Kato Kaelin
Encyclopedia
Brian Jerard "Kato" Kaelin (born March 9, 1959) is an American
radio and television personality who gained fame as a witness during the 1994–95 murder trial
of O. J. Simpson
.
" as a child after the character played by Bruce Lee
in the television series, The Green Hornet
. He graduated from Nicolet High School
in Glendale, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, in 1977. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, where he was the game show host at the student-run, campus TV station, TV-10. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California
, to pursue a career in baseball
.
Kaelin was "best friends" with actor/comedian Norm Macdonald
from mid 2000 to mid 2001 according to Macdonald's The Norm Show
co-star Artie Lange
. Kaelin was even given a guest role on the show. The two had a "falling out," ending their friendship.
He was married to Cynthia Coulter from 1983 to 1989; they have one child.
for the murders of Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson
and her friend Ronald Goldman
. In 1994, Kaelin was staying in a guest house on the Simpson property, and was present at the compound on the night of the murder, witnessing some of Simpson's movements before and after the time of the murders. Kaelin's story seemed to contradict Simpson's version of the events on some key points. However, his rambling and inconsistent testimony over four days of the 1995 criminal trial made him a less-than-ideal witness for the prosecution. Prosecutor Marcia Clark
had him declared a hostile witness
. Kaelin also testified at the 1996 civil trial against Simpson.
As one of the more colorful figures in the Simpson case cast of characters, Kaelin received considerable media attention. He was the subject of jokes by TV comedians, who made fun of his spaced-out surf bum persona, lack of employment, and allegedly parasitic habits. Simpson's children also reportedly mocked Kaelin as a freeloader.
.
In 1998, Kaelin went on a speaking tour billed as The Sixteenth Minute, talking about life after his fifteen minutes of fame
.
Kaelin appeared on the first episode of the Fox
sketch comedy MADtv
(Oct. 1995) and also made a cameo appearance on the HBO sketch comedy, Mr. Show
, during the show's first season (Nov. 1995) - in the episode titled "We Regret to Inform You", he shows up at lobotomized
actor Borden Grote's party.
He has made numerous forays into reality television. He was in the 2002 series, "Celebrity Boot Camp." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360252/ In 2004, he participated in the development of a 2004 reality show
called House Guest, in which he would live in the homes of other (minor) celebrities. The show never aired. He was seen on an episode of the E! reality series Sunset Tan
, asking specifically for a "farmer's tan." He was also a guest player on the 6th episode of the Comedy Central series Reality Bites Back
. In 2008, he was a contestant in the Fox Reality reality show Gimme My Reality Show, in which D-list celebrities competed to receive their own reality show.
He has also participated in game shows. He was a contestant on the hit game show Russian Roulette
as well as the reality dating show BZZZ! with host Annie Wood. In 2005, Kaelin appeared in the first three National Lampoon's Strip Poker pay-per-view
programs (Kaelin is an avid poker player). The titles were filmed at the Hedonism II
, a naturist
resort in Negril
, Jamaica
, which led Kaelin to quip, "The first few days there were the hardest!" The Playboy
bunnies, WWE Divas, and pin-up models competing in the no limit Texas hold 'em
games, upon losing all their chips and clothes, had to dive into the "Pool of Shame" and visit "Kato's Guesthouse," where Kaelin would interview the nude defeated players. Kato also appeared in numerous comedic skits.
He also has worked as a host on television and radio. For a short time in 1995 he worked as a radio talk host on KLSX
in Los Angeles
, and also provided online content for National Lampoon
. From June 2005 to sometime in 2006, Kato Kaelin co-hosted Eye for an Eye
, a daytime TV court show that is in syndication in 34 countries. Kaelin is a recurring guest on the video game review show X-Play
. He has also appeared periodically as a guest co-host for Confessions Live, a syndicated call-in talk show that was produced in Arkansas.
In February 2009, Kaelin guest-starred in the web series Star-ving
and the movie Whacked.
Recently, Kato was seen on the show Tosh.0 doing a parody of the keyboard cat video titled "Keyboard Kato."
In 2010 Kaelin appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher
, wearing a wig to play his younger self in a taped skit parodying 1990s television appearances by 2010 U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio and television personality who gained fame as a witness during the 1994–95 murder trial
O. J. Simpson murder case
The O. J. Simpson murder case was a criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California Superior Court from January 29 to October 3, 1995. Former American football star and actor O. J...
of O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
.
Personal life
Kaelin was nicknamed "KatoKato (The Green Hornet)
Kato is a fictional character from The Green Hornet series. This character has also appeared with the Green Hornet in film, television, book and comic book versions. Kato was the Hornet's assistant and has been played by a number of actors...
