Born Name:  Rick Shapiro

Born Date:  April 13, 1959

Born Place:  New Jersey

Died Date: 

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Occupations:  Comedian, actor, writer

Brief Biography:  Rick Shapiro is known as a pioneer of the New York City and Los Angeles underground comedy scenes. He is highly regarded for his explosive, subversively raw, and stream-of-consciousness comedic style. Shapiro tackles controversial and taboo topics in long-form, unscripted stage monologues that frequently push social boundaries.

Early Career and Rise:
The 1980s: Shapiro kicked off his stand-up career in the early 1980s at the iconic Manhattan venue Catch a Rising Star.
The Underground Icon: He built a fierce reputation on the Lower East Side of New York. Peers often likened his raw, unfiltered stage presence to a mix of punk rock and literary edge.
Conan O'Brien: He gained early television exposure portraying the recurring "Angry Poet" character on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
First Album: In 1998, he released his debut comedy CD, Unconditional Love, which Billboard praised as "hard-edged and uncompromising".

Film, Television, and Voice Acting:
Louis C.K. Collaborations: Shapiro was a staple in many early Louis C.K. projects. He starred in the 1998 film Tomorrow Night and played the memorably eccentric, frequently nude brother-in-law Jerry in the HBO sitcom Lucky Louie.
Maron: He played Marc Maron's eccentric, outspoken neighbor, Bernie, in the IFC comedy series Maron from 2014 to 2015.
Notable Movies: His film credits include playing the unhinged character T-Rick in the chaotic comedy Project X (2012) and appearing in Chris Rock's Top Five (2014).
Grand Theft Auto IV: In 2008, he voiced the character Mason Waylon, a manic talk-show guest on the in-game radio station PLR.