He also starred in his own sketch comedy pilot entitled "Here Comes The Neighborhood" and produced comedy segments for Disney Channel. On the stage, Sparks has performed in such productions as "The Glass Menagerie" and "Brighton Beach Memoirs." In addition to a busy acting and stand-up career, Hal is an accomplished singer/songwriter/musician. He and his band, Zero 1, have just released their debut album and will soon be touring the country. A native of Peak's Mill, Kentucky, Sparks spent several years in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles. He is also an expert in the martial arts with 20 years experience in Shaolin, Kung Fu, Wushu and Karate. More information on Hal can be found at his website www.halsparks.com