David Spade

Adept at playing comic brat extraordinaires both on film and TV, 'David Spade' (qv) was born on July 22, 1964, in Birmingham, Michigan, the youngest of three brothers. He is the son of Judith J. (Meek), a writer and editor, and Wayne M. Spade, a sales rep, and is of German, English, Irish, and Scottish descent. Raised in both Scottsdale (from age four) and Casa Grande, Arizona, he graduated with a degree in business from Arizona State University in 1986. A natural prankster most of his life, Spade was pushed immediately into stand-up comedy by friends and appeared in nightclubs and college campuses all over the country.A casting agent saw his routine at "The Improv" in Los Angeles and offered him a mischievous role in the film _Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)_ (qv). In 1990, the diminutive, flaxen-haired comedian finally hit the big time as a regular cast member and writer on _Saturday Night Live (1975)_ (qv). Slow at first in gaining acceptance on the show, his razor-sharp sarcasm eventually caught on by his second season, when he played a number of smart-aleck characters in a variety of sketches, including a highly disinterested airline steward who bids each passenger adieu with a very sardonic "buh-bye" and an irritating receptionist for 'Dick Clark' (qv) Productions who greets each huge celebrity with an unknowing "And you are . . . ?" A master of the putdown, Spade's "Hollywood Minute" reporter also took cynical advantage of tabloid-worthy stars. Spade impersonated such luminaries as 'Michael J. Fox' (qv), 'Kurt Cobain' (qv) and 'Tom Petty' (qv) during his tenure.Following his SNL departure after six years, he spun off into a slapstick movie career, most noticeably as the scrawny, taciturn foil to SNL's wild and crazy big boy 'Chris Farley' (qv) in _Tommy Boy (1995)_ (qv) and _Black Sheep (1996)_ (qv). The teaming of this unlikely but funny pair ended with Farley's death from a 1997 drug overdose. Since then, Spade has appeared in his own lukewarm vehicles, including _Joe Dirt (2001)_ (qv) and _Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)_ (qv). More recently he teamed with former SNL member 'Rob Schneider' (qv) on the film _The Benchwarmers (2006)_ (qv). Television has been more accepting over the years, with Spade earning an Emmy nomination as the droll, skirt-chasing secretary Dennis Finch on _Just Shoot Me! (1997)_ (qv) and filling in after the untimely death of 'John Ritter' (qv) on ABC's _8 Simple Rules (2002)_ (qv) as 'Katey Sagal' (qv)'s unprincipled nephew.Into the millennium, David was the star of the Comedy Central show The Showbiz Show with 'David Spade' (qv) (2005) in 2005 wherein he more or less resurrected his obnoxious, razor-tongued gossipmonger from the old "Hollywood Minute" put-down segment on SNL, as well as co-starring in the adult-oriented ensemble sitcom _Rules of Engagement (2007)_ (qv).More recent comic film vehicles include _The Benchwarmers (2006)_ (qv), _The Do-Over (2016)_ (qv) alongside 'Adam Sandler' (qv); _Father of the Year (2018)_ (qv); and _The Wrong Missy (2020)_ (qv), along with cocky supporting roles in _Entourage (2015)_ (qv) (as himself); the 'Adam Sandler' (qv) vehicles _Jack and Jill (2011)_ (qv), _Grown Ups (2010)_ (qv), _Grown Ups 2 (2013)_ (qv) and _The Ridiculous 6 (2015)_ (qv); _Sandy Wexler (2017)_ (qv); a voice in the animated feature _Hotel Transylvania (2012)_ (qv) and its sequel _Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)_ (qv); _Mad Families (2017)_ (qv) (also-co-wrote); and the rare dramatic thriller _Warning Shot (2018)_ (qv). He also played recurring parts on the TV programs _Carpet Bros (2008)_ (qv), _Love (2016)_ (qv) and _The Mayor (2017)_ (qv).::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net