Adam Saul Pally[1] (born March 18, 1982[2]) is an American comedian and actor. He first earned recognition for starring as Max Blum in Happy Endings, as Dr. Peter Prentice in The Mindy Project, and as Wade Whipple in Sonic the Hedgehog, its sequels, and the spin-off series Knuckles. He also starred in Making History and was an executive producer of The President Show.

Adam Pally
Pally in 2023
Birth nameAdam Saul Pally
Born (1982-03-18) March 18, 1982 (age 42)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Medium
  • Television
  • film
  • web
Alma materThe New School
Years active2002–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Spouse
Daniella Liben
(m. 2008)
Children3

Early life and education

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Pally was born in New York City, to Dr. Steven Pally, an internist who owns his own medical office, and Caryn Pally, who managed the practice in Florham Park, New Jersey. He was raised Jewish.[1][3] He grew up in New York City, the Chicago area,[4] and New Jersey,[3] and has two sisters, Erica and Risa.[5]

In 2004, Pally graduated from The New School University in New York City. He has performed improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCBT) in New York since 2002 and continues to perform in shows such as "Death by Roo Roo"[6] and "ASSSSCAT 3000"[7] at the theater's Los Angeles division.[8] He is a member of the sketch comedy group "Chubby Skinny Kids" with comedians Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.[9] Pally is also part of the improv group "Hot Sauce" with Gil Ozeri and Ben Schwartz; the group continues to perform their long-form improv show at UCBT occasionally.[10]

Career

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Pally in 2008

Pally has appeared in such films as Iron Man 3, Taking Woodstock, Solitary Man, Assassination of a High School President, The To Do List and A.C.O.D. and Slow Learners. He has made guest appearances on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Californication and The Colbert Report. He has written and appeared on the Adult Swim series NTSF:SD:SUV::. In 2012, it was reported that Pally and frequent collaborator Gil Ozeri wrote a script being produced by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay's company Gary Sanchez Productions.[11]

From April 2011 to May 2013, Pally starred as Max Blum, one of the lead characters on the ABC ensemble comedy series Happy Endings, alongside Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Damon Wayans Jr., and Casey Wilson. In 2013, Pally was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" at the Critics' Choice Television Awards for his work on season three of Happy Endings. The cast reunited in July 2020 for the pandemic-themed episode "And the Pandemmy goes to..." to raise money for the charities Color of Change and World Central Kitchen.[12][13]

Following the cancellation of Happy Endings in 2013, Pally joined the cast of The Mindy Project as a series regular for the second and third seasons, playing the role of Dr. Peter Prentice.[14] He left the show midway through the third season, making his final appearances as a series regular in 2015.[15]

Pally filmed a lead role opposite T.J. Miller and Thomas Middleditch in the comedy Search Party. This film serves as the directorial debut of screenwriter Scot Armstrong.[16] He also starred in the indie films Slow Learners and Night Owls, both released in 2015.

Media contributions and appearances

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Pally is a regular contributor to the humor website Funny or Die, where he is best known for his series Riding Shotgun with Adam Pally, in which he interviews celebrities in his car. In 2009, he created for UCB Comedy a parody of the "David After Dentist" internet phenomenon; his is called "David After Divorce," and he speaks almost exactly the same lines as David, though to a different set of questions. It received over 4.9 million views on YouTube.[17]

In 2011, Pally co-starred in the comedic stage-show The Realest Real Housewives, created by his Happy Endings co-star Casey Wilson.[18]

Pally has appeared regularly on many podcasts on the Earwolf network such as Comedy Bang! Bang!, improv4humans, Who Charted, and How Did This Get Made?.[19][20][21]

On June 5, 2015, Pally and fellow comedian friends Gil Ozeri and John Gemberling gained attention when they teamed with Funny or Die to live-stream their 50-hour marathon of Entourage, watching every episode in a row with no breaks for 50 hours straight.[22]

