Colton Dunn

Colton Dunn
Dunn at the 2015 Comic-Con International
Born (1977-06-30) June 30, 1977 (age 47)
Normal, Illinois, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2001–present
SpouseJessica Stier
Children2

Colton Dunn (born June 30, 1977) 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 as Garrett McNeil 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Meehan, Ryan. "7 Questions with Colton Dunn". First Order Historians. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2014). "Colton Dunn Joins NBC Pilot 'The Pro'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  6. ^ Lee, Ben (March 3, 2015). "NBC's Superstore comedy pilot adds Colton Dunn and two more". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  7. ^ Splangler, Todd. "Fullscreen's Rooster Teeth Finally Goes Mobile". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Colton Dunn - UCB". Upright Citizens Brigade. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  9. ^ THR Staff (September 20, 2015). "Emmy Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  10. ^ "Colton Dunn bio". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  11. ^ "Season 3, Ep 11 - Wizard with a Crossbow (W/ Felicia Day and Colton Dunn)". September 30, 2019.
  12. ^ "Season 4, Ep 21 - Talking Crossbow Visits (W/ Colton Dunn)". March 20, 2022.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Jackass 4 - WGA Directory".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colton Dunn.