Will Sasso

William "Will" Sasso (born May 24, 1975) is a Canadian, comedian and actor. He is most notable for his membership in the recurring cast of comedians on the American sketch comedy series MADtv, spending five seasons on the show.

Early life

Sasso was born in Ladner, British Columbia, Canada, to an Italian Canadian family (originally from Gubbio). He graduated from Delta Secondary School in Delta, British Columbia in 1993. He credits his determination to become an actor and his respect for comedy to an "unhealthy addiction to...television". He is an avid fan of the Vancouver Canucks.

Career

At the age of 15 he landed his first agent and quickly began booking roles in television and film. Before moving from Vancouver to Los Angeles, Sasso starred for five seasons as quirky teen `Derek Wakaluk' on the award-winning Canadian dramatic series Madison. Official mini-biographies claim that this experience ..."[allowed] him to hone his acting and improvisational skills... [and provided] him with enough money to buy a television of his own."

In 1996, he landed a role as Pete the orderly in Doctor Who: The TV Movie, starring Paul McGann, Eric Roberts and Daphne Ashbrook. This movie aired on FOX, which also broadcast MADtv.

MADtv

By the end of its second season (1996-1997), MADtv experienced its first big cast turnover. Three of the show's repertory performers (Bryan Callen, Orlando Jones and Artie Lange) left the cast. As a result, in 1997, casting executives at FOX had to cast replacements for the show. Sasso (along with Aries Spears) was selected to join the MADtv third season cast as a repertory performer.

Sasso is known for quirky characters such as Eracist member Hugh, pop singer Michael McCloud, accident prone handiman Paul Timberman, Talkin' American host Rui Peranio, Mexican luchador Señor Bag of Crap, and Will on Will's Little Sister.

Sasso also does many celebrity impersonations, including impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris Farley, Steven Seagal, Bill Clinton, Drew Carey, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Fred Durst, George W. Bush, James Gandolfini (as himself and Tony Soprano), James Lipton, Jesse Ventura, Kenny Rogers, Lance Bass, Louie Anderson, Randy Newman, Richard Simmons, Robert De Niro, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Stone Cold Steve Austin, William Frawley (as Fred Mertz from I Love Lucy), and William Shatner (as himself and as James T. Kirk).

In 2002, Sasso left MADtv to focus on new projects.

Characters

Professional wrestling

Sasso is a professional wrestling fan, and has made appearances with multiple American pro wrestling promotions.

Sasso engaged in a worked shoot angle with former world champion wrestler (and fellow Canadian) Bret Hart, which began on February 6, 1999 during Hart's second guest appearance on MADtv. In a sketch lampooning the election of Jesse Ventura to gubernatorial office, Hart "broke character" and attacked the cast members for making light of wrestling, apparently injuring Sasso. He then appeared in a later episode at the curtain call during the ending credits and again attacked Sasso in an "unscripted" assault. Sasso then appeared at ringside during the February 8, 1999 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, where Hart again attacked him. Sasso retaliated by interfering in Hart's match against Roddy Piper, causing him to lose the match. This led to a grudge match on the February 15, 1999 episode of Nitro, where Sasso appeared with castmate Debra Wilson, who turned on Sasso, making it a one-sided match.

Sasso's impersonation of Stone Cold Steve Austin impressed the WWF so much that they hired him to be part of the February 7, 2002 episode of WWF SmackDown!, appearing alongside Chris Jericho and Austin himself. Sasso also appeared in the audience at WrestleMania X8, and can clearly be seen in the front row during the match between Ric Flair and the Undertaker.

Recent years

Since leaving MADtv, Sasso's television appearances have included the recurring role as "Carl Monari" on the ABC sitcom Less Than Perfect, as well as a role in the Canadian original series Robson Arms. Sasso also played the role of Fortunio Balducci in the Richard Kelly film Southland Tales.

Sasso also appears in the music video for Sum 41 song "Still Waiting" as the manager for the band.

Sasso hosted the 2006 Canadian Comedy Awards in London, Ontario as well as the festival's "Sketch & Improv Showcases". Additionally, Sasso was a host at the 2005-2006 NHL award ceremony. Sasso appeared on the CSI episode "The Chick Chop Flick Shop".

Television appearances

• Two and a Half Men (2009) as Andrew
• How I Met Your Mother (2008) as Doug (the bartender)
• Family Guy (2008) in The Man with Two Brians
• Robson Arms (2008) as Bark^[1]
• Entourage (2007) as Jay Lester
• 'Til Death (2006-) as Russ
• Less Than Perfect (2003 - 2006) as Carl Monari
• The Western Alienation Comedy Hour (2003) as Host - Himself
• WWF Smackdown! (2002) impersonating Stone Cold
• Latin Grammy Awards (2002) as Presenter - Himself
• Family Guy (2000) as Randy Newman (Credited as "William")
• WCW Monday Night Nitro (1999) as himself
• MADtv (1997 - 2002) as Various Characters
• Dad's Week Off (1997) as Ivan "Boom Boom" Krutovski
• Annie O (1996) as Awesome Heckler
• Susie Q (1996) as Police Officer
• Doctor Who (1996) as Pete
• Heck's Way Home (1996) as Mover#1
• Sliders (1995-96) as Gomez Calhoun
• Madison (1994-1997) Derek Wakaluk
• The X-Files episode Je Souhaite (2000)
• The Odyssey (1994) Season 2

Filmography

• College Road Trip (2008) as Deputy O'Malley
• Southland Tales (2007) as Fortunio Balducci
• Dark Ride (film) (2006) as Hospital Aide
• Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005) as voice of Randy Newman/James Lipton
• The Hot Chick (2003) as Mr. Garbajian (deleted scenes)
• A Mighty Wind (2003) as Phil
• Still Waiting music video (2002) as Record Company Executive
• Dawg (2002, aka Bad Boy) as Willie Smits
• Best in Show (2000) as Dale
• Cheerleader Camp (1987 ) as Doodlebug Figglesworth
• Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) as Hank Vilmes
• Brown's Requiem (1998) as "Fat Dog" Baker
• The Sixth Man (1997) as Scrubby D
• Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) (uncredited) as Chet Walters
• Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) as Pizza Delivery Guy
• Happy Gilmore (1996) as Mover # 1
• Malicious (1995) as Guy
• Ski School II (1995) as Tomcat Collins
• Magic in the Water (1995) as Shy Young Orderly
• Ernest Goes to School (1994) as Russell

References

External links

• Official site
• Will Sasso at the Internet Movie Database
• Will Sasso on Tom Green Live