Brad Garrett

Brad Garrett Headshot

Actor • Comedian • Voice Actor

Birth Date: April 14, 1960

Death Date: April 14, 2028

Birth Place: Woodland Hills, California

Unmistakable, with his hulking physique and booming voice, actor-comedian Brad Garrett used his intimidating size as a source of comedic inspiration, although his natural talent eclipsed the novelty of his stature. After dropping out of college in his first year, Garrett took a gamble on a career as a stand-up comic. The risk paid off big time when he became the first $100,000 grand champion on the talent competition "Star Search" (syndicated, 1983-1995).

Frequent appearances on talk shows, game shows and as the opening act for such notables as Frank Sinatra followed. Acting efforts like his leading role in the short-lived sitcom "First Impressions" (CBS, 1988), came and went, but did little to increase his visibility. That was, until Garrett landed the role of fellow comedian Ray Romano's long-suffering older brother on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS, 1996-2005), a hit series that brought him three Emmy awards.

After the beloved sitcom came to an end, he wasted no time segueing into a starring role on a project of his own, "'Til Death" (Fox, 2006-2010), in addition to voicing numerous characters for animated films such as "Ratatouille" (2007) and "Tangled" (2010). As an accomplished stand-up comic, actor and vocal performer, Garrett's triple-threat status ensured his place as one of Hollywood's "go-to" funnymen for years to come.

Born Brad Gerstenfeld on April 14, 1960 in Woodland Hills, CA, Garrett was one of three sons raised by Al Gerstenfield, a geriatrics specialist, and Barbara Colton. After graduating from El Camino Real High School in 1978, Garrett attended UCLA, but dropped out after two months to pursue his goal as a stand-up comic. The decision proved fruitful; after gaining his chops on the Los Angeles comedy club circuit, Garrett was the first grand prize winner in the comedy competition on "Star Search" (syndicated, 1983-1995). Garrett's knack for imitations and riffs on his own physical appearance - at the time of his win at age 23, he stood 6'8' - earned him not only mass appeal with TV audiences, but also a guest stint on "The Tonight Show" (NBC, 1954- ) with Johnny Carson. He was one of the youngest comedians to ever appear on the venerable talk show program.

The national exposure led to a lucrative string of opening slots on national tours with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Liza Minnelli. Television also began to beckon, with appearances on game shows like "Super Password" (NBC, 1984-89) and "Family Feud" (syndicated, 1988-1995). Garrett also began lending his expressive vocal talents to countless animated series, including "Transformers" (syndicated, 1984-87) and "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling" (CBS, 1985-87), for which he voiced the title wrestling star. On the live action front, Garrett fared a little less successfully.

His debut as a series star, "First Impressions" (CBS, 1988), for which he played a single father who worked as an impressionist, lasted just eight episodes. Garrett worked steadily throughout the 1990s on a variety of television projects and minor films. For the most part, he found regular employment as a voice performer in such animated projects as "Biker Mice from Mars" (UPN, 1993-96), but also appeared in guest spots on primetime shows like "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1989-1998) as an unhinged car mechanic, as well as a supporting role as the gay best friend to the series lead in the short-lived "The Pursuit of Happiness" (NBC, 1995-96).

In 1996, Garrett finally hit it big when he joined the cast of a new sitcom built around fellow stand-up comic Ray Romano and produced by David Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants. "Everybody Loves Raymond," was slow to gain an audience, but by the late-1990s, it was one of the most popular programs on television, thanks to its sharp writing, which harkened back to classic family sitcoms of the 1950s and 1960s, while retaining a smart and modern edge, as well as the interplay between its cast members, which included veteran actors Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts. Romano was clearly the star of the program, but audiences delighted in Garrett's portrayal of policeman Robert Barone (based loosely on aspects of two of Romano's real-life brothers), who desperately craved the attention and approval his parents showered on Ray.

Despite his height, Barone also proved to be a nimble physical comic, but his slow burn and well-timed vocal explosions became one of the show's highlights. For his efforts on "Raymond," Garrett won three Emmys (2002, 2003, and 2005), and a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Ensemble in 2003.