Personal life

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Pally lives in New York. He married his high school sweetheart Daniella Anne Pally (née Liben) on July 3, 2008;[1] the couple have three children: a son Cole (b. 2012),[23] daughter Georgia Grace (b. 2013),[24] and another son, Drake (b. 2017).[25]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
2008 Assassination of a High School President Freddy Bismark
2009 Taking Woodstock Artie Kornfeld
Solitary Man Irate Student
2010 Monogamy Allen
2012 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom Brian
Primary Exit Polling Voter Short film
2013 A.C.O.D. Mark
Iron Man 3 Gary
The To Do List Chip
2014 Life After Beth Diner Sommelier
Search Party Evan Hecketz
2015 Night Owls Kevin
Slow Learners Jeff Lowrey
Bad Night The Painter Cameo
2016 Dirty Grandpa Nick
Joshy Ari Also producer
Don't Think Twice Robbie
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life Mr. Teller
2017 The Little Hours Guard Paolo
Band Aid Ben
Shimmer Lake Reed Ethington
2018 Most Likely to Murder Billy Green Also producer
Dog Days Dax
2020 Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia Uncle Matt
Sonic the Hedgehog Wade Whipple
The Main Event Steve Thompson
2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Wade Whipple
Who Invited Charlie? Charlie
2023 Hell of a Summer
2024 The Gutter Deli Manager
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Wade Whipple
TBA O Horizon Sam Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007–11 Californication Young Hollywood Douchebag 3 episodes
2008 The Colbert Report Maverick Bully Episode: "Charlie Cook/Andrew Sullivan"
2011 The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down Bryce Television movie
Best Friends Forever Joe Pilot (original unaired version)
2011, 2012 NTSF:SD:SUV:: Various 2 episodes; also writer
2011–13 Happy Endings Max Blum Main role, 57 episodes
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2013)
2013 The Jeselnik Offensive Panelist Episode: "Adam Pally and Casey Wilson"
The Arscheerio Paul Show Rosie O'Donnell Episode: "Madonna & Rosie O'Donnell"
2013–15 Kroll Show Various 3 episodes
Comedy Bang! Bang!
2013–17 The Mindy Project Dr. Peter Prentice Main role (Season 2-3), guest role (Seasons 4-6); 44 episodes
2014, 2015 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Plop Plop (voice) 2 episodes
2015 The Late Late Show Himself (host) Episode that aired January 30
BoJack Horseman Trip (voice) Episode: "Escape From L.A."
Key & Peele Adam Episode: "The Job Interview"
2015–17 Regular Show Party Horse #42699 (voice) 4 episodes
2016 Lady Dynamite Chad Episode: "I Love You"
Another Period Virgil Episode: "Harvard"
Not Safe with Nikki Glaser Himself Episode: "Is That Your Belt?"
2016–20 American Dad! Various voices 4 episodes
2017 Animals. Max (voice) Episode: "Roaches."
Making History Dan Chambers Main role, 9 episodes; also co-executive producer
Do You Want to See a Dead Body? Himself Episode: "A Body and a Bachelor Party"
2017, 2018 The President Show Donald Trump Jr. 3 episodes; also executive producer
2018 The Who Was? Show Game Show Host Episode: "Gandhi & Benjamin Franklin"
Champaign ILL Ronnie Main role; also executive producer
2019 The Mandalorian Bike Scout Trooper #2 2 episodes
2019–21 Archibald's Next Big Thing Sage (voice) Main role
2020 Indebted Dave Klein Main role; also co-executive producer
Creepshow Robert Weston Episode: "A Creepshow Holiday Special: Shapeshifters Anonymous"
2020–21 Crossing Swords Broth (voice) 19 episodes
2021 DuckTales Kit Cloudkicker (voice) Episode: "The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker!"
2021, 2022 Ziwe Himself 2 episodes
2022 Solar Opposites Linus (voice) Episode: "The Pupa's Big Day"
Star Trek: Lower Decks Mesk (voice) Episode: "Hear All, Trust Nothing"[26][27]
Impractical Jokers Himself Episode: "Adam Pally & Jon Gabrus"
Would I Lie to You? Episode: "Bunny Nanny"
101 Places to Party Before You Die 8 episodes
2023 History of the World, Part II Judas Episode: "VIII"
FUBAR The Great Dane Recurring cast
2024 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Boeing Employee Episode: "Boeing"
Knuckles Wade Whipple Main role
Firebuds Diamond Diesel Dave (voice) 2 episodes
Mr. Throwback Danny Grossman Main role; also creator and executive producer

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Fuzz Officer Chip Nelson
2012 Happy Endings: Happy Rides Max Blum Also director
2020 Happy Endings: And the Pandemmy goes to... Special charity episode

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2013 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Happy Endings Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Daniella Liben, Adam Pally". The New York Times. July 6, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  2. ^ Rose, Mike (March 18, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for March 18, 2023 includes celebrities Queen Latifah, Lily Collins". cleveland. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Adam Pally on Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Season 9. Episode 124. May 5, 2011. ABC. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  4. ^ Guse, Clayton (October 26, 2015). "Chicago accent-off with Adam Pally". TimeOut.
  5. ^ Background of Adam Pally, doodiecallswithdougmand.libsyn.com; Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  6. ^ IRC Improv Wiki, wiki.improvresourcecenter.com; Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ^ IRC Improv Wiki, wiki.improvresourcecenter.com; Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. ^ UCB Profile
  9. ^ Chubby Skinny Kids Productions, chubbyskinnykids.com; accessed December 9, 2014.
  10. ^ Hot Sauce Academy [dead link]
  11. ^ Profile, deadline.com, September 2012; accessed December 9, 2014.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 14, 2020). "'Happy Endings' Cast Reunites For Pandemic-Themed Zoom Charity Special". Deadline. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Happy Endings Special Charity Event". July 21, 2020 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Angelo, Megan (September 19, 2013). "Adam Pally Is Joining the Cast of The Mindy Project". Glamour. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Bradley, Bill (November 22, 2014). "Here's Why Adam Pally Is Leaving 'The Mindy Project'". HuffPost. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. ^ Kit, Borys (April 23, 2013). "'Search Party' Finds Its Stars, Begins Shooting Next Week". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ^ "David After the Divorce (2009)". IMDB. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  18. ^ "Casey Wilson on Happy Endings and The Realest Real Housewives". AVClub. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  19. ^ Adam Pally at IMDb
  20. ^ "Earwolf". Earwolf. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "Comedy Bang! Bang! Rotten Tomatoes, S04, E38". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  22. ^ "Watch Gil Ozeri and Adam Pally Try to Survive Watching Every Entourage Episode in a Row this Weekend". June 5, 2015.
  23. ^ Team Coco (February 14, 2012). "Adam Pally: Having A Baby Is A Horrible Mistake". teamcoco.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  24. ^ Totally Laime Team (March 19, 2014). "Wonderful & Brutal with Daniella Liben Pally!". totallylaime.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  25. ^ Sports? with Katie Nolan (January 10, 2018). "Adam Pally". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  26. ^ Comments, Tom Chang | (October 2, 2022). "Star Trek: Lower Decks S03E06: A Deep Space 9 Crossover That Matters". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  27. ^ Mooney, Darren (September 29, 2022). "'Hear All, Trust Nothing' Brings Lower Decks to Deep Space Nine". The Escapist. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
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