Toby Radloff
Encyclopedia
Toby Radloff is a former file clerk who became a minor celebrity owing to his appearances in Cleveland
writer Harvey Pekar
's autobiographical comic book American Splendor
. He works at the Veterans Affairs
Medical Center in Cleveland. Radloff currently works as a courier.
Radloff has a distinctive manner of speech and quirky mannerisms. He is a self-proclaimed "Genuine Nerd
," and is proud of it. He publicly came out as gay
after the release of the American Splendor film in 2003.
Radloff met Pekar in 1980 when Radloff was hired at the VA Hospital, and soon became a recurring character in American Splendor. Radloff starred in such stories as "Lentils and Lent" (illustrated by Sean Carroll), "Double Feature Part 1: Footloose, Starring Toby Radloff" and "Double Feature Part 2: Revenge of the Nerds", (both illustrated by Bill Knapp), "Toby Saves the Day," (illustrated by Ed Wesolowski), and "Hollywood Reporter" and "Reduction" (both illustrated by Josh Neufeld
).
His appearances in American Splendor eventually led Radloff to starring in a series of MTV
segments throughout the 1980s, and acting in the low budget, cult horror films Killer Nerd, Bride of Killer Nerd, and Townies. He also appeared on the Public-access television
cable TV The Eddie Marshall Show. He became a local celebrity for his takes on nerd topics such as cheese, yo-yos, hamburgers, the Internet, world politics and being a nerd.
In the 2003 film American Splendor
, the award-winning film adaptation of Pekar's comic, Radloff is played by Judah Friedlander
, and also appears as himself in the documentary sections of the film.
On August 3, 2006, Radloff tried out to be the next "Wack Packer" on The Howard Stern Show, but lost in the finals because Stern and crew felt that he was too famous.
In 2007, Toby appeared in various segments of Wayne Alan Harold
's "Super Deluxe Revue" for Turner Broadcasting online comedy site SuperDeluxe.com. Radloff also supplied the title character's voice for the Lance Myers animated series The Ted Zone. SuperDeluxe was recently folded into Turner's AdultSwim.com.
In May 2011, Toby TV debuted at blip.tv
. Produced by Wayne Alan Harold
, videos include remote comedy bits and "Nerd's Eye View" segments with Radloff commenting on current events.
Radloff currently lives in Berea, Ohio
and is an acolyte
at Trinity Cathedral
in Cleveland
.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
writer Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
's autobiographical comic book American Splendor
American Splendor
American Splendor is a series of autobiographical comic books written by the late Harvey Pekar and drawn by a variety of artists. The first issue was published in 1976 and the most recent in September 2008, with publication occurring at irregular intervals...
. He works at the Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs is a term of the business that deals with the relation between a government and its veteran communities, usually administered by the designated government agency. It might refer to:*Department of Veterans' Affairs...
Medical Center in Cleveland. Radloff currently works as a courier.
Radloff has a distinctive manner of speech and quirky mannerisms. He is a self-proclaimed "Genuine Nerd
Nerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
," and is proud of it. He publicly came out as gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
after the release of the American Splendor film in 2003.
Radloff met Pekar in 1980 when Radloff was hired at the VA Hospital, and soon became a recurring character in American Splendor. Radloff starred in such stories as "Lentils and Lent" (illustrated by Sean Carroll), "Double Feature Part 1: Footloose, Starring Toby Radloff" and "Double Feature Part 2: Revenge of the Nerds", (both illustrated by Bill Knapp), "Toby Saves the Day," (illustrated by Ed Wesolowski), and "Hollywood Reporter" and "Reduction" (both illustrated by Josh Neufeld
Josh Neufeld
Josh Neufeld is an alternative cartoonist known for his nonfiction comics on subjects like Hurricane Katrina, international travel, and finance, as well as his collaborations with writers like Harvey Pekar and Brooke Gladstone...
).
His appearances in American Splendor eventually led Radloff to starring in a series of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
segments throughout the 1980s, and acting in the low budget, cult horror films Killer Nerd, Bride of Killer Nerd, and Townies. He also appeared on the Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV The Eddie Marshall Show. He became a local celebrity for his takes on nerd topics such as cheese, yo-yos, hamburgers, the Internet, world politics and being a nerd.
In the 2003 film American Splendor
American Splendor (film)
American Splendor is a 2003 American biographical comedy-drama film about Harvey Pekar, the author of the American Splendor comic book series. The film is also in part an adaptation of the comics, which dramatize Pekar's life...
, the award-winning film adaptation of Pekar's comic, Radloff is played by Judah Friedlander
Judah Friedlander
Judah Friedlander is an American actor and comedian, known for his trademark trucker hats, oversized glasses and unkempt appearance, which he retains in many of his screen roles.-Early life:...
, and also appears as himself in the documentary sections of the film.
On August 3, 2006, Radloff tried out to be the next "Wack Packer" on The Howard Stern Show, but lost in the finals because Stern and crew felt that he was too famous.
In 2007, Toby appeared in various segments of Wayne Alan Harold
Wayne Alan Harold
Wayne Alan Harold is a video producer from northeastern Ohio.In the late 80s, Harold met Genuine Nerd Toby Radloff and that led to Toby starring in a series of MTV segments. In the 1990s, Harold co-created the cult horror films Killer Nerd and Bride of Killer Nerd...
's "Super Deluxe Revue" for Turner Broadcasting online comedy site SuperDeluxe.com. Radloff also supplied the title character's voice for the Lance Myers animated series The Ted Zone. SuperDeluxe was recently folded into Turner's AdultSwim.com.
In May 2011, Toby TV debuted at blip.tv
Blip.tv
The website Blip.tv is a platform for web series. The company offers a for the "best in original web series" and also offers a dashboard for producers of original web series to distribute and monetize their productions....
. Produced by Wayne Alan Harold
Wayne Alan Harold
Wayne Alan Harold is a video producer from northeastern Ohio.In the late 80s, Harold met Genuine Nerd Toby Radloff and that led to Toby starring in a series of MTV segments. In the 1990s, Harold co-created the cult horror films Killer Nerd and Bride of Killer Nerd...
, videos include remote comedy bits and "Nerd's Eye View" segments with Radloff commenting on current events.
Radloff currently lives in Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
and is an acolyte
Acolyte
In many Christian denominations, an acolyte is anyone who performs ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles. In other Christian Churches, the term is more specifically used for one who wishes to attain clergyhood.-Etymology:...
at Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Cathedral (Cleveland, Ohio)
Trinity Cathedral is a historic church on Euclid Avenue at East 22nd Street in Cleveland, Ohio. It is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.It was built in 1901 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-External links:...
in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.