Stephen Guarino
Guarino in July 2010
Birth nameStephen Daniel Guarino
Born (1975-11-14) November 14, 1975 (age 48)
Alma materFlorida State University (B.A.)
The Public Theater
Years active2006–present

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.

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

Guarino 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

After 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 is appearing in Logan Paul's feature Airplane Mode (2019).

Directing and producing

Guarino is the director of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase in Los Angeles (2017–present).[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

Guarino is gay.[17][18][19][20]

Filmography

Television

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

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

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

  1. ^ Petski, Denise (September 30, 2015). "Michelle Page Joins 'Bosch'; Stephen Guarino In 'I'm Dying Up Here'". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Check Out The Best of Stephen Guarino on "Happy Endings"!". LOGO News. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Stephen Guarino Will Eat You Alive". The Advocate, November 22, 2011.
  4. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (April 22, 2007). "The Big Gay Sketch Show - TV". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". www.intomore.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Renninger, Bryce J. (July 18, 2010). "Outfest Awards "Marine Story," "Bearcity" with 2010 Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (April 22, 2007). "The Big Gay Sketch Show - TV". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  9. ^ Confessions of a Shopaholic, retrieved September 13, 2018
  10. ^ a b I Hate Valentine's Day, retrieved September 13, 2018
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 24, 2011). "Two Comedians Land Talent Holding Deals". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Relatively Happy, retrieved September 13, 2018
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 3, 2018). "CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase Has Its 2018 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  15. ^ "Kate McKinnon: BEST ACTRESS". UCB Theatre. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Nichols, Larry (November 27, 2014). "Out comedian stars in new talking-head show". Philadelphia Gay News.
  18. ^ DiGuglielmo, Joey (November 4, 2014). "Comedic yin and yang". Washington Blade.
  19. ^ Guarino, Stephen (November 22, 2011). "Stephen Guarino Will Eat You Alive". The Advocate (Interview). Interviewed by Jami Smith.
  20. ^ Guarino, Stephen (July 9, 2009). "Nobody's Role Model: An Interview with Out Actor Stephen Guarino". Towleroad (Interview). Interviewed by Matthew Rettenmund.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ Renninger, Bryce J. (July 18, 2010). "Outfest Awards "Marine Story," "Bearcity" with 2010 Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "7th Annual Indie Series Awards - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)". INDIE SERIES AWARDS. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "Stephen Guarino - News". IMDb. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

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