The popularity of "Raymond" allowed Garrett to pursue larger and more substantial roles in film and television, and he scored personal and critical triumphs on several occasions. He landed supporting roles in Woody Allen's acclaimed feature, "Sweet and Lowdown" (1998), the Emmy-nominated showbiz drama "Club Land" (2001), for which he was top-billed with Alan Alda and Steven Weber, and enjoyed time on the big screen in the comedy hit "The Pacifier" (2005). Garrett also tackled the lead in "Gleason," a 2003 biopic of iconic TV comic Jackie Gleason, earning rave reviews as well as another Emmy nomination for his spot-on portrait. Garrett also continued his voiceover work in film and television, most notably as one of the aquarium fish who help reunite Nemo with his father in "Finding Nemo" (2003).

When "Raymond" closed shop in 2005, industry buzz centered briefly on the possibility of Garrett getting a spin-off series as Robert Barone. But by the end of that year, Garrett brought that option to an end when CBS was unable to come to any concrete plans for the series. He instead segued to a stint on Broadway in a revival of "The Odd Couple," which reunited "Producers" stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, and appeared briefly as an Easter Island head in the Ben Stiller comedy hit, "Night at the Museum" (2006).

He also enjoyed a supporting role as the manager of a faded pop star (Hugh Grant) in the likable romantic comedy, "Music and Lyrics" (2007), and gave voice to a legendary French chef who serves as spiritual advisor to a rat who aspires to culinary greatness in the Pixar animated film "Ratatouille" (2007). Garrett also showed off his prowess at poker by winning the fifth season championship of Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown" (2003-06) and playing in the World Series of Poker in 2005 and 2006.

Garrett landed a series of his own with "'Til Death" (Fox, 2006-2010). A more acerbic take on the married-life sitcom, he starred as a put-upon high school teacher whose longtime marriage is called into sharp contrast by a pair of newlyweds who move next door. The show struggled in the ratings from day one, and appeared on the verge of cancellation at several junctures - a fact not lost on Garrett, who mined humor from the situation during a stand-up tour with Romano in 2007. His fears were realized when "'Til Death" was cancelled at the end of its fourth season, although by then the actor had already begun picking up guest spots on other series, such as the collegiate comedy "Glory Daze" (TBS, 2010-11).

Always in demand for his distinctive baritone, Garrett lent his voice to Disney's animated retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale, "Tangled" (2010) and "Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil" (2011), for which he voiced the Giant.

Credits

Elio

Voice
Lord Grigon
Movie
2025

WondLaStream

Voice
Otto
Series
2024
50%

Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of MagicStream

Self
Special
2023

High DesertStream

Actor
Bruce
Series
2023
69%

Cha Cha Real SmoothStream

Actor
Stepdad Greg
Movie
2022
85%

WildflowerStream

Actor
Earl
Movie
2022
62%

Big Shot

Executive Producer
Series
2021
78%

Feeding America Comedy Festival

Actor
Show
2020

Who Wants to Be a MillionaireStream

Guest
Game Show
2020

Lights Out With David SpadeStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Gloria Bell: Extras

Actor
Show
2019

Single ParentsStream

Actor
Douglas Fogerty
Series
2018

How To Make It in Hollywood

Actor
Show
2018

Christopher Robin

Voice
Eeyore
Movie
2018

Gloria BellStream

Actor
Dustin
Movie
2018
91%

Michael Jackson's Halloween

Voice
Special
2017

This Is UsStream

Guest Star
Wes Manning
Series
2016
94%

BullStream

Guest Star
Ron Getman
Series
2016

To Tell the TruthStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the ShadowsStream

