Ben Bailey | |
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![]() Bailey at the 2012 premiere of Bad Parents | |
Birth name | Benjamin Ray Bailey |
Born | [1] Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S. | October 30, 1970
Medium | Television, stand-up |
Years active | 1993–present |
Genres | Observational comedy, satire |
Subject(s) | Everyday life, self-deprecation, marriage, pop culture |
Notable works and roles | Host and executive producer of Cash Cab |
Benjamin Ray Bailey (born October 30, 1970) is an American comedian.
He is best known for hosting the Emmy Award-winning game show Cash Cab in New York City. [2]
Bailey was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and raised in Chatham Borough, New Jersey. [3] He has an older sibling. Bailey graduated in 1988 from Chatham Borough High School as part of the school's 76th and final graduating class. [4]
Bailey attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 Bailey to pursue a career in entertainment. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm), [1] he was offered a job as a bouncer for The Comedy Store after bumming a cigarette from a man in the parking lot. [5] [ better source needed ]
According to Bailey, he was telling stories with some comedians after hours at The Comedy Store when Skip E. Lowe, who was emceeing at the club, found his stories humorous and offered him an opportunity at stand-up. [6] He soon after returned to the East Coast where he quickly became a crowd favorite at the clubs in New York City. He has since gone on to perform at major festivals such as Montreal and Chicago (Just For Laughs) and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He currently tours as a headliner. [7]
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Bailey streamed comedy on his YouTube channel from his basement, with his girlfriend as co-host and producer. [8]
In 2006 Bailey stared in his first special on Comedy Central, Comedy Central Presents Ben Bailey. [9] In 2011 Bailey released a two part special Road Rage and Accidental Ornithology. [10] [11] In 2016 he released Ben Bailey Live & Uncensored and most recently in 2024, Bailey released the please tell me what to say special on his YouTube channel. [12] [13]
Bailey is the host and producer of the American version of Cash Cab , a TV game show played in a taxicab that Bailey drives around New York City, broadcast on the Discovery Channel and Bravo. Bailey hosted the show for all 14 seasons from 2005-2012 and its comeback from 2017-2020. He also hosted the short lived 2007 spin off Cash Cab After Dark.
He also appeared on the new Shovio.com's TalkBackTV. He narrated the Discovery Channel's series Smash Lab . [14] [ better source needed ] [15] [ better source needed ] From 2011 to 2012, Bailey was the host of Who's Still Standing? on NBC. [16] On May 13, 2012, it was announced that the show would not be renewed for a second season due to high production costs.
Bailey has also appeared in ABC's The Knights of Prosperity, Hope & Faith, NBC's Law and Order SVU, and Fox's Mad TV also appearing in Blue Bloods, 30 rock also having a recurring role on One Life To Live. [9] In 2019 Bailey made a cameo appearance as himself in the 7th episode of the show Perpetual Grace, LTD where drives the cash cab. [17]
He has also appeared talk show’s such as The Tonight Show, The Today Show , Oprah , Rachel Ray , Good Day New York , along with numerous morning/radio shows nationwide. [12]
Bailey has had several film appearances most notably in Bad Parents, he was also set to appear in Spider-Man 2012 however his scene ended up being cut from the final film. [18]
Bailey also does television commercials for Michigan electric/natural gas company DTE Energy and ALDI. [19]
Bailey also hosted a few short lived podcast’s Tall But True where he had special guest and told stories, [20] also hosting The Big New Show. He has since made appearances on other comedians podcasts. [21]
From 2022 to 2023 Bailey hosted Money Grab in the Cab, a show very similar to cash cab as he drives around pits farmers asking them questions as they earn money for their local FFA chapter. [22] [23]
In 2023 Bailey appeared in The Game Show Show, a documentary about the history of game shows.
Bailey lives in Morristown, New Jersey. [24] He met his ex-wife, Laurence, in a pub in Morristown in the 1990s. [25] The couple married in 1997 and divorced in 2012. [25] They have two children. [26]
Bailey is a licensed taxi driver in New York City. [27]
As the host of Cash Cab, Ben received Daytime Emmy nominations in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for "Outstanding Game Show Host", winning in 2010, 2011 and 2013. [28]
The show took home honors at the Daytime Emmy awards for Best Game Show in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Also winning most Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show in 2010.
Year | Title | Role | Info |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | MadTV | Security guard | |
2002 | Late Friday | Guest appearance | |
2002 | Platinum Blend | Guest appearance | |
2003 | Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn | Guest appearance | |
2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Transit Sergeant Ambrose | |
2004 | Hope and Faith | Eddie Vanderbeek | |
2004 | Last Call with Carson Daly | Guest appearance | |
2005-2020 | Cash Cab | Host and executive producer | (458 episodes) |
2005 | One Life to Live | Haskell | (4 episodes) |
2006 | Comedy Central Presents | Himself | TV special |
2007 | The Knights of Prosperity | Ralph Carnucci | |
2007 | The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch | Guest appearance | |
2008 | Smash Lab | Narrator | |
2009 | After the Catch | Host | (5 episodes) |
2010 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Guest appearance | |
2010 | 30 Rock | Himself | |
2011 | Ben Bailey Road Rage | Himself | TV special |
2011 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Guest appearance | (2 episodes) |
2011 | Best in the Business | Host | TV miniseries |
2011-2012 | Who’s Still Standing | Host | (6 episodes) |
2012 | Big Morning Buzz Live | Guest panelist | |
2014-2015 | Brain Games | Self | (2 episodes) |
2016 | Deadliest Catch The Bait | Self | |
2016 | Unforgettable | Lorenzo Abrelli | |
2016 | The Other F Word | Brian | |
2012-2017 | Racheal Ray | Guest appearance | (2 episodes) |
2018 | Caroline & Friends | Guest appearance | |
2018 | Kill Tony | Guest host | |
2019 | Perpetual Grace, LTD | Himself | |
2021 | Blue Bloods | Emmet Fells | |
2022-2023 | Money Grab in a Cab | Host | (15 episodes) |
2023 | The Game Show Show | Self | (2 episodes) |
2024 | Sherri | Guest appearance |
Year | Title | Role | Info |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Bad Meat | Agent 1 | |
2007 | Don’t Shoot The Pharmacist | Zach Wright | |
2012 | Bad Parents | Graham | |
2013 | Delivery Man | Himself | Uncredited |
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