Who is David Spade?
David Spade is an American actor, comedian, and voice artist, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live (SNL), his roles in films such as Tommy Boy and Grown Ups, and his contributions to animated franchises like The Emperor’s New Groove and Hotel Transylvania. Spade’s comedic talent was first showcased in 1989, when he was featured on HBO’s 13th Annual Young Comedians Show. This appearance caught the attention of Dennis Miller, who later helped Spade land a spot on Saturday Night Live in 1990. Over the years, Spade has enjoyed a successful career in television and film, starring in sitcoms like Just Shoot Me! and Rules of Engagement.
Early Life and Comedy Career
David Wayne Spade was born on July 22, 1964, in Birmingham, Michigan. At the age of four, he moved with his family to Scottsdale, Arizona. Spade later reflected on his childhood, recalling that he was often bullied by his peers during elementary school. His love for comedy developed during his teenage years, fueled by his admiration for Saturday Night Live. Spade left community college to pursue his passion for stand-up comedy, working at a skateboard shop by day and performing gigs at night.
His big break came when he relocated to Los Angeles, where he performed at nightclubs and on college campuses. In 1987, Spade landed a role in Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, a film starring Steve Guttenberg and Sharon Stone. Although the movie was not well received, Spade’s comedic talents began to gain attention. In 1989, he was one of six comedians showcased on HBO’s 13th Annual Young Comedians Show, which ultimately led to his role on Saturday Night Live, marking the beginning of his successful career in comedy and entertainment.
TV Shows and Films
‘Saturday Night Live,’ ‘Tommy Boy’
David Spade’s early years on Saturday Night Live were pivotal to his career, particularly his close friendship with fellow comedian Chris Farley. Their dynamic offstage translated into excellent on-screen chemistry, which led to larger roles on the show. After a series of minor film roles, SNL producer Lorne Michaels saw the potential in pairing Spade and Farley on the big screen. The result was the 1995 film Tommy Boy, a comedy built around Farley’s character, with Spade playing the straight man. Though the film received mixed reviews, it was a box office success, particularly among fans of the duo’s SNL sketches.
‘Black Sheep,’ ‘Just Shoot Me!’
In 1996, Spade reunited with Farley for Black Sheep and made his departure from SNL. That same year, he began portraying the sarcastic assistant Dennis Finch on the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me!, which debuted in 1997. The series was well-received and earned Spade several award nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe nods. However, Spade’s personal life was struck by tragedy when Farley died in late 1997 from a drug overdose. The loss deeply affected Spade, who chose not to attend the funeral.
‘Eight Heads,’ ‘The Emperor’s New Groove,’ ‘Joe Dirt’
Spade’s post-SNL career continued with roles in a variety of films, including Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997), Senseless (1998), and the romantic comedy Lost & Found (1999). In 2000, Spade took on a voice role in Disney’s animated The Emperor’s New Groove. He also co-wrote and starred in the cult favorite Joe Dirt (2001) and the comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003).
‘8 Simple Rules,’ ‘Rules of Engagement’
After Just Shoot Me! concluded its seven-season run in 2003, Spade joined 8 Simple Rules as a replacement for the late John Ritter. He then found long-term success with Rules of Engagement, which premiered in 2007 and ran for seven seasons. In the series, Spade portrayed the womanizing Russell Dunbar, earning further recognition for his comedic timing.
‘Grown Ups,’ ‘Hotel Transylvania’
Spade continued to enjoy success on both the big and small screens. He starred alongside Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and Chris Rock in the hit comedies Grown Ups (2010) and Grown Ups 2 (2013). Spade also found success in voice acting, lending his voice to Griffin the Invisible Man in the Hotel Transylvania franchise (2012) and its two sequels.
‘Warning Shot,’ ‘Lights Out’
In 2015, Spade reprised his role as Joe Dirt in Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser and worked again with Sandler in The Do-Over (2016). He explored dramatic territory in the 2018 thriller Warning Shot. Spade also hosted the short-lived The Mayor sitcom and Lights Out with David Spade, a Comedy Central late-night talk show. In 2020, he returned to comedy with the film The Wrong Missy.
Personal
David Spade has been romantically linked to several Hollywood actresses, including Lara Flynn Boyle, Teri Hatcher, and Heather Locklear. In 2008, he fathered a daughter, Harper, with Playboy Playmate Jillian Grace. Spade’s family life was marked by tragedy when his brother, Andy, was married to fashion designer Kate Spade, who tragically died by suicide in June 2018. In response, David Spade made a generous $100,000 donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness to support mental health awareness.