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George Wallace (American comedian)

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George Wallace
Wallace in 2014
Birth nameGeorge Henry Wallace
Born (1952-07-21) July 21, 1952 (age 72)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
MediumTelevision, stand-up, film
Years active1977–present
Parent(s)George Wallace Sr. (father)
Mary Lou Wallace (mother)
Relative(s)Steve Wallace (nephew)
Websitegeorgewallace.net

George Henry Wallace[1] (born July 21, 1952) is an American comedian and actor. Wallace has had supporting roles in a number of films, including 3 Strikes and the Coen Brothers film The Ladykillers (2004, as Sheriff Wyner). Wallace also appeared in Batman Forever (1995) as the Mayor of Gotham City. Other film credits include A Rage in Harlem (1991), The Wash (2001), Punchline (1988), Things Are Tough All Over (1982), Postcards from the Edge (1990), and Mr. Deeds (2002).

Wallace made a brief appearance in the sitcom Scrubs episode "My Words of Wisdom" (2007), and in the sitcom Seinfeld episode "The Checks", where he played the doctor that was distracted by the song "Witchy Woman". He also appeared in the introduction scene to the home video release of Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time - Live on Broadway (1999) as a fictionalized version of himself. He portrayed a man in a retirement home in The Last Laugh (2019) and starred as Mayor Benson in Hubie Halloween (2020).

Early life and education

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Wallace was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Mary Lou and George Wallace Sr. Wallace was educated at Lynwood Park Elementary School and Lynwood Park High School. His mother died when he was sixteen, prompting him to move to Ohio where he found a job with Firestone Tire. As part of the company's tuition reimbursement program, Wallace enrolled in the University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio. He studied transportation, marketing and advertising.

Career

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Upon graduating college, Wallace moved to New York City to pursue his childhood dream of being a comedian. Initially, success in comedy proved elusive and Wallace worked as a salesman for an advertising agency to pay the bills.

Wallace's break came when one of his clients opened a comedy club. The club owner was amused by Wallace's natural humor and friendly demeanor and offered him the chance to perform stand-up comedy. In 1977, Wallace walked on stage for the first time, wearing a preacher's robe and calling himself The Right Reverend Dr. George Wallace. His routine was completely improvised. He stayed in New York City for several years, perfecting his craft and living with friend and fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld.[2]

In 1978, Wallace moved to the West Coast, where he quickly became recognized as a talented young comedian. After one of his performances, producers from The Redd Foxx Show asked him to write for the popular series. However, after only one year of writing, Wallace returned to the stage. He became a regular at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood, California, which also featured artists including Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, Roseanne Barr, Jay Leno and Robin Williams. Wallace also took his comedy show on the road, opening for George Benson, Diana Ross, Donna Summer and Smokey Robinson, among others.

Wallace was named the Best Male Standup Comedian during the 1995 American Comedy Awards. He has explained that his routines are inspired by everyday moments of life. His social commentary proved popular with radio audiences as well. Wallace was a regular on the Tom Joyner Morning Show before joining Isaac Hayes on a popular radio program on the former WRKS radio station in New York City. He also starred in his own HBO special and has appeared on many television shows, including The Tonight Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Late Night with David Letterman.

In December 2007, Wallace suffered an onstage injury when he fell during a private-party performance at the Bellagio resort hotel and casino in Las Vegas. He sued the Bellagio, claiming negligence after tripping over loose wires on stage. In April 2014, a Las Vegas jury found in favor of Wallace and awarded him $1.3 million.[3]

After winning his case against the Bellagio, Wallace announced that he would end his 10-year run as a Las Vegas headliner to pursue other projects. "There are so many things to do. It's time to get into something new."[4]

Personal life

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Wallace has had political ambitions. In 2006, he considered running for mayor of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Wallace stated that as mayor, he would update the Las Vegas Strip, with an easy-to-use monorail, close the strip to vehicles, and expand the road system behind the Strip hotels.[5]

He was the best man at comedian Jerry Seinfeld's wedding.[6]

