Phil LaMarr

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Phil LaMarr

Phillip "Phil" LaMarr (born January 24, 1967) is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. LaMarr is most notable for being one of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv.

Biography

His early film credits were initially due to his connections from his improv and college years. For example, LaMarr appeared in the film It's Pat (1994) because the writers were his friends from the Groundlings, and he appeared in Bio-Dome because the director was a friend from college. However, it was his small but memorable role in Pulp Fiction as Marvin (the man whom John Travolta's character accidentally shoots in the face) that gave him his big break. In fact, in one MADtv skit parodying Pulp Fiction, LaMarr reprised his role as Marvin.

Career

MADtv

Phil LaMarr as Funky Walker Dirty Talker Desparation Lee with Halle Berry.

LaMarr was one of the original nine cast members of MADtv when the series aired in 1995. Unlike most of the others, LaMarr had an established resume in entertainment. His experience served him well throughout his tenure and was crucial to the show's success.

Every week, LaMarr would display new and outrageous characters to audiences. Whether it was Jaq the UPS Guy, the "sexy player" Rick, the funky walking trash talking Desparation Lee (Funky Walker, Dirty Talker), the talentless R&B singer, Savante or Rocket Revengers star, Lt. Abraham Jefferson (a.k.a Lincoln Willis) (Rocket Revengers), LaMarr was one of the most versatile members of the MADtv cast. LaMarr's minor characters included: Bill (Al Casdy), Robert (That's My White Mama), Steve (The Erascists), Crazy-Fingered Freddy (Shaunda) and Chance Cumulus (News at Six).

LaMarr also proved a gifted celebrity impressionist, lampooning Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, Louis Farrakhan, Bernard Shaw, Johnny Cochran, Sidney Poitier, Michael Jackson, Spike Lee, Prince, Sammy Davis Jr., Tommy Davidson, Martin Lawrence, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Lee Cornwall, Nestor Carbonell, Ted Lange, Chris Tucker, Barry White, Charlton Heston, Ben Vereen, Sammy Sosa, Nat King Cole, Brian Burke, Bobby Brown, Sherman Hemsley, Ray Charles and Moe of the Three Stooges.

LaMarr is most famous for his impersonation of Chris Rock for the MADtv spoof video "Ain't No Blacks on the TV Screen," where he and Aries Spears humorously criticize major network television for not having enough positive African-Americans role models on prime time shows. After five seasons, LaMarr decided not to renew his contract; he left the show in 2000, at the end of the fifth season.

Other television projects

Phil LaMarr with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson on the set of Pulp Fiction.

Film and theatre projects

On the big screen, LaMarr has appeared in the comedies Kill the Man, Free Enterprise, Cherish and Manna from Heaven. He also had featured roles in Speaking of Sex with Bill Murray and Catherine O'Hara and Back by Midnight with Randy Quaid, Kirstie Alley and Rodney Dangerfield. LaMarr had a brief cameo in Spider Man 2.

LaMarr most recent film appearances include Fronterz (2004) and (2005). As of April 2006, LaMarr is filming Cook-Off!, in which he will appear as Rev. Thaddeus Briggs, Esq.

Phil LaMarr as the voice of Static.

Voice acting projects

• Green Lantern / John Stewart (Justice League and Justice League Unlimited)
• Steel (John Henry Irons) ("Justice League Unlimited")
• Marcus Casner (The Life and Times of Juniper Lee)
• Hermes Conrad on (Futurama)
• Title character of Samurai Jack
• Carver (The Weekenders)
• Black Vulcan (Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law)
• Poop Dogg, The Letter M, Shnooky (Invader Zim)
• Various voices on Family Guy
• Hector Con Carne (Evil Con Carne)
• Wilt (Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends)
• Static / Virgil Hawkins (Static Shock)
• Ozzy (Ozzy & Drix)
• Virgil "Bull" Sharkwowski (My Gym Partner's a Monkey)
• Dracula, Judge Roy Spleen, Irwin's Dad, Irwin's Grandmama(The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy)
• Various voices on (Robot Chicken)

• Sig, Count Veger, and G.T Blitz (Jak and Daxter series: Jak II, Jak 3, )
• Vamp (' and ')
• Gadon Thek ()

Trivia

• LaMarr was an extra in Spider-Man 2. This is unusual as extras often have little to no acting experience, and this isn't the case for LaMarr. He was not credited for his role.
• Static Shock and Justice League have had a few crossovers where the characters Green Lantern and Static appear. As the voice of both superheroes, LaMarr literally talks to himself in some scenes.
• He was also a contestant on the British Whose Line Is It Anyway? season that was filmed in Hollywood.
• In the video game Samurai Western, he voiced Donald, the well-to-do but slow-to-catch-on sheriff of Cactus Gulch who was inspired to become a samurai. LaMarr also voiced a few other characters in the game.
• He provides the voices for Irwin's father and grandmother on the show The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.
• LaMarr appeared in a training video for Perkins Restaurant and Bakery.
• According to an audio interview with GameFAQs user Chris Ho, LaMarr was the one that came up with the idea of being shot in the face since his character was originally supposed to die a slow miserable death after the accidental shooting while John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson's characters were asking each other what they should do about Marvin, with the eventual conclusion about putting LaMarr's character out of his misery. Knowing that the agonizing kill would make John Travolta's character unlikeable, LaMarr came up with this particular idea instead, and Tarantino agreed to it.
• According to the audio interview with GameFAQs user Chris Ho, LaMarr auditioned for Commander Scott Dolph and Peter Stillman before he got chosen to voice Vamp; in .
• Many people say that he looks like Clarence Gilyard Jr.
• In Static Shock, LaMarr voiced the title character, an African American superhero with dreadlocks, and his best friend was a caucasian male with blonde hair voiced by Jason Marsden. Coincidentally LaMarr played an African American dreadlocked character named Carvar in Disney's The Weekenders, and Marsden voiced his blonde friend Tino.

Filmography

Television

Voice acting and video game appearances

Preceded by: None

MADtv's Spishak Spokesman 1995-1997

Followed by: Pat Kilbane 1997-2000

External links

• [Official web pages]
• [Phil LaMarr] at the [Voice Chasers Database]
• [Official MADtv site]

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