Phil Austin
Encyclopedia
Phil Austin is a comedian and writer. He was born in Denver, Colorado
and later grew up in Fresno, California
, attending Fresno High School
. He attended Bowdoin College
and UCLA, joining the staff of KPFK
radio in Los Angeles
in the late 1960s.
Austin is best known for his work as part of The Firesign Theatre
(of which he is the only constant member), where he plays the group's best-known creation, Nick Danger
. Other prominent roles are as Harry (Happy) Cox, the narrator of Everything You Know Is Wrong
and Bebop Loco/Lobo on Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death
. He is also serves as the troupe's musician and record producer. His collection of short stories, Tales of the Old Detective and Other Big Fat Lies, is published by Audio Editions. Two of his stories appear in the third volume of Mirth of a Nation
.
Austin also wrote a solo work, Roller Maidens From Outer Space
, and directed (and acted in) Eat Or Be Eaten.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and later grew up in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, attending Fresno High School
Fresno High School
Fresno High School is a four-year secondary school located in Fresno, California. Fresno High is the oldest high school in the Fresno metropolitan area and one of the few International Baccalaureate schools; in addition it continues to be the most populous and most diverse campus in Fresno. Dr....
. He attended Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
and UCLA, joining the staff of KPFK
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
radio 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...
in the late 1960s.
Austin is best known for his work as part of The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio...
(of which he is the only constant member), where he plays the group's best-known creation, Nick Danger
Nick Danger (fictional character)
Nick Danger is a fictional character featured in several of the albums produced by the comedy group The Firesign Theatre: How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All , Nick Danger: The Case of the Missing Shoe , The Three Faces of Al and The Bride of Firesign .Voiced by...
. Other prominent roles are as Harry (Happy) Cox, the narrator of Everything You Know Is Wrong
Everything You Know Is Wrong
Everything You Know Is Wrong is a comedy album by the Firesign Theatre released in October 1974 on Columbia Records.-Detailed track information and commentary:...
and Bebop Loco/Lobo on Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death
Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death
Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death is a comedy album by The Firesign Theatre that was released in 1998 on Rhino Records.-Synopsis:The album takes the form of a fictional radio broadcast on the night of December 31, 1999...
. He is also serves as the troupe's musician and record producer. His collection of short stories, Tales of the Old Detective and Other Big Fat Lies, is published by Audio Editions. Two of his stories appear in the third volume of Mirth of a Nation
Mirth of a Nation
Mirth of a Nation is a humor anthology edited by Michael J. Rosen.* Mirth of a Nation ISBN 0-06-095321-7* More Mirth of a Nation ISBN 0-06-095322-5* May Contain Nuts ISBN 0-06-051626-7-External links:* * *...
.
Austin also wrote a solo work, Roller Maidens From Outer Space
Roller Maidens From Outer Space
Roller Maidens From Outer Space is a 1974 comedy album by Phil Austin, one of the members of the comedy group Firesign Theatre. Although the record is considered to be Austin's "Solo" album, the other three Firesigns make vocal contributions throughout, and are thanked by Austin in the liner notes...
, and directed (and acted in) Eat Or Be Eaten.