Dan Bakkedahl
Encyclopedia
Dan Bakkedahl is an American
improvisational actor, comedian and teacher from Chicago
's Second City
. Born in Rochester, Minnesota
and raised in Stuart, Florida
, he attended St. Cloud State University
in Minnesota before completing his studies at Florida State University
where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.
After college, Bakkedahl toured for a year with the Repertory Theater of America. After moving to Chicago, he made a name for himself at the Improv Olympic performing in the influential two-man improv show ZUMPF with his teacher Miles Stroth
. Dan went on to perform at the Second City
mainstage, eventually writing “Doors Open on the Right,” Second City
’s 90th Revue
. In Chicago
, he is often noted for having left the Second City mainstage due to artistic differences.
Bakkedahl continues to perform regularly at comedy venues such as the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
, Magnet Theater
and Second City
in Los Angeles.
Bakkedahl's best known television work was on Comedy Central's The Daily Show
where he served as a correspondent from 2005 to 2007. After leaving The Daily Show in 2007, he has since moved to Los Angeles with his family and filmed supporting roles in the films Observe and Report
and Horrible Bosses
. He also appeared in the Snake 'N Bacon animated special on Adult Swim
, which aired on May 10, 2009. In early 2010, he co-starred in the comedy pilot "Our Show" on NBC
.
Through late 2010 and early 2011, Bakkedahl began appearing in a series of commercials for T-Mobile
cellular phones, where he plays a human likeness of AT&T
's 3G network.
Bakkedahl guest starred as a waiter in an episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm
titled "The Hero" which debuted on August 14, 2011.
Bakkedahl is a member of the advisory council of the California Shakespeare Theater.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
improvisational actor, comedian and teacher from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
. Born in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
and raised in Stuart, Florida
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....
, he attended St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
in Minnesota before completing his studies at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.
After college, Bakkedahl toured for a year with the Repertory Theater of America. After moving to Chicago, he made a name for himself at the Improv Olympic performing in the influential two-man improv show ZUMPF with his teacher Miles Stroth
Miles Stroth
Miles Stroth is an American actor, comedian, and teacher. He is best known for his work with the improvisational theatre, Improv Olympic and Del Close and for creating the improvisational form "The Deconstruction." -Early life:...
. Dan went on to perform at the Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
mainstage, eventually writing “Doors Open on the Right,” Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
’s 90th Revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
. In Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, he is often noted for having left the Second City mainstage due to artistic differences.
Bakkedahl continues to perform regularly at comedy venues such as the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre or UCB Theatre is an improvisational theatre and associated UCB Training Center with locations in Chelsea, New York, the EEast Village, New York and Hollywood, California.....
, Magnet Theater
Magnet Theater
The Magnet Theater is an improvisational comedy theater and improv school in New York City. It has shows seven nights a week, many of which are consistently selected as editor's pick of the week in Time Out New York and The Onion....
and Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles.
Bakkedahl's best known television work was on Comedy Central's The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
where he served as a correspondent from 2005 to 2007. After leaving The Daily Show in 2007, he has since moved to Los Angeles with his family and filmed supporting roles in the films Observe and Report
Observe and Report
Observe and Report is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Jody Hill, starring Seth Rogen, Anna Faris and Ray Liotta.-Plot:...
and Horrible Bosses
Horrible Bosses
Horrible Bosses is a 2011 black comedy film directed by Seth Gordon, written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, based on a story by Markowitz. It stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx...
. He also appeared in the Snake 'N Bacon animated special on Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
, which aired on May 10, 2009. In early 2010, he co-starred in the comedy pilot "Our Show" on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Through late 2010 and early 2011, Bakkedahl began appearing in a series of commercials for T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
cellular phones, where he plays a human likeness of AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
's 3G network.
Bakkedahl guest starred as a waiter in an episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
titled "The Hero" which debuted on August 14, 2011.
Bakkedahl is a member of the advisory council of the California Shakespeare Theater.