Bill Chott

Born on July 23, 1969, in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill Chott developed an early interest in theater, actively participating in plays and musicals throughout his school years. He graduated from Ritenour High School and was later inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2010. Chott continued his theatrical pursuits at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, where he performed in various productions. In 1992, he moved to Chicago and immersed himself in the improvisational theater scene, training at ComedySportz, IO Theater, and Second City. During this period, he collaborated with notable individuals such as Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler.

Chott’s professional career began in 1995 with his television debut on “The Dana Carvey Show,” where he showcased his comedic talent alongside Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell. A significant contribution from this time was his voice work as the announcer for “The Ambiguously Gay Duo,” a series of animated shorts that continued to air on “Saturday Night Live.” His filmography includes roles in “Galaxy Quest” (1999), “Dude, Where’s My Car?” (2000), and “The Ringer” (2005), where he played the character Thomas. On television, he has appeared in “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “ER,” “CSI,” “Monk,” and, most notably, as Mr. Laritate in 23 episodes of Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” from 2008 to 2011. He also gained recognition for his role as ‘The Mailman’ in the critically acclaimed series “This Is Us” in 2017 and as Dean/Franklin in “Young Sheldon” (2018-2021). Chott is also recognized for his award-winning portrayal of Fred Mertz in “I Love Lucy: Live on Stage.”

In addition to his acting roles, Chott is a writer, contributing to projects such as “The Dana Carvey Show” and “Saturday Night Live.” He is also an acclaimed voice actor, providing the voices for Hundley and The Doorman in the animated series “Curious George” on PBS, and additional adult voices in the 2019 film “Klaus.” Bill Chott continues to be active in the entertainment industry, with upcoming roles including Professor Herman Merman in “Robot Dracula” and Gary in “Bipartisan.” He maintains a commitment to improvisational comedy, teaching and coaching through his school, The Improv Trick.