Stephen Guarino (born November 14, 1975) is an American actor and comedian, known as Sully Patterson on the Jim Carrey-produced Showtime series I'm Dying Up Here (2017–2018)[1] and for his recurring role as Derrick in the ABC comedy series Happy Endings,[2] a character that has since been carried over to the NBC sitcom Marry Me,[3] as well as Connor on the ABC sitcom Dr. Ken.
| Stephen Guarino | |
|---|---|
 Guarino in July 2010 | |
| Birth name | Stephen Daniel Guarino |
| Born | November 14, 1975 |
| Alma mater | Florida State University (B.A.) The Public Theater |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Discovered by Rosie O'Donnell, he was one of the prominent sketch comedy stars on the groundbreaking Logo TV series The Big Gay Sketch Show (2007–2010) with fellow comedians Kate McKinnon, Erica Ash, Colman Domingo, Jonny McGovern, Julie Goldman, Paolo Andino, Dion Flynn, and Michael Serrato.[4] In 2018, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role as "Quincy" in the Netflix series EastSiders.[5] He also received the Outfest Best Actor award for his role in the feature film BearCity.[6]
Early life
editGuarino is originally from Orlando, Florida and was a member of SAK Comedy Lab. He graduated from Florida State University as well as The Public Theater's Shakespeare program. After appearing in numerous Off-Broadway productions, Guarino was a co-creator of the Off-Broadway improv musical The Nuclear Family with fellow members Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio, and Matthew Loren Cohen.[7] Guarino was later cast on The Big Gay Sketch Show in 2005.[8]
Career
editAfter the success of The Big Gay Sketch Show, he appeared on television shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as well as the films Confessions of a Shopaholic,[9] the BearCity franchise, and I Hate Valentine's Day [10] In 2011, he moved to Los Angeles after receiving a talent deal from CBS.[11]
His first breakout role was on Happy Endings where he played Penny Hartz's (Casey Wilson) over-the-top friend Derrick for three seasons. He also appeared on The Wedding Bells, 'Til Death, The Neighbors, The Comeback, Marry Me, Finding Carter, Jessie, Sofia the First, Superior Donuts, 2 Broke Girls. He played Connor on ABC's Dr. Ken, Quincy on Netflix's EastSiders (Daytime Emmy nomination), and Sully Patterson on Jim Carrey's Showtime drama I'm Dying Up Here.
He has done three network pilots with James Burrows including Me & Mean Margaret, Relatively Happy,[12] and Superior Donuts.
Guarino was to appear in Logan Paul's feature Airplane Mode (2019).
Directing and producing
editGuarino was the director of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase in Los Angeles (2017–unknown).[13] Notable alumni include Tiffany Haddish, Kate McKinnon, Fortune Feimster, Justin Hires, Nicole Byer, Nasim Pedrad, John Milhiser.[13][14]
He previously directed Kate McKinnon's one-woman show Best Actress at the Upright Citizens Brigade.[15] He directed Showgirls: Live in Drag starring RuPaul's Drag Race stars Willam Belli, Detox Icunt, and Vicky Vox.[16][10]
In 2015, Guarino co-produced and co-wrote a CBS sketch comedy pilot called The Night Crew with Michael Serrato, Steven Borzachillo, Mark Hurtado, and Ryan Noggle David Burtka, and Neil Patrick Harris starring himself, Tiffany Haddish, Fortune Feimster, Jimmy Ray Bennett, and Nico Santos.