Wallace's nephew, Steve Wallace, played professional football with the San Francisco 49ers[7] and Kansas City Chiefs.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Things Are Tough All Over The Champ
1988 Punchline Man with Arm in Cast
1989 Bert Rigby, You're a Fool Bartender
1991 A Rage in Harlem Grave Digger
1992 Bebe's Kids Card Player #4 (voice)
1995 Batman Forever The Mayor
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Bartender
Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special Farmer (voice) TV movie
1999 Catfish in Black Bean Sauce James
2000 3 Strikes Mr. Douglas
Little Nicky Mayor Randolph
2001 The Wash Mr. Washington
2002 Mr. Deeds NAACP Administrator
Santa Jr. Norm Potter TV movie
2004 The Ladykillers Sheriff Wyner
2007 Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular Wiseman TV movie
2009 Funny People Himself
2014 Shirin in Love Officer Henderson
Think Like a Man Too Randy the Dealer
2016 Jerico Greg Parsons
2017 Grow House Mark White
Just Getting Started Larry
2018 Nappily Ever After Driver
2019 The Last Laugh Johnny Sunshine
2020 Hubie Halloween Mayor Benson

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Dom DeLuise Show George Henry Wallace Episode: "Episode #1.1"
1991 The Sunday Comics Himself
1993 Tall Hopes George Harris Main Cast
1994 In the Heat of the Night Tommy Ammons Episode: "Who Was Geli Bendl?"
1995 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air George Episode: "The Script Formerly Known As..."
1996 Seinfeld Doctor Episode: "The Checks"
C-Bear and Jamal Hawthorne Wingo Recurring Cast
1996-01 Arliss Various Roles Guest Cast: Season 1 & 4 & 6
1997-99 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Farmer/Baba Mustafa Guest Cast: Season 2-3
1998 Jenny Vet Episode: "A Girl's Gotta Make Room for Daddy: Part 1"
Moesha Game Show Host Episode: "A Terrible Thing Happened on My Tour of College"
2002-03 The Parkers Quincy DeJohn Guest Cast: Season 3-4
2003 Wanda at Large Jimmy Episode: "Back to the Club"
2004 Like Family Bill, Tayna's Father Episode: "Daddy Knows Best"
2007 Scrubs Minister Episode: "My Words of Wisdom"
Tyler Perry's House of Payne Jimmy Episode: "Crazy In Love"
2011 The Hot 10 Himself Episode: "Episode #1.35"
The Life & Times of Tim Dante (voice) Episode: "The Model from Newark/Tim's Hair Looks Amazing"
2012 Sullivan & Son Leroy Williams Episode: "Who's Your Daddy"
2015 The Soul Man Clyde Episode: "Who Let the Dog In?"
Drunk History Bill Russell Episode: "Cleveland"
Gigi Does It Melvin Schlanger Episode: "Eat Something"
2015-18 K.C. Undercover Poppa Earl Cooper Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3
2016 Horace and Pete George Episode: "Episode #1.10"
2017 Coming to the Stage Himself Episode: "Ross Everett & Kiran Deol"
Detroiters Freddie "Motown" Brown Episode: "Devereux Wigs"
Mann & Wife Poppa Bo Episode: "Come On, Mann!"
2017-19 Funny You Should Ask Himself/Panelist Recurring Panelist
2018 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ron Carter Episode: "Guardian"
2018-23 Bob's Burgers Mr. Huggins (voice) Guest Cast: Season 8-10 & 14
2020 Mike Tyson Mysteries Leonard (voice) Episode: "The Stein Way"
2021 The Premise Principal Wallace Episode: "The Ballad of Jesse Wheeler"
2021-23 Ten Year Old Tom Nelson's Dad (voice) Recurring Cast
2022 Atlanta Greg Episode: "Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga"
2023 History of the World, Part II George Wallace Episode: "V"
2024 Hacks Himself Episode: "Just for Laughs"

Podcast

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Adam Sandler's Audio Skits Skipper Jenkins Season 3, episode 6: "The Champion"

Bibliography

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  • Wallace, George; Ewen, Dan (2013). Laff It Off!. Chaite Press. ASIN B00FY0NOO0.

References

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  1. ^ Gurian, Jeffrey (December 18, 2012). Make 'Em Laugh: 35 Years of the Comic Strip, the Greatest Comedy Club of All. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781620878682. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Walkow, Brett. "Part 1 – Interview with comedian George Wallace". ActorsReporter.com. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  3. ^ Geer Thevenot, Carri (April 8, 2014). "Las Vegas jury awards comedian George Wallace $1.3 million in suit against Bellagio". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  4. ^ Jones, Jay (April 14, 2014). "Las Vegas: Comedian George Wallace to end 10-year run on the Strip". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  5. ^ Wallace, George (August 23, 2006). "The Roe Conn Show". WLS (AM) (Interview). Interviewed by Roe Conn.
  6. ^ Osborn, Dave (August 19, 2015). "Seinfeld best friend George Wallace goes on tour after decade-long run in Sin City". Naples Daily News. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Baird, Kirk (August 30, 2002). "World of Wallace". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
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