Andy Dick

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Andy Dick (born Andrew Thomlinson) December 21, 1965) is an American actor and comedian best known for his roles on TV sitcoms, including NewsRadio and Less Than Perfect.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Career 1.3 Personal life 2 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Dick was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He was adopted at birth by Allen and Sue Dick. His surname at birth was Thomlinson.

Dick graduated from Joliet West High School (Joliet, Illinois) in 1984. He was in numerous productions during high school, was well known as the class clown, and was elected homecoming king his senior year in the fall of 1983. Even in high school, Dick tended to use his name as a joke. One day while dressed in the Joliet West gold athletic sweats he pulled on a pair of red shorts over his sweats and used a red towel as a cape matching his shorts. He presented himself at school as "Super Dick." He's good friends with theatre personality Anthony Rapp, who has known him since they were children.

During his high school years, he ran for a student office position against one of the school's more popular athletes. For his campaign ads, he chose to heavily advertise the slogan "Don't vote for a jock, vote for A. Dick!" Because it was his name, the school administration failed to stop him from using this slogan; he won the election.

He attended Columbia College Chicago and is registered as one of the schools "distinguished alumni". According to faculty member David Wooley, during his final for Stage Combat his partner did not show up and faced with a failing grade Andy decided to fight himself, earning him an A for the final.

[edit] Career

He was a regular cast member (portraying Matthew, the clumsy and clueless production assistant) on the popular sitcom Newsradio for the duration of its run on NBC (1995-1999).

In 1998, Andy lended his voice to the character Nuka in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

In 2000, Andy had a cameo role of Mark in the motion picture Dude, Where's My Car?

In 2001, Andy created his show on MTV called The Andy Dick Show; series ended in 2003 with two seasons, and it was a cult hit. Andy starred in a satirical reality television show on the same channel called The Assistant in 2004. The show spoofed themes and scenes from The Apprentice, The Bachelor, and Survivor.

Dick is also the lead singer of his band Andy Dick and the Bitches of the Century. They have appeared together on television and despite speculation otherwise are a serious performing group. They released a self-titled album in 2002.

Dick also appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager as the Mark II Emergency Medical Hologram in "Message in a Bottle".

Dick also provides the voice of Maurice from the radio station WCTR's segment "Gardening with Maurice" in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In 2005, Dick was featured in the documentary The Aristocrats with his own version of the joke and analysis along with explanations to some of the "acts".

Always one to make a joke out of everything and everyone he could, Dick--while introducing singer Deborah Cox at a music awards show he was hosting--cracked, "Andy Dick, Deborah Cox, I wonder if we're related".

Dick competed in the 8th season of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown. He finished in last place, behind Robin Tunney, Christopher Meloni, Macy Gray, and Joy Behar. He played for the PETA Animal Emergency Fund.

Recently, Dick wrote and directed his first feature film, Danny Roane: First Time Director. He recently portrayed the character "Owen Kronsky" on the ABC sitcom Less Than Perfect, until its cancellation on June 6th, 2006. He also starred in Jessica Simpson's music video for A Public Affair.

In 2005 Andy stirred controversy in Edmonton, Alberta at Yuk Yuk's comedy club when he dropped his pants and exposed his genitalia to the audience. Amidst the uproar he was ushered off the stage and the second night was cancelled.[1]

As of October, 2005, Andy has hosted his own radio program, The Shit Show on Howard Sterns Sirius channel Hoawrd 101 every monday night at midnight eastern.

[edit] Personal life

Dick is openly bisexual, but says both straight and gay people have told him "C'mon, you know you're just gay."[2] From 1986 to 1990, he was married to Ivone Kowalczyk, with whom he has a son, Lucas (b. 1988). He also has a son, Jacob (b. 1994), and a daughter, Meg (b. 1997), from his previous relationship with Lina Sved.

On May 15, 1999, Andy Dick drove his car into a telephone pole in Hollywood. He was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and hit-and-run driving. He later plead guilty to felony cocaine possession and two other misdemeanor charges--marijuana possession and possession of "a smoking device." After completing an 18-month drug diversion program, a judge dismissed felony and misdemeanor drug charges against him.

Andy Dick is a supporter of animals rights and PETA[3]

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Andy Dick at the Internet Movie Database
• Andy Dick at MySpace
• Biography at E! Online
• Andy Dick article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki.
• [4]
• Andy Dick speaks out about Animal Abuse