Simon Stiles
Encyclopedia
Simon Stiles is a fictional character
on the U.S.
television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
, played by D.L. Hughley.
and felt that, as a graduate of the Yale School of Drama
, he didn't belong on a sketch-comedy show. Since then, however, he's found his niche in the cast and has developed a deep loyalty to both the show and his fellow cast members. Before he was cast in Studio 60, Simon was paying his dues by doing standup comedy three sets a night for ten dollars at various nightclubs around Los Angeles
.
He sometimes feels limited by his comedic skills, conscious of the fact that he isn't able to do the humorous "voices" he thinks Ricky and Ron have been pushing for.
As he told Matt in "The Wrap Party", Simon grew up in South Central Los Angeles amid gang violence and poverty. At the age of fifteen, he witnessed the shooting of one of his friends. In turn, they planned on a violent rebuttal with Simon planning on being part of it. But the leader of the group forbade Simon from going with them for fear of watching Simon throw away his future. As a result, many of his childhood friends are currently incarcerated, with Simon himself being the only one who really made something of himself. As a result, Simon feels a sense of guilt and responsibility to do what he can to help out others who grew up in the same area. Simon's background has several elements in common with the childhood of D.L. Hughley, the actor who plays Simon.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was an American dramedy television series created and written by Aaron Sorkin. It ran for 22 episodes.The series takes place behind the scenes of a live sketch comedy show on the fictional television network NBS , whose format is similar to that of NBC's...
, played by D.L. Hughley.
Personal history
One of the "Big Three" cast members of Studio 60, Simon Stiles joined the show in 2001. He was initially resentful, having lost out on a significant movie role to Jamie FoxxJamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
and felt that, as a graduate of the Yale School of Drama
Yale School of Drama
The Yale School of Drama is a graduate professional school of Yale University providing training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design , directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theater...
, he didn't belong on a sketch-comedy show. Since then, however, he's found his niche in the cast and has developed a deep loyalty to both the show and his fellow cast members. Before he was cast in Studio 60, Simon was paying his dues by doing standup comedy three sets a night for ten dollars at various nightclubs around 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...
.
He sometimes feels limited by his comedic skills, conscious of the fact that he isn't able to do the humorous "voices" he thinks Ricky and Ron have been pushing for.
As he told Matt in "The Wrap Party", Simon grew up in South Central Los Angeles amid gang violence and poverty. At the age of fifteen, he witnessed the shooting of one of his friends. In turn, they planned on a violent rebuttal with Simon planning on being part of it. But the leader of the group forbade Simon from going with them for fear of watching Simon throw away his future. As a result, many of his childhood friends are currently incarcerated, with Simon himself being the only one who really made something of himself. As a result, Simon feels a sense of guilt and responsibility to do what he can to help out others who grew up in the same area. Simon's background has several elements in common with the childhood of D.L. Hughley, the actor who plays Simon.