" as a child after the character played by Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
in the television series, The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet is an American radio and television masked vigilante created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell, in 1936. Since his radio debut in the 1930s, the Green Hornet has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media...
. He graduated from Nicolet High School
Nicolet High School
Nicolet High School is a public secondary school located in Glendale, Wisconsin. It is the only school in the Nicolet Unified School District, which serves Glendale, Fox Point, Bayside, and River Hills. Primary schooling is administered by three feeder districts. The Nicolet Unified School district...
in Glendale, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, in 1977. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, where he was the game show host at the student-run, campus TV station, TV-10. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, to pursue a career in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
Kaelin was "best friends" with actor/comedian Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
from mid 2000 to mid 2001 according to Macdonald's The Norm Show
The Norm Show
The Norm Show is an American television sitcom that ran from 1999 through 2001 on the ABC television network.-Synopsis:...
co-star Artie Lange
Artie Lange
Arthur Steven "Artie" Lange, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and radio personality best known for his tenures with the The Howard Stern Show and the comedy sketch series MADtv....
. Kaelin was even given a guest role on the show. The two had a "falling out," ending their friendship.
He was married to Cynthia Coulter from 1983 to 1989; they have one child.
O. J. Simpson murder case
Kaelin came to notice for his role as a minor witness in the trial of O. J. SimpsonO. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
for the murders of Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson
Nicole Brown Simpson
Nicole Brown Simpson was a former wife of professional football player O. J. Simpson.- Relationship with O. J. Simpson :...
and her friend Ronald Goldman
Ronald Goldman
Ronald Lyle "Ron" Goldman was an American waiter and an aspiring model. He was murdered along with Nicole Brown Simpson, former wife of O. J. Simpson, an actor and retired American football player. The subsequent criminal investigation and trial against O. J...
. In 1994, Kaelin was staying in a guest house on the Simpson property, and was present at the compound on the night of the murder, witnessing some of Simpson's movements before and after the time of the murders. Kaelin's story seemed to contradict Simpson's version of the events on some key points. However, his rambling and inconsistent testimony over four days of the 1995 criminal trial made him a less-than-ideal witness for the prosecution. Prosecutor Marcia Clark
Marcia Clark
Marcia Rachel Clark is an American prosecutor, author, and television correspondent who gained fame as the head prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case.-Early life:...
had him declared a hostile witness
Hostile witness
A hostile witness is a witness in a trial who testifies for the opposing party or a witness who offers adverse testimony to the calling party during direct examination.A witness called by the opposing party is presumed hostile...
. Kaelin also testified at the 1996 civil trial against Simpson.
As one of the more colorful figures in the Simpson case cast of characters, Kaelin received considerable media attention. He was the subject of jokes by TV comedians, who made fun of his spaced-out surf bum persona, lack of employment, and allegedly parasitic habits. Simpson's children also reportedly mocked Kaelin as a freeloader.
Career
Prior to his involvement in the OJ Simpson trial, he was in an early 1990s movie called Beach Fever, in which he created a love potion with his friend and hit on girls at the beach, and starred in a low budget crime movie Night Shadow in 1989. He also had a minor role in National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2
National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 is the mystery/farce sequel to the 2003 comedy National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze. Chris Owen and Danielle Fishel reprised their roles from the original along with Tony Denman, James DeBello, Patrick Cavanaugh, Marieh Delfino, Jennifer Lyons and Gable Carr...
.
In 1998, Kaelin went on a speaking tour billed as The Sixteenth Minute, talking about life after his fifteen minutes of fame
15 minutes of fame
15 minutes of fame is short-lived, often ephemeral, media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was coined by Andy Warhol, who said in 1968 that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." The phenomenon is often used in reference to...
.
Kaelin appeared on the first episode of the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
sketch comedy MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
(Oct. 1995) and also made a cameo appearance on the HBO sketch comedy, Mr. Show
Mr. Show
Mr. Show with Bob and David is an American sketch comedy series featuring former Saturday Night Live writer/actor Bob Odenkirk and stand up comedian/actor David Cross...
, during the show's first season (Nov. 1995) - in the episode titled "We Regret to Inform You", he shows up at lobotomized
Lobotomy
Lobotomy "; τομή – tomē: "cut/slice") is a neurosurgical procedure, a form of psychosurgery, also known as a leukotomy or leucotomy . It consists of cutting the connections to and from the prefrontal cortex, the anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain...
actor Borden Grote's party.
