Rick Shapiro

Rick Shapiro, born on April 13, 1959, is a prominent comedian and actor based in Los Angeles. He embarked on his comedic journey in the early 1980s, making a name for himself at the famed Catch A Rising Star on Broadway. Throughout the 1990s, Shapiro showcased his talent in various films directed by Louis C.K., including notable works like *Tomorrow Night*. He also gained recognition for his recurring role as the "Angry Poet" on *Late Night with Conan O'Brien*. In 1998, he released his debut comedy album, *Unconditional Love*, which Billboard praised as “hard-edged and uncompromising.”

The 2000s saw Shapiro taking his stand-up act to audiences both nationally and internationally, including a one-man show at the Edinburgh Festival in 2007 and a tour in Australia in 2009. He made an unforgettable mark in the gaming world with a voice role as Mason Waylon in *Grand Theft Auto IV* in 2008. Between 2014 and 2015, he portrayed Bernie, the quirky neighbor of Marc Maron in the IFC series *Maron*.

On the film front, Shapiro appeared in Chris Rock's *Top Five*, played T-Rick in *Project X*, and featured in the German comedy *Timeless*. His television credits also include a role in Louis C.K.'s *Lucky Louie* on HBO. In 2012, he released his first book, *Unfiltered*, alongside his second comedy album, *Catalyst for Change*. In 2013, he faced a personal challenge when diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.