Lance Barber
Lance Barber | |
---|---|
Born | |
Alma mater | Kellogg Community College |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1998–present |
Known for | |
Spouse | Aliza Barber |
Children | 2 |
Lance Barber(born June 29, 1973)[1]is an American actor. He is known for playingGeorge Cooper, Sr.on theCBSsitcomYoung Sheldon(2017–2024) andThe Big Bang Theory(2018), as well asBill Ponderosaon theFXshowIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia(2010–2024).
Early life[edit]
Barber was born and raised inBattle Creek, Michigan,and developed an interest in acting at the age of seven, after seeing a performance ofGreaseat the Barn Theatre.[1]He acted atPennfield High School,from which he graduated in 1991, and performed in school productions fromKellogg Community College[1]while earning his associate degree.
Career[edit]
After a year at the Barn Theatre, Barber moved to Chicago and spent five years working his way up inThe Second Cityimprovisational comedytroupe.[1]He then moved to Los Angeles and had his first television role inOn the Spot,an improv sketch show that ran for five episodes onThe WBin 2003.[1]He credits his breakthrough to the 2005HBOseriesThe ComebackwithLisa Kudrow,in which he played Paulie G., a television writer. In 2010, he landed the recurring role ofBill PonderosaonFX'sIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[1]He reprised his role as Paulie G. when HBO brought backThe Comebackin 2014.[2]He also appeared in episodes ofHow I Met Your Mother,Gilmore Girls,Californication,Monk,The Mentalist,andGrey's Anatomy.
Barber playedJimmy Speckerman,who bulliedLeonard Hofstadterat high school, inone episodeofThe Big Bang Theory.[3]He was cast as George Cooper Sr., father ofSheldon Cooper,in the spin-offYoung Sheldonthat premiered in 2017, and mentioned in an interview that some fans were confused by his different roles in the two related series.[3]Barber also played Cooper in "The VCR Illumination",a 2018 episode of the parent show'stwelfth season;the character is deceased in the series but appears on an oldVHS tapethat Sheldon plays.[4]
Personal life[edit]
Barber lives inLos Angeleswith his wife Aliza, who is a chef, and their two children.[1]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Acting roles in film productions:[5][6]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Like Mike | Director in Commercial | Uncredited |
2002 | Tenfold | Dunken Boy | |
2003 | Patching Cabbage | Ryan | Short film |
2004 | Bad Meat | Buddy | |
2005 | The Godfather of Green Bay | Kenny Caruso | |
2005 | The Poet of Canis | The Poet | Short film |
2006 | For Your Consideration | Dinkie | |
2006 | Breakdown | Logan Conner | Short film |
2006 | The Lather Effect | Paul Helling | |
2008 | Shades of Ray | Karaoke Singer | |
2008 | Leatherheads | Toledo Referee | |
2010 | Dead Cat | – | Short film |
2010 | Penny | Frank | |
2013 | Gangster Squad | Comanche | |
2017 | Never Seen You Shine So Bright | Neil | Short film |
2019 | Raunch and Roll | Crash | Inpost-production |
2023 | Fool's Paradise | Side Kick |
Television[edit]
Roles and voice acting work in television films and series:[5][6]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | ER | Howard Norden | Episode: "Start All Over Again" |
2001–2006 | Gilmore Girls | Hugo Gray / the Man at Inn | 2 episodes |
2002 | What I Like About You | Phone Guy | Episode: "Spa Day" |
2003 | On the Spot | Ensemble Player | 5 episodes |
2004 | Come to Papa | Phillip | Episode: "The Crush" |
2004 | Faking the Video | Billy the Fake Director | TV series |
2004 | Yes, Dear | Man | Episode: "Who Done It?" |
2005 | Joey | Steve | Episode: "Joey and the High School Friend" |
2005, 2014 | The Comeback | Paulie G. | 21 episodes |
2006 | Thick and Thin | Kevin | Episode: "Mary Moves On" |
2006 | Untitled Patricia Heaton Project | Pete | Television film |
2007 | The Hill | Eric | |
2007 | Californication | Nick Lowry | 3 episodes |
2007 | Insatiable | Jerry Marinelli | Episode: "Pilot" |
2008 | The Mentalist | Daniel Cardeira | Episode: "Red-Handed" |
2008 | The Middleman | Johnny John | Episode: "The Cursed Tuba Contingency" |
2009 | Single White Millionaire | Seth Mortin | Television film |
2009 | CSI: Miami | Al Wayons | Episode: "Bad Seed" |
2009 | Monk | Bill the Deliveryman | Episode: "Mr. Monk Is Someone Else" |
2010 | Justified | Frank | Episode: "Long in the Tooth" |
2010 | United States of Tara | Sully | 2 episodes |
2010 | Grey's Anatomy | Phil | Episode: "Suicide Is Painless" |
2010 | Men of a Certain Age | Hardware Store Manager | Episode: "Father's Fraternity" |
2010; 2012–2018 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Bill Ponderosa | 11 episodes |
2011 | Harry's Law | David Kerwin | Episode: "Purple Hearts" |
2011, 2018 | The Big Bang Theory | George Cooper Sr. / Jimmy Speckerman | 2 episodes |
2012 | Baby Daddy | Tommy | Episode: "The Daddy Whisperer" |
2012 | The Soul Man | Mr. Richardson | Episode: "Pastor Interference" |
2012 | How I Met Your Mother | Guard #1 | Episode: "The Magician's Code" |
2012 | Key and Peele | Cop | Episode: "Episode #1.2" |
2013 | Timms Valley | – | Episode: "2nd Executive" |
2013 | The Crazy Ones | Clyde | Episode: "Models Love Magic" |
2013 | Franklin & Bash | Teddy Lazlow | Episode: "Control" |
2013 | Whitney | Nate | Episode: "Sorry!" |
2014 | Masters of Sex | Larry | Episode: "One for the Money, Two for the Show" |
2014 | Garfunkel and Oates | Drew | Episode: "Speechless" |
2014 | Hot in Cleveland | Tyler | Episode: "Straight Outta Cleveland" |
2014 | Bob's Burgers | Justgrillin' | Voice, episode: "Uncle Teddy" |
2014 | We Got Next | Jay | Television film |
2014–2016 | Faking It | Lucas / Karma's Dad | 8 episodes |
2015 | Dr. Ken | Phil Stockton | Episode: "The Master Scheduler" |
2016 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Patrick | Episode: "Captain Latvia" |
2016–2017 | Black-ish | Dr. Gabler | 2 episodes |
2017 | All Hail King Julien | Bruce | Voice, episode: "One More Cup" |
2017–2024 | Young Sheldon | George Cooper Sr. | Main role; 141 episodes |
2023 | Big City Greens | Frank | Voice, episode: "Bad Dad" |
References[edit]
- ^abcdefg"Lance Barber finds a home in television".Battle Creek Enquirer.November 14, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on March 2, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 16,2017.
- ^Metz, Nina (December 11, 2014)."Lance Barber on his long-awaited 'Comeback'".Chicago Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 27,2017.
- ^ab"Young Sheldon interview: Lance Barber on playing Sheldon's father George Cooper Sr".CarterMatt.September 22, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on February 3, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 26,2017.
- ^Dumaraog, Ana (December 9, 2018)."Big Bang Theory's Young Sheldon Crossover Resolves Its Biggest Continuity Issue".Screenrant.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2020.RetrievedOctober 16,2020.
- ^ab"Lance Barber – Filmography".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 2,2019.
- ^ab"Lance Barber".TV Guide.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 1,2019.
External links[edit]
- Lance BarberatIMDb
- Lance Barberon CBS.com