Harland Williams

Harland Reesor Williams (born November 14, 1962) is a Canadian-American voice, film and television actor.

Harland Williams
Williams at the 34th Annie Awards, 2007. Photo by John B. Mueller[1]
Born
Harland Reesor Williams

(1962-11-14) November 14, 1962
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1992–present
Parents
RelativesSteve Williams (older brother)
Hannah Williams (niece)
Websitewww.harlandwilliams.com

Personal life

Harland Reesor Williams was born on November 14, 1962, in Toronto, Ontario, to Lorraine Mary (née O'Donnell), a social worker, and John Reesor Williams, a lawyer who served as a member of the Ontario legislature from 1975 to 1985.[2] He is the middle child of five with two older, his brother Steve, and two younger sisters.

Harland holds dual citizenship with Canada and the United States.

He is the author and illustrator of his own series of children's books involving a little brontosaurus named Lickety Split.[3] Williams' love of art drove him to create the series, in which the curious, young dinosaur embarks on a series of amazing adventures and learns important life lessons in the process. The artistically inclined Williams had refined his passion for drawing and painting at Canada's Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Finding a creative outlet in poetry and painting while working as a forest ranger for five years after dropping out of Sheridan College, Williams set his goals to leave the forest as a stand-up comic and actor, soon moving to Los Angeles to pursue his newfound calling.

Williams is cousin to Barenaked Ladies keyboardist Kevin Hearn, and together they have a hobby band called The Cousins. Williams also played the security guard in the music video for the band’s 2001 single "Falling for the First Time".

Career

Williams is known for his movie roles, which include Dumb and Dumber, Freddy Got Fingered, There's Something About Mary, Half Baked, RocketMan, Sorority Boys, Down Periscope, Superstar and Employee of The Month. Williams starred as the security guard in the music video for the 2001 Barenaked Ladies song "Falling for the First Time". He has performed his stand-up comedy routines on Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central and at comedy clubs throughout the country.

His improvisational skills led to him winning the award for 'Best Improviser' on an episode of NBC's prime time series Thank God You're Here in 2007.

Williams's ventures include voicing 'Monster' on Nickelodeon's animated series Robot and Monster and starring as Warwick the Warlock in Disney's direct-to-DVD movie Spooky Buddies.

He has a free, bi-weekly podcast called The Harland Highway.

Rocker Parry Gripp of the rock band Nerf Herder wrote a song in homage to Williams, entitled "I Wanna Be Your Harland Williams".[4]

He has appeared on Tom Green's House Tonight and on the Adam Carolla Podcast numerous times.[5] He is known for his performance of bird sounds on Carolla's show.

In August 2012 he began filming in Vancouver a 13-part CityTV comedy series called Package Deal, in which he stars.[6]

Williams created the Disney Junior series Puppy Dog Pals that debuted in 2017.[7]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1994Dumb and DumberState Trooper
1995SimonSimon Hemple
1996Down PeriscopeE.T. "Sonar" Lovacelli
1997RocketManFred Z. Randall
Wag the DogPet Wrangler
Space Ghost Coast to CoastHimself1 episode
Ned's NewtNewton (voice)First cartoon voice role; Main voice role; Episodes 1–35
1998Half BakedKenny Davis
There's Something About MaryHitchhiker (uncredited)
Dog ParkCallum
Mr. HeadmistressTucker
1999SuperstarEric Slater
2000The Whole Nine YardsSpecial Agent Steve Hanson
Big Money HustlasOfficer Harry Cox
Becoming DickRichard Breggs
2001Freddy Got FingeredDarren
Gary & MikeMike Bonner (voice)
Family GuyJeff Foxworthy/Sam's father (voice)Episode: "To Love and Die in Dixie"
2002Back by MidnightSheriff Hubbard
Sorority BoysDoofer/Roberta
2003Family TreeJake
Kart RacerZee
2005Lucky 13Bleckman
Because of Winn-DixiePoliceman
RobotsLugnut (voice)
2006Employee of the MonthRussell Porpis-Gunders
Surf SchoolRip
The Emperor's New SchoolCabby (voice)
2007Meet the RobinsonsCarl (voice)
The Dukes of Hazzard: The BeginningSheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
2008Bachelor Party 2: The Last TemptationDerek
Madagascar: Escape 2 AfricaGiraffe (voice)
2009Fudgy Wudgy Fudge FaceElmore P. Fudge
My Life in RuinsBig Al Sawchuck
The Haunted World of El SuperbeastoGerard the Exterminator (voice)
2011Spooky BuddiesWarwick the Warlock
Lloyd the ConquerorVulcan
Dahmer Vs. GacyGod
Dan Vs.HiramEpisode: Technology
Robot ChickenProfessor Cornelius Q. Quibblefingers (voice)1 episode; also writes 4 episodes
2012The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying OrangeApple (voice)
Robot and MonsterMonster (voice)Main Role
2014Back in the DaySkunk
2015Jake and the Never Land PiratesCaptain Frost (voice)
Penn Zero: Part-Time HeroHelper Hue (voice)
2016Sausage PartyKetchup Bottle/Drug Dealer/Baba Ganoush (voice)
Skylanders AcademyHugo (voice)
2017–presentPuppy Dog PalsBob (voice)Also show creator
2019The Addams FamilyNorman Pickering, Ggerri (voices)

References

  1. "John B. Mueller Photography".
  2. "globeandmail.com: WILLIAMS". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  3. Thrift Books https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/lickety-split-who-are-you_harland-williams/3261438/#isbn=0886251818&idiq=16222443. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Parry Gripp Song of the Week". Parrygripp.com. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  5. "The Channel". TomGreen.com. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  6. Hall, Shannon. "Casting Announced for Citytv Original Comedy Series, Package Deal". Thunderbird Films (Press Release). CityTV. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012.
  7. Milligan, Mercedes. "Harland Williams' 'Puppy Dog Pals' to Sit, Stay on Disney TV". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
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