New York Comedy Festival: Dane Cook & Friends

Named a “comedian phenom and icon” by Entertainment Weekly, Dane Cook has maintained his reputation as one of today’s most prolific stand-up comedians while simultaneously distinguishing himself as a charismatic and versatile actor in a variety of film and television projects. Last fall, Cook starred in his first leading role as the likable slacker Zack in Employee of the Month, leading the romantic comedy to a box office gross of over $30 million and DVD sales that topped the charts. After inking a multi-faceted production deal with HBO early last year, Cook created, directed and starred in the network’s nine-part comedy documentary series, Tourgasm and wrote, executive produced and starred in Vicious Circle, a feature-length stand-up event.

Numerous film and television projects include starring roles in Dan in Real Life, Good Luck Chuck,, Mr. Brooks, and most recently My Best Friend’s Girl . Through his production company, SUperFInger Entertainment, Cook will also produce and star in Ex-Family, as well as an untitled father/son comedy for Disney. Cook has appeared in a number of feature films, including Waiting, London, Torque, and Mystery Men .

Combining energetic physical comedy, clever wordplay and trenchant observations about human behavior, Cook’s unique brand of stand-up and accessible guy-next-door attitude have galvanized audiences of all ages. Two years ago, he catapulted to media headlines when his sophomore comedy CDx2/DVD, Retaliation, bucked industry trends by debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200. The album, which has hit double platinum, marked him as the highest charting comedian in 29 years, earning him a place alongside best-selling comedy vets Bill Cosby, George Carlin and Steve Martin. His debut CD/DVD release, Harmful If Swallowed, appeared on eight different Billboard charts and is certified platinum.

Last year, Cook hosted the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, helping the program earn the highest non-sports ratings of any network that year. A highly sought-after talk-show guest, he’s appeared multiple times on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Tonight Show. For Comedy Central, he’s headlined Comedy Central’s Insomniac Tour Movie and lent his voice to Crank Yankers and Shorties Watchin’ Shorties.

In addition to appearances at such venues as Carnegie Hall and Chicago’s Allstate Arena, Cook performed two record-breaking shows of 38,000 at Boston Garden, and has appeared for crowds of 39,000 at Madison Square Garden and 50,000 at the University of Florida’s Gator Growl.

Among his many honors as a stand-up comedian, Cook was named Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Hot Comic,” Stuff Magazine’s “Coolest Comic of the Year,” and the winner of Comedy Central’s Standup Showdown. Last year, his arrival on the cultural stage was confirmed when Time Magazine listed him as one of the world’s 100 “Most Influential People.”