Voice
Krang
Movie
2016
38%

Jay Leno's GarageStream

Guest
Reality
2015

Jay Leno's GarageStream

Guest Star
Reality
2015

Celebrity Family FeudStream

Guest
Game Show
2015

Eloise's Rawther Unusual Halloween

Voice
Diamond Jim Johnson
Show
2014

The Meredith Vieira Show

Guest
Talk
2014

FargoStream

Actor
Joe Bulo
Series
2014
93%

The Clockwork Girl

Voice
T-Bolt
Movie
2014

Planes: Fire & Rescue

Voice
Chug
Movie
2014

Planes: Vitaminamulch Air Spectacular

Voice
Chug
Movie
2014

Planes : Fire And Rescue ()

Actor
Movie
2014

The Crazy OnesStream

Guest Star
Gordon Lewis
Series
2013

How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)Stream

Actor
Max
Series
2013
17%

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Actor
Dom
Movie
2013

Planes

Voice
Chug
Movie
2013

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

Not Fade Away

Actor
Jerry
Movie
2012

Delhi Safari

Voice
Bagga
Movie
2012

The Platinum Comedy Series: Bill Engvall

Actor
Show
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

I Kid With Brad Garrett

Host
Show
2011

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil

Voice
Giant
Movie
2011

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Poker

Actor
Show
2010

Lafflink Presents: The Platinum Comedy Series

Actor
Show
2010

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

TangledStream

Voice
Hook Hand
Movie
2010
89%

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Contestant
Show
2009

The Dr. Oz Show

Guest
Talk
2009

Cheech & Chong: Roasted

Host
Show
2008

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby

Voice
Mason Pig
Movie
2008

TV's Funniest Moments

Host
Show
2007

Are You Smarter Than a 5th GraderStream

Guest
Game Show
2007

Music and Lyrics

Actor
Chris
Movie
2007

RatatouilleStream

Voice
Auguste Gusteau
Movie
2007
96%

UnderdogStream

Voice
Riff-Raff
Movie
2007
14%

Christmas Is Here Again

Voice
Charlee
Movie
2007

Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen

Guest
Talk
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

'Til DeathStream

Actor
Eddie Stark
Series
2006

Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars

Voice
Commander Bristle
Show
2005

The PacifierStream

Actor
Coach
Movie
2005
21%

Tarzan II

Voice
Uto
Movie
2005

Tom and Jerry Blast Off to Mars!

Voice
Commander Bristle
Movie
2005

Garfield: The MovieStream

Voice
Luca
Movie
2004
14%

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Finding NemoStream

Voice
Bloat
Movie
2003
99%

Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire

Voice
Prancer
Show
2002

Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire & Legend of the Lost Tribe

Voice
Show
2002

Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe

Voice
Prancer/Viking #3
Show
2002

Ozzy & Drix

Guest Voice
Show
2002

MonkStream

Guest Star
'Honest' Jake Phillips
Series
2002
91%

Kim PossibleStream

Guest Voice
Series
2002

Bleacher Bums

Actor
Marvin
Movie
2002

The Country BearsStream

Voice
Fred
Movie
2002
31%

GleasonStream

Actor
Jackie Gleason
Movie
2002

Club Land

Actor
Lou Montana
Movie
2001

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

Guest Voice
Series
2000

Extremadamente Goofy Goofy 2

Voice
Movie
2000

An Extremely Goofy Movie

Voice
Tank
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Series
1999
78%

Facade

Actor
Henry
Movie
1999

Sweet and LowdownStream

Actor
Joe Bedloe
Movie
1999
77%

The King of QueensStream

Guest Star
Series
1998

A Bug's LifeStream

Voice
Dim
Movie
1998
92%

Postal Worker

Actor
Oren Starks
Movie
1998

The Batman Superman Movie: World's FinestStream

Voice
Bibbo
Movie
1998
80%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

George B.

