The Groundlings is an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes. Many Groundlings performers have gone on to success in movies and television, including several who have become cast members and writers on Saturday Night Live, MAD TV, and Reno 911!. Improvisational comedy (also called improv) is comedy that is performed with a little to no predetermination of subject matter and structure. ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government Type mayor-council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D)  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... We dont have an article called Gary Austin Start this article Search for Gary Austin in. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Image:Spolin2. ... Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late night 90-minute American comedy-variety show based in New York City which has been broadcast by NBC on Saturday nights since October 11, 1975. ... Mad TV has three meanings: MADtv — a TV series. ... Reno 911! is an American comedy television series on Comedy Central which debuted in 2003. ...

Notable Groundlings alumni include:

• Joey Arias
• Adam Carolla
• Jennifer Coolidge
• Will Ferrell
• Will Forte
• Daniele Gaither
• Ana Gasteyer
• Kathy Griffin
• Rachael Harris
• Phil Hartman
• Cheryl Hines
• Alex Kapp Horner
• Chris Kattan
• Lisa Kudrow
• Jon Lovitz
• Phil LaMarr
• Steve Little
• Tress MacNeille
• Edie McClurg
• Michael McDonald
• Wendi McLendon-Covey
• Pat Morita
• Laraine Newman
• Conan O'Brien
• Cheri Oteri
• Chris Parnell
• Cassandra Peterson
• Paul Reubens
• Maya Rudolph
• Julia Sweeney
• Kristen Wiig
• Jim Wise

As the best friend and backup singer for Klaus Nomi, Joey Arias also designed his sets, costumes and the window of the Fioruccis designer clothing store in New York in the late 1970s. ... Adam Carolla on Too Late with Adam Carolla Adam Carolla (b. ... Jennifer Coolidge (b. ... John William Will Ferrell (born July 16, 1967 [1]) is an Emmy and Golden Globe nominated American comedian, impressionist and actor who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career. ... Orville Willis Will Forte IV (born June 17, 1970) is an American actor, writer, and comedian best known for appearing on the television show Saturday Night Live, where he has been a cast member since 2002. ... Daniele Gaither (born September 6, 1972) is an American comic actress. ... Ana Kristina Gasteyer (born May 4, 1967) is an American actress and comedian. ... Kathleen Kathy Griffin (born November 4, 1960, Oak Park, Illinois) is an Emmy-nominated American stand-up comedian and actress. ... Rachael Harris on The Daily Show Rachael Elaine Harris (born January 12, 1968 in Worthington, Ohio) is an American actress and comedian. ... Phil Hartman (born as Philip Edward Hartmann) (September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998) was an Emmy-winning Canadian/American graphic artist, writer, actor, voice artist, and comedian. ... Cheryl Hines Cheryl Hines (born September 21, 1965 in Miami Beach, Florida) is an American actress most famous for her role as Larry Davids wife on HBOs Curb Your Enthusiasm. ... Alex Kapp Horner is an American actress who currently costars as Lindsay on the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine. ... Christopher Lee Kattan (born October 19, 1970) is a comedian, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live. ... Lisa Marie Diane Kudrow (born July 30, 1963) is an Emmy Award- and SAG-winning American actress best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the sitcom Friends. ... Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990. ... Phillip Phil LaMarr (born January 24, 1967) is an American actor, comedian and voice actor as well as one of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv. ... Steve Little is a beginning voice actor for the show Camp Lazlo. ... Tress MacNeille (born June 20, 1951) is an American voice actress who is best known for providing various voices on the animated television shows The Simpsons and Futurama, and also Animaniacs. ... Edie McClurg Edie McClurg (born July 23, 1951 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American actress. ... Michael McDonald as Stuart on MADtv Michael James McDonald (born December 31, 1964 in Fullerton, California, USA) is an actor currently starring in the sketch comedy MADtv. ... Wendi McLendon-Covey(Born October 10, 1969) is an American actress most famous for her role as Deputy Johnson on the Comedy Central televison program Reno 9111! She married Greg Covey on August 10, 1996. ... Noriyuki Pat Morita (森田 沢之 Morita Noriyuki), (June 28, 1932 – November 24, 2005) was an Japanese American actor who is probably best known for playing the roles of Arnold on the TV show Happy Days and Mr. ... Laraine Newman (born March 2, 1952) is an American comedian and actress, from Los Angeles, California. ... Conan Christopher OBrien (born April 18, 1963[2]) is an Emmy-winning American television personality best known as host of NBCs late-night talk/variety show Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Cheri Oteri (born Cheryl OTeari on September 19, 1965 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania) is an American actress and comedian best known for her work on NBCs Saturday Night Live. ... Joined SNL 1998 Status Repertory Web Page [1] Thomas Christopher Chris Parnell (born February 5, 1967 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an actor and comedian who was Saturday Night Live cast member in 1998-2001 and 2002-2006. ... Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1951) is better known for her on-screen persona Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation. ... Paul Reubens (b. ... Maya Khabira Rudolph (born July 27, 1972, in Gainesville, Florida) is an American actress and comedian, currently a cast member of NBCs Saturday Night Live. ... Julia Sweeney Julia Sweeney (born October 10, 1959 in Spokane, Washington) is an American actress and comedian. ... Kristen Carroll Wiig (born August 22, 1973) is an American actress, comedian, and impressionist. ... Jim Wise (b. ...

External links

• The Groundlings website
• The Groundlings at the Internet Movie Database