Lenny Clarke

Last updated
Lenny Clarke
LennyClarkeJan2006.jpg
Clarke in 2006
Born (1953-09-16) September 16, 1953 (age 70)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
MediumStand-up, film, television
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater University of Massachusetts Boston
Years active1980–present
Spouse
Jennifer Miller
(m. 1996)
Website Official website

Lenny Clarke (born September 16, 1953) is an American comedian and actor. He is known for his thick Boston accent and as the role of Uncle Teddy on the series Rescue Me .

Contents

Early life

Clarke was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 16, 1953. In his early life, he attended Cambridge Latin High School (CHLS) graduating in 1972, [1] he also attended college at the University of Massachusetts Boston graduating in 1979. [2] Lenny Clarke was a Cambridge City Council candidate in 1975, [3] he also tried to campaign for mayor in Cambridge. [4]

Career

He was the most famous "saloon comic" in Boston during the 1980s, the heyday of the Boston comedy scene. [5] The DVD release When Standup Stood Out (2006) details Clarke's early career and affiliations with other famous Boston comics, such as Steven Wright and Denis Leary, his good friends. In 1980, Clarke wrote and starred in a local television show Lenny Clarke's Late Show featuring Wright and Leary, in collaboration with Boston comedy writer Martin Olson. [6] Clarke and Olson were roommates, and their apartment, known by comedians as "The Barracks", was a notorious "crash pad" for comics visiting Boston, per the film.

Clarke starred in his own short-lived network sitcom Lenny (1990), and in such TV shows as Contest Searchlight , The Job , The John Larroquette Show and It's All Relative and movies like Monument Ave. , Fever Pitch and Southie . From 2004 to 2011, Clarke appeared in the recurring role of Uncle Teddy on the FX comedy drama Rescue Me .

In 2006, Clarke and Leary appeared on television during a Red Sox telecast and, upon realizing that Red Sox 1st baseman Kevin Youkilis is Jewish, delivered a criticism of Mel Gibson's anti-semitic comments. [7]

In 2007, Clarke played the role of Ron Abbot on the short lived Fox comedy series The Winner . On May 16, 2007, the show was cancelled after six episodes due to low ratings.[ citation needed ]

Clarke is also an occasional guest on the WEEI radio shows in Boston.[ citation needed ] It was on this show that he announced he would be a regular on the 2009 Fox Sitcom Brothers as the racist neighbor who is married to a black woman. He wound up appearing in three episodes before the series was cancelled.[ citation needed ] In the 2011-12 TV season, he landed a role as the main character's father on the NBC mid-season replacement sitcom Are You There, Chelsea? .[ citation needed ]

On the evening of January 19, 2010, Clarke appeared on stage at the victory speech of Republican Senator elect from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, who was elected to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy.[ citation needed ]

He had appeared on ESPN's 30 for 30 - 4 Days in October alongside ESPN sports and pop culture columnist Bill Simmons as a narrator giving insight on the 2004 ALCS comeback by the Red Sox against the New York Yankees.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Films

YearFilmRoleDirectorNotes
1987Smart Alex Steve Oedekerk
1988 The Wrong Guys Cab Driver Danny Bilson
1996 Two If by Sea Kelly Bill Bennett
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Joey Peter Baldwin
1998 Monument Ave. Skunk Ted Demme
Southie Fat Eddie John Shea
Getting PersonalL.J.Ron Burrus
There's Something About Mary Fireman Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Rounders Savino John Dahl
2000 Me, Myself & Irene Barber Shop Car OwnerPeter and Bobby Farrelly
MassholesCopJohn Chase
2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? Windham Sam Weisman
2002 Moonlight Mile Gordy Brad Silberling
2003 Stuck on You Jailhouse ComicPeter and Bobby Farrelly
Just Another StoryJelly GQ
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Gruff GrocerBrad Silberling
2005 Fever Pitch Uncle CarlPeter and Bobby Farrelly
2007SidesLennyFranco Trombino
The Child KingTow Truck OwnerFrank Kerr
2008 What Doesn't Kill You Hogie Brian Goodman
2010HosedLennyMarc A. Dole Short film
2011The RestaurantMarioRobert ScaliShort film
2012 Here Comes the Boom Loud Dietrich Fan Frank Coraci
2014Lazarus RisingFather ParsonsJohn Depew
2015Three SheetsLuckyRufus Chaffee
2015 Ted 2 Cop Seth MacFarlane
2016 Ghostbusters Coffee House Ghost Paul Feig Extended Edition Only
2017 Stronger Uncle Bob David Gordon Green
2021 Halloween Kills Phil Dickerson David Gordon Green

TV series

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Lenny Lenny CallahanSeries Lead (1990–1991)
1991 The Sunday Comics Host
1993 The John Larroquette Show Officer Adam Hampton1993–1996
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Casey O'Keefe1.01 "Smooth Sailing"
1999 Touched by an Angel Larry6.03 "The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life"
2001 The Job Frank Harrigan2001–2002
2002 7th Heaven Lenny7.06 "Regarding Eric"
2003 It's All Relative Mace O'Neil2003–2004
2004 Rescue Me Uncle Teddy 2004–2011
2007 The Winner Ron Abbott
2009 Brothers Lenny1.05 "Lenny"; 1.06 "Commercial/Coach DMV"; 1.11 "Christmas"
2010 'Til Death Mr. Donnelly4.23 "Joy's Mom"
2011 Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe RawlinsTelevision film
2012 Are You There, Chelsea? Melvin Newman
2013 Clear History Poker BuddyTelevision film
DECo.Jim Zimmer1.01 "Pilot"; 1.04 "The Visit"
2014 Sirens Johnny's Father1.04 "Famous Last Words"; 1.06 "The Finger"; 1.10 "Shotgun Wedding"
Wicked BitesHimself1.22 "Pitching in for Kids with the Boston Red Sox"
2019 SMILF Zaggy2.01 "Sh*t Man, I've Literally Failed"
2020 Defending Jacob Food Truck Guy
2024 Extended Family Bobby KearneyRecurring Role

Producer/executive producer

YearTitleNotes
2002 Contest Searchlight

Writer

YearTitleNotes
1985Nothin' Goes RightUncredited
1991 The Sunday Comics
2002 Comedy Central Presents 6.05 "Lenny Clarke"

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References

  1. "All High Schools Alumni Database | Lenny Clarke". AllHighSchools.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  2. "UMass Boston Alumni Association | Notable Alumni". alumni.umb.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  3. "Cambridge Civic Journal | Deaths". rwinters.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  4. "Lenny Clarke | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  5. "www.jesterjournal.com Lenny Clarke live at Comix review". www.jesterjournal.com.
  6. Carroll, Janis. "Comedian Lenny Clark to return to the Pitman's stage". The Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. Tc (16 August 2006). "Rescue Me (from Mel Gibson)".