Colton Dunn Explained

Birth Date:30 June 1977
Birth Place:Normal, Illinois, U.S.
Yearsactive:2001–present
Spouse:Jessica Stier
Children:2

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

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Mad TV Live and Almost LegalYaris Guy
2003Phileine Says SorryNewsreader 5
2004BeepGregShort film
Last Laugh '04Patron
2004–05Boiling PointsSeries Regular
2005–09MadTVVariousWriter of 55 episodes
2007Twisted FortuneOliver
2008Boner BoyzBoner BoyzShort film; also writer and producer
2009War MachineVoice
Dow JonesHomeless GuyVideo short
BrothersRoscoeEpisode: "Pilot"
BrainstormDarryl8 episodes
2010The Big DogSalesmanShort film
LeBron Waynes Makes His Decision: Chicken WingsLeBron WaynesShort film; also writer
Hatchet IIVernon
Take a Silly OneSergeantVideo short
2010–11Pretend TimeVarious5 episodes; also writer of 7 episodes
The LeagueCop2 episodes
2010–15Parks and RecreationBrett6 episodes
2011Team UnicornBlakeEpisode: "SuperHarmony";also wrote 2 episodes
Damn LoveGardener
Rockin' OutColtonVideo short; also writer
Honey and JoyEarl the Clown
Forcin' the BluesColtonVideo short
Childrens Hospital70's DudeEpisode: "The '70s Episode"
Roommate MeetingCopEpisode: "Rat Problem Solved"
2012Game ShopDerrick11 episodes; also writer
SketchyAgent #1Episode: "Bourne Again"
AlEpisode: "Time Angels"
The Funtime GangGary the Girafffe
2012–13Campus SecurityDarren Scott6 episodes
Burning LoveTim7 episodes
2012–15Key & PeeleVarious53 episodes; also writer and co-producer
Comedy Bang! Bang!Various3 episodes
2013Happy EndingsThugEpisode: "The Marry Prankster"
The Arsenio Hall ShowWriter of 30 episodes
UnidentifiedDave
2014Kroll ShowTonyEpisode: "Sponsored by Stamps"
NerdTernsBarryEpisode: "Matt Bennett in Jenny vs. Hallie"
Spirit TownBuddy HickelShort film
Drunk HistoryNarratorEpisode: "American Music"
Mr. PicklesRich Snob, DarrelVoice; episode: "The Cheeseman"
This Is Why You're SingleNot Brandon
2015The Dramatics: A ComedyDennis
Trevor Moore: High in ChurchDoug
Red Baroness Warrior Single LadyNo TongueEpisode: "The Good Listener"
Steven UniverseMr. SmileyVoice; 3 episodes
Monster ProblemsJulianShort film
RT–ESHimself (host) / Various8 episodes; also writer and executive producer
2015–21SuperstoreGarrett McNeilMain cast, 113 episodes; also writer of “Forced Hire” & “Conspiracy”
2016Lazer TeamHerman
Other PeopleDan
Lonely and HornyRayEpisode: "Topless Maid"
Bad InternetEpisode: "The Year-Long Ad Experience"
CC: Social SceneRapperAlso writer
Angie TribecaDenariusEpisode: "Boyz II Dead"
The Eric Andre ShowAdditional writer
The Crossroads of History[13] Writer; episode: "Lincoln"
2017Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day SpecialChocolatier CustomerVariety special
Killing HasselhoffRedix
Lazer Team 2Herman
The Chris Gethard ShowToilet Paper SalesmanEpisode: "Let's Get Scared"
2018BlockersRudy
DudeOfficer Higgins
2018–presentBig City GreensRussell Remington, BrettVoice
2021Captain DorgVoice
Fairfax Principal WestonVoice
2021–2022Middlemost PostMayor PeeveVoice[14]
2022Jackass ForeverWriter[15]
PivotingBrian5 episodes
The Recruit LesterMain role

References

  1. Web site: Kavner. Lucas. Key and Peele's Head Writers Pick Their Top 10 Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele Performances. Vulture. July 8, 2015 . January 17, 2016.
  2. Web site: Gustafson. Amy Carlson. St. Paul Central grad Colton Dunn could go big this year with TV series, movie. twincities.com. December 31, 2015. September 21, 2016.
  3. Web site: Meehan. Ryan. 7 Questions with Colton Dunn. First Order Historians. January 17, 2016. February 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160203051823/http://firstorderhistorians.com/2015/02/04/7-questions-with-colton-dunn/. dead.
  4. Web site: Evans. Bradford. 10 'Parks and Rec' Writers Who Have Played Characters on the Show. Splitsider. January 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180427032446/http://splitsider.com/2014/01/10-parks-and-rec-writers-who-have-played-characters-on-the-show/. April 27, 2018. dead.
  5. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. Colton Dunn Joins NBC Pilot 'The Pro'. Deadline Hollywood. February 11, 2014. January 17, 2016.
  6. Web site: Lee. Ben. NBC's Superstore comedy pilot adds Colton Dunn and two more. Digital Spy. March 3, 2015. January 17, 2016.
  7. Splangler. Todd. Fullscreen's Rooster Teeth Finally Goes Mobile. Variety. January 17, 2016.
  8. Web site: Colton Dunn - UCB. Upright Citizens Brigade. January 17, 2016.
  9. Web site: THR Staff. Emmy Awards: The Complete Winners List. The Hollywood Reporter. September 20, 2015. January 17, 2016.
  10. Web site: Colton Dunn bio. Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. January 17, 2016.
  11. Web site: Season 3, Ep 11 - Wizard with a Crossbow (W/ Felicia Day and Colton Dunn) . September 30, 2019 .
  12. Web site: Season 4, Ep 21 - Talking Crossbow Visits (W/ Colton Dunn) . March 20, 2022 .
  13. Web site: Pruner. Aaron. 'Key & Peele' helped 'Crossroads of History' find its voice. Zap2it. April 15, 2016. March 24, 2016. April 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160405002120/http://zap2it.com/2016/03/key-peele-helped-crossroads-of-history-elizabeth-shapiro/. dead.
  14. Web site: Nickelodeon Unveils Trailers For SpongeBob SquarePants Spinoff The Patrick Star Show & Middlemost Post, Sets Premiere Date. Deadline Hollywood. Denise Petski. June 17, 2021. June 19, 2021.
  15. Web site: Jackass 4 - WGA Directory .