Dave Attell Net Worth, Stand-Up Comedy Career, Film Career
Dave Attell is a prominent American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, boasting a net worth of $6 million. He is widely recognized for hosting Comedy Central’s “Insomniac with Dave Attell” from 2001 to 2004. His career also includes writing for notable shows such as “Saturday Night Live” (1993–1994) and “The Jon Stewart Show” (1993–1995).
In addition to his writing, Attell has made appearances in various films and television series, including “Arrested Development” (2005), “Funny People” (2009), “Trainwreck” (2015), “The Jim Gaffigan Show” (2015–2016), and “Crashing” (2017–2019). He has lent his voice to several animated projects, including “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” (1995–1997), “Bob’s Burgers” (2017), and “The Simpsons” (2018).
Early Life
Dave Attell was born as David Attell on January 18, 1965, in Queens, New York. Raised in a Jewish household in Rockville Centre, New York, he has a younger sister named Monica, who is a musician and has opened for him in performances. Attell graduated from New York University in 1987 with a degree in communications and began exploring his passion for comedy by performing at open mic nights shortly after.
Stand-Up Comedy Career
Attell’s journey into stand-up comedy began at Governor’s in Levittown, where he humorously recalls his first performance as a complete failure. He made his television debut on VH1’s “Stand-Up Spotlight” in 1988 and appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman” for the first time in 1993. This appearance caught the attention of Lorne Michaels, who hired him as a writer for “Saturday Night Live,” where he contributed to 20 episodes and appeared in seven.
His career continued to flourish with features on the HBO Comedy Showcase (1995) and the 1995 Young Comedians Special, leading to his own special, the HBO Comedy Half-Hour, in 1996. Over the years, Attell has made numerous appearances on various comedy specials and shows, earning accolades such as a nomination for the American Comedy Award for Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic in 2001. He released his first comedy album titled “Skanks for the Memories…” in 2003.
Subsequent releases included the DVD “Hey, Your Mouth’s Not Pregnant!” in 2006 and his one-hour special “Captain Miserable,” aired on HBO in 2007. His special “Road Work,” which aired on Comedy Central in 2014, further solidified his status as a leading figure in stand-up comedy.
Television Career
Attell’s television presence includes an animated version of himself on “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” where he appeared from 1995 to 1997. He served as a commentator on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from 1999 to 2002 and hosted his show, “Insomniac with Dave Attell,” which showcased his travels across various cities from Atlanta to Las Vegas over its 45 episodes. The show was well-received, leading to the release of DVD compilations.
In addition to these roles, Attell appeared on shows like “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” “Arrested Development,” “The Gong Show with Dave Attell,” “Dave’s Old Porn,” “Comedy Underground with Dave Attell,” “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” and HBO’s “Crashing.”
Film Career
Attell’s film career began with a role in the movie “Los Enchiladas!” (1999), written by fellow comedian Mitch Hedberg. He subsequently appeared in films such as “Pootie Tang” (2001), “Crazy for Love” (2005), “Scary Movie 4” (2006), and “The Great Buck Howard” (2008). Notably, he played himself in Judd Apatow’s film “Funny People.” His voice acting credits include providing the GPS voice for the Mystery Machine in “Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo!” (2010) and co-starring alongside Amy Schumer in both “Trainwreck” and her later film, “I Feel Pretty.”
Personal Life
In terms of personal relationships, Dave Attell dated comedian Sarah Silverman during the late 1980s. He maintains close friendships within the comedy community, particularly with Amy Schumer; she even named her son “Gene Attell Fischer” initially as a tribute before changing it to David after realizing the humorous implications of the name. Dave Attell continues to be an influential figure in stand-up comedy, recognized for his unique style that resonates with audiences and fellow comedians alike.
