Editing Chris Elliott (section)

==Career==
===Letterman years===
Elliott was hired as a production assistant on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'',<ref name="Koltnow-2005" /> and was with the show from its beginning in February 1982.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Bradford |title=The Best of Chris Elliott on Letterman |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/11/the-best-of-chris-elliott-on-letterman.html |website=Vulture.com |date=19 November 2013}}</ref> In the middle of 1983, Elliott became a writer on the show and his on-camera appearances became more frequent. Elliott became best friends and writing partners with [[Matt Wickline]], another ''Letterman'' crew member who was promoted to the writing staff in 1983.<ref name="Chicago Tribune-1985">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/09/08/12-who-make-sure-letterman-gets-the-laughs/|title=12 WHO MAKE SURE LETTERMAN GETS THE LAUGHS|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=September 8, 1985}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Eric |last=Pooley|title=Dave's Kids: The Twisted Minds Behind The Letterman Show|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-MCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36|magazine=New York Magazine|date=January 19, 1987|publisher=New York Media, LLC|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="Zinoman-2024">{{cite book |   last = Zinoman | first = Jason  | title = Letterman: The Last Giant Of Late Night |publisher= [[HarperCollins|Harper]] |date=2024-12-07 |orig-year=2017 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pQawDAAAQBAJ | isbn = 9780062377241}}</ref> Wickline and Elliott pitched ''Late Night'''s first theme show, an Emmy-winning interactive episode called "The Custom-Made Show,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-22 |title=Stand-Up Sets Where You Can Choose Your Own Adventure - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/13/arts/comedy-special-danny-jolles-vishnu-akella.html |access-date=2025-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122120409/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/13/arts/comedy-special-danny-jolles-vishnu-akella.html |archive-date=November 22, 2024 |last1=Zinoman |first1=Jason }}</ref><ref name="Zinoman-2024"/><ref name="Chicago Tribune-1985"/> leading the program to do a series of ambitious experimental one-off episodes. Along with the rest of the writing staff, he won four [[Emmys]] for his work on the show and was nominated for an additional six.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chris Elliott - Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0254402/awards/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>

Elliott became known in the mid-1980s for playing an assortment of recurring quirky, oddball characters on ''Late Night'', each of which would usually last for a few weeks to a few months, before being retired amidst much mock-fanfare on the show. Elliott and Wickline co-wrote his early pieces on the show, often about characters who had "Guy" in the name, including The Conspiracy Guy, The Panicky Guy, ''[[Terminator (1984 film)|Terminator]]'' parody The Regulator Guy, ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'' parody "The Fugitive Guy," and most famously, The Guy Under The Seats, a man who lived under the studio audience seating and would get mad at and threaten Letterman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ideastream.org/news/podcast/the-feed-from-wksu-news/2022-02-01/the-ghoul-ish-cleveland-underpinnings-of-late-night-with-david-letterman|title=The 'Ghoul'-ish Cleveland underpinnings of 'Late Night with David Letterman'|website=Ideastream Public Media}}</ref><ref name="Senger-1987">{{cite news | last=Senger | first=Trustman | title=CHRIS ELLIOTT'S ASCENT INTO MADNESS | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=1987-02-07 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1987/02/07/chris-elliotts-ascent-into-madness/3e763b10-bfc9-4cc7-b019-ed1ff72f3fef/}}</ref>

[[File:Chris Elliott at the 41st Emmy Awards.jpg|thumb|left|Chris Elliott at the [[41st Primetime Emmy Awards|41st Emmy Awards]] in 1989]] In 1987, while still working at ''Letterman'', Elliott starred in two [[Cinemax Comedy Experiment]] TV specials called ''FDR: A One Man Show'' and ''[[Action Family]]''. He co-wrote both specials with ''Letterman'' writers Matt Wickline and Sandy Frank. ''FDR: A One Man Show'' was a fake play about the life and times of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] (influenced by [[Frank Perry]]'s 1984 TV movie ''J.F.K.: A One-Man Show''). Elliott looked and sounded nothing like Roosevelt; he portrayed events from his life that never happened, such as a Japanese bombing of the [[White House]], and his crossing the Potomac in a rowboat. By the end of the show, he had performed [[Gallagher (comedian)|Gallagher's]] shtick of smashing watermelons and other soft fruits on stage.

