Eddie Pepitone

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Eddie Pepitone
Pepitone in 2012
Birth nameEdward David Pepitone
Born (1958-11-05) November 5, 1958 (age 65)
New York City
MediumStand-up, podcast, television, film
Years active1978–present
GenresAlternative comedy,[1] dark comedy, observational comedy, political satire[2]

Edward David Pepitone (born November 5, 1958) is an American character actor, stand-up comedian and podcast host. He is known for his dark comedy style.

Early life[edit]

Pepitone was born to a Sicilian father and a Jewish mother in Brooklyn, New York City, and was raised from the age of nine on Staten Island. His father was a history teacher and later the dean of a high school.[3] As a child, he would often make his friends laugh, describing himself as a "classic class clown" and would incorporate the use of word play and non sequiturs.[4] While his mother was supportive of his career choice, his father wanted him to become a doctor. His father, involved with the Teachers Union, gave him a copy of The Rich and the Super Rich by Ferdinand Lundberg. Prior to becoming a comedian, he installed hardwood flooring, which he claims caused tinnitus that affects him today. He also developed a hernia while working on hardwood floors.[5][6]

Career[edit]

Pepitone in 2017, at the Crap Comedy Festival in Oslo, Norway

Described as a "cult favorite",[7] Pepitone is a staple in the Los Angeles comedy scene. He is known for his regular appearances in the early days of the WTF with Marc Maron podcast and his sketch appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Conan, often playing his recurring role as the "New York City Heckler" in the audience.[8] He has had recurring roles on television programs such as The Life & Times of Tim, The Sarah Silverman Program and Nick Swardson's Pretend Time. His short mockumentary film Runyon: Just Above Sunset, co-written by Karen Simmons and directed by Troy Conrad, won Best in Show (as well as Best Actor in a Mockumentary) at the L.A. Mockfest as well as Best Comedy Short at the Burbank Film Festival in 2011. Pepitone often pokes fun at corporatocracy and has been nicknamed the Bitter Buddha.[9]

Pepitone was a first-round contestant during the first season of Last Comic Standing. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Pepitone was a regular sketch performer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He has appeared in films such as The Muppets, Old School, School for Scoundrels, and Terri. Pepitone regularly performs stand-up comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. Pepitone has made many guest appearances on comedy programs, including Bob's Burgers, The King of Queens, Chappelle's Show, Malcolm in the Middle, Monk, Community, Childrens Hospital, The Eric Andre Show, Happy Endings, Flight of the Conchords, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Pepitone also appears in the 2012 documentary Alone Up There, which looks at the craft of stand-up comedy.

Pepitone's first stand-up album, A Great Stillness, was recorded at the Gotham Comedy Club and released in 2011. He released a sketch comedy album in 2006 called The Big Push.

From 2011 to 2013, Pepitone starred in the 500 episodes of the web comedy series Puddin'.[10]

In the fall of 2013, Pepitone started hosting his own podcast called Pep Talks[11] after being a member of The Long Shot podcast for several years.

In 2014, he won the September 7 episode of @midnight.

A documentary about Pepitone's career entitled The Bitter Buddha[12] was released in 2012 to positive reviews.[13][14]

Pepitone appears in the Adult Swim comedy Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell as Eddie, a tortured soul.

His stand-up special For the Masses was released in June 2020.[15] In December 2020, The New York Times called it the funniest special of the year.[16]

Personal life[edit]

Pepitone is a vegan, having become vegan after watching animal rights videos. His wife is an animal rights activist.[17]

Pepitone is best friends with Matt Oswalt, the younger brother of Patton Oswalt.[18][19]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Year Title Label Formats
2006 The Big Push Exotic Recordings[20] CD/Download
2011 A Great Stillness Self-release Download
2014 Stand Up! Records[20] CD/LP / color vinyl LP (2017)
2015 In Ruins: Live In Brooklyn[21] Comedy Dynamics[20] CD/Download

Videos[edit]

Year Title Studio Formats
2011 Runyon: Just Above Sunset (short) Self-release Download
2013 The Bitter Buddha (documentary) Syndctd Entertainment/Passion River Films/Gravitas Ventures DVD/Download/Streaming
2014 In Ruins (special) Netflix Download/Streaming
2020 For the Masses (special) 800 Pound Gorilla[15] Download/Streaming

Album appearances[edit]

Year Artists Title Track
2006 The Comedians of Comedy Live at the El Rey Cameo
2007 Comedians To Pay Attention To 4. Eddie Pepitone
2012 Various Artists from Stand Up! Records Comedy Juice All-Stars 3. Twitbook
Rob Kutner And The Levinson Brothers It's Okay To Do Stuff 6. Wally Wants A Real Doll
2015 Adam Carolla Road Work, Vol. 1 What Can't Adam Complain About? 7. Finding Money (The Irvine Improv 12/10/12)
2017 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend feat. Rachel Bloom Getting Over Jeff (single) 2. My Friend's Dad

