Nick Swardson

Comedic actor Nick Swardson always stepped up to the plate, especially when it came to playing juvenile-minded, off-kilter, or insanely hilarious characters. Swardson launched his stand-up comedy career at 18 and within a few years established himself as one of the hardest working and funniest performers in the country. After guest appearances on late night talk shows and starring in his own half-hour comedy specials, Swardson landed his breakout role on Comedy Central's law enforcement parody series "Reno 911!" (2003-09) as a fast-talking, roller-skating gay prostitute. The actor further elevated his presence in show business by taking on supporting roles in Adam Sandler's comedy features, including "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (2007) and "Just Go with It" (2011). After several years playing second fiddle to A-list comedians, Swardson eventually starred in his own sketch comedy show "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" (Comedy Central, 2010-11) as well as played a goofball kidnapper in the film "30 Minutes or Less" (2011), both of which turned him into one of Hollywood's most sought-after supporting comedians and character actors.

Nicholas Swardson was born on Oct. 9, 1976 in Minneapolis, MN. He began performing stand-up comedy at the age of 18 and landed his big break shortly after when he was chosen to perform at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. Swardson launched his career on the comedy circuit by performing all across the country before eventually settling in New York City. He made his mark on the stand-up scene by performing regularly at some of the city's most famous clubs, including Comic Strip, Caroline's, and Luna Lounge. Swardson began appearing on television in 1998, performing his act on shows such as Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" (1997-2005) and NBC's "Late Friday" (2001-02) that featured up-and-coming comics. When he was 22, Swardson became the youngest comic to star on "Comedy Central Presents" (1998- ), a half-hour special dedicated to a different stand-up comedian each episode. Taking on topics such as his childhood experiences, sexual escapades, and other real-life scenarios, Swardson soon caught the attention of late night shows that were eager to book him for an appearance, including "Real Time with Bill Maher" (HBO, 2003- ) and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (NBC, 1993-2009).

In 2003, Swardson co-wrote and played a minor role in the comedy feature "Malibu's Most Wanted." His friend and fellow comic Jamie Kennedy starred in the film as a spoiled young man who dreams of becoming a hardcore rapper. Kennedy's character "B-Rad" originally appeared on his show "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment" (The WB, 2002-03), on which Swardson had a recurring role. He also had a recurring part on the comedy series "Reno 911!" as a roller-skating gay prostitute named Terry Bernardino. His popularity on this show enabled Swardson to take on other projects, including the release of his debut comedy album Party (2007). One of Swardson's biggest supporters was Adam Sandler, who often cast the young comic in feature films produced by his company Happy Madison. Swardson played minor characters in a handful of Sandler's films, including "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" and "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" (2008). He also had a featured role as the best friend of Sandler's womanizing character in the romantic comedy "Just Go with It," which also starred Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman.

The hardworking and charming comedian returned to television in 2010 with his own Comedy Central series "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time." The sketch comedy show featured Swardson-created characters including Gay Robot (a sexually frustrated machine who tries to get his straight friends to sleep with him), Wheelchair Cat (a trust-fund feline), and Garry Gaga (the supposed brother of Lady Gaga who works as a policeman but dresses like the pop star). In 2011, Swardson starred in the comedy feature "30 Minutes or Less," about a pair of slackers (Swardson and Danny McBride) who kidnap a pizza-delivery man and force him to rob a bank while wearing a bomb on his chest. The film also starred Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari.