Actors - Phil LaMarr

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	Actors - Phil LaMarr

Phillip "Phil" LaMarr (born January 24, 1967) is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. LaMarr is most notable for being one of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv
.

Biography

Phil LaMarr was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a graduate of Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood and Yale University. LaMarr was a member of the award-winning sketch and improv comedy group The Groundlings. In addition, he has studied improv at Second City and at the ImprovOlympic in Chicago with Del Close. Phil has also improvised with Cold Tofu, Off the Wall, and the Purple Crayon of Yale University, of which he was a founding member.

His early film credits were initially due to his connections from his improv and college years. For example, LaMarr appeared in the film It's Pat (1994) because the writers were his friends from the Groundlings, and he appeared in Bio-Dome
because the director was a friend from college. However, it was his small but memorable role in Pulp Fiction
as Marvin (the man whom John Travolta's character accidentally shoots in the face) that gave him his big break. In fact, in one MADtv skit parodying Pulp Fiction, LaMarr reprised his role as Marvin.

Career

MADtv

LaMarr was one of the original nine cast members of MADtv when the series aired in 1995. Unlike most of the original repertory performers on MADtv, LaMarr had an established resume in the entertainment industry. LaMarr's seasoned experience served him well throughout his tenure and was crucial for the success of the show.

Every week, LaMarr would display new and outrageous characters to audiences. Whether it was Jaq the UBS Guy, the "sexy player" Rick, the funky walking trash talking Desparation Lee (Funky Walker, Dirty Talker), the talentless R&B singer, Savante or Rocket Revengers star, Lt. Abraham Jefferson (a.k.a Lincoln Willis) (Rocket Revengers), LaMarr proved that he was one of the most versitile members of the MADtv cast. LaMarr's minor characters were as follow: Bill (Al Casdy), Robert (That's My White Mama), Steve (The Erascists), Crazy-Fingered Freddy (Shaunda) and Chance Cumulus (News at Six).

LaMarr also proved to be a very gifted celebrity impressionist, during his tenure on MADtv. From the world of politics and the news media, LaMarr lampooned figures like Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, Louis Farrakhan Bernard Shaw and Johnny Cochran. Moreover, LaMarr's most notable impressions from the entertainment world included the following: Sidney Poitier, Michael Jackson, Spike Lee, Prince, Sammy Davis Jr., Tommy Davidson, Martin Lawrence, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Lee Cornwall, Nestor Carbonell, Ted Lange, Chris Tucker, Barry White, Charlton Heston,Ben Vereen, Sammy Sosa, Nat King Cole, Brian Burke, Bobby Brown, Sherman Hemsley, Ray Charles and Moe of the Three Stooges.

However, LaMarr is most famous for his impersonation of Chris Rock for the MADtv spoof video "Ain't No Blacks on the TV Screen," where he and Aries Spears humorously critizes major network television for not having enough positive African-Americans role models on prime time shows. After five seasons on MADtv, LaMarr decided not to renew his contract and he left the show in 2000, at the end of the fifth season.

Other television projects

Aside from MADtv, LaMarr has had many television, theatrical and movie roles. His television credits include guest starring on Cold Case, Eve, Reno 911!, Without A Trace, The Bernie Mac Show, NYPD Blue, Living Single, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Murphy Brown.

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