Rick Shapiro
Encyclopedia
Rick Shapiro is a Los Angeles
-based comedian
. He first gained attention in the stand-up scene based around the Lower East Side
in New York
. He was a mainstay in the underground comedy scene for years, performing a regular Wednesday night set at the Sidewalk Cafe in New York until his role on Louis C.K.
's HBO sitcom Lucky Louie
helped him reach a wider audience. Shapiro is known for his ability to improvise, making up much of his trademark long sets on the spot.
Shapiro has spoken openly about his younger years when he first became addicted to heroin and resorted to male prostitution
to support his habit. He speaks about this troubled past in his comedy, making light of what many comedians see as a difficult topic.
Shapiro performs regularly at clubs in New York such as The Comedy Village, the Sidewalk Cafe, Comic Strip Live
, the Laugh Lounge, and Comix. He now performs in both the Los Angeles
and New York comedy circuits. He performs weekly at Vlad the Retailer in Los Angeles.
In 2007, Shapiro made a popular UK debut, receiving favourable reviews for his one-man Edinburgh Festival
show, produced by Calvin Wynter at The Green Room.
In 2008 he was in Grand Theft Auto IV
on the radio station PLR, portraying Mason Waylon who is a guest on a talk show on the radio, and eventually drills holes in the heads of the two other guests.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. He first gained attention in the stand-up scene based around the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was a mainstay in the underground comedy scene for years, performing a regular Wednesday night set at the Sidewalk Cafe in New York until his role on Louis C.K.
Louis C.K.
Louis Szekely , known professionally as Louis C.K., is a stand-up comedian, television and film writer, actor, producer, and director...
's HBO sitcom Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
helped him reach a wider audience. Shapiro is known for his ability to improvise, making up much of his trademark long sets on the spot.
Shapiro has spoken openly about his younger years when he first became addicted to heroin and resorted to male prostitution
Male prostitution
Male prostitution is the practice of engaging in sexual acts for money. Compared to female sex workers, male sex workers have been far less studied by researchers, and while studies suggest that there are differences between the ways these two groups look at their work, more research is needed.Male...
to support his habit. He speaks about this troubled past in his comedy, making light of what many comedians see as a difficult topic.
Shapiro performs regularly at clubs in New York such as The Comedy Village, the Sidewalk Cafe, Comic Strip Live
Comic Strip Live
The Comic Strip Live is the oldest stand-up comedy showcase club in New York City and the world. Located at 1568 Second Avenue .-Beginnings:...
, the Laugh Lounge, and Comix. He now performs in both the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and New York comedy circuits. He performs weekly at Vlad the Retailer in Los Angeles.
In 2007, Shapiro made a popular UK debut, receiving favourable reviews for his one-man Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
show, produced by Calvin Wynter at The Green Room.
In 2008 he was in Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
on the radio station PLR, portraying Mason Waylon who is a guest on a talk show on the radio, and eventually drills holes in the heads of the two other guests.
Filmography
- JoeyJoey (1986 film)Joey is a 1986 film written and directed by Joseph Ellison, based on a story by Ellen Hammill. The rock and roll movie features songs by Tim Worman and the Polecats and performances by the Ad-Libs, the Silhouettes, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and others.-Plot:...
(1986)
as Larry - Lucky LouieLucky LouieLucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
(2006)
as Jerry - Grand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
(2008)
as Mason Waylon - The LeagueThe LeagueThe League is an American sitcom that premiered on FX on October 29, 2009. The series, set in Chicago, is a semi-improvised comedy about a fantasy football league, its members, and their everyday lives.-Synopsis:...
(2011)
as Bum
External links
- Official MySpace Page
- "Recovery Rick Re-Stands Up" by Ryan BlitsteinRyan BlitsteinRyan Blitstein is Executive Director of the Chicago philanthropic organization SCE and a former American journalist...
, New York Observer, May 17, 2004. - Performance at the UCB Theater, July 3, 2008