Jeffrey "Jeff" Garlin is an American comedian, actor, producer, voice artist, director, writer,
podcast host and author.
He has acted in many television shows and some movies, but is best known for his role
as Jeff Greene on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm.
He currently stars in the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs.
Personal life Garlin was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June
5, 1962, and grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois where his father had a plumbing supply business
and his mother was active in community theater.
Garlin is Jewish and attended Hebrew school.
He graduated from Fort Lauderdale's Nova High School in 1980.
He attended Broward Community College, followed by a stint at the University of Miami studying
film, but eventually dropped out.
He began performing stand-up comedy there.
Career In 1984, at the age of 22, Garlin moved back
to Chicago, to perform with the comedy troupe The Second City, into which he had been accepted,
as well as to pursue a stand-up comedy career there.
Several years later, he was roommates with Conan O'Brien, who was then a comedy writer.
Film and television Garlin has a variety of television and film
appearances to his credit, as an actor and a stand-up, including Dr. Katz, Arrested Development,
Everybody Loves Raymond, Late Show with David Letterman, Tom Goes to the Mayor, The Life
and Times of Tim, The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Entourage.
Garlin appeared with Eddie Murphy in Daddy Day Care and appeared in Steven Soderbergh's
Full Frontal.
He was cast in his small role for RoboCop 3 as "Donut Jerk" after a member of the casting
crew witnessed Garlin eating a doughnut while leaving Krispy Kreme with an additional two
dozen doughnuts.
Garlin went on to appear in a small cameo role in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged
Me in 1999.
Other cameo appearances include Run Ronnie Run, After the Sunset, Fat Albert, and Sleepover.
His feature directorial debut, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, premiered to favorable
reviews at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.
It opened in September 2007.
The film co-stars Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt, with supporting appearances by Paul
Mazursky, Dan Castellaneta, and Amy Sedaris.
In 2005, Garlin played a small role in Fun with Dick and Jane as a man who falls victim
to Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni's crime spree.
In 2006, Garlin also directed This Filthy World, a one-man show performed by director
John Waters.
Garlin also was a voice actor in WALL-E, an animated film by Pixar that was released June
27, 2008, as the Captain of the Axiom spaceship.
According to an interview, Garlin developed a harmful nodule in his throat due to the
long process of recording his voice for this role.
He had a recurring role on the series Wizards of Waverly Place as Uncle Kelbo, appearing
in three episodes over the first three seasons.
He also was a key person in the making of The Life and Lies of Jeffy Gelbo Garlin.
In 2008, Garlin appeared in The Rocker as Stan.
During 2008, he also played Ed Lawson in the film Strange Wilderness.
He lent his voice to Disney/Pixar's film Toy Story 3, as Buttercup.
Garlin also appeared as Sid, alongside Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, in the 2010 comedy-action
film The Bounty Hunter.
Garlin spent three seasons on NBC's Mad About You in the role of Marvin.
In addition to his acting career, Garlin has also directed both Jon Stewart and Denis Leary
in their respective HBO specials, as well as an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Garlin has also had his own HBO half-hour comedy special.
Curb Your Enthusiasm On television, Garlin is a co-star and executive
producer in the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm.
The show stars Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld.
Garlin co-stars in the show as Larry David's manager.
Regarding the show and his role, Garlin stated:
Originally, I approached Larry David with the idea for the show, and my intent was to
direct it and not even be in it.
He's the one that insisted that I play his manager and be an executive producer.
It totally has changed my life, and I'm indebted to him forever, and every time I work on that
show, not only am I lucky, I laugh my ass off and I have a great time.
And it's probably the most fun I'll ever have as an actor, ever.
Before Curb Your Enthusiasm filming began in 1999 he had a stroke.
During the early episodes of the first season he was left with slurred speech.
Author On February 23, 2010, Garlin released a book,
My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World, a memoir which documents his journey to lessen
both his physical and carbon footprint.
Podcast As of January 10, 2013, Garlin is a host on
the comedy podcast network Earwolf.
His show By The Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin is a series of unscripted casual
talks, rather than formal interviews, during which Garlin mainly interrupts answers made
by his friends in the entertainment industry.
The debut episode featured a chat with Garlin's Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star Larry David.
The twice-monthly installments are recorded in front of a live audience at Largo at the
Coronet in Los Angeles.
Filmography Television work
Roseanne – Fred Open House – Brian
Baywatch – Larry 'Loomin' Large Gross Ratings – Jack Bekins
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist – Jeff Mad About You – Marvin
Self Storage – Duncan Baumgartner The Michael Richards Show – Ed
Late Friday – Himself/Host Three Sisters – Joel
Dead Last – Ron Belson What About Joan?
– Steinie King of the Hill – Dan
Everybody Loves Raymond – Produce Manager Jimmy
Greetings from Tucson – Executive Crank Yankers – Jeff
Tom Goes to the Mayor – Pat Croce Pudding Wars – Tobey
Duck Dodgers – Camoman Yes, Dear – Howie
MADtv – Hank Whitley Arrested Development – Mort Meyers
Hooked – Mr. Waterhouse Campus Ladies – Mr. Hubney
Shorty McShorts' Shorts – Duke Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Barry Freeburg
The Life & Times of Tim BURN-E – Captain
Curb Your Enthusiasm – Jeff Greene Wizards of Waverly Place – Uncle Kelbo
Entourage – Roger Jay Community – Himself
The Goldbergs – Murray Goldberg, series regular
Podcasts Video games
Blade Runner – Lieutenant Edison Guzza WALL-E – Captain
Toy Story 3: The Video Game – Buttercup References
External links Official website
Jeff Garlin at the Internet Movie Database Jeff Garlin on Twitter
New York Times Magazine article Jeff Garlin at the Comedy Hall of Fame