Anthony Barbieri

Anthony J. ("Tony") Barbieri (born August 26, 1963, Framingham, Massachusetts) is an American comedy writer and performer. He has appeared on television programs such as Crank Yankers and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He is most famous for his prankish appearances as the character "Jake Byrd."

Career

Writing

Barbieri's long-running Monroe series has appeared in more than 100 issues of Mad Magazine. The pieces were originally illustrated by cartoonist Bill Wray.

As Jake Byrd

Barbieri is perhaps best known for his character Jake Byrd on the show Jimmy Kimmel Live! Byrd is good-natured and obsessed with celebrities. Comedy routines involving Byrd usually satirize excessive media attention to celebrity spectacles such as the Michael Jackson trial or the arrest of Paris Hilton. Byrd usually interacts with the fans while they are being interviewed by the media or inserts himself into the press conference. He has successfully fooled major media outlets, including The New York Times, Fox News and Court TV.

Notable Pranks

Michael Jackson trial

Barbieri posed as obsessed fan Jake Byrd at the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson. During the arraignment of Michael Jackson, The New York Times mistook him for a real fan in their reports. During jury deliberations, he similarly fooled Court TV.

Paris Hilton trial

When celebrity Paris Hilton was sent back to jail for driving with a suspended license on June 8, 2007, "Jake Byrd" was heard screaming "No, No, No, No!" at the Paris Hilton news conference. Later, live coverage of the event showed him clowning and making faces while wearing a hat with a sign that said, "Let her live". Early press reports from the scene did not identify him as a performer.

Filmography

The following list includes shows or films in which he has a small, but credited, role as a writer or actor.

• Windy City Heat (2003) - (TV movie) - (Writer/Actor)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (2003-) (Talk show on ABC) - (Writer/Actor) - His own pieces, including his well known character Jake Byrd.
• That '80s Show (2002-) (TV program) - (Writer)
• Crank Yankers (2002) (TV program) (Writer/Voice Actor)
• That's My Bush! (2001) (TV program) - (Writer/Actor) - A political comedy spoofing George W. Bush (Appeared in one episode).
• The Man Show (1999–2004) (TV program) - (Writer)
• Delta Force: Land Warrior (2000) (Video Game) (Voice Actor)
• Pledge Night (1988) (movie) - Horror film.

External links

• Tony Barbieri at the Internet Movie Database
• Paris Hilton News conference, with Jake Byrd reference
• Picture of Jake Byrd appearing in Santa Barbara News-Press
• Santa Barbara News-Press story on the Jake Byrd hoax
• Radar Magazine quoting Jake Byrd
• New York Times Article mentioning Jake Byrd along with a correction regarding his actual identity
• Complete list of Barbieri's articles for MAD Magazine