Bobcat Goldthwait

Along with Gilbert Gottfried and Emo Philips, Bobcat Goldthwait was one of the ’80s comics with dark material delivered via the gruffest, raspiest voices imaginable; but he distinguished himself as brainy but offbeat in the Andy Kaufman tradition. Although he’s kept busy behind the camera as director of shows like Chappelle’s Show, he’s traded in all that goodwill to put himself at the forefront of World’s Greatest Dad, a 2009 feature he wrote and directed. Behind the mic, he’s still the same high-strung lunatic giving unexpected takes on everyday situations—but it isn’t as banal as that sounds. God Bless America, a 2011 film he penned and directed, is a black comedy about a brain tumor patient who goes on a nationwide killing spree, targeting reality TV show stars.

Updated 04/12/2012