Michael Showalter

Michael Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He first achieved recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995. Along with David Wain, Showalter created the Wet Hot American Summer franchise, with Showalter co-writing and starring in Wet Hot American Summer and the Netflix series. Showalter wrote and directed The Baxter (2005), in which he starred with Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux, and Elizabeth Banks. Both films featured many of his co-stars from The State, and so do several of his other projects.

Showalter is also a co-creator, co-producer, actor, and writer for the TV series Search Party. He directed the 2017 film The Big Sick and the 2021 film The Eyes of Tammy Faye, both of which were critically acclaimed.

Early life Showalter was born in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of Elaine Showalter (née Cottler), an author, feminist literary critic, and professor of English, and English Showalter, a Yale-educated professor of 18th century French literature. His father is Episcopalian and his mother is Jewish. He has one older sister, Vinca Showalter LaFleur, a professional speechwriter. He attended Princeton High School. For five years, Showalter shared an apartment with his friend, comedian and actress Andrea Rosen.

Career Showalter began his undergraduate studies at New York University, where he joined the sketch comedy group The New Group. He transferred to and graduated from Brown University, where he joined the improv comedy troupe IMPROVidence. After he completed college, The New Group changed its name to The State and began creating video shorts for an MTV show called You Wrote It, You Watch It, hosted by Jon Stewart. The comedy troupe then got its own sketch comedy TV series, The State , which aired for two years on MTV.

Showalter has also had several smaller roles in movies and TV shows. He played Ron Parker, the arrogant host of Cheap Seats, on ESPN Classic in the pilot episode. However, after a bookcase fell on Showalter's character, tape librarians (and brothers) Randy and Jason Sklar took over the hosting duties. Showalter spent a brief time as a correspondent on The Daily Show (1996). He is also one half of The Doilies, an acoustic comedy band, in which he sings lead vocals opposite guitarist Zak Orth. In 2005 he wrote, directed and starred in the film The Baxter.

Showalter is the host of The Michael Showalter Showalter, an original Internet series on Collegehumor.com which premiered January 16, 2007. His first guest was comedian Zach Galifianakis. Other guests have included David Cross, Michael Ian Black, Paul Rudd, David Wain, Andy Samberg, Michael Cera, and Mike Birbiglia. In the fall and winter of 2006, Showalter toured the US with frequent collaborator Michael Ian Black. In March 2007 Showalter briefly toured as the opening act for Janeane Garofalo. The Ten reunites him with frequent collaborators from The State.

Showalter signed with JDub Records, a non-profit record label, in June 2007. He released his first stand-up CD titled Sandwiches & Cats in November 2007. He teaches screenwriting at New York University's Graduate Film School.

Showalter teamed up once more with Michael Ian Black in the Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues, which premiered in July 2009. The show detailed the two Michaels' trials and tribulations as they create a television series. They confirmed the series' cancellation in early 2010.

In an interview with The Rumpus in February 2009, Showalter talked about a memoir he is working on. "I am writing an 'important' memoir about not being able to write an important memoir. It winds up being kind of a novel-length comedic essay on insecurity and procrastination." The book, Mr. Funny Pants, was published in February 2011.

He appeared twice on the NBC drama Law & Order: in the episode "Endurance", which aired on October 18, 2000, and in the episode "Reality Bites", which aired on October 16, 2009.

Showalter also appeared in a series of commercials advertising the Toyota Yaris, starting in late 2011.

In 2013 Showalter and Michael Ian Black launched a podcast called "Topics" in which the duo discuss evergreen topics in a serious manner.

Showalter was a writer on the ABC sitcom Super Fun Night.

In 2014, Showalter co-wrote with David Wain They Came Together. Wain and Showalter then co-wrote the eight-episode Netflix prequel Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp based on the 2001 film with almost the entire cast of the original film returning. Showalter himself appeared as Gerald "Coop" Cooperberg and President Ronald Reagan in the series. The series premiered on July 31, 2015, and was more well received by critics. He also co-wrote and starred in the Netflix sequel Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later which premiered in 2017.

In 2015 his film Hello, My Name Is Doris debuted at SXSW, where it was acquired by Roadside Attractions. It was released in the United States in March 2016, and received critical acclaim.

His 2017 film The Big Sick starred Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter and Ray Romano. It saw a wide theatrical release and had an overwhelmingly positive 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Showalter next directed the 2020 film The Lovebirds, starring Kumail Nanjiani of The Big Sick, along with Issa Rae, Anna Camp and Paul Sparks. The film was scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on April 3, 2020, however due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic its theatrical release was cancelled, and it premiered on Netflix on May 22, 2020. In 2021, he signed an overall deal with HBO Max.

