Kevin Pollak

Over the past two decades, he has appeared in over fifty films and television projects and has established himself as one of the first stand-up comedians to go on to have a successful dramatic film career. In addition to his acting talents, he has also proven himself as both a writer and producer. Pollak also continues to entertain audiences with his national stand-up engagements and hosting appearances.

In this upcoming year, Pollak will also release his first CD, A Little off the Top, where he goes back home to San Francisco to talk about his journey through show business.

Pollak will next star with Bruce Willis in the Miramax thriller, Hostage. The film marks the first English language film directed by notable French director Florent Siri and it is based on the adaptation of Robert Crais’ novel. Kevin portrays a mob accountant that is taken prisoner after a home invasion with Bruce Willis as the hostage negotiator. The film will be released on January 21, 2005.

Most recently, Pollak received critical praise for his role in the independent film Seven Times Lucky, which successfully screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival as well as the Los Angeles based Method Film Festival where it was honored with two awards, the “Best Feature Film Award” and “Best Screenplay Award.” Directed by Gary B. Yates, the film stars Pollak as a man whose life starts unraveling when he borrows $10,000 from his underworld boss, loses it all in a horse race and comes up with an elaborate scheme to earn the money back.

Pollak reteamed with Seven Times Lucky director Gary B. Yates in Niagara Motel which he recently filmed along with Anna Friel and Craig Furgeson.

Earlier this year, Pollak starred in the Warner Bros. comedy The Whole Ten Yards where he delivered the most talked-about role of the film as 'Laslo Gogolak,’ the father of ‘Yani Gogolak,’ whom he portrayed in The Whole Nine Yards. Pollak underwent three hours of hair, make-up and prosthetics to transform him into a 75 year-old man.

Pollak first started performing stand-up comedy at the age of ten. He became a touring professional stand-up at age twenty and then in 1988 landed a role in George Lucas’ Willow, directed by Ron Howard. In 1990, he appeared in Barry Levinson’s Avalon, for which he received an overwhelming response from the film community. It was Pollak’s role in the 1992 film A Few Good Men, directed by Rob Reiner, starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, that proved his ability to share the big screen with dramatic heavyweights. He then went on to co-star in the box-office success Grumpy Old Men and its’ sequel, Grumpier Old Men. In 1995, he appeared in the Award-winning The Usual Suspects and Martin Scorsese’s Casino.

In 1999, he appeared opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gabriel Byrne in Universal Picture’s End of Days, directed by Peter Hyams. He followed that with a starring role in Paramount Classics’ political thriller Deterrence, written and directed by Rod Lurie, for which he received critical praise.

In 2002, he starred with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey in The Wedding Planner. He also starred opposite Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner in the smash hit 3000 Miles to Graceland, where he played Federal Marshal Damitry who tries to track down a gang of ex-cons who rob a casino at an Elvis impersonators convention. That same year, he reteamed with Eddie Murphy in Dr. Doolittle 2. In 2002, he starred in Stolen Summer with Bonnie Hunt, which was written and directed by Pete Jones, the winner of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s first Project Greenlight special.

His other film credits include Blizzard, The Santa Clause 2, Steal This Movie, She’s All That, That Thing You Do, Abbie, Indian Summer, House Arrest, Miami Rhapsody, Chameleon, and The Prince of Mulberry Street.

He has also starred in several television projects including The Underworld, a crime telepic for Warner Bros. and NBC, which he co-created and co-executive produced with Chris McQuarrie (Academy Award winning screenwriter of The Usual Suspects) and Pollak’s wife, Lucy Webb. He also starred in the CBS sitcom Work With Me, which he co-executive produced, From the Earth to the Moon, The Drew Carey Show as well as numerous guest starring roles. Recently, he hosted Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown. He has also starred in two of his own HBO stand-up comedy specials, the latest being Kevin Pollak, Stop With The Kicking, directed by David Steinberg.

Pollak lives with his wife in Los Angeles.