Andy dick parents, Actor and comedian Andy Dick has appeared in such shows as News Radio, Less Than Perfect and Dancing with the Stars.
Synopsis
Born in South Carolina in 1965, Andy Dick started his comedy career in Chicago when he was in his late teens. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared with the Second City comedy group. In 1992, Dick was part of the cast of The Ben Stiller Show. He moved on to sitcom success with News Radio, which ran from 1995 to 1999. In 2001, he debuted his own comedy program, The Andy Dick Show. Dick returned to series comedy with Less Than Perfect the following year. In 2013, he appeared on Dancing with the Stars.
Early Life
Born Andrew Roane Dick on December 21, 1965, in Charleston, South Carolina, comedian and actor Andy Dick is as well-known for his comedic performances as he is for his offbeat and unpredictable personality and often-troubled personal life. His father worked for the U.S. Navy, which meant that the family moved around several times while Dick was growing up. "I was always the new kid in school. I learned pretty quickly that being the new kid got you a week of attention, but if you could make people laugh, the attention lasted until it was time to move again," Dick later explained to the Los Angeles Times.
Dick was teased a lot by schoolmates because of his last name. Despite this unwanted attention, he showed signs of being an exhibitionist around the age of 10. Dick told Entertainment Weekly that he started streaking around his neighborhood. Being an unusual teen didn't stop him from enjoying some popularity in high school. At Joliet West High School in Illinois, he was elected homecoming king. Dick also performed an impressive tap dance routine at a school talent show.
Around the age of 18, Dick moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he studied comedy with the famed Second City troupe. He later headed west to Los Angeles, California, and joined the Second City branch there. In 1992, Dick landed his first major television gig: He began working on the sketch comedy program The Ben Stiller Show with Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk.
Television Successes
While The Ben Stiller Show only lasted a half of a season, the sitcom helped open doors for Andy Dick. He soon landed a role on the sitcom News Radio with Phil Hartman, Dave Foley and Maura Tierney. On the show, he played a bumbling, bespectacled rookie in the newsroom. News Radio ended in 1999, but Dick wasn't off the air for long. He had his own comedy program The Andy Dick Show. The show featured an array of characters created by Dick, including a raunchy pop star called Daphne Aguilera.
In 2002, Dick found himself on another popular sitcom Less Than Perfect with Sara Rue and Sherri Shepherd. This office comedy was set in the world of television news and ran for four years. During this time, Dick also branched out into reality television in 2004 with The Assistant, a spoof on Donald Trump's The Apprentice.
Legal and Personal Challenges
Off-screen Dick seemed to be a roller coaster of self-destruction. He became an infamous figure on the Hollywood party scene, often going wild with the likes of Chris Farley. In 1998, Dick made his first attempt to stem his substance abuse problems with a stint in rehab. But the following year, Dick crashed his car into a pole while under the influence. He also reportedly had drugs in the car. Dick pled guilty to two misdemeanors and ended up with three years of probation in the case.
In 2006, Dick made a bizarre appearance on the roast for actor William Shatner, which aired on the Comedy Central cable channel. He licked several fellow celebrities, including Carrie Fisher, at the event. More odd behavior continued, including harassing Ivanka Trump while on The Jimmy Kimmel Show in 2007. Kimmel kicked Dick off the show for his behavior. The following year, Dick was arrested for drunkenly assaulting a woman in Georgia and for possessing marijuana. He later pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of battery and possession.
Dick shared his struggles with television viewers on the reality show Sober House in 2009. But he was once again in trouble with the law the following year after an incident in a West Virginia comedy club. He charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse, but he was able to enter into a special program to avoid trial.
Recent Projects
Continuing to work in television and films, Dick has made guest appearances on such shows as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Community and 2 Broke Girls. He also lent his voice to the 2011 animated film Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil.
In 2013, Dick returned to reality television as a competitor on Dancing with the Stars. He told ABC that "I'm really looking forward to the hard work, and discipline" required for appearing on the show. The dance he was most excited about was "the Charleston," he said, explaining, "it's closest to my tap-dancing background."
Personal Life
Dick has a son, Lucas, from his first marriage (1986-1990) to artist Ivone Kowalcyzk. He also has two children, Jacob and Meg, from his relationship with Lina Sved.
