Rick Shapiro

Rick Shapiro (born April 13, 1969) is a Los Angeles-based comedian.^[1] He first gained attention in the stand-up scene based around the Lower East Side in New York. He was a mainstay in the underground comedy scene for years, performing a regular Wednesday night set at the Sidewalk Cafe in New York until his role on Louis C.K.'s HBO sitcom Lucky Louie helped him reach a wider audience. Shapiro is known for his ability to improvise, making up much of his trademark long sets on the spot.

Shapiro has spoken openly about his younger years when he first became addicted to heroin and resorted to male prostitution to support his habit. He speaks about this troubled past in his comedy, making light of what many comedians see as a difficult topic.^[2]

Shapiro performs regularly at clubs in New York such as The Comedy Village, the Sidewalk Cafe, Comic Strip Live, the Laugh Lounge, and Comix. He now performs in both the Los Angeles and New York comedy circuits. He performs weekly at Vlad the Retailer in Los Angeles.

In 2007, Shapiro made a popular UK debut, receiving favourable reviews for his one-man Edinburgh Festival show, produced by Calvin Wynter at The Green Room.^[3]

In 2008 he was in Grand Theft Auto IV on the radio station PLR, portraying Mason Waylon who is a guest on a talk show on the radio, and eventually drills holes in the heads of the two other guests.

In 2010 he was in a scene originally filmed for the pilot of Louie that ended up as a deleted scene for Season 1. A scene in which he goes on one of his acclaimed rants.^[4]

In 2012 his first book, titled Unfiltered, was released. The book, published by Paradisiac Publishing, is a compilation of over 200 previously unreleased writings.

He has a twin brother, Rob Shapiro, who is also a stand-up comedian.

On Friday, April 13, Shapiro’s birthday he suffered a mild cardiac event exacerbated by a hypersensitivity to prescribed medication. Shapiro's Manager Tracy DeMarzo explains he’s been sober for 25 years and says that illegal drugs had absolutely nothing to do with this health scare “This was a fluke, an unfortunate event,” she says. “It could have happened to anyone.”

Shapiro left the hospital on April 27, 2012 but was readmitted on April 30, 2012 due to further medical complications. He remains hospitalized and a charity has been set up in his name to help cover medical expences.

Filmography

• Joey (1986)
  as Larry
• Lucky Louie (2006)
  as Jerry
• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
  as Mason Waylon
• Louie (2010)
  uncredited
• The League (2011)
  as Bum
• Project X (2012)
  as T-Rick

References

External links

• Official website
• Official MySpace Page
• Rick Shapiro at the Internet Movie Database
• "Recovery Rick Re-Stands Up" by Ryan Blitstein, New York Observer, May 17, 2004.
• Performance at the UCB Theater, July 3, 2008