Vance DeGeneres
Encyclopedia
Vance Elliott DeGeneres (born September 2, 1954, in New Orleans, Louisiana
) is an American
actor
, musician
, film producer
and screenwriter
, known for his work in television. He is the older brother of actress and comedian
Ellen DeGeneres
.
After a two-year stint in the Marine Corps, during which he reached the rank of corporal
, DeGeneres hosted a radio program called New Wave New Orleans in the late 1970s, broadcast on WRNO-FM
. He played bass guitar in The Cold
, a new-wave band based in New Orleans in the early 1980s.
He originated the role of "Mr. Hands" in Walter Williams
's Mr. Bill short films in the mid-1970s. According to the 1986 book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, DeGeneres sued Williams in federal court in 1979, asking for his name on the Mr. Bill copyright and for half of all profits the Mr. Bill character produced. After a two-day hearing, DeGeneres received an undisclosed portion of merchandising rights to Mr. Bill. However, the judge ruled that Mr. Bill was Williams's "basic idea and concept."
In the mid-1980s, DeGeneres co-founded the short-lived rock band called House of Schock with The Go-Go's
drummer Gina Schock
. In 1998, he played keyboards for the New Orleans-based band Cowboy Mouth
. In March 2006, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
with Cowboy Mouth to perform their song "The Avenue." In December 2006, he became the permanent rhythm guitarist in Cowboy Mouth
, but left in September 2007 to pursue additional TV projects. He does play guitar on their 2007 Live DVD The Name of the Band is Cowboy Mouth
.
Vance DeGeneres was a correspondent on The Daily Show
from 1999 to 2001. DeGeneres would occasionally present a feature done in the style of a Dateline NBC
report, known as "Tale of Survival." In it, a trivial incident was reported as if it had been dangerous and serious, such as the time a cat was stuck in a tree for over a week. Between pre-filmed portions, DeGeneres would appear in the studio hiding behind various set decorations or apparatus, describing the events in greater frightful detail. Unlike other Daily Show pieces, this one would be divided by a commercial break to accentuate the anticlimactic aspect.
He now co-runs Carousel Productions at Warner Bros., Steve Carell
's Production Company developing comedy films.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, known for his work in television. He is the older brother of actress and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
.
After a two-year stint in the Marine Corps, during which he reached the rank of corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, DeGeneres hosted a radio program called New Wave New Orleans in the late 1970s, broadcast on WRNO-FM
WRNO-FM
WRNO-FM is an Interactive Talk formatted radio station serving New Orleans, Louisiana. The Clear Channel Communications station broadcasts at 99.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kilowatts.-History:...
. He played bass guitar in The Cold
The Cold (rock band)
The Cold were a "New Wave" band that formed in New Orleans in 1979. The band were hugely popular in their home city and throughout the southeastern U.S. during their existence, but did not find national success. The members of The Cold were Barbara Menendez , Vance DeGeneres , Chris Luckette ,...
, a new-wave band based in New Orleans in the early 1980s.
He originated the role of "Mr. Hands" in Walter Williams
Walter Williams (comedian filmmaker)
Walter Williams is a filmmaker and comedy writer, most famous for his "Mr. Bill" shorts that aired on the television series Saturday Night Live....
's Mr. Bill short films in the mid-1970s. According to the 1986 book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, DeGeneres sued Williams in federal court in 1979, asking for his name on the Mr. Bill copyright and for half of all profits the Mr. Bill character produced. After a two-day hearing, DeGeneres received an undisclosed portion of merchandising rights to Mr. Bill. However, the judge ruled that Mr. Bill was Williams's "basic idea and concept."
In the mid-1980s, DeGeneres co-founded the short-lived rock band called House of Schock with The Go-Go's
The Go-Go's
The Go-Go’s are an all-female American rock band formed in 1978. They made history as the first all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts....
drummer Gina Schock
Gina Schock
Gina Schock is best known as the drummer in the all-girl punk/pop band The Go-Go's....
. In 1998, he played keyboards for the New Orleans-based band Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
. In March 2006, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
with Cowboy Mouth to perform their song "The Avenue." In December 2006, he became the permanent rhythm guitarist in Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
, but left in September 2007 to pursue additional TV projects. He does play guitar on their 2007 Live DVD The Name of the Band is Cowboy Mouth
The Name of the Band is Cowboy Mouth
The Name of the Band Is Cowboy Mouth is a live concert by the band Cowboy Mouth released on DVD on November 20, 2007. It is the first DVD, and second video of the band, the first being 1996's 'Alive' on VHS. In addition, they appear in a scene in the 1995 movie Underneath...
.
Vance DeGeneres was a correspondent on 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...
from 1999 to 2001. DeGeneres would occasionally present a feature done in the style of a Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
report, known as "Tale of Survival." In it, a trivial incident was reported as if it had been dangerous and serious, such as the time a cat was stuck in a tree for over a week. Between pre-filmed portions, DeGeneres would appear in the studio hiding behind various set decorations or apparatus, describing the events in greater frightful detail. Unlike other Daily Show pieces, this one would be divided by a commercial break to accentuate the anticlimactic aspect.
He now co-runs Carousel Productions at Warner Bros., Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
's Production Company developing comedy films.