Stand-up comedian, writer and film producer Steven Wright is known for his deadpan delivery and surreal, often non-sensical routines. He has won an Academy Award for his short film The Appointments of Dennis Jennings, and two Primetime Emmy Awards as producer of Louie.
Wright began performing stand up after he left college in 1978, performing at the Comedy Connection near his home town in Boston, Massachusetts. He was spotted a few years later by the executive producer of The Tonight Show, Peter Lassally, who booked him for the TV programme twice in just two weeks. Wright went on to achieve great comedy fame, releasing a Grammy-nominated comedy album in 1985, the success of which secured him a special on HBO. Fans fell in love with his laid back style and ironic, philosophical subject matter and he began touring widely. He then won an Academy Award for producing short film The Appointments of Dennis Jennings, as well as landing a role in television sitcom Mad About You.
He has released numerous comedy specials on networks such as Comedy Central, done voiceover work for TBS cartoons and appeared on various late-night talk shows including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. It’s no surprise he was the first inductee to the Boston Comedy Hall of Fame, and was listed in Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand Up Comedians.