Rory J. Scovel (born August 6, 1980) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He released his first stand-up comedy album Dilation in 2011. He has since released the stand-up specials The Charleston Special (2015), Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time (2017), Live Without Fear (2021), and Religion, Sex, and a Few Things in Between (2024).
Rory Scovel | |
|---|---|
 Scovel performing in 2013 | |
| Born | August 6, 1980 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | Jordan Boughrum |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | roryscovel |
As an actor, he began his career as part of the main cast on the sitcoms Ground Floor (2013–2015) and Those Who Can't (2016–2019), co-starred in the romantic comedy film I Feel Pretty (2018), and also appeared in and wrote for the comedy series The Eric Andre Show (2012–2016). In the 2020s, he created and starred in his Comedy Central series Robbie (2020) and starred in the Apple TV series Physical (2021–2023).
Early life
editRory J. Scovel was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 6, 1980.[1] He has six siblings.[1] He played basketball, tennis, and soccer as a child, and has described himself as hyperactive and a class clown.[2] He attended St. Mary's Catholic School, then Christ Church Episcopal School, from kindergarten through eighth grade. He graduated from Greenville Senior High School in 1999.[1][3] Scovel spent one year attending the University of Central Florida before enrolling at University of South Carolina Upstate, from which he graduated with a communications degree in 2003.[4] While there, he played Division II soccer.[5]
Career
editComedy
editScovel first performed comedy in December 2003 at an open mic night in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He had just graduated from college and was working as a cameraman at a local television station WSPA. The following year, he moved to Washington D.C.,[6] where he performed for three years.[7] He then moved to New York City, where he performed for three years until he moved to Los Angeles, where he now lives.[7]
In 2006, Scovel participated in the Seattle International Comedy Competition; he made it to the finals.[8]
In 2010, he performed his first set for a late night show on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The following year, Scovel performed on Conan with comedian Jon Dore using the premise that the show had accidentally booked two comedians;[9][10] Scovel would go on to perform on and be interviewed by Conan many times in the following decade. Scovel also released his first stand-up album with Stand Up! Records, Dilation.[5][11] Scovel and the record were named by The Huffington Post as one of fourteen in their "Guide To New Comedy Albums of 2011".[12]
In 2012, Scovel was named among the 10 Comics to Watch by Variety magazine.[13] In April of that year, his set was featured on Comedy Central's The Half Hour. In 2013, he performed a show at the performance venue at Third Man Records, Jack White's record label.[14] The live show was recorded to tape and transferred to vinyl. There is no digital version of this recording.[15][16] White would later executive produce Scovel's 2017 special for Netflix.
In 2015, Scovel taped his first hour-long stand-up special at the Woolfe Street Playhouse in Charleston, South Carolina;[17] the special was aptly named Rory Scovel: The Charleston Special. In 2017, his next special, Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time, was released by Netflix.
Scovel has opened for comedians such as Louis C.K., Nick Swardson, and Daniel Tosh.[5][18] He has performed at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival,[19] the FYF Fest in Los Angeles,[20] the Vancouver Comedy Festival, the Del Close Improv Marathon in New York,[21] the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle,[22] and the Chicago Improv Festival.[7]
Television and movies
editScovel's breakthrough acting role was as Harvard in the TBS sitcom Ground Floor.[1] He was a main character for both seasons of the show, which aired from 2013 to 2015. Following the cancellation of Ground Floor, Scovel joined the main cast of Those Who Can't, which began airing on TruTV in 2016, reprising his role as Principal Quinn from the 2013 Amazon film of the same name. He had various small acting and voice acting roles throughout the 2010s, including recurring roles on MTV's Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous, NBC's Undateable, and TBS' Wrecked. Scovel had a small role in Demetri Martin's indie comedy film Dean. He had a supporting role in the 2017 wide-release comedy The House. Notably, he starred as the main love interest in the 2018 Amy Schumer comedy film I Feel Pretty.
Scovel was part of the writing staff for the second and fourth seasons of The Eric Andre Show, which aired in 2013 and 2016, respectively. He was featured in the show's "New Years Eve Spooktacular" as well as an episode in season two where he played the fictional Chef Rory Scovel.