Following these specials, Elliott and Wickline had a falling-out and ceased working together, with Wickline frustrated with Elliott's lust for stardom.<ref name="Zinoman-2024"/> Elliott switched to collaborating on his ''Letterman'' character bits with [[Adam Resnick]], also a writer. Elliott and Resnick's character bits found him playing self-involved show business people, both real and fake.<ref name="Zinoman-2024"/> These characters include [[Rip Taylor]]-esque Las Vegas [[lounge lizard]] Skylark, talk show host Chris Elliott Jr. (a la [[Morton Downey Jr.]]), and exaggerated surreal impressions of [[Marlon Brando]], [[Jay Leno]], and [[Marv Albert]]. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Kathryn |title=The Wacky World According to Chris Elliott |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-24-ca-30888-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=24 December 1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Digiacomo |first1=Frank |title=Chris Elliott, Cabin Man: Rolling Stone's 2008 Feature |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/chris-elliott-cabin-man-rolling-stones-2008-feature-242624/ |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=18 September 2008}}</ref>

As his career on ''Late Night'' blossomed, Elliott auditioned to join the cast of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' when [[Lorne Michaels]] returned to the program in 1985. He was offered the job but turned it down to stay at ''Letterman''.<ref name="Senger-1987"/><ref name="Hill-2012">{{cite web | last=Hill | first=Dave | title=Chris Elliott: "'SNL' looks like a lot of fun but you're constantly auditioning" | website=Salon | date=2012-10-22 | url=https://www.salon.com/2012/10/22/chris_elliott_snl_looks_like_a_lot_of_fun_but_youre_constantly_auditioning/ }}</ref> He began taking small film roles, often as a supporting actor in films such as [[Michael Mann (director)|Michael Mann]]'s ''[[Manhunter (film)|Manhunter]]'' and [[James Cameron]]'s ''[[The Abyss]]''. He had a small supporting role in an episode of ''[[Miami Vice]]''.

===1990s===

Elliott left ''Late Night'' in early 1990 and moved to [[Los Angeles]], though he would return as a guest interview subject many times on ''Late Night'' and Letterman's subsequent talk show ''[[The Late Show with David Letterman]]''.

In 1990, Elliott starred in his own sitcom, ''[[Get a Life (American TV series)|Get a Life]]'', which he co-created with Adam Resnick. The show was about a 30-year-old paperboy named Chris Peterson who lived at home with his parents. Elliott's real-life father, [[Bob Elliott (comedian)|Bob Elliott]], appeared in the show as Chris's father. The January 1999 issue of ''[[TV Guide]]'' called the "Zoo Animals on Wheels" episode the 19th funniest TV moment of all time.

In 1993, Elliott teamed up with producer [[Brad Hall (producer)|Brad Hall]] and directed a series of critically acclaimed short films that Elliott showed when appearing on ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''. That year he appeared in a prominent supporting role as [[Bill Murray]]'s cameraman in the [[Harold Ramis]] film ''[[Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day]]''.

In the early 1990s, director [[Tim Burton]] became a fan of ''Get a Life'', and, in an attempt to re-create the success of his film ''[[Pee-Wee's Big Adventure]]'', hired Elliott and Resnick to write a movie for Elliott to star in. The two scripted ''[[Cabin Boy]]'', which Burton was set to direct. Burton bowed out of his role as director so he could make ''[[Ed Wood (film)|Ed Wood]]'', and Resnick became ''Cabin Boy'''s director.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/12/05/movies/cabin-boy-chris-elliott-anniversary-adam-resnick-comedy-get-a-life | title="This is Just So Sh**ty, We Gotta Watch": The Beautiful, Inspirational Disaster of 'Cabin Boy,' 25 Years Later | date=December 5, 2018 }}</ref> Although it has since garnered a cult following, ''Cabin Boy'', which featured a short appearance by Elliott's old boss, [[David Letterman]], opened in 1994 to bad reviews and scant box office returns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109361/ | title=Cabin Boy | website=Box Office Mojo | date=1994-01-07}}</ref>, and netted Elliott a [[Razzie Award]] for Worst New Star.

Following ''Cabin Boy''s dismal reception, Elliott accepted an offer to join the cast of Saturday Night Live for the [[Saturday Night Live season 20|1994 season]] and moved back to [[New York City]]. He had a "terrible time" on the show, finding himself to be "too old," and disliking the [[Toxic workplace|toxic environment]] and late hours.<ref name="Hill-2012"/> The season was critically-reviled, and a ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' [[New York (magazine)|magazine]] reporter who embedded with the show for four weeks wrote an infamously-scathing piece called "Comedy Isn't Funny", in which Elliott was quoted expressing his unhappiness at the show.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Chris | title=How 'Saturday Night Live' Became a Grim Joke  | website=New York Magazine | date=2019-04-11 | url=https://nymag.com/arts/tv/features/47548/ }}</ref> At the end of 94-95 season, Elliott left the show amidst a major overhaul in the cast and writing team.

