Paul Provenza

Paul Provenza is an American stand-up comedian, actor, television host and filmmaker who grew up in the Bronx's Pelham Parkway neighborhood and began performing stand-up while still in high school, making his stage debut at 17 at The Improv in Manhattan. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and spent a year at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, where he joined a classical repertory company and played Romeo on the London stage. His television work includes hosting Nickelodeon's Kids Court, playing Dr. Phil Capra in the sixth season of Northern Exposure and hosting Comedy Central's Comics Only from 1991 to 1995. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and won a Theater World Award for the Off-Broadway play Only Kidding!, and he directed The Aristocrats (2005) with Penn Jillette. He also hosted The Green Room on Showtime and developed Set List, in which comedians improvise their sets.