In November 2018, it was announced that Comedy Central had green-lit an eight-episode scripted television series produced, co-written, and starring Scovel, called Robbie.[23] In a February 2020 interview, Scovel disclosed that the show had been produced and was looking for a distributor.[24] On May 6, 2020, Comedy Central announced that Robbie would premiere later that week. The show premiered on May 7, 2020, at which time Comedy Central released the series in its entirety on its streaming platform and YouTube. Robbie is Comedy Central's first binge-release.[25] Recently, Scovel played the lead in the Chris Blake quarantine comedy, Distancing Socially filmed remotely using the iPhone 11. The film was acquired and released by Cinedigm in October 2021.[26]
Podcasts
editSince 2018, Scovel has co-hosted The Pen Pals Podcast with fellow comedian Daniel Van Kirk. Scovel has appeared on several popular podcasts, including Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Bang! Bang! with Scott Aukerman, Doug Loves Movies with Doug Benson, Sklarbro Country with The Sklar Brothers, The Nerdist Podcast with Chris Hardwick, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, Maximum Fun's Stop Podcasting Yourself, The Dead Authors Podcast with Paul F. Tompkins, The Dollop live at the 2016 Riot LA Comedy Festival with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, The Todd Glass Show, and WTF with Marc Maron, Mega, and Films to Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein.
Personal life
editScovel is married to actress Jordan Boughrum.[27] They live in Los Angeles, where their daughter was born in 2015.[28]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Groom with a View | Organ Player | Short film |
| 2009 | Public Service | Leo's Agent | Voice, short film |
| 2010 | Seattle Komedy Dokumentary | Himself | |
| 2011 | Dead Monkey | Ricky | |
| 2012 | Is There?: Todd Glass for GLSEN | Party Guest | Short film |
| 2012 | Broken Mike | Himself | |
| 2013 | Documentary Subject Wanted with Rory Scovel | Himself | |
| 2016 | Dean | Eric | |
| 2016 | Reggie Watts: Spatial | Himself | |
| 2017 | The House | Joe | |
| 2018 | I Feel Pretty | Ethan | |
| 2020 | Two Pan Dan | Dan | Short film |
| 2020 | Gutbuster | Himself | |
| 2021 | Distancing Socially | Ben | |
| 2022 | Babylon | The Count | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2023 | Old Dads | Terrance Huffy-Schwinn |
Television
editAs actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | The Life & Times of Tim | Jim/Jerry | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2012–2016 | The Eric Andre Show | Chef Rory Scovel/Himself | 2 episodes; also writer for 20 episodes |
| 2013–2015 | Ground Floor | Harvard | 20 episodes |
| 2013 | Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous | Pat | 6 episodes |
| 2014 | Modern Family | Carl | Episode: "Marco Polo" |
| 2014–2016 | Undateable | Kevin | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Those Who Can't | Principal Geoffrey Quinn | 25 episodes |
| 2016 | Animals. | Ronnie | Voice, episode: "Dogs." |
| 2016 | Casual | Patrick | Episode: "The Magpie" |
| 2016–2017 | Wrecked | Corey | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Love | Gator | Episode: "The Work Party" |
| 2017 | The Great Indoors | Ricky | Episode: "Ricky Leaks" |
| 2017 | Powerless | Russell | Episode: "Win, Luthor, Draw" |
| 2017 | HarmonQuest | Unpredictable Witch | Episode: "Demon Realm Devilry" |
| 2017 | Do You Want To See a Dead Body? | Cool Pharmacist | Episode: "A Body and a Puddle (with Adam Scott and Terry Crews)" |
| 2018 | Another Period | Men's Club Member | Episode: "Olympics" |
| 2018 | Please Understand Me | Rory | Episode: "Rory & Natalie" |
| 2019 | Historical Roasts | William Shakespeare | Episode: "Cleopatra" |
| 2019 | Cake | Voice, episode: "Cache Flow" | |
| 2019 | Mixed-ish | Bob Lee | Episode: "Papa Don't Preach" |
| 2020–2021 | Superstore | Dr. Brian Patterson | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | Harley Quinn | Gus, Assassin, Maitre'd | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Robbie | Robbie | 8 episodes; also writer, creator, and executive producer |
| 2020–2021 | Black Monday | Agent Crandall | 2 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Physical | Danny Rubin | Series regular; 30 episodes |
| 2022 | Grace and Frankie | Officer Smith | Episode: "The Raccoon" |
| 2024 | Kite Man: Hell Yeah! | Gus | Voice[29] |
| 2024 | Based on a True Story | Gustav | 2 episodes |
As himself
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Live at Gotham | Himself | Episode #2.4 |
| 2010 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Himself | Episode #2.170 |
| 2011–2019 | Conan | Himself | 9 episodes |
| 2011–2013 | New York Stand-Up Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | The Half Hour | Himself | Episode #1.1, also writer |
| 2012 | UnCabaret | Himself | Episode #1.4, also writer |
| 2012 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Himself | Episode #8.242 |
| 2013 | The Nerdist | Himself | Episode #1.3 |
| 2013 | Funny as Hell | Himself | Episode #3.1, also writer |
| 2013 | All Growz Up with Melinda Hill | Himself | Episode: "Rory Scovel" |
