Paul F. Tompkins

Paul Francis Tompkins is an American actor, writer, podcaster, and comedian. Born in Pennsylvania, he first performed comedy at the age of seventeen at The Comedy Works in Philadelphia. He attended Temple University for a short stint, before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles, California in 1994.

After meeting Jay Johnston in L.A., Tompkins and Johnston became friends and co-creators of the live comedy sketch show called “The Skates”. It was this work that helped expose them to Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, leading to their work on Mr. Show with Bob and David. He continued his comedy career in stand-up and sketch comedy, with emphasis on live performances. His comedic style has been described as “observationalist,” consisting of anecdotes, rants, and stories from his personal life experiences.

Beginning in 2002, The Paul F. Tompkins Show has been featured monthly at the Largo in L.A. The show has featured prominent guests such as Fiona Apple, Zach Galifianakis, and Jack Black, among others. He has also made his mark on the podcast world, with shows such as Spontaneanation, and Homekins: An After Dinner Podcast, with Paul F. Tompkins and Janie Haddad Tompkins. Paul Tompkins continues to tour at venues throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1998, he’s made appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and has recorded various comedy albums, Impersonal (2007), Freak Wharf (2009), and Laboring Under Delusions (2012).

With his work on Mr. Show with Bob and David, he received an Emmy Award in 1998 for “Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program”. He landed a recurring role in the HBO Tenacious D TV Series, reprising his role as the nightclub manager in their film Tenacious D: In the Pick of Destiny. In 2019, Paul Tompkins joined the list of esteemed celebrities ordained by Universal Life Church.

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