Adam Saul Pally[1] (born March 18, 1982[2]) is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for starring as Max Blum in Happy Endings, as Dr. Peter Prentice in The Mindy Project, and as Wade Whipple in Sonic the Hedgehog, its 2022 sequel and the spin-off series Knuckles. He also starred in Making History and was the executive producer of The President Show.

Adam Pally
Pally in 2023
Birth nameAdam Saul Pally
Born (1982-03-18) March 18, 1982 (age 42)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Medium
  • Television
  • film
  • web
Alma materThe New School
Years active2002–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Spouse
Daniella Liben
(m. 2008)
Children3

Early life and education edit

Pally was born in New York City, to Dr. Steven Pally, an internist who owns his own medical office, and Caryn Pally, who managed the practice in Florham Park, New Jersey. He was raised Jewish.[1][3] He grew up in New York City, the Chicago area,[4] and New Jersey,[3] and has two sisters, Erica and Risa.[5]

In 2004, Pally graduated from The New School University in New York City. He has performed improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCBT) in New York since 2002 and continues to perform in shows such as "Death by Roo Roo"[6] and "ASSSSCAT 3000"[7] at the theater's Los Angeles division.[8] He is a member of the sketch comedy group "Chubby Skinny Kids" with comedians Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.[9] Pally is also part of the improv group "Hot Sauce" with Gil Ozeri and Ben Schwartz; the group continues to perform their long-form improv show at UCBT occasionally.[10]

Career edit

Pally has appeared in such films as Iron Man 3, Taking Woodstock, Solitary Man, Assassination of a High School President, The To Do List and A.C.O.D. and Slow Learners. He has made guest appearances on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Californication and The Colbert Report. He has written and appeared on the Adult Swim series NTSF:SD:SUV::. In 2012, it was reported that Pally and frequent collaborator Gil Ozeri wrote a script being produced by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay's company Gary Sanchez Productions.[11]

From April 2011 to May 2013, Pally starred as Max Blum, one of the lead characters on the ABC ensemble comedy series Happy Endings, alongside Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Damon Wayans Jr., and Casey Wilson. In 2013, Pally was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" at the Critics' Choice Television Awards for his work on season three of Happy Endings. The cast reunited in July 2020 for the pandemic-themed episode "And the Pandemmy goes to..." to raise money for the charities Color of Change and World Central Kitchen.[12][13]

Following the cancellation of Happy Endings in 2013, Pally joined the cast of The Mindy Project as a series regular for the second and third seasons, playing the role of Dr. Peter Prentice.[14][unreliable source?] He left the show midway through the third season, making his final appearances as a series regular in 2015.[15]

Pally filmed a lead role opposite T.J. Miller and Thomas Middleditch in the comedy Search Party. This film serves as the directorial debut of screenwriter Scot Armstrong.[16] He also starred in the indie films Slow Learners and Night Owls, both released in 2015.

Media contributions and appearances edit

Pally is a regular contributor to the humor website Funny or Die, where he is best known for his series Riding Shotgun with Adam Pally, in which he interviews celebrities in his car. In 2009, he created for UCB Comedy a parody of the "David After Dentist" internet phenomenon; his is called "David After Divorce," and he speaks almost exactly the same lines as David, though to a different set of questions. It has received about 5 million hits on YouTube.[citation needed]

In 2011, Pally co-starred in the comedic stage-show The Realest Real Housewives, created by his Happy Endings co-star Casey Wilson.[citation needed]

Pally has appeared regularly on many podcasts on the Earwolf network such as Comedy Bang! Bang!, improv4humans, Who Charted, and How Did This Get Made?.[14][unreliable source?]

On June 5, 2015, Pally and fellow comedian friends Gil Ozeri and John Gemberling gained attention when they teamed with Funny or Die to live-stream their 50-hour marathon of Entourage, watching every episode in a row with no breaks for 50 hours straight.[17]

Personal life edit

Pally lives in New York. He married Daniella Anne Pally (née Liben) on July 3, 2008;[1] the couple have three children: a son Cole (b. 2012),[18] daughter Georgia Grace (b. 2013),[19] and another son, Drake (b. 2017).[20]

Filmography edit

Film edit

YearFilmRoleNotes
2008Assassination of a High School PresidentFreddy Bismark
2009Taking WoodstockArtie Kornfeld
Solitary ManIrate Student
2010MonogamyAllen
20123, 2, 1... Frankie Go BoomBrian
Primary Exit PollingVoterShort film
2013A.C.O.D.Mark
Iron Man 3Gary
The To Do ListChip
2014Life After BethDiner Sommelier
Search PartyEvan Hecketz
2015Night OwlsKevin
Slow LearnersJeff Lowrey
Bad NightThe PainterCameo
2016Dirty GrandpaNick
JoshyAriAlso producer
Don't Think TwiceRobbie
Middle School: The Worst Years of My LifeMr. Teller
2017The Little HoursGuard Paolo
Band AidBen
Shimmer LakeReed Ethington
2018Most Likely to MurderBilly GreenAlso producer
Dog DaysDax
2020Omniboat: A Fast Boat FantasiaUncle Matt
Sonic the HedgehogWade Whipple
The Main EventSteve Thompson
2022Sonic the Hedgehog 2Wade Whipple
Who Invited Charlie?Charlie
2023Hell of a Summer
TBAO HorizonSamPost-production

