Nate Torrence
Encyclopedia
Nathan Andrew "Nate" Torrence (born December 1, 1977) is an American comedic actor known for his numerous roles in television advertisements.
, where he began his education. Torrence attended Hiland High School
in Berlin, Ohio
, and went on to attend Kent State University
: Stark Campus. His family owns and operates a bed and breakfast
in Berlin. After studying with Second City's Players Workshop in Chicago, Illinois, Torrence began touring in a comedy troupe called Corn, Beef and Cabbage, where he wrote, improvised and performed with his older brother, Jay and friend Josh Ruth. Torrence additionally studied improv at Second City in Cleveland and in Los Angeles
, and The Groundlings
and Comedy Sportz in Los Angeles.
, Malcolm in the Middle
, How I Met Your Mother
, Las Vegas
, House M.D., and Ghost Whisperer
. He had a recurring role as Dylan Killington
on the NBC
drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
and played Roman Cohen in the ABC network
short-lived comedy Mr. Sunshine, a midseason replacement
for the 2010-11 television season.
He is perhaps best known for his role as a credit card customer service representative with David Spade
, in the Capital One
"What's In Your Wallet" advertising campaign. He has also appeared in several other commercials, including for Enterprise Rent-A-Car
, Volkswagen
, Golden Grahams
, H-E-B
, and NFL.com.
In December 2006, Torrence appeared in an episode of Top Chef (season 2)
on Bravo TV. The contestants were showcasing holiday food; Nate Torrence was one of the tasters, although he is not credited.
He played Lloyd, a lab assistant, in the film Get Smart
and reprised the role to star in the direct-to-DVD spinoff
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control
. Torrence has also played a crazy shirtless boxer on Reno 911, and Devon in the 2010 comedy She's Out of My League
.
Childhood and education
Torrence was born in Canton, OhioCanton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where he began his education. Torrence attended Hiland High School
Hiland High School
Hiland High School is a public high school in Berlin, Holmes County, Ohio. Their nickname is the Hawks.-Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships:* Boys Basketball – 1992, 2011 * Girls Basketball – 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008 -Notable alumni:...
in Berlin, Ohio
Berlin, Ohio
Berlin, Ohio may refer to:* Berlin, Holmes County, Ohio* Berlin, Williams County, Ohio* Berlin Heights, Ohio...
, and went on to attend Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
: Stark Campus. His family owns and operates a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
in Berlin. After studying with Second City's Players Workshop in Chicago, Illinois, Torrence began touring in a comedy troupe called Corn, Beef and Cabbage, where he wrote, improvised and performed with his older brother, Jay and friend Josh Ruth. Torrence additionally studied improv at Second City in Cleveland and in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and The Groundlings
The Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes...
and Comedy Sportz in Los Angeles.
Career
Torrence has appeared on television programs including CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
, How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
, Las Vegas
Las Vegas (TV series)
Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and...
, House M.D., and Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
. He had a recurring role as Dylan Killington
Dylan Killington
Dylan Killington is a fictional character on the American television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, played by Nate Torrence. His character is thought to be based on former SNL cast member Horatio Sanz. -Personal history:...
on the 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...
drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was an American dramedy television series created and written by Aaron Sorkin. It ran for 22 episodes.The series takes place behind the scenes of a live sketch comedy show on the fictional television network NBS , whose format is similar to that of NBC's...
and played Roman Cohen in the ABC network
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
short-lived comedy Mr. Sunshine, a midseason replacement
Midseason replacement
In American and Canadian television, a midseason replacement is a television series that premieres in the second half of the traditional television season, usually between January and May...
for the 2010-11 television season.
He is perhaps best known for his role as a credit card customer service representative with David Spade
David Spade
David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
, in the Capital One
Capital One
Capital One Financial Corp. is a U.S.-based bank holding company specializing in credit cards, home loans, auto loans, banking and savings products...
"What's In Your Wallet" advertising campaign. He has also appeared in several other commercials, including for Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Holdings, Inc. is a privately held company formed in 2009 to operate rental car subsidiaries: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car, WeCar and its commercial fleet management, used car sales, and commercial truck rental operations.Enterprise Holdings was formed as...
, Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
, Golden Grahams
Golden Grahams
Golden Grahams is a brand of breakfast cereal owned by General Mills. It consists of small toasted square shaped cereal pieces made of whole wheat and corn. The taste is a mix of honey and brown sugar...
, H-E-B
H-E-B
HEB Grocery Company, LP is a privately held San Antonio, Texas-based supermarket chain with more than 315 stores throughout Texas and northern Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an upscale organic and fine foods retailer.H-E-B ranked No...
, and NFL.com.
In December 2006, Torrence appeared in an episode of Top Chef (season 2)
Top Chef (season 2)
Top Chef: Los Angeles is the second season of American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed first in Los Angeles, California, and concluded in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The season premiered on Bravo on October 18, 2006 and ended on January 31, 2007. Padma Lakshmi took over as host,...
on Bravo TV. The contestants were showcasing holiday food; Nate Torrence was one of the tasters, although he is not credited.
He played Lloyd, a lab assistant, in the film Get Smart
Get Smart (film)
Get Smart is a 2008 American spy-fi comedy film based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's 1960s spy parody television series of the same name. The film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99...
and reprised the role to star in the direct-to-DVD spinoff
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control is a direct-to-video motion picture released in 2008. It is a spin-off of the 2008 film Get Smart and was released in North America on July 1, 2008, 10 days after the parent film began its theatrical run. The film is written by Tom J...
. Torrence has also played a crazy shirtless boxer on Reno 911, and Devon in the 2010 comedy She's Out of My League
She's Out of My League
She's Out of My League is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Jim Field Smith and written by Sean Anders and John Morris. The film has, in its starring roles, Jay Baruchel and Alice Eve, and was produced by Jimmy Miller for Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks and filmed in Pittsburgh,...
.