Following his departure from ''SNL'', Elliott continue to appear in supporting parts in films and TV shows. He joined the ensemble cast of the NBC sitcom ''[[The Naked Truth (TV series)|The Naked Truth]]'' for its third season. The show was subsequently canceled. He played [[Ben Stiller]]'s best friend in the [[Farrelly Brothers]] hit comedy ''[[There's Something About Mary]]'', reinvigorating his film career.

====2000s====

Elliott began the decade with a major role as the villain in the [[Nickelodeon]] movie ''[[Snow Day (2000 film)|Snow Day]]''. In the fall of 2000, he returned to a series regular role on television, starring alongside [[Steven Weber]] in the NBC sitcom ''[[Cursed (2000 TV series)|Cursed]]''. ''Cursed'' was given the coveted [[Must See TV]] timeslot post-''[[Friends (TV series)|Friends]]'', but after being retooled and retitled ''The Weber Show'', the program was canceled.<ref>{{cite web | last=Piester | first=Lauren | title=Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2: Streaming Release Date, Spin-Offs, and Everything Else to Know | website=TVGuide.com | date=2025-02-17 | url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/yellowstone-season-5-part-2-returns-when-ending-teaser-everything-else-to-know/ }}</ref>

Next, Elliott played prominent supporting parts in ''[[Scary Movie 2]]'' and ''[[Osmosis Jones]]'', which reunited him with Bill Murray and frequent collaborators The Farrelly Brothers. From 2003 to 2005, he had a recurring role as Robert's strange brother-in-law Peter MacDougall in the last three seasons of ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]''.

Elliott spent much of the decade attempting to create another show for himself, selling a family sitcom to Fox in 2004<ref>{{cite web | last=Adalian | first=Josef | title=Fox TV brings Elliott back into family | website=Variety | date=2004-10-10 | url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/fox-tv-brings-elliott-back-into-family-1117911716/ }}</ref> and one to CBS in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | last=Schneider | first=Michael | title=CW sez yes to 'Said' | website=Variety | date=2006-03-09 | url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/cw-sez-yes-to-said-1117939465/ }}</ref> Neither made it to air. In 2007, he starred in ''Chrissy: Plain & Simple'', a pilot for his own sketch show for [[Comedy Central]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Ess | first=Ramsey | title='Chrissy: Plain and Simple': The Unaired Chris Elliott Sketch Show | website=Vulture | date=2012-09-28 | url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/09/chrissy-plain-and-simple-the-unaired-chris-elliott-sketch-show.html }}</ref> Elliott had a recurring role on ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', playing the estranged father of character Lily Aldrin from 2009 to 2014.

====2010s-present====

In 2011, Elliott returned to a leading role on TV for the first time since ''Get a Life'', starring in the [[Adult Swim]] series ''[[Eagleheart (TV series)|Eagleheart]]''. Created by [[Michael Koman]] and [[Andrew Weinberg]] and produced by [[Conan O'Brien]], ''[[Eagleheart (TV series)|Eagleheart]]'' found Chris Elliott starring as U.S. Marshal Chris Monsanto in an exaggerated, dark version of a fake ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]''-esque TV procedural. The show aired for three seasons and became a cult hit.<ref>{{cite web | last=VanHooker | first=Brian | title=An Oral History of 'Eagleheart,' Chris Elliott's Overlooked Adult Swim Show | website=Cracked.com | date=2024-08-08 | url=https://www.cracked.com/article_43145_an-oral-history-of-eagleheart-chris-elliotts-overlooked-adult-swim-show.html }}</ref>

In 2015, Elliott became part of the ensemble cast of ''[[Schitt's Creek]]'', starring alongside [[Eugene Levy]] and [[Catherine O'Hara]] as town mayor Roland Schitt. The series ran for six seasons, winning nine Emmys, and netting Elliott a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/schitts-creek-sag-awards-winners-interview-1234727475/ | title='Schitt's Creek' Shines at SAG with Best Comedy Ensemble and Best Comedy Actress | date=April 5, 2021 }}</ref> In 2022, he was part of the cast of the short-lived [[Hulu]] series ''[[Maggie (2022 TV series)|Maggie]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Petski |first=Denise |title=David Del Rio, Chris Elliott, Ray Ford & Leonardo Nam Join Rebecca Rittenhouse In ABC Comedy Pilot 'Maggie' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/david-del-rio-chris-elliott-ray-ford-leonardo-nam-rebecca-rittenhouse-abc-comedy-pilot-maggie-1234727812/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 5, 2021 |access-date=July 6, 2021 }}</ref>