He has made numerous forays into reality television. He was in the 2002 series, "Celebrity Boot Camp." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360252/ In 2004, he participated in the development of a 2004 reality show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
called House Guest, in which he would live in the homes of other (minor) celebrities. The show never aired. He was seen on an episode of the E! reality series Sunset Tan
Sunset Tan
Sunset Tan was an American reality television program that aired on the E! cable television network. The series chronicles the lives of the managers and employees of a tanning salon in Los Angeles called Sunset Tan. Season Two finished September 28, 2008...
, asking specifically for a "farmer's tan." He was also a guest player on the 6th episode of the Comedy Central series Reality Bites Back
Reality Bites Back
Reality Bites Back is a reality show hosted by Michael Ian Black that parodies various reality show formats. It premiered July 17, 2008 on Comedy Central. The name is derived from the 1994 film Reality Bites.- Premise :...
. In 2008, he was a contestant in the Fox Reality reality show Gimme My Reality Show, in which D-list celebrities competed to receive their own reality show.
He has also participated in game shows. He was a contestant on the hit game show Russian Roulette
Russian Roulette (game show)
Russian Roulette is an American game show created by executive producer Gunnar Wetterberg that ran for two seasons on Game Show Network from June 3, 2002 to June 13, 2003. It was hosted by Mark L. Walberg, with Burton Richardson announcing. Todd Newton hosted an April Fool's Day episode in 2003....
as well as the reality dating show BZZZ! with host Annie Wood. In 2005, Kaelin appeared in the first three National Lampoon's Strip Poker pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
programs (Kaelin is an avid poker player). The titles were filmed at the Hedonism II
Hedonism Resorts
Hedonism II and Hedonism III are vacation resorts in Jamaica, operated by SuperClubs. SuperClubs is the operating name of Village Resorts Ltd. The stock holders of Village Resorts Ltd...
, a naturist
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
resort in Negril
Negril
Negril is a small but widely dispersed beach resort town located across parts of two Jamaican parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover. Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, which led Kaelin to quip, "The first few days there were the hardest!" The Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
bunnies, WWE Divas, and pin-up models competing in the no limit Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
games, upon losing all their chips and clothes, had to dive into the "Pool of Shame" and visit "Kato's Guesthouse," where Kaelin would interview the nude defeated players. Kato also appeared in numerous comedic skits.
He also has worked as a host on television and radio. For a short time in 1995 he worked as a radio talk host on KLSX
KLSX
KAMP-FM 97.1 FM, known on-air as 97.1 AMP Radio, is a Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. The station is owned by CBS Radio.The station had long been known as KLSX before the call sign changed on June 30, 2009....
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and also provided online content for National Lampoon
National Lampoon Inc
National Lampoon, Incorporated is a company formed in 2002 in order to use the brand name "National Lampoon" in comedy and entertainment. In the words of its prospectus, the role of the company is to "develop, produce, provide creative services and distribute National Lampoon branded comedic...
. From June 2005 to sometime in 2006, Kato Kaelin co-hosted Eye for an Eye
Eye for an Eye (TV series)
Eye for an Eye is a television program that has run in syndication since 2004.The program is a variation on popular thirty minute Reality shows. Eye For an Eye is presided over by Judge "Extreme Akim" Anastopoulo, with bailiff and former boxer Big Sugar Ray Phillips. The series was formerly hosted...
, a daytime TV court show that is in syndication in 34 countries. Kaelin is a recurring guest on the video game review show X-Play
X-Play
X-Play is a TV program about video games, known for its reviews and comedy skits...
. He has also appeared periodically as a guest co-host for Confessions Live, a syndicated call-in talk show that was produced in Arkansas.
In February 2009, Kaelin guest-starred in the web series Star-ving
Star-ving
Star-ving is a web series of episodes running eight to ten minutes, based very loosely on the life of David Faustino from Married... with Children. His co-star is Corin Nemec, who played the title character in Parker Lewis Can't Lose. The start date for the episodes was January 16, 2009...
and the movie Whacked.
Recently, Kato was seen on the show Tosh.0 doing a parody of the keyboard cat video titled "Keyboard Kato."
In 2010 Kaelin appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous show, Politically Incorrect on ABC , Real Time features a panel of guests that discuss current events in politics and the media...
, wearing a wig to play his younger self in a taped skit parodying 1990s television appearances by 2010 U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell
Christine O'Donnell
Christine Therese O'Donnell is an American Republican Party politician who founded two advocacy organizations. She has been an advocate for nonprofit clients and nonprofit causes for nearly 20 years. A Tea Party favorite, and with strong financial support from the Tea Party movement, she defeated...
.