Background

Bobcat Goldthwait was born as Robert Francis Goldthwait on May 26, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to Kathleen Ann and Thomas Lincoln Goldthwait. His mother worked in a departmental store and his father was a sheet metal worker. He was raised in a working-class Catholic family.

Education

Goldthwait studied at St. Matthew's grammar school and then graduated from Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. He began stand-up committee while attending high school.

Career

At an early age, Goldthwait decided on a career as a comedian and was performing professionally while still in high school at age 15. He met Tom Kenny in first grade. In 1980, they formed a comedy troupe called The Generic Comics.

Goldthwait became recognized as a solo stand-up comedian and had a record "Meat Bob" and two televised concert specials in the 1980s: “An Evening with Bobcat Goldthwait – Share the Warmth and Bob Goldthwait – Is He Like That All the Time?“ He became known for his unique brand of comedy, which combines elements of political satire and often bizarre or unsettling black comedy.

Goldthwait filmed a half-hour HBO special in 1995, and another comedy album in 2003 “I Don't Mean to Insult You, But You Look Like Bobcat Goldthwait“ and in 2004 his stand-up was featured in Comedy Central's animated series “Shorties Watchin' Shorties“. Goldthwait announced his retirement from stand-up in 2005 and performed a "final" run in Vegas in September 2005. He briefly resumed touring in early 2008 (from January through April); he performed again in 2009, doing stand-up in Winnipeg on April 3 and 4, and again in Omaha on August 28 and 29; he returned to Winnipeg for 4 shows on April 9 and 10, 2010. He released a one-hour stand-up special in 2011 "You Don't Look the Same Either".

Has been a comedic guest on several television shows, including “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Comic Relief," “The Larry Sanders Show,” and “The John Larroquette Show.” Provided the voice for animated characters in the television series “The Moxy Show,” “Unhappily Ever After” and “Beavis and Butt-head,” as well as the Disney film Hercules (1997). Actor in television movies, including “Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful“, 1992; “Out There“, 1995; “Encino Woman“, “19%“; “Back to Back“, 1996; and “Dog's Best Friend“, 1997.

Goldthwait has appeared in several films. His first major role was Zed in the Police Academy franchise. He starred in“ One Crazy Summer“, “Burglar“, “Scrooged“, and “Hot to Trot“. In 1992, Goldthwait directed, wrote, and starred in “Shakes the Clown“. He made an appearance as a writer in Radioland Murders. He was also in 4 episodes of “Space Ghost Coast to Coast: "Bobcat", "Surprise", "Anniversary" and an uncredited appearance in the episode "Kentucky Nightmare".

Goldthwait began directing Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2004. While there, ratings for the show increased to over 2 million viewers per night, and jumped 50% with teens; however, in May 2006 Goldthwait left to pursue his film career. Goldthwait maintains contact with Kimmel and still directs for television and film. He returned to directing segments for Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the summer of 2007.

Achievements

• Goldthwait is a prolific comedian and director, whose works gained respect and recognition all over the United States.

Works

More photos

• film

  • Willow Creek

    (A young couple find themselves face-to-face against a ter...)

  • God Bless America

    (On a mission to rid society of its most repellent citizen...)

  • Call Me Lucky

    (Barry Crimmins was a volatile but brilliant comic who bec...)

  • Eugene Mirman: Vegan on His Way to the Complain Store

    (Want to beef up that resume? Or get banished from an onli...)

  • American Bigfoot

    (Enraged by the murder of it's offspring, a Bigfoot rampag...)

  • Shakes The Clown

    (Shakes plods about his duties as a party clown and uses a...)

  • Sleeping Dogs Lie

    (Amy is a seemingly normal young woman, adored by her pare...)

• TV show

  • Bobcat Goldthwait: You Don't Look the Same Either

    (Bobcat Goldthwait is back with a vengeance in his long-aw...)

Religion

Although he was raised in a Catholic family, Goldthwait considers himself an atheist.

Views

Goldthwait is a vegetarian.

Quotations: "Quit everything until you find something that you just cannot quit."

"America’s one of the finest countries anyone ever stole."

"I lost my job, well I didn't lose it, I know where it is, there's just some other guy doing it now."

"I have a gun. That’s the thing - there’s no discussion anymore. Just because I’m a progressive or a liberal I’m not supposed to have a gun. We’re not allowed to figure out what works for people. You’re either this or you’re that. How can you be a vegetarian atheist and own a gun? Well, that’s who I am. Mostly I’m just tired of the fact that there’s no more conversation or logic or reason. It’s just an “us vs. them” mentality."

Personality

Bob “Bobcat” Goldthwait earned his nickname from his manic demeanor as a child growing up in Syracuse, New York. There he played in a punk band, and even wore rollerskates to his high school prom. Yet, some of his off-the-wall behavior led him into rough waters during his adolescence. He admittedly abused both drugs and alcohol as a teenager but has since kicked both habits. Instead, he mined his frustrations and overabundant energies into a successful stand-up routine - first in Boston and San Francisco, and then, with the help of fans such as Joan Rivers, onto the national level.

Early on, Goldthwait’s comic routine involved such antics as reading the insulting break-up letters he had received from girlfriends or putting a fake rat flattened by a case of Tab under a microscope. For his debut on the Tonight Show, he announced his dog had died and introduced a man as his father, who then performed pet tricks in place of the dog. According to a People contributor, “Goldthwait has developed a comic style best described as borderline psychosis.”

Connections

Goldthwait has been married twice. His marriage to his first wife Ann Luly lasted from 1986 to 1998. They have a daughter, Tasha.

Goldthwait was married to Sarah de Sa Rego from 2009 to 2014 and was best friends with Robin Williams.

In 1997, he was engaged to Nikki Cox; their relationship ended in 2005.

Daughter:

Tasha Goldthwait

Tasha Goldthwait worked as a shopper/costumer on Twin Peaks (2017)

former wife:

Ann Luly Goldthwait

ex-wife:

Sarah de Sa Rego

former partner:

Nikki Cox

Friend:

Robin Williams

Friend:

Kurt Cobain

colleague:

Tom Kenny

References

• Contemporary Authors, Vol. 164