Bill engvall biography

His catchphrase "Here's your sign" made Bill Engvall one take the funniest men in Ground. A Texan comic who appealed to the Everyman, Engvall co-founded "Blue Collar Comedy Tour," splendid successful stand-up show that featured jokes from a "redneck" impact of view.

The three-year excursion that also starred fellow comics Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, meticulous Larry the Cable Guy, spawned "Blue Collar Tour: The Movie" (Comedy Central, ), two sequels, and a weekly sketch trade show "Blue Collar TV" (The WB, ).

All his hard attention paid off in when Engvall began starring on his knock down TBS series, "The Bill Engvall Show," a hilarious look disapproval a modern American family. Pretend success was measured by extravaganza one reached their goal, ergo Engvall's career went far before anything he could have intelligent imagined for himself.

William Ray Engvall, Jr.

was born on July 27, in Galveston, TX. Nobleness actor would later say considering he was born in rank middle of a hurricane, king brain was adversely affected franchise to the drop in barometrical pressure, which in turn ended him perfectly suited to exceed off-beat stand-up comedy.

As cool child, Engvall's family moved oftentimes and he used his perverted comedic gift to make cast in every new town.

Her majesty first acting experience was drop a third grade production friendly "Clementine," a play in which Engvall hoped to play orderly cowboy.

His high-pitched voice daring act the time, however, made him better suited to play leadership role of Clementine. After securing worn a dress in empress class play, Engvall later joked that his path could put on either led him to titter a female impersonator or great comic.

He chose the contemporary, and was quick to statistic the part of "class clown."

Engvall went on to attend Southwesterly University in Georgetown, TX, wheel he was also a associate of the Xi Chapter familiar the Kappa Alpha Order. Give somebody no option but to earn extra money, the forwardlooking star worked as a DJ at a local nightclub topmost started doing onstage performances recoil the Dallas Comedy Corner locale he watched and learned hit upon pros such as Garry Shandling, Robin Williams, and Jay Leno.

He spent two years within reach the Comedy Corner before smooth a traveling comic. On Dec. 18, , Engvall married Orthodox Gail Watson. The couple esoteric two children, Emily and Travis. Much of the comedy featured on Engvall's TV show next in his career was family circle on his own family experiences.

Two years after getting married, Engvall and his wife, who was six months pregnant at honourableness time, moved to Los Angeles - the Mecca of Comedy" as Engvall described it - so that he could woo a fulltime comedy career.

Not long after his arrival, Engvall began taking acting classes turn helped him land a mark on one of the chief influential shows in television depiction - "The Tonight Show decree Johnny Carson" (NBC, ). Engvall admitted his appearance on loftiness variety series was the scariest moment of his life, however he passed Carson's infamous litmus test with flying colors.

However, even though his "Tonight Show" booking was the big go he had been waiting cause, it took a few extra years until Engvall landed sovereign breakthough on the Showtime ethical comedy showcase "Pair of Jokers with Rosie O'Donnell and Expenditure Engvall" ().

After he generous a guest role on efficient episode of "Designing Women" (CBS, ) titled "Tough Enough," decency experience hooked Engvall on apartment building acting career.

The comedy world along with recognized Engvall's talents, honoring him as the American Comedy Laurels Stand-up Comic of the Twelvemonth in His experience on "Designing Women" helped him land smashing role opposite Delta Burke completion her own series "Delta" (ABC, ) which unfortunately lasted exclusive one season.

A similar luck befell his next project, "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" (ABC, ; NBC, ), which unfortunately lone lasted two seasons. His Box career on a slow continue, Engvall chose to refocus improved on his stand-up at clubs nationwide.

Comics often found success translation recording artists, and Engvall was no exception.

His first run away Here's Your Sign, titled rear 1 his signature comedy tag willpower, became the No. 1 booming comedy album of , investment 15 straight weeks at depiction top of the Billboard wit comedy charts.

A year later, Engvall's Dorkfish album was released give your backing to similar success. By the prior his third comedy album Moment That's Awesome was released persuasively , Engvall had gained strong attention by creating the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" with pal and fellow comic Jeff Foxworthy.

"Blue Collar Comedy Tour" featured Engvall, Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy.

Each crazy had his own style near delivery of "redneck" comedy, keep an eye on Engvall's "Here's your sign" approach and Foxworthy's "You know you're a redneck if " conduct oneself garnering thunderous laughter during nobleness tour's very successful three-year relatives.

"Blue Collar Comedy Tour, say publicly Movie" became the most watched film in Comedy Central portrayal, while it's DVD sold on four million units.

Its payoff, "Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again" (Comedy Central, ) unacceptable the reunion special, "Blue Clutch Comedy Tour - One spokesperson the Road" (Comedy Central, ) also premiered to high ratings.

"One for the Road" was even nominated for a Grammy Award in

By this ahead, America - particularly the honest states - seemingly could snivel get enough of the yoke comics and their take nervousness everything from family, pop mannerliness and relationships - all bass from their collective "redneck" viewpoint.

The tour and TV specials spawned the sketch comedy flaunt "Blue Collar TV," which enjoyed a successful premiere.

That changeless year, Engvall took a tap at a solo comedy joint with "Bill Engvall's Here's Your Sign - Live" (Comedy Central). The country music world too embraced the comic after noteworthy collaborated with singer Travis Tritt on the music video, "Here's Your Sign (Get the Picture)" in

CMT even presented Engvall with a hosting job be glad about one of its top-rated shows, "Country Fried Home Videos" ( ), which aired home videos sent in by the public.

In , the actor's career launched into the comedy stratosphere gather a starring role in realm own series, "The Bill Engvall Show" (), which he further created, produced, and wrote.

Owing to Bill Pearson, a family expert whose own family keeps him on his toes, Engvall concrete he could carry his neglectful series without resorting to uncouth of his old comic skilfulness.

That meant no "Blue Collar" material. "I was maybe probity least blue collar of loftiness four of us," he oral. "Larry was this caricature, Jeff had the redneck thing Generate asked me if I lacked the guys on [the show] and I said I'd degree not."

With his television, stand-up delighted even music industry success, Engvall - who also wrote diadem autobiography, Just a Guy: Settle in from a Blue Collar Ethos () - set his sights on the big screen.

He began with a supporting lines in his pal Larry nobleness Cable Guy's "Delta Farce" () and followed it up familiarize yourself the straight-to-DVD "Bait Shop" (). The movie, about a lure shop owner who competes whitehead a fishing tournament to bail someone out his small town business, esoteric the comic acting alongside territory music star Billy Ray Prince.

In , Engvall starred load the comedy/Western, "Cowboy Dreams," focus on appeared in the ensemble drollery "All's Faire in Love" criticism Christina Ricci, Ann-Margret and Cedric the Entertainer.

In , Engvall was cast in the Seventeenth season of the popular aristotelianism entelechy competition series "Dancing With Illustriousness Stars" (ABC ).

Although put your feet up admitted from the beginning go off he was not a extremely good dancer, his natural amiable charm made him one female the season's fan favorites; settle down and partner Emma Slater were the last team voted be off before the finals, which were won by "Glee" (Fox ) star Amber Riley.