Colton Dunn
- Actor
- comedian
- writer
- producer
Colton Dunn (born June 30, 1976) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Garrett McNeil on the NBC workplace comedy Superstore (2015–2021) and for his work on Comedy Central sketch comedy series Key & Peele (2013–2015), where he served as writer, producer, and occasionally performer throughout its five-season run.[1] Dunn also played Herman in Lazer Team (2015) and its sequel Lazer Team 2 (2017).
Life and career
Born in 1977 in Normal, Illinois, Dunn moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his mother, when he was a toddler. While attending Saint Paul Central High School, he was involved in theater and joined an improv comedy group. Dunn moved to New York in 1998, and while there, worked for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He then moved to Los Angeles in 2004.[2]
Prior to working on Key & Peele, Dunn was a writer and performer on madTV, from 2005 to 2009.[3] He has also appeared in Parks and Recreation,[4] Nick Swardson's Pretend Time, Game Shop, Burning Love,[5] a small part on CollegeHumor's "If Google Was a Guy" and co-starred in Superstore on NBC.[6] Dunn hosted the comedy variety show RT-ES, produced by Rooster Teeth Productions, and co-starred in their sci-fi action comedy Lazer Team in 2016.[7]
He is an alumnus of the improvisational comedy group Boom Chicago and has performed and taught at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre since 1999.[8]
Dunn has received two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for his work on Key & Peele.[9][10]
In 2019, Dunn appeared on the podcast Hello from the Magic Tavern as a talking crossbow in the episode "Wizard with a Crossbow".[11] He reprised this role in March 2022 in the season 4 episode "Talking Crossbow Visits".[12]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Mad TV Live and Almost Legal | Yaris Guy | |
2003 | Phileine Says Sorry | Newsreader 5 | |
2004 | Beep | Greg | Short film |
Last Laugh '04 | Patron | ||
2004–05 | Boiling Points | Series Regular | |
2005–09 | MadTV | Various | Writer of 55 episodes |
2007 | Twisted Fortune | Oliver | |
2008 | Boner Boyz | Boner Boyz | Short film; also writer and producer |
2009 | Marvel Superheroes: What the--?! | War Machine | Voice |
Dow Jones | Homeless Guy | Video short | |
Brothers | Roscoe | Episode: "Pilot" | |
Brainstorm | Darryl | 8 episodes | |
2010 | The Big Dog | Salesman | Short film |
LeBron Waynes Makes His Decision: Chicken Wings | LeBron Waynes | Short film; also writer | |
Hatchet II | Vernon | ||
Take a Silly One | Sergeant | Video short | |
2010–11 | Pretend Time | Various | 5 episodes; also writer of 7 episodes |
The League | Cop | 2 episodes | |
2010–15 | Parks and Recreation | Brett | 6 episodes |
2011 | Team Unicorn | Blake | Episode: "SuperHarmony"; also wrote 2 episodes |
Damn Love | Gardener | ||
Rockin' Out | Colton | Video short; also writer | |
Honey and Joy | Earl the Clown | ||
Forcin' the Blues | Colton | Video short | |
Childrens Hospital | 70's Dude | Episode: "The '70s Episode" | |
Roommate Meeting | Cop | Episode: "Rat Problem Solved" | |
2012 | Game Shop | Derrick | 11 episodes; also writer |
Sketchy | Agent #1 | Episode: "Bourne Again" | |
NTSF:SD:SUV:: | Al | Episode: "Time Angels" | |
The Funtime Gang | Gary the Girafffe | ||
2012–13 | Campus Security | Darren Scott | 6 episodes |
Burning Love | Tim | 7 episodes | |
2012–15 | Key & Peele | Various | 53 episodes; also writer and co-producer |
Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various | 3 episodes | |
2013 | Happy Endings | Thug | Episode: "The Marry Prankster" |
The Arsenio Hall Show | — | Writer of 30 episodes | |
Unidentified | Dave | ||
2014 | Kroll Show | Tony | Episode: "Sponsored by Stamps" |
NerdTerns | Barry | Episode: "Matt Bennett in Jenny vs. Hallie" | |
Spirit Town | Buddy Hickel | Short film | |
Drunk History | Narrator | Episode: "American Music" | |
Mr. Pickles | Rich Snob, Darrel | Voice; episode: "The Cheeseman" | |
This Is Why You're Single | Not Brandon | ||
2015 | The Dramatics: A Comedy | Dennis | |
Trevor Moore: High in Church | Doug | ||
Red Baroness Warrior Single Lady | No Tongue | Episode: "The Good Listener" | |
Steven Universe | Mr. Smiley | Voice; 3 episodes | |
Monster Problems | Julian | Short film | |
RT–ES | Himself (host) / Various | 8 episodes; also writer and executive producer | |
2015–21 | Superstore | Garrett McNeil | Main cast, 113 episodes; also writer of “Forced Hire” & “Conspiracy” |
2016 | Lazer Team | Herman | |
Other People | Dan | ||
Lonely and Horny | Ray | Episode: "Topless Maid" | |
Bad Internet | Episode: "The Year-Long Ad Experience" | ||
CC: Social Scene | Rapper | Also writer | |
Angie Tribeca | Denarius | Episode: "Boyz II Dead" | |
The Eric Andre Show | — | Additional writer | |
The Crossroads of History[13] | — | Writer; episode: "Lincoln" | |
2017 | Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special | Chocolatier Customer | Variety special |
Killing Hasselhoff | Redix | ||
Lazer Team 2 | Herman | ||
The Chris Gethard Show | Toilet Paper Salesman | Episode: "Let's Get Scared" | |
2018 | Blockers | Rudy | |
Dude | Officer Higgins | ||
2018–present | Big City Greens | Russell Remington, Brett | Voice |
2021 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Captain Dorg | Voice |
Fairfax | Principal Weston | Voice | |
2021–2022 | Middlemost Post | Mayor Peeve | Voice[14] |
2022 | Jackass Forever | Writer[15] | |
Pivoting | Brian | 5 episodes | |
The Recruit | Lester | Main role |
References
- ^ Kavner, Lucas (July 8, 2015). "Key and Peele's Head Writers Pick Their Top 10 Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele Performances". Vulture. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Gustafson, Amy Carlson (December 31, 2015). "St. Paul Central grad Colton Dunn could go big this year with TV series, movie". twincities.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^ Meehan, Ryan. "7 Questions with Colton Dunn". First Order Historians. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Evans, Bradford. "10 'Parks and Rec' Writers Who Have Played Characters on the Show". Splitsider. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2014). "Colton Dunn Joins NBC Pilot 'The Pro'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Lee, Ben (March 3, 2015). "NBC's Superstore comedy pilot adds Colton Dunn and two more". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Splangler, Todd. "Fullscreen's Rooster Teeth Finally Goes Mobile". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Colton Dunn - UCB". Upright Citizens Brigade. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ THR Staff (September 20, 2015). "Emmy Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Colton Dunn bio". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Season 3, Ep 11 - Wizard with a Crossbow (W/ Felicia Day and Colton Dunn)". September 30, 2019.
- ^ "Season 4, Ep 21 - Talking Crossbow Visits (W/ Colton Dunn)". March 20, 2022.
- ^ Pruner, Aaron (March 24, 2016). "'Key & Peele' helped 'Crossroads of History' find its voice". Zap2it. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 17, 2021). "Nickelodeon Unveils Trailers For SpongeBob SquarePants Spinoff The Patrick Star Show & Middlemost Post, Sets Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Jackass 4 - WGA Directory".
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Colton Dunn at IMDb
- Colton Dunn on X
- Colton Dunn on Instagram