Actor
Security Guard
Movie
1997

Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off

Voice
Grin
Movie
1997

Everybody Loves RaymondStream

Actor
Robert Barone
Series
1996

Mighty Ducks: The Animated SeriesStream

Voice
Series
1996

The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper

Voice
Fatso
Show
1996

The Pursuit of Happiness

Actor
Alex Chosek
Show
1995

CasperStream

Voice
Fatso
Movie
1995
52%

The Bears Who Saved Christmas

Voice
Black Bart
Show
1994

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

2 Stupid Dogs

Actor
Series
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

Hollyrock-A-Bye Baby

Voice
Big Rock
Movie
1993

Mad About YouStream

Guest Star
The Nurse
Series
1992

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Porco Rosso

Voice
Mamma Aiuto Boss
Movie
1992

The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda

Voice
Show
1990

SeinfeldStream

Guest Star
Series
1989
89%

Murphy Brown

Guest Star
Series
1988

RoseanneStream

Guest Star
Doug
Series
1988
76%

First Impressions

Actor
Frank Dutton
Show
1988

Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling

Voice
Show
1985

Super PasswordStream

Guest
Game Show
1984

The TransformersStream

Guest Voice
Trypticon
Series
1984

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

The Comedy ShopStream

Guest
Series
1978

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream

Guest
Talk
1962

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutBrad Garrett

Gina Rodriguez in 'Not Dead Yet' Season 2 finale - 'Not the End Yet/Not a Ghost Yet'

‘Not Dead Yet’ Canceled — What Would’ve Happened in Season 3, According to Gina Rodriguez

Jenifer Lewis and Gina Rodriguez in 'Not Dead Yet' Season 2 finale

‘Not Dead Yet’ Finale: Could Nell Become a Ghost? Get Details on 2-Parter (PHOTOS)

Hannah Simone, Joshua Banday, Lauren Ash, and Brad Garrett in Not Dead Yet - 'Not Owning It Yet'
Premiere

‘Not Dead Yet’ Season 2 Promises More Lighthearted Comedy (and More Ghosts!)

Brad Garrett in 'Not Dead Yet'
Exclusive

‘Not Dead Yet’: First Look at Brad Garrett in Season 2 Promo for Gina Rodriguez Comedy (VIDEO)

Bob Odenkirk, Jordan Peele, Jean Smart, and more comedy stars who have featured in 'Fargo'

‘Fargo’: 11 Times the Series Used Comedy Stars

Ray Romano and Brad Garrett in 'Bupkis'
Spoiler Alert

‘Bupkis’ Guest Stars Ray Romano & Brad Garrett on Being Part of Pete Davidson’s Comedy Vision

Patricia Arquette in Apple TV+'s 'High Desert'

‘High Desert’ Trailer: See Patricia Arquette as Addict-Turned-PI in Dark Comedy (VIDEO)

(L-R) Kenan Thompson, Charlie Day, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett

‘Bupkis’: Kenan Thompson, Charlie Day, Ray Romano & More to Guest Star in Pete Davidson Comedy

Leighton Meester, Taran Killam, Marlow Barkley in 'Single Parents'
Exclusive

First Look: The ‘Single Parents’ Tackle the Holidays in ‘The Magic Box’ (PHOTOS)

single-parents-exclusive-clip
Exclusive

‘Single Parents’ Sneak Peek: Will & Doug’s Friendship Reach a Boiling Point? (VIDEO)

The cast of Party of Five - Scott Wolf, Neve Campbell, Matthew Fox, and Lacey Chabert

TV Pilots 2018: All the Potential Shows, Pickups & Series Orders

Single Parents - 'Pilot' - Kimrie Lewis, Brad Garrett
Q&A

Brad Garrett on Why ‘Single Parents’ Is ‘Realistic’ About Raising Kids

Im Dying Up Here - Brad Garrett
Q&A

‘I’m Dying up Here’ Star Brad Garrett Talks His Character in Season 2

Brad Garrett

Brad Garrett Joins Showtime’s Standup Comedy Drama ‘I’m Dying Up Here’

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Closes Season 17 With a Serious Funny Guy and No End In Sight

Brad Garrett as Joe Bulo, Fargo

Brad Garrett to Star as ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Baddie

Manhattan - Brad Garrett

Brad Garrett Stirs Up Trouble as Charlie’s Dad on ‘Manhattan’ (VIDEO)