| 2013 | Money From Strangers | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2013–2017 | @midnight | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | The Pete Holmes Show | Himself | Episode: "Rory Scovel" |
| 2016 | Not Safe with Nikki Glaser | Himself | Episode: "Carpe Do 'Em" |
| 2016 | This Is Not Happening | Himself | Episode: 3.4 "Blunder", also writer |
| 2018 | The Jim Jeffries Show | Himself | Episode: "Questioning Trump's North Korea Strategy" |
| 2019 | 2 Dope Queens | Himself | Episode: "Music" |
| 2024 | Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker | Himself | Episode: #289 |
Stand-up specials
edit| Year | Title | Released by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dilation | Stand Up! Records | |
| 2013 | Rory Scovel Live at Third Man Record | Third Man Records | |
| 2015 | Rory Scovel: The Charleston Special | Self | Released on Seeso |
| 2017 | Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time | Netflix | |
| 2021 | Rory Scovel: Live Without Fear | Self | Released on YouTube |
| 2024 | Rory Scovel: Religion, Sex, and a Few Things in Between | Max |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Comic Rory Scovel weighs in on Woodruff Road and growing up in Greenville". The Greenville News. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Thomasian, Deborah (November 7, 2012). "Get Ready To Fall in Love With Comedian Rory Scovel". Serial Optimist Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ PARTNER (February 20, 2019). "Meet Christ Church Episcopal School's Alumni". GVLtoday. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "USC Upstate News". news.uscupstate.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c Armonaitis, Dan (October 30, 2011). "Comic Rory Scovel coming home". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2013 – via goupstate.com.
- ^ [email protected], D. A. N. "Rory Scovel: From soccer field to Netflix and movie with Amy Schumer". GoUpstate. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c Davidson, Phil (August 23, 2012). "Talking to Rory Scovel About Standup, Characters, Alt Rooms vs. Clubs and All Sorts of Other Stuff". SplitSider. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "2006 Comics: Finals". Seattle International Comedy Competition. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "Conan Double-Books Comedians Jon Dore & Rory Scovel". Huffington Post. July 1, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "Jon Dore Thinks NBA Trumped By Kids Basketball League On 'Conan'". Huffington Post. January 12, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Brockett, Chase (October 27, 2011). "Rory Scovel gets Dilated on Debut Album". SanDiego.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ Luippold, Ross (October 29, 2011). "Our Guide To New Comedy Albums of 2011 (With Spotify Playlist!)". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Schenker, Andrew (July 24, 2012). "Scovel: Frosh comic keeps it fresh". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "RORY SCOVEL LIVE AT THIRD MAN RECORDS". Third Man Records. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Matteson, Cory (July 16, 2013). "Comic Rory Scovel brings Jack White-approved material to Omaha Saturday". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Rory Scovel". The Mint. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "Rory Scovel : The Charleston Special (2015)", IMDb, retrieved December 1, 2019
- ^ Miller, Chris (November 8, 2011). "Comedian kills with improv, off-kilter approach". The Red & Black. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ Duguay, Denise (July 19, 2013). "Just for Laughs 2013: So how many grandmothers does Rory Scovel have, anyway?". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Fisher, Eliza (July 20, 2012). "FYF Fest 2012 Comedy Lineup Revealed". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Pitchel, Samantha (July 9, 2012). "All Improv, No Sleep: Inside the 14th Annual Del Close Marathon". SplitSider. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "The Nerdist, Guest, Rory Scovel". BBC America. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "COMEDY CENTRAL ORDERS RORY SCOVEL'S ROBBIE TO SERIES". Comedy Central Press. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Interviewer(s): Lee, Bobby and Khalya Khun (February 27, 2020). Tigerbelly 234: Rory Scovel, High-Fiving God (Video). Interviewee: Scovel, Rory. Event occurs at 1:07:26–1:08:19 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Comedy Central Announces 'Robbie' As It's [sic] First Ever Binge-Release". UPROXX. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (October 7, 2020). "'Schitt's Creek' Actor Sarah Levy Cast in COVID-Inspired Indie 'Distancing Socially' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Resume". jordan scovel. November 16, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "The 100 Coolest Dads in America Ranked, 2018 Edition | #48 Rory Scovel". Fatherly. September 27, 2018. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (September 14, 2023). "'Harley Quinn' Spin-Off 'Kite Man: Hell Yeah!' Ready to Soar with New Teaser". www.animationmagazine.net. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