Television edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007–11CalifornicationYoung Hollywood Douchebag3 episodes
2008The Colbert ReportMaverick BullyEpisode: "Charlie Cook/Andrew Sullivan"
2011The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting DownBryceTelevision movie
Best Friends ForeverJoePilot (original unaired version)
2011, 2012NTSF:SD:SUV::Various2 episodes; also writer
2011–13Happy EndingsMax BlumMain role, 57 episodes
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2013)
2013The Jeselnik OffensivePanelistEpisode: "Adam Pally and Casey Wilson"
The Arscheerio Paul ShowRosie O'DonnellEpisode: "Madonna & Rosie O'Donnell"
2013–15Kroll ShowVarious3 episodes
Comedy Bang! Bang!
2013–17The Mindy ProjectDr. Peter PrenticeMain role, 44 episodes
2014, 2015Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade NinjaPlop Plop (voice)2 episodes
2015The Late Late ShowHimself (host)Episode that aired January 30
BoJack HorsemanTrip (voice)Episode: "Escape From L.A."
Key & PeeleAdamEpisode: "The Job Interview"
2015–17Regular ShowParty Horse #42699 (voice)4 episodes
2016Lady DynamiteChadEpisode: "I Love You"
Another PeriodVirgilEpisode: "Harvard"
Not Safe with Nikki GlaserHimselfEpisode: "Is That Your Belt?"
2016–20American Dad!Various voices4 episodes
2017Animals.Max (voice)Episode: "Roaches."
Making HistoryDan ChambersMain role, 9 episodes; also co-executive producer
Do You Want to See a Dead Body?HimselfEpisode: "A Body and a Bachelor Party"
2017, 2018The President ShowDonald Trump Jr.3 episodes; also executive producer
2018The Who Was? ShowGame Show HostEpisode: "Gandhi & Benjamin Franklin"
Champaign ILLRonnieMain role; also executive producer
2019The MandalorianBike Scout Trooper #22 episodes
2019–presentArchibald's Next Big ThingSage (voice)Main role
2020IndebtedDave KleinMain role; also co-executive producer
CreepshowRobert WestonEpisode: "A Creepshow Holiday Special: Shapeshifters Anonymous"
2020–21Crossing SwordsBroth (voice)19 episodes
2021DuckTalesKit Cloudkicker (voice)Episode: "The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker!"
2021, 2022ZiweHimself2 episodes
2022Star Trek: Lower DecksMesk (voice)Episode: "Hear All, Trust Nothing" [21][22]
Impractical JokersHimselfEpisode: "Adam Pally & Jon Gabrus"
Would I Lie to You?Episode: "Bunny Nanny"
2022–present101 Places to Party Before You Die
2023FUBARThe Great DaneRecurring cast
2024KnucklesWade WhippleMain role

Web series edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011The FuzzOfficer Chip Nelson
2012Happy Endings: Happy RidesMax BlumAlso director
2020Happy Endings: And the Pandemmy goes to...Special charity episode

Awards and nominations edit

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2013Critics' Choice Television AwardBest Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesHappy EndingsNominated

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Daniella Liben, Adam Pally". The New York Times. July 6, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  2. ^ Rose, Mike (March 18, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for March 18, 2023 includes celebrities Queen Latifah, Lily Collins". cleveland. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Adam Pally on Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Season 9. Episode 124. May 5, 2011. ABC. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  4. ^ Guse, Clayton (October 26, 2015). "Chicago accent-off with Adam Pally". TimeOut.
  5. ^ Background of Adam Pally, doodiecallswithdougmand.libsyn.com; Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  6. ^ IRC Improv Wiki, wiki.improvresourcecenter.com; Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ^ IRC Improv Wiki, wiki.improvresourcecenter.com; Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. ^ UCB Profile
  9. ^ Chubby Skinny Kids Productions, chubbyskinnykids.com; accessed December 9, 2014.
  10. ^ Hot Sauce Academy [dead link]
  11. ^ Profile, deadline.com, September 2012; accessed December 9, 2014.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 14, 2020). "'Happy Endings' Cast Reunites For Pandemic-Themed Zoom Charity Special". Deadline. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Happy Endings Special Charity Event". July 21, 2020 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ a b Adam Pally at IMDb
  15. ^ Bradley, Bill (November 22, 2014). "Here's Why Adam Pally Is Leaving 'The Mindy Project'". HuffPost. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. ^ Kit, Borys (April 23, 2013). "'Search Party' Finds Its Stars, Begins Shooting Next Week". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ^ "Watch Gil Ozeri and Adam Pally Try to Survive Watching Every Entourage Episode in a Row this Weekend". June 5, 2015.
  18. ^ Team Coco (February 14, 2012). "Adam Pally: Having A Baby Is A Horrible Mistake". teamcoco.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  19. ^ Totally Laime Team (March 19, 2014). "Wonderful & Brutal with Daniella Liben Pally!". totallylaime.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  20. ^ Sports? with Katie Nolan (January 10, 2018). "Adam Pally". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  21. ^ Comments, Tom Chang | (October 2, 2022). "Star Trek: Lower Decks S03E06: A Deep Space 9 Crossover That Matters". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Mooney, Darren (September 29, 2022). "'Hear All, Trust Nothing' Brings Lower Decks to Deep Space Nine". The Escapist. Retrieved April 24, 2023.

External links edit