Larry the Cable Guy

Daniel Lawrence Whitney (born February 17, 1963), known professionally by his stage name Larry the Cable Guy, is an American stand-up comedian, with a career spanning over 30 years.[3]

This article is about the comedian. For the film, see The Cable Guy.

Larry the Cable Guy
Whitney in 2007
Birth nameDaniel Lawrence Whitney
Born (1963-02-17) February 17, 1963
Pawnee City, Nebraska, U.S.
MediumStand-up, television, film, radio, books
Years active2003–present
GenresCharacter comedy, blue comedy, insult comedy, observational comedy, political satire
Subject(s)Culture of the Southern United States, American politics, obesity, human sexuality, political correctness, self-deprecation, family, personal hygiene, current events
Spouse
Cara Whitney
​
(m. 2005)​
[1][2]
Children2
Notable works and roles
Websitelarrythecableguy.com

He was one of the members of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe which included Bill Engvall, Ron White, and Jeff Foxworthy (with whom he has starred on Blue Collar TV).

Larry the Cable Guy has released seven comedy albums, of which three have been certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies and in addition has starred in three Blue Collar Comedy Tour–related films, as well as in Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Delta Farce, and Witless Protection, as well as voicing Mater in the Cars franchise. Whitney's catchphrase "Git-R-Done!" is also the title of his book.

On January 26, 2010, the TV channel History announced that it was ordering a series starring Whitney called Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, in which he would explore the country and immerse himself in different lifestyles, jobs, and hobbies.[4] The first episode of the series aired on February 8, 2011.[5] The series finale aired August 28, 2013.

Early life

Whitney was born in Pawnee City, Nebraska on February 17, 1963, where he was raised on a pig farm.[6] He is the son of Tom Whitney – a guitarist, entertainer, and Christian minister – and Shirley Whitney.[7] Whitney attended high school at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the late 1970s through 1980[8][9][10] where his father was The King's Academy's elementary school principal.[11]

Whitney graduated from Berean Christian School in West Palm Beach in 1982.[12] He went to college at Baptist University of America in Georgia, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He majored in drama and speech. He credits his roommates from Texas and Georgia for inspiring his Southern accent impression.[13] He dropped out after his junior year after trying his hand at comedy.[13]

Career

Radio career

Whitney started his career in radio in the early 1990s when he made regular radio appearances on the nationally syndicated program, The Ron and Ron Show, as well as other radio shows such as The Bob & Tom Show, The Chris Baker Show on KDGE and KEZO's The Todd and Tyler Show in Omaha, Nebraska, as well as the Kirk, Mark, and Lopez morning show on WIYY in Baltimore, Maryland. He was also a frequent guest on The Johnny Dare Morning Show on 98.9/KQRC, Kansas City.

He also appeared on WJRR in Orlando, Florida. He was brought to New England on Greg and the Morning Buzz on WHEB 100.3 and WGIR-FM 101.1 in Portsmouth and Manchester, New Hampshire, respectively, doing two commentaries a week.

Stand-up career
Larry the Cable Guy in performance at the Resch Center in Green Bay in 2015

Initially performing stand-up under his real name with limited success, he became famous after developing the Cable Guy character, a personality that he now maintains throughout his stage act. The Cable Guy character has a stereotypical redneck appearance and a thick Southern accent, recounts stories about his "family", and uses, among other common expressions, his own catchphrase "Git-R-Done!".

He says in interviews and in his autobiographical book GIT-R-DONE that he deliberately "turns on" the accent both on and off stage, because he may forget it if he kept his normal accent intact.[14] He uses catchphrase humor, including "Lord, I apologize, and be with the starvin' Pygmies in New Guinea. Amen" after telling jokes of questionable taste; and, "I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there" after jokes that evoke raucous laughter.

His first two comedy albums, Lord, I Apologize (2001) and The Right to Bare Arms (2005), have both been certified gold by the RIAA. A third album, Morning Constitutions, and its accompanying TV special were released in 2007.

Other work

Whitney was roasted in a Comedy Central special on March 15, 2009.[15]

On February 8, 2011, the première of his newest travelogue series, Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, was broadcast on the History Channel. A total of 4.1 million viewers, 1.7 million adults 25–54, tuned in, nearly doubling the total for the "Top Shot" season 2 opener.[16] During season two in the episode "Larry Goes To Washington", Whitney was the first on-air talent from a non-news crew allowed in the War Room, also known as the Command Center, as he explained during the program.