Personal life
editFilmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2010 | The Big Gay Sketch Show | Various | 23 episodes |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Garrett | Episode: "Haystack" |
| The Wedding Bells | Ross | Episode: "Wedding from Hell" | |
| 2010 | 'Til Death | Ryan | Episode: "Sell the House" |
| 2011–2020 | Happy Endings | Derrick | 8 episodes[21] |
| 2012 | Hustling | Don Dixon | 4 episodes Nominated – Indie Series Award for Best Guest Actor – Drama |
| 2013 | The Neighbors | Chad | Episode: "Mother Clubbers" |
| The Gates | Brett | Pilot | |
| 2014 | The Comeback | Chateau host | Episode: "Valerie Makes a Pilot" |
| Marry Me | Derrick | Episode: "Scary Me" | |
| Finding Carter | Toby | 4 episodes | |
| Jessie | James McMillan | Episode: "Snack Attack" | |
| 2015 | Life's a Drag | DJ Tricky Dicky | Episode: "Retrograde" Indie Series Award for Best Guest Actor – Comedy |
| Sofia the First | King Marcus (voice) | Season 3, Episode 5 "Minding The Manor" | |
| 2015-2018 | Sorry, Ari | Marcus | 4 Episodes |
| 2016 | Gay Skit Happens | Various | 2 Episodes |
| Me & Mean Margaret | Paul | Pilot | |
| 2016–2017 | Relatively Happy | Perry | Pilot |
| Dr. Ken | Connor | 9 Episodes | |
| Superior Donuts | Brad | Pilot | |
| 2 Broke Girls | Richie | Episode: "And the Stalking Dead" | |
| 2017–2018 | I'm Dying Up Here | 'Sully' Patterson | 10 episodes[21] |
| 2018-2019 | EastSiders | Quincy | 19 episodes Nominated – Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actor – Drama Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series |
| 2018 | The Strivers | Mark Cicero | Pilot |
| 2021 | Kenan | Van Sherman-Willis | 1 episode |
| 2021 | This Is Us | Kevin's agent | 1 episode |
| 2021 | The Sex Lives of College Girls | Sips Manager | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Good Trouble | Scott Farrell | Recurring role |
| 2019-2022 | The Goldbergs | Administrator Dean / Dean Dean / Joseph Lynch | 5 episodes |
| 2022 | Unconventional | ||
| 2022 | The Really Loud House | Howard McBride | 3 episodes |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Year That Trembled | Gilbert Blakely | |
| 2008 | The Clique | Vincent | |
| Confessions of a Shopaholic | Allon | ||
| 2009 | An Englishman in New York | Demonstrator | |
| I Hate Valentine's Day | Bill | ||
| 2010 | BearCity | Brent Richards | Outfest Award for Best Actor[22] |
| 2012 | BearCity 2: The Proposal | Brent Richards | |
| 2016 | BearCity 3: | Brent Richards-Dean | |
| The Happys | Johnathan | ||
| 2018 | Airplane Mode | Himself | |
| 2019 | Blind Sight | The Security Guard | |
| 2019 | American Bistro | Milton Buckner | |
| 2020 | Catfish Killer | Bud | |
| 2022 | Reagan | Mike Deaver | Post Production |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Work | Organization | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Hustling | 7th Indie Series Awards | Best Supporting Actor — Drama | Nominated[23] |
| 2015 | Life is a Drag | 7th Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Actor — Comedy | Won[23] |
| 2018 | EastSiders | 45th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Nominated[24] |
References
edit- ^ Petski, Denise (September 30, 2015). "Michelle Page Joins 'Bosch'; Stephen Guarino In 'I'm Dying Up Here'". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "Check Out The Best of Stephen Guarino on "Happy Endings"!". LOGO News. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "Stephen Guarino Will Eat You Alive". The Advocate, November 22, 2011.
- ^ Itzkoff, Dave (April 22, 2007). "The Big Gay Sketch Show - TV". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". www.intomore.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Renninger, Bryce J. (July 18, 2010). "Outfest Awards "Marine Story," "Bearcity" with 2010 Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (September 19, 2003). "THEATER REVIEW; They're Just Making It Up As They Merrily Go Along". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Itzkoff, Dave (April 22, 2007). "The Big Gay Sketch Show - TV". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ Confessions of a Shopaholic, retrieved September 13, 2018
- ^ a b I Hate Valentine's Day, retrieved September 13, 2018
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 24, 2011). "Two Comedians Land Talent Holding Deals". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Relatively Happy, retrieved September 13, 2018
- ^ a b Pedersen, Erik (November 6, 2017). "CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase Gets New Co-Directors, Head Writers After Rick Najera's Exit". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 3, 2018). "CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase Has Its 2018 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "Kate McKinnon: BEST ACTRESS". UCB Theatre. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ Lecaro, Lina (November 15, 2011). "Showgirls in Drag at the Dragonfly: The Classic Elizabeth Berkley Film, With Cross-Dressing". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ Nichols, Larry (November 27, 2014). "Out comedian stars in new talking-head show". Philadelphia Gay News.
- ^ DiGuglielmo, Joey (November 4, 2014). "Comedic yin and yang". Washington Blade.
- ^ Guarino, Stephen (November 22, 2011). "Stephen Guarino Will Eat You Alive". The Advocate (Interview). Interviewed by Jami Smith.
- ^ Guarino, Stephen (July 9, 2009). "Nobody's Role Model: An Interview with Out Actor Stephen Guarino". Towleroad (Interview). Interviewed by Matthew Rettenmund.
- ^ a b Sandberg, Bryn (September 29, 2015). "'Happy Endings' Favorite Joins Showtime Pilot 'I'm Dying Up Here' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ Renninger, Bryce J. (July 18, 2010). "Outfest Awards "Marine Story," "Bearcity" with 2010 Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ a b "7th Annual Indie Series Awards - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)". INDIE SERIES AWARDS. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ "Stephen Guarino - News". IMDb. Retrieved September 13, 2018.