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Combat Shock Terry - Strung-Out Junkie
2003 Old School Archer
2005 Save the Mavericks Coach Cal
Freeze Out Tim
2007 The Heckler Heckler / Stand-Up Short film
also writer
Life with Fiona Mr. Thogmartin
The Living Wake Reginald
2008 Held Up Martin Television film
2009 Punching the Clown Eddie
2010 Pickin' & Grinnin' Al
Bright Day! Himself Documentary film
Seattle Komedy Dokumentary Himself Documentary film
2011 Runyon: Just Above Sunset Eddie Short film
Who the F#ck Is Chip Seinfeld? Himself
Terri Joe Hollywood
The Legend of Awesomest Maximus Approximo
The Muppets Postman
2012 Alone Up There Himself Documentary film
The Bitter Buddha Himself Documentary film
2013 Free Ride BK
2014 Trunk'd Randy
Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie John Swann
2015 Bad Night The Clown
Regular Show: The Movie Sherm (voice)
2016 B-Roll Sam
5 Doctors Boris
2017 Handsome Durante

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2004 King of Queens Dennis / Rob 2 episodes
2006 Malcolm in the Middle Homeless Nick 1 episode
2006 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Tony 1 episode
2007 Flight of the Conchords Eddie 1 episode
2011–2015 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Dolores Brutananadilewski (voice) 2 episodes
2011; 2013 Kickin' It Lou 2 episodes
2013–2014 Community Crazy Schmidt 2 episodes
2013–2019 Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell Eddie 18 episodes
2014 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Leo Sporm 1 episode
2014–2015 Maron Stu Carbone 2 episodes
2015–2016 Regular Show Sherm (voice) 4 episodes
2016 Limitless Josh-O-Saurus
2017 The Goldbergs Tony the Deli Guy Episode: "So Swayze It's Crazy"
2017–2018 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Bob
Mighty Magiswords DeBizz (voice)
2019 Rick and Morty Testicle Monster #2 (voice) Episode: "Rattlestar Ricklactica"
2020 Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine Control Room Guy / Bus Passenger Television special
2024 Rock Paper Scissors (TV series) Lou Zer (voice) Supporting character

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Eddie Pepitone – for the Masses".
  2. ^ "Eddie Pepitone at Improv".
  3. ^ "Comedian Eddie Pepitone's moment has arrived, and all it took was 'the complete breakdown of society' - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ "Eddie Pepitone - the Biggest Thing I Have is My Honesty". 21 May 2013.
  5. ^ Lutz, Jaime (28 February 2013). "Brooklyn Buddha • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  6. ^ "We ask the Bitter Buddha, Eddie Pepitone, 11 Questions". The A.V. Club. 6 August 2014.
  7. ^ Hartsell, Carol (November 28, 2011). "Eddie Pepitone's 'A Great Stillness': Cult-Favorite Releases First Comedy Album (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  8. ^ "The Laughspin interview with Eddie Pepitone". Archived from the original on 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  9. ^ "Eddie Pepitone Predicted the Future in 'For the Masses'". 11 June 2020.
  10. ^ LaPorte, Nicole (September 17, 2013). "Matt Oswalt's "Puddin'" Brings Darkness To Office Comedy And YouTube". Fast Company.
  11. ^ "Pep Talks w/ The Bitter Buddha". SoundCloud.
  12. ^ "The Bitter Buddha". buy.thebitterbuddha.com.
  13. ^ "The Bitter Buddha - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  14. ^ "Eddie Pepitone The Bitter Buddha documentary film review". Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Eddie Pepitone FOR THE MASSES comedy special June 23". Shark Party Media. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  16. ^ Zinoman, Jason (2020-12-15). "Best Comedy of 2020". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  17. ^ Modell, Josh (6 August 2014). "We ask The Bitter Buddha, Eddie Pepitone, 11 Questions". TV Club.
  18. ^ Ryan, Kyle (3 January 2012). "Eddie Pepitone". The A.V. Club.
  19. ^ "#22- Matt Oswalt the genius behind Puddin' strip from Pep Talks with the Bitter Buddha | Podbay". podbay.fm.
  20. ^ a b c "Eddie Pepitone". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  21. ^ Thurm, Eric (25 February 2015). "Eddie Pepitone's latest comedy album is a delightfully cutting sermon". The A.V. Club.

External links[edit]