Tom Leopold
Encyclopedia
Tom Leopold is an American
comedy writer, performer and novelist. He has written episodes of Seinfeld
and Cheers
and several books. He has often been associated with Chevy Chase
, Harry Shearer
and Paul Shaffer
in various projects. He also provided vocal performances with Jonathan Katz
in animated productions for the Internet such as Hey We're Back and Explosion Bus.
, Richard Belzer
and Christopher Guest
.
He transitioned into television sketch comedy
writing when The Chevy Chase Show began in 1977 (not to be confused with the ill-fated 1993 talk show of the same name). He wrote for other programs such as The Marilyn McCoo
and Billy Davis, Jr.
Show, The Richard Belzer Show, and The Steve Allen
Comedy Hour. In 1979 he wrote and performed in a sketch comedy program called The T.V. Show with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean
, Martin Mull
, Rob Reiner
and Harry Shearer
.
He later began writing for television situation comedies
and has done this successfully ever since. He has been a producer, story editor and writer on a number of top American programs including Caroline in the City
, Cheers
, Ellen
, Hope & Faith
, Seinfeld
and Will & Grace
. Other programs for which he has written include The Mind of the Married Man
and Dream On
. He wrote two episodes of Seinfeld (The Cafe and The Suicide) and he co-wrote the episode The Cheever Letters
. He wrote two episodes of Cheers
(The Beer Is Always Greener and Norm's Big Audit). In 2006 he became executive producer of the British
sitcom My Family.
Based on his experience writing for television comedy, Leopold has led a master class
in sitcom writing called "Comedy Writer's Room" at Columbia University
.
Leopold and Harry Shearer
are friends and have collaborated on several projects. They were hired together to do a rewrite of the 1986 film Club Paradise
. In the end, only two words of what they wrote ended up in the film (the title) and Shearer was "so appalled by the movie" that he removed his name from the credits. Leopold left his name on the movie, but has done no other film writing since.
Leopold and Shearer also wrote a musical comedy about J. Edgar Hoover
called J. Edgar! in 1994. The musical was produced for radio in Los Angeles
by L.A. Theatre Works, with music by Peter Matz
. It starred Kelsey Grammer
and John Goodman
and featured Dan Castellaneta
, Christopher Guest
, Michael McKean
and Annette O'Toole
. It has also been performed at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival
in 2003. A cast recording was produced and is still available.
Leopold often calls in to Shearer's radio program Le Show
, playing such unusual characters as "Yvonne Della Femina" (O.J. Simpson's alleged girlfriend and serially transgendered person) or even Elvis Presley
. (See the Le Show article for a more complete list of his characters).
Leopold and Shearer are also friends with Paul Shaffer
. They share an interest in the vagaries of show business itself and sometimes go on trips to see odd shows. "Paul, Harry and I are show-biz-philes. We fly all over to see these bad, funny shows," said Leopold in a New York Magazine article. Leopold and Shearer produced and co-wrote (with Shaffer) a 1986 Cinemax
special titled Viva Shaf Vegas in which Leopold also performed, some of which was based on this shared interest.
Leopold has written two novels, his first was Almost Like Being Here in 1988, which was followed by a sequel Somebody Sing in 1990. The books got mixed reviews. The first book was produced as a stage play in Chicago
in 1993.
In 2008 he collaborated with Bob Sand to publish a biography of a mythical comedy writing team "Milt Wagonman and Marty Sloyxne", who are profane and largely unsuccessful. A number of promotional videos for the book have been posted in which Leopold and Sand appear as the characters. (Leopold plays Milt Wagonman).
Leopold occasionally performs as a comedic actor in film or television and at live events (most recently in September 2008).
with his wife and two daughters. He owns a summer home in Greenport, New York
that he bought from Kofi Annan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedy writer, performer and novelist. He has written episodes of Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
and Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
and several books. He has often been associated with Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
and Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
in various projects. He also provided vocal performances with Jonathan Katz
Jonathan Katz
Jonathan Paul Katz is an American comedian, actor, and voice actor who is best known for his starring role in the animated sitcom Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist...
in animated productions for the Internet such as Hey We're Back and Explosion Bus.
Career
Leopold began writing material for National Lampoon magazine and went on to work on the The National Lampoon Radio Hour when it was created in 1973. He worked with performers such as Chevy ChaseChevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, Richard Belzer
Richard Belzer
Richard Jay Belzer is an American stand-up comedian, author, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as John Munch, which he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in guest...
and Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that...
.
He transitioned into television sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
writing when The Chevy Chase Show began in 1977 (not to be confused with the ill-fated 1993 talk show of the same name). He wrote for other programs such as The Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold...
and Billy Davis, Jr.
Billy Davis, Jr.
Billy Davis, Jr. is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star "...
Show, The Richard Belzer Show, and The Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
Comedy Hour. In 1979 he wrote and performed in a sketch comedy program called The T.V. Show with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael John McKean is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski, on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; and for his work in the Christopher Guest ensemble films, particularly as David St...
, Martin Mull
Martin Mull
Martin Mull is an American actor who has starred in his own television sitcom and acted in prominent films. He is also a comedian, painter, and recording artist...
, Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
and Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
.
He later began writing for television situation comedies
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
and has done this successfully ever since. He has been a producer, story editor and writer on a number of top American programs including Caroline in the City
Caroline in the City
Caroline in the City is an American situation comedy that ran from September 21, 1995 to April 26, 1999 on the NBC television network. It starred Lea Thompson as cartoonist Caroline Duffy. The series premiered in the two-hour Thursday night block led by Friends.-Premise:Caroline Duffy is a...
, Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, Ellen
Ellen (TV series)
Ellen is a U.S. television sitcom that ran on the ABC network from March 29, 1994 to July 22, 1998, producing 109 episodes.The theme song, "So Called Friend" is by Scottish band Texas...
, Hope & Faith
Hope & Faith
Hope & Faith is an American sitcom that aired for three seasons on ABC from September 26, 2003, to May 2, 2006. For its first two seasons the show was part of a revived TGIF comedy block....
, Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
and Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Will & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
. Other programs for which he has written include The Mind of the Married Man
The Mind of the Married Man
The Mind of the Married Man is a television series that ran on the HBO network for two seasons consisting of twenty episodes between September 2001 and November 2002. The story attempts to focus on the challenges of modern-day married life from a male perspective.The show drew mixed reviews from...
and Dream On
Dream On (TV series)
Dream On is an American adult-themed situation comedy about single New Yorker, Martin Tupper. The show used a gimmick where old black and white clips were used to punctuate the main character's feelings or thoughts...
. He wrote two episodes of Seinfeld (The Cafe and The Suicide) and he co-wrote the episode The Cheever Letters
The Cheever Letters
"The Cheever Letters" is the forty-eighth episode of the American sitcom Seinfeld, the 8th episode of season four. Written by Larry David, Elaine Pope & Tom Leopold and directed by Tom Cherones, it premiered on October 28, 1992.-Plot:...
. He wrote two episodes of Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
(The Beer Is Always Greener and Norm's Big Audit). In 2006 he became executive producer of the British
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sitcom My Family.
Based on his experience writing for television comedy, Leopold has led a master class
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
in sitcom writing called "Comedy Writer's Room" at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Leopold and Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
are friends and have collaborated on several projects. They were hired together to do a rewrite of the 1986 film Club Paradise
Club Paradise
Club Paradise is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Harold Ramis starring Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole, and Jimmy Cliff. The film reunites director/co-writer Ramis with most of his SCTV co-stars -- SCTV cast members Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis, Joe Flaherty, and Robin Duke play...
. In the end, only two words of what they wrote ended up in the film (the title) and Shearer was "so appalled by the movie" that he removed his name from the credits. Leopold left his name on the movie, but has done no other film writing since.
Leopold and Shearer also wrote a musical comedy about J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
called J. Edgar! in 1994. The musical was produced for radio in 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...
by L.A. Theatre Works, with music by Peter Matz
Peter Matz
Peter Matz was an award winning American musician, composer, arranger and conductor. His musical career in film, theater, television and studio recording spanned fifty years, and he worked with a number of prominent artists, including Marlene Dietrich, Noël Coward and Barbra Streisand...
. It starred Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
and John Goodman
John Goodman
John Stephen Goodman is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993, and for appearances in the films of the Coen brothers, with prominent roles in Raising...
and featured Dan Castellaneta
Dan Castellaneta
Daniel Louis "Dan" Castellaneta is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter. Noted for his long-running role as Homer Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons, he voices many other characters on The Simpsons, including Abraham "Grampa" Simpson, Barney Gumble,...
, Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that...
, Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael John McKean is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski, on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; and for his work in the Christopher Guest ensemble films, particularly as David St...
and Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole is an American actress, dancer, and singer-songwriter. She is most recently known for portraying Martha Kent, the mother of Clark Kent on the television series Smallville.-Early life and career:...
. It has also been performed at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival
U.S. Comedy Arts Festival
The Comedy Festival, formerly known as the US Comedy Arts Festival, is a comedy festival held each year in Las Vegas, Nevada. From its 1985 inception to 2007, it was held annually at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado...
in 2003. A cast recording was produced and is still available.
Leopold often calls in to Shearer's radio program Le Show
Le Show
Le Show is a weekly syndicated public radio show hosted by satirist Harry Shearer.The program is a hodgepodge of satirical news commentary, music, and sketch comedy...
, playing such unusual characters as "Yvonne Della Femina" (O.J. Simpson's alleged girlfriend and serially transgendered person) or even Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. (See the Le Show article for a more complete list of his characters).
Leopold and Shearer are also friends with Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
. They share an interest in the vagaries of show business itself and sometimes go on trips to see odd shows. "Paul, Harry and I are show-biz-philes. We fly all over to see these bad, funny shows," said Leopold in a New York Magazine article. Leopold and Shearer produced and co-wrote (with Shaffer) a 1986 Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
special titled Viva Shaf Vegas in which Leopold also performed, some of which was based on this shared interest.
Leopold has written two novels, his first was Almost Like Being Here in 1988, which was followed by a sequel Somebody Sing in 1990. The books got mixed reviews. The first book was produced as a stage play in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1993.
In 2008 he collaborated with Bob Sand to publish a biography of a mythical comedy writing team "Milt Wagonman and Marty Sloyxne", who are profane and largely unsuccessful. A number of promotional videos for the book have been posted in which Leopold and Sand appear as the characters. (Leopold plays Milt Wagonman).
Leopold occasionally performs as a comedic actor in film or television and at live events (most recently in September 2008).
Personal
He lives in New York CityNew 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...
with his wife and two daughters. He owns a summer home in Greenport, New York
Greenport, Suffolk County, New York
Greenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....
that he bought from Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
.
External links
- Explosion Bus (Tom Leopold provides the voice for Leo Huckstep)