Lenny Clarke (born September 16, 1953) is an American comedian and actor. He is known for his thick Boston accent and as the role of "Uncle" Teddy Gavin in the television series Rescue Me.
Early life Clarke was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 16, 1953. In his early life, he attended Cambridge Latin High School (CLHS), graduating in 1972. He also attended college at the University of Massachusetts Boston, graduating in 1979. Lenny Clarke was a Cambridge City Council candidate in 1975; he also tried to campaign for mayor.
Career He was the most famous "saloon comic" in Boston during the 1980s, the heyday of the Boston comedy scene. The DVD release When Standup Stood Out (2006) details Clarke's early career and affiliations with other famous Boston comics, such as Steven Wright and Denis Leary, his good friends. In 1980, Clarke wrote and starred in a local television show Lenny Clarke's Late Show featuring Wright and Leary, in collaboration with Boston comedy writer Martin Olson. Clarke and Olson were roommates, and their apartment, known by comedians as "The Barracks", was a notorious "crash pad" for comics visiting Boston, per the film.
Clarke starred in his own short-lived network sitcom Lenny, and in such TV shows as Contest Searchlight, The Job, The John Larroquette Show and It's All Relative and movies like Monument Ave. and Southie. He was also appeared in several Farrelly Brothers movies, including There's Something About Mary, Me, Myself, & Irene, and Fever Pitch.
From 2004 to 2011, Clarke appeared in the recurring role of Uncle Teddy on the FX comedy drama Rescue Me.
In 2006, Clarke and Leary appeared on television during a Red Sox telecast and, upon realizing that Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis is Jewish, delivered a criticism of Mel Gibson's antisemitic comments.
In 2007, Clarke played the role of Ron Abbot on the short lived Fox comedy series The Winner. On May 16, 2007, the show was cancelled after six episodes due to low ratings.
Clarke is also an occasional guest on the WEEI radio shows in Boston. It was on this show that he announced he would be a regular on the 2009 Fox sitcom Brothers as the racist neighbor who is married to a black woman. He wound up appearing in three episodes before the series was cancelled. In the 2011-12 TV season, he landed a role as the main character's father on the NBC mid-season replacement sitcom Are You There, Chelsea?.
On the evening of January 19, 2010, Clarke appeared on stage at the victory speech of Republican Senator-elect from Massachusetts Scott Brown, who was elected to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy.
He had appeared on ESPN's 30 for 30 - 4 Days in October alongside ESPN sports and pop culture columnist Bill Simmons as a narrator giving insight on the 2004 ALCS comeback by the Red Sox against the New York Yankees.
Filmography
Films YearFilm Role Director Notes1987Smart AlexSteve Oedekerk1988The Wrong GuysCab DriverDanny Bilson1996Two If by SeaKellyBill Bennett1997Meet Wally SparksJoeyPeter Baldwin1998 Monument Ave.SkunkTed DemmeSouthieFat EddieJohn SheaGetting PersonalL.J.Ron BurrusThere's Something About MaryFiremanPeter and Bobby FarrellyRoundersSavinoJohn Dahl2000 Me, Myself & IreneBarber Shop Car OwnerPeter and Bobby FarrellyMassholesCopJohn Chase2001What's the Worst That Could Happen?WindhamSam Weisman2002Moonlight MileGordyBrad Silberling2003 Stuck on YouJailhouse ComicPeter and Bobby FarrellyJust Another StoryJellyGQ2004Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate EventsGruff GrocerBrad Silberling2005Fever PitchUncle CarlPeter and Bobby Farrelly2007 SidesLennyFranco TrombinoThe Child KingTow Truck OwnerFrank Kerr2008What Doesn't Kill YouHogieBrian Goodman2010HosedLennyMarc A. DoleShort film2011The RestaurantMarioRobert ScaliShort film2012Here Comes the BoomLoud Dietrich FanFrank Coraci2014Lazarus RisingFather ParsonsJohn Depew2015Three SheetsLuckyRufus Chaffee2015Ted 2CopSeth MacFarlane2016GhostbustersCoffee House GhostPaul FeigExtended Edition Only2017StrongerUncle BobDavid Gordon Green2021 Halloween KillsPhil DickersonDavid Gordon Green2025Methadone MileJohnny Hickey
TV series YearTitleRoleNotes1990LennyLenny CallahanSeries Lead (1990–1991)1991The Sunday ComicsHost1993The John Larroquette ShowOfficer Adam Hampton1993–19961998Love Boat: The Next WaveCasey O'Keefe1.01 "Smooth Sailing"1999Touched by an AngelLarry6.03 "The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life"2001The JobFrank Harrigan2001–200220027th HeavenLenny7.06 "Regarding Eric"2003It's All RelativeMace O'Neil2003–20042004Rescue MeUncle Teddy2004–20112007The WinnerRon Abbott2009BrothersLenny1.05 "Lenny"; 1.06 "Commercial/Coach DMV"; 1.11 "Christmas"2010Four Days in OctoberHimself2010'Til DeathMr. Donnelly4.23 "Joy's Mom"2011Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam AxeRawlinsTelevision film2012Are You There, Chelsea?Melvin Newman 2013Clear HistoryPoker BuddyTelevision filmDECo.Jim Zimmer1.01 "Pilot"; 1.04 "The Visit" 2014SirensJohnny's Father1.04 "Famous Last Words"; 1.06 "The Finger"; 1.10 "Shotgun Wedding"Wicked BitesHimself1.22 "Pitching in for Kids with the Boston Red Sox" 2019SMILFZaggy2.01 "Sh*t Man, I've Literally Failed"2020Defending JacobFood Truck Guy2024Extended FamilyBobby KearneyRecurring Role
Producer/executive producer Year Title Notes