Daniel Tosh | |
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Tosh in 2013
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Birth name | Daniel Dwight Tosh |
Born |
Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany |
May 29, 1975
Medium | Stand-up comedy, television |
Alma mater | University of Central Florida |
Years active | 1997–present |
Genres | Black comedy, observational comedy, satire, sarcasm |
Notable works and roles | Tosh.0, Brickleberry |
Website | www |
Daniel Dwight Tosh (born May 29, 1975) is an American comedian, television host, actor, writer, and executive producer. He is known for his deliberately offensive and controversial style of black comedy, as the host of the Comedy Central television show Tosh.0 and as the star of stand-up comedy tours and specials.
Born in Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany, Tosh grew up in Titusville, Florida, the son of a Presbyterian minister. After graduating from Astronaut High School in 1993, Tosh attended the University of Central Florida, graduating in December 1996 with a degree in marketing. Among his first jobs was a telemarketer at Central Florida Research Park. He said later, "Hey, $15 an hour to annoy people! I really was not preparing myself for the future at all. I had interviews lined up. I sat through one real interview and I was like, 'I wouldn't hire me.' I left halfway through the orientation. That's the closest thing I ever got to a real job." Tosh moved to Los Angeles, but attributes his decision to work in comedy to being raised in Florida, which he considers "flat, hot, and dumb."
He started touring the comedy club circuit almost immediately after graduating from college. He appeared as one of the "New Faces" at the 1998 Just for Laughs in Montreal. His act was televised in 2000 in Montreal at the Théâtre Saint-Denis. Tosh's first big career break came in 2001 with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman. He made appearances on programs such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Comedy Central's Premium Blend. He hosted a local late-night comedy show in Florida called Tens, and served as a spokesman in Taco Bell commercials. Tosh has been a regular guest on radio shows such as The Bob & Tom Show, Loveline, and Kevin and Bean.