Dane Cook

Named a "comedian phenom and icon" by Entertainment Weekly, Dane Cook has maintained his reputation as one of today's most prolific stand-up comedians while simultaneously distinguishing himself as a charismatic and versatile actor in a variety of film and television projects.

Combining energetic physical comedy, clever wordplay and trenchant observations about human behavior, Cook's unique brand of stand-up and accessible guy-next-door attitude have galvanized audiences of all ages. In 2005, he catapulted to media headlines when his sophomore comedy CDx2/DVD, Retaliation, bucked industry trends by debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200. The album, which has hit double platinum, marked him as the highest charting comedian in 27 years, earning him a place alongside best-selling comedy vets Bill Cosby, George Carlin and Steve Martin. His debut CD/DVD release, 2003s Harmful If Swallowed, appeared on eight different Billboard charts and is certified platinum.

In addition to appearances at such venues as Carnegie Hall and Chicago's Allstate Arena, Cook performed two record-breaking shows of 38,000 at Boston Garden, and has appeared for crowds of 39,000 at Madison Square Garden and 50,000 at the University of Florida's Gator Growl.

Raised in the Boston suburb of Arlington, MA, Cook began his career at age 18, honing his craft on the college and comedy club circuits. A firm believer in connecting personally with his fans, Cook became one of the first comics to develop and maintain his own website to reach out to audiences. He still routinely spends hours every day personally answering fans' emails and works tirelessly to remain accessible through blogs, podcasts, and free downloads of his routines.

Additionally, Cook's popularity has been further cemented by the advent of the "SU-FI"(short for SUperFInger), a hand signal based on one of his jokes that has been embraced by fans and now appears everywhere, from tattoos and stickers to graffiti on US tanks in Iraq.

Among his many honors as a stand-up comedian, Cook was named Rolling Stone Magazine's "Hot Comic," Stuff Magazine's "Coolest Comic of the Year," and the winner of Comedy Central's Standup Showdown. In 2006, his arrival on the cultural stage was confirmed when Time Magazine listed him as one of the world's 100 "Most Influential People."

Like many stand-up comics, Cook has also attempted to make the transition to feature films, and has been acting on screen for over 10 years. Until recently, his resume consisted mostly of small parts in unsuccessful movies like Mystery Men (1999), Torque (2004) and Waiting... (2005). In 2006, Cook had his first leading role opposite pop star Jessica Simpson in Employee of the Month. His second lead performance came in 2007 with Good Luck Chuck, in which he starred with Jessica Alba as a guy cursed to lose any woman he becomes involved with to another man. Recently, Cook has begun taking roles in a few dramatic films, including Mr. Brooks (2007) with Kevin Costner and William Hurt, and Dan in Real Life (2007). In 2008, Cook starred with Kate Hudson and Jason Biggs in the romantic comedy My Best Friend's Girl, which he also produced.

Cook currently lives in LA, where he continues to develop new comedy material and film and television projects.