Brad Garrett

Brad H. Gerstenfeld, known professionally as Brad Garrett, was born on April 14, 1960, in Oxnard, California. After attending UCLA for a short period, Garrett pursued a career in stand-up comedy, performing in Los Angeles clubs such as the Ice House and The Improv. In 1984, he rose to prominence as the first $100,000 grand champion winner in the comedy category of “Star Search.” This achievement led to an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” at age 23, marking him as one of the youngest comedians to grace the show’s stage. His early stand-up success also saw him opening for notable artists like Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr., performing in prestigious venues including Bally’s Park Place, Trump Plaza, Caesar’s Palace, and Radio City Music Hall. The Las Vegas Review Journal recognized his talent, naming him Best Comedian on the strip in 1989.

Garrett transitioned into television, securing the role of Robert Barone in the CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” (1996–2005), a role for which he earned three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2002, 2003, 2005). Concurrently, he ventured into voice acting, lending his distinctive voice to characters in films such as “Casper” (1995), “A Bug’s Life” (1998), “Finding Nemo” (2003), “Ratatouille” (2007), and “Tangled” (2010), among others. He demonstrated his acting range with a critically acclaimed Emmy-nominated performance as Jackie Gleason in the 2002 television film “Gleason.” His career further diversified with leading roles in sitcoms like “‘Til Death” (2006–2010) on Fox and “Single Parents” (2018–2020) on ABC. Beyond acting, Garrett also holds an executive producer credit for Disney+’s “Big Shot” (2021).

Continuing his connection to live comedy, Garrett established Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, first at the Tropicana Resort and Casino and later moving to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where he continues to perform regularly. His recent acting credits include “Cha Cha Real Smooth” (2022), “Wildflower” (2022), and upcoming projects like “Elio” (2025). Garrett’s extensive career also includes numerous voice roles in animated series and video games, solidifying his status as a recognizable figure in entertainment.