On March 18, 2024, it was announced that Showalter would be directing the Amazon MGM holiday comedy, Oh. What. Fun., starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Showalter will direct an untitled movie inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac, written by Andrea Seigel.

Personal life Showalter married Anne Kalin Ellis on January 16, 2011, in New York. The couple has twin daughters, born in 2014 and two french bulldog puppies who were born in 2025.

Filmography Film Year Title Director Producer Writer 2001 Wet Hot American Summer 2002 Stella shorts 2005 The Baxter 2014 They Came Together 2015 Hello, My Name Is Doris 2017 The Big Sick 2020 The Lovebirds 2021 The Eyes of Tammy Faye 2022 Spoiler Alert 2024 The Idea of You 2025 Oh. What. Fun. 2026 Verity

Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1996 Tick Clifford Short film 2001 Wet Hot American Summer Gerald "Coop" Cooperberg / Alan Shemper Kissing Jessica Stein Stephen 2002 Signs Lionel Prichard 2002 Stella shorts Michael Operation Midnight Climax Chip 2004 Hair High Wally Voice role 2005 The Baxter Elliot Sherman 2006 Griffin & Phoenix Terry's Fiancé 2007 The Ten Police Lt. Flarn Bleern Reno 911!: Miami Paul 2008 Birthday Michael Short film 2013 Bum Future Fred 2014 Two Night Stand Rick Raines

Television Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Creator Notes 1992–1993 You Wrote It, You Watch It 1993–1995 The State 27 episodes 1995 The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special TV special 1999 1999 MTV Movie Awards Random Play Additional writer;3 episodes 2003–2005 The Wrong Coast 2005 Stella Wrote 10 episodes 2008 The Michael Showalter Showalter 2009 Michael & Michael Have Issues Directed 3 episodes 2013 You're Whole 7 episodes 2013–2014 Super Fun Night 2 episodes Newsreaders 2 episodes 2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Mini-series 2015–2016 Childrens Hospital 4 episodes 2016–2018 Love 3 episodes 2016 Giles Vanderhoot TV movie 2016–2019 Grace and Frankie 2 episodes 2016–2022 Search Party Directed 3 episodes 2017 Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Mini-series 2019 In the Dark Episode: "Pilot" Ray Romano Right Here, Around the Corner TV special documentary 2021 The Shrink Next Door Directed 4 episodes 2022 The Dropout Mini-series;Directed 4 episodes I Love That for You 2025 Happy Face TBA The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh Post-production TBA The Off Weeks Upcoming miniseries

Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1992–1993 You Wrote It, You Watch It Various characters 1993–1995 The State Various characters 27 episodes 1995 The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special Various characters TV special 1997 Apartment 2F Phil 4 episodes 1999 Random Play Various characters 3 episodes 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Plasma Boy (voice) Episode: "The Plasma Monster" 2000, 2009 Law & Order Artie Kramer / Allen Gee 2 episodes 2003 Sex and the City Billy Episode: "The Post-It Always Sticks Twice" 2004–2006 Cheap Seats Ron Parker 6 episodes 2005 Stella Michael 10 episodes 2008 Wainy Days Landon Episode: "Molly" The Michael Showalter Showalter Host 10 episodes 2009 Michael & Michael Have Issues Himself 7 episodes 2012 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Gordon Scheer Uncredited 2013 You're Whole Dr. Robert Wexler Episode "Droppin' the 'G'/Ancient Egypt/Puffy Paints" Inside Amy Schumer Steve Episode: "Bad Decisions" 2014 Bob's Burgers Ethan (voice) Episode: "The Kids Rob a Train" Comedy Bang! Bang! Clyde Bryllis Episode: "Nick Offerman Wears a Green Flannel Shirt & Brown Boots" 2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Coop / President Reagan Mini-series; 8 episodes Jammers Jeremy / Cool Guy / Ol' Drippy (voice) TV short The Grinder Sandy Malmuth Episode: "Dedicating This One to the Crew" 2015–2016 Childrens Hospital Nils Vildervaan 2 episodes 2016 Giles Vanderhoot Giles Vanderhoot TV movie American Dad! Mark (voice) Episode: "Bahama Mama" 2016–2017 Search Party Max 5 episodes 2017 Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Coop / President Reagan Mini-series; 8 episodes 9JKL Walter Michaelson Episode: "Set Visit" 2018 Sugar Rush Himself (guest judge) Episode: "Camp Sugar Rush"