David Cross

David Cross
Name	David Cross
Caption	Cross in 2013
Birth name	David Cross
Birth date	4 April 1964
Birth place	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, comedian, writer, director
Years active	1985–present
Spouse	Amber Tamblyn, 2012

David Cross is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director known for his acerbic, observational stand-up comedy and roles in groundbreaking alternative comedy television series. He gained prominence as a cast member and writer on the influential sketch program ''Mr. Show'' and later achieved mainstream recognition for his role in the Fox sitcom ''Arrested Development''. Cross's career spans film, television, and music, marked by a distinctively sharp and often politically charged comedic voice.

Early life and education

Born in Atlanta and raised in Roswell, Georgia, Cross moved with his family to Florida and later New York City during his youth. He attended Northside School of the Arts in Atlanta before briefly enrolling at Emerson College in Boston, though he left to pursue comedy full-time. His early influences included comedians like Peter Cook and Richard Pryor, and he began performing stand-up comedy in the Boston area during the early 1980s, immersing himself in the city's vibrant alternative comedy scene.

Career

Cross's breakthrough came as a co-creator, writer, and performer on the critically acclaimed HBO sketch series ''Mr. Show with Bob and David'' alongside Bob Odenkirk, which ran from 1995 to 1999. He later voiced the role of Ian the Gnu on the Cartoon Network series ''The Mighty Boosh'' and gained widespread fame for his portrayal of the oblivious analyst Tobias Fünke on ''Arrested Development''. His stand-up specials, such as ''The Pride Is Back'' and ''Making America Great Again'', are known for their pointed satire of American politics and social conservatism. Cross has also directed the feature film ''Hits'' and appeared in films like ''Men in Black II'', ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'', ''Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel'', and ''The Post''.

Personal life

Cross married actress and author Amber Tamblyn in 2012, and the couple has one daughter, born in 2017. He is an outspoken advocate for atheism and secular humanism, often addressing these topics in his comedy. Cross has been involved in various political and social causes, including benefits for the Innocence Project and advocacy for LGBT rights. He resides primarily in Manhattan and has spoken publicly about his past struggles with substance abuse.

Filmography

A selection of his film roles includes *The Cable Guy* (1996), *Waiting for Guffman* (1996), *Small Soldiers* (1998), *Ghost World* (2001), *Men in Black II* (2002), *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* (2004), *She's the Man* (2006), *Year One* (2009), *Megamind* (2010, voice), *The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret* (2010–2016, also creator), *The Dictator* (2012), and *The Dark Divide* (2020). His notable television work beyond ''Mr. Show'' and ''Arrested Development'' includes ''Just Shoot Me!'', ''The Drew Carey Show'', ''NewsRadio'', ''Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'', and ''Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt''.

Discography

Cross has released several comedy albums, including *Shut Up You Fucking Baby!* (2002), which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, *It's Not Funny* (2004), and *Bigger and Blackerer* (2010). He has also contributed to musical projects, providing vocals for tracks by the alternative metal band Tool and appearing in music videos for artists like The Strokes. His audio work includes narrating audiobooks such as ''I Drink for a Reason'' and guest spots on comedy podcasts like ''WTF with Marc Maron'' and ''Comedy Bang! Bang!''.

Awards and nominations

Cross has received multiple award nominations throughout his career, including a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his writing on ''Mr. Show''. His album *Shut Up You Fucking Baby!* earned a Grammy nomination in 2003. For his performance on ''Arrested Development'', he shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with the cast. He has also been nominated for awards from the American Comedy Awards and the Online Film & Television Association.

Category:American male comedians Category:American television actors Category:American film actors