Biography for
Brad Garrett (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 April 1960, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Brad H. Gerstenfeld

Height

6' 8½" (2.04 m)

Mini Biography

Standing 6 feet 8-1/2 inches tall, Garrett grew up in Woodland Hills outside of Los Angeles. His father was a hearing aid specialist working in geriatrics and his mother was a housewife. Garrett spent a whopping six weeks at UCLA before going into stand-up comedy full time. He began performing his act at various Los Angeles comedy clubs, getting his start at the Ice House in Pasadena and the Improv in Hollywood. In 1984, he became the first $100,000 grand champion winner in the comedy category of "Star Search" (1983). This led to his first appearance, at age 23, on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962), making him one of the youngest comedians ever to perform on the show. In 1986, Garrett told a joke the talent booker warned him against and he hasn't been on the show since. Following his "Tonight Show" appearance, Garrett's career took off, garnering him headlining gigs at several national venues as well as opening spots for legends including Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli. He has headlined at Bally's Park Place and co-headlined with The Temptations at Trump Plaza. He has also worked at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas with Frank Sinatra, Caesar's Palace with David Copperfield, and Smokey Robinson, Harrah's with 'Sammy Davis Jr' and the The Beach Boys, and Radio City Music Hall with Julio Iglesias. In 1989, the Las Vegas Review Journal named him the Best Comedian working on the strip. Changing gears, he made his way into the world of television. He struck gold with "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996). Apart from his supporting role in sitcoms, he has also done voice-overs and appeared in a few films. In 1998, Garrett made a real-life proposal to his then real-life girlfriend, Jill Diven, on the set of "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996). Garrett currently resides in Hollywood, California with his two Labradors, Gus and Mabel.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Sujit R. Varma

Spouse

Jill Diven

(18 May 1999 - 2 November 2007) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

His deep booming voice

His tall stature

Trivia

Attended Hale Jr. High School in Woodland Hills, California.

Graduated from El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California in 1978.

Was once suspended from Jr. High for several days for Launching a Paper Clip from a rubber band in to the chest of another student named Richard O.

In 1977 and 1978 Brad was the DJ over the Senior Lawn at ECR.

In the early 1980s Brad was a waiter at TGI Fridays in Woodland Hills, Ca.

Got his start when he won first prize on "Star Search" (1983).

Son, Maxwell Bradley Garrett, was born on October 14, 1998 with ex-wife Jill Diven.

Daughter, Hope Violet Garrett, was born in January 2000, with ex-wife Jill Diven.

He's heavily valued as an actor for his towering physical stature, as well as a voice-over actor for his loud, thundering and threatening voice.

Has sometimes struggled for acting work due to his large size. In order to play the title role in the TV movie Gleason (2002) (TV) (the real Jackie Gleason being only about 6 feet tall), the other actors were often either also tall or wearing huge lifts.

Studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute.

He guest-starred in episode "Road Rayge" (episode # 1.9) of "The King of Queens" (1998) as Robert Barone, his character from "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996).

Declined to do a spin-off with his character Robert Barone from "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996).

Made his first television appearance on "The Comedy Shop" (1978).

Models on the back cover of the 1979 Electric Light Orchestra album: Discovery, dressed in middle eastern clothes, turban and holding a big sword.

Where Are They Now

(October 2005) Playing "Murray the Cop" in Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" on Broadway.

(September 2006) Playing a high school History teacher, married for 20 years to a wife played by Joely Fisher in the sit-com "'Til Death" (2006) . (Brad is also the show's Producer.)

(2009) Appeared in a commercial for 7-Up.

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