Bryan Callen wears many caps but is mostly known for his acting and comics. His debut on television came through “MADtv” in 1995 when he became a regular in the series. Since then Bryan has been in many shows including “Sex and the City,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and “Law and Order” among many more. He is of Italian, Irish, American and Indian ancestry and often makes fun of his childhood. Unlike many celebrities who have been involved in scandals, Bryan has managed to keep his life in order. Let’s check out everything there is to know about the actor.
1. He never read the script for “Hangover II.”
Bryan must have a considerable amount of trust in Todd Phillips because when he came asking Bryan to be in “Hangover II” Bryan did not bother reading the script. He just signed up for the film and went to Bangkok where filming was to take place. Bryan said that even if he had a minor role in the movie, he still would have accepted to be in it. The strange thing is that although he went to Bangkok, he did not know anything more about his character apart from that he was supposed to play a strip club owner who could get his clients anything they wanted.
2. He went to a strip club in Bangkok to research on his character
Actors will go to extreme lengths to ensure they execute their roles effectively. Daniel Day-Lewis, for instance, wanted the crew to spoon-feed and carry him around since he refused to leave the prop wheelchair. The efforts paid off because he won an Oscar. Bryan, on the other hand, was to play a strip club owner hence visited a strip club in Bangkok to gather the necessary research needed to portray the ideal character. He spent 12 days in the country although only three were spent shooting the film giving him plenty of time to acclimatize.
3. He learned to play the drums to avoid regrets later in life
In a life that grants us so many opportunities, the only regret we can have is the chances we did not take when we had the time. Bryan is not ready to live with regrets, and as he told Laugh Spin, he did not want to wake up one day at 90 and wish that he had learned to play the drums. He, therefore, learned to play them and speak Spanish in 2011.
4. He credits Brian Volk-Weiss for helping him make a career in comedy
Bryan told Forbes that were it not for Brian, who gave him a chance when everyone was turning him down, he most probably would have given up. Brian liked Bryan’s comedy and mentored him to be the best by telling him when he felt the jokes were terrible.
5. Patty Jenkins pushed him to do standup comedy
A relationship should help to bring out the best in you; in the case of Bryan and his then-girlfriend Patty Jenkins, she pushed him to be who he is today. Bryan liked acting and wanted to pursue it, but Patty knew he was funny and could make a living as a comedian. Therefore, being the supportive girlfriend she was, Patty took Bryan to Stand Up New York where Bryan was mesmerized by how good comics like Dave Attell and Greg Giraldo were.
6. It took him a year and a half to start going on stage
Having been given the confidence by other great comics that he could do it too, Bryan went up on stage with a joke about reincarnation as a penguin. He was hoping to do well and get some stage time, but when he went on stage, he froze. After that incident, it took Bryan another year and a half to finally gather enough courage to go on stage again. It was only after five years that he became comfortable as a standup comedian.
7. He likes investing in property
The great thing about investing in real estate is that you are almost guaranteed of lucrative returns. Bryan discovered this truth and has been investing in property in the past few years. He must have a soft spot for Venice because he had bought a three-bedroom house and sold it for $1.31 million. Bryan then bought a house in Silver Lake built in 1982 for $1.3 million. In 2016 he bought another house in Venice for $1.6 million but sold it at a profit in 2018 for $1.899 million. In 2016, Bryan also purchased a 2-story minimalist property in Santa Monica for $2.995 million after the price was slashed from $3.195 million.
8. He has been health conscious all his life
Bryan believes he has to stay fit; otherwise, the body will get in the way of doing what he loves. Therefore apart from using fish and krill oils, he also takes multivitamins since he opines that everyone is missing some minerals. He likes to do full-body workouts, but he does not push himself. Bryan agrees with science that one can exercise for a short time with intensity, and the results will be great. He reveals to Onnit that he works out 4-5 days per week by engaging in boxing, yoga, heavy Olympic lifting and tennis.
9. Growing up in different countries helped shape his comedy
Bryan’s father was an international banker whose job kept him and his family moving from one country to another. Bryan, therefore, had been to Pakistan, Lebanon, Greece, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines by the time he was 14. He also got to learn the languages of the countries he lived in, and it shaped some of the characters he has played. The character in “Hangover II” was supposed to be Italian, but Bryan said the line in Lebanese and the character was immediately changed to be Lebanese. As a teenager, Bryan had to try and fit in with the new different groups of people he met and the only way he knew how was to make them laugh, combined with some sports talk.
10. His deficiencies enable him to write jokes
No one is perfect, and that is the basis for all the jokes Bryan writes. He believes we are afraid and ashamed of something. Bryan gives the example of himself; he always wanted to grow up to be an athlete or muscular like The Rock, but it never happened. He taps into the disappointments and longing in life to come up with entertaining content that his audience relates with at individual levels.
Follow Us