In June 2012, Disneyland's California Adventure theme park's "Cars Land" features a ride called "Mater's Junkyard Jamboree" that features Whitney's voice as his character Mater from the Disney/Pixar Cars movies.[17]

Bektrom Foods of North Dakota developed a line of Larry the Cable Guy food products, such as boxed hamburger dinners, with some of the proceeds from its sales benefiting the "Git-R-Done Foundation".[18][19]

Personal life

Whitney resides in Lincoln, Nebraska, on a 180-acre (73 ha) farm. In 2005, he married his wife, Cara. They have a son, Wyatt and a daughter, Reagan.[20] His hometown of Pawnee City, Nebraska has a street named after him. Whitney also donated money to buy new theatrical equipment for the local high school.[21]

Whitney is an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers football fan. His signature camouflage hat has the University of Nebraska–Lincoln nickname "HUSKERS" emblazoned on it, as seen in the 2007 film Delta Farce. He is also frequently seen with a gold Nebraska "N" on a chain around his neck. On October 1, 2016, in his luxury suite at Memorial Stadium during the Nebraska vs. Illinois football game, Whitney was challenged to an arm wrestling match by an Army veteran and Nebraska Army National Guard member, John O'Connell, who lost the match in less than one minute with his arm (humerus) broken by Whitney.[22][23][24]

Whitney is also an avid REO Speedwagon fan. In 2013, he appeared with the group, including a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois for tornado disaster relief.[25]

In September 2010, Whitney donated $5 million to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. The gift was for further development of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute at the Orlando hospital. After Dr. Chad Price at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children helped cure their son, Wyatt, of his dysplasia when he was an infant, Whitney and his wife, Cara, made private donations to the hospital and Whitney raised money through appearances on Family Feud and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.

The hospital opened a new wing called the Wyatt Whitney Wing in May 2012.[26]

Whitney is a close friend of contemporary comedian Lewis Black, despite their dissimilar political views, background, and comedic material.[27]

Radio shows

Whitney formerly worked as a radio personality on Blue Collar Radio on Sirius XM Radio.

Discography
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Rock 100 Diz Presents: Larry the Cable Guy US Comedy US Country US
Law and Disorder[28]
  • Release date: 1995
  • Label: Self-released
 — — —
Salutations and Flatulations[29]
  • Release date: 1997
  • Label: DJT Records
 — — —
Lord, I Apologize
  • Release date: October 30, 2001
  • Label: Hip-O Records
 1 53 —
A Very Larry Christmas
  • Release date: November 16, 2004
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
 1 8 43
  • US: Platinum
The Right to Bare Arms
  • Release date: March 29, 2005
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
 1 1 7
Morning Constitutions
  • Release date: April 3, 2007
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
 1 5 16
Christmastime in Larryland
  • Release date: October 3, 2007
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
 1 12 42
Christmas Time In Larray land (Original Release on DJT)A
  • Release date: December 1, 1998
  • Label: DJT Records
 7 50 —
Tailgate Party
  • Release date: September 22, 2009
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
 1 19 71
The Best of Larry the Cable Guy
  • Release date: November 16, 2010
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
 4 72 —
Them Idiots: Whirled Tour
(with Bill Engvall and Jeff Foxworthy)
  • Release date: March 13, 2012
  • Label: Warner Music Nashville
 1 45 —
We've Been Thinking (with Jeff Foxworthy)
  • Release date: September 29, 2017
  • Label: Comedy Dynamics, Netflix
 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1994 – Rock 100 Diz Presents

1998 – A Very Larry Christmas (Original Version) (DJT Records)

  • A Box set consisting of The Right to Bare Arms, Christmastime in Larryland, and Morning Constitutions.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie Larry Documentary
2004 Larry the Cable Guy: Git-R-Done TV movie
Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again TV documentary
2006 Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector Himself
Cars Mater Voice
Mater and the Ghostlight Voice; Short film
Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road Himself TV movie
2007 Delta Farce Larry
2008 Witless Protection Deputy Larry Stalder
2009 The Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy Himself
Larry the Cable Guy's Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau TV movie
2010 Larry the Cable Guy: Tailgate Party
2011 Cars 2 Mater Voice
2012 Them Idiots: Whirled Tour
Tooth Fairy 2 Larry Guthrie
2013 A Madea Christmas Buddy
2014 Jingle All the Way 2 Larry Phillips Direct-to-video
CMT Artists of the Year Host
2016 Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy: We've Been Thinking Himself Documentary
2017 Cars 3 Mater Voice

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004–06 Blue Collar TV Cast member
2008–12 Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales Mater Voice; 11 episodes
2009 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Himself Episode: "3.13"
2011–13 Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy Host
2013 Bounty Hunters Larry
2013–14 Cars Toons: Tales From Radiator Springs Mater Voice; 2 episodes
2020 Cruisin' With the Huskers Host
As producer
Year Title Notes
2007 Larry the Cable Guy: Morning Constitutions TV movie
Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular
2008 Larry the Cable Guy's Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza TV special
2009 The Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy TV documentary
Larry the Cable Guy's Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau TV movie
2010 Larry the Cable Guy: Tailgate Party
2013 Bounty Hunters TV series; 8 episodes
2011–13 Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy 50 episodes
2016 Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the Cable Guy: We've Been Thinking TV documentary

Video games
Year Title Role
2006 Cars Mater
Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures
2007 Cars Mater-National Championship
2009 Cars Race-O-Rama
2010–12 The World of Cars Online
2011 Cars 2
2012 Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure
2013 Disney Infinity
2014 Cars: Fast as Lightning
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0

Theme park attractions
Year Title Role
2012–present Radiator Springs Racers Mater
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
2019–present Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy

Awards and nominations
Year Nominated work Category Result
Golden Raspberry Awards
2007 Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector Worst Actor Nominated
2009 Witless Protection Worst Actor Nominated
Worst Screen Couple (with Jenny McCarthy) Nominated
2014 A Madea Christmas Worst Screen Combo (with Tyler Perry) Nominated
Worst Supporting Actor Nominated
Grammy Award
2006 The Right to Bare Arms Best Comedy Album Nominated
2007 Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road Nominated
Visual Effects Society
2007 Cars Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture Won

References
  1. "Larry the Cable Guy gives $5 million to hospital". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. "Cara Whitney Biography". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  3. "Larry the Cable Guy". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  4. "History orders Larry the Cable Guy series". Reuters. January 26, 2010.
  5. "Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy – episodes". History Channel.
  6. "Larry The Cable Guy Biography". Cmt.com. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  7. "For Pig Farmer-Turned Superstar, Life is All About Faith, Family and Football - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site". Huskers.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  8. "5 Reasons to See Larry the Cable Guy at the Kravis". Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  9. "The King's Academy 1980 Yearbook, page 59" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  10. "The King's Academy 1979 Yearbook, page 63" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  11. "The King's Academy 1980 Yearbook, page 23" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  12. "Larry the Cable Guy brings football back to alma mater". Ireport.cnnc.om. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  13. William Booth (September 5, 2004). "Guffaw Guys". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  14. An Interview with Larry the Cable Guy, Dead-Frog.com, June 15, 2005
  15. "Comedy Central To Rip More Than Flannel Sleeves – Network To Roast Larry The Cable Guy". Comedycentral.com. May 26, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  16. ‘Only In America with Larry the Cable Guy’ Premieres to 4.1 Million Viewers; 'Top Shot' S2 Premieres to 2.8 Million. Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com (February 9, 2011). Retrieved on July 23, 2012.
  17. Mater's Junkyard Jamboree Archived May 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Disneyland.disney.go.com. Retrieved on July 23, 2012.
  18. "Bektrom Foods, Inc.: Larry the Cable Guy". Bektrom Foods, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  19. Hatt, Elizabeth Louise (January 4, 2012). "Store Brands Stay Strong". Grocery Headquarters. New York City. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  20. "Larry the Cable Guy and family at home". Parents. People. Meredith Corporation. March 8, 2008. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. Jeff Korbelik / Gzo (July 3, 2009). "Larry the Cable Guy still has hometown pride". Journalstar.com. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  22. Ernst, Douglas (October 7, 2016). "Larry the Cable Guy breaks Army vet's humerus while arm wrestling: 'I'm retiring from arm wrestling after this'". Washington Times. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  23. Huff, Steve (October 8, 2016). "Arm-Wrestling Larry the Cable Guy". Maxim. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  24. Matteson, Cory (March 30, 2017). "Larry the Cable Guy recounts arm wrestling that went awry". Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  26. Taylor, Gary. (September 26, 2010) Larry the Cable Guy gives , million to hospital – Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved on July 23, 2012.
  27. Ullman, Ethan (March 24, 2010). "Interview with comedian Lewis Black - Albany Student Press - University of Albany". Albany Student Press. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014.
  28. "Law and Disorder". Discogs. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  29. "Salutations and Flatulations". Discogs. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  30. "American album certifications – Larry the Cable Guy – The Right to Bare Arms". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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