Born Name:  Philip Soltanec

Born Date:  February 7, 1956

Born Place:  Downers Grove, Illinois

Died Date: 

Died Place: 

Occupations:  Actor, stand-up comedian, producer, writer

Brief Biography:  Emo Philips (born Philip Soltanec, February 7, 1956) is celebrated by Jay Leno as the "best joke writer in America," he is famous for his trademark high-pitched falsetto voice, childlike delivery, and brilliantly crafted absurd, paradoxical, and philosophical one-liners.

Early Life and Stand-Up Style:
Born in Chicago and raised in Downers Grove, Illinois, Emo Philips began performing stand-up in 1976. His stage persona is highly specific: a nervous, innocent-looking character whose naive delivery suddenly twists into dark, clever, and surreal humor. He makes heavy use of paraprosdokians (surprising punchlines) and "garden path sentences" that lead the audience in one direction before delivering an unexpected and often hilarious pivot.

Career Highlights:
Over his decades-long career, Philips has performed over 7,000 shows, including a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall. He has recorded highly influential comedy albums, most notably his 1985 release E=mo², which won the New Music Award for best comedy album. In addition to stand-up, Emo is well-known for his acting and collaborations with "Weird Al" Yankovic. He memorably played Joe Earley, the clumsy shop teacher, in Yankovic's 1989 cult classic film UHF. His other film and television credits include:
The original 1992 version of Meet the Parents
Voice acting roles in animated series like Adventure Time and Home Movies
Guest appearances on UK television (such as 8 Out of 10 Cats)
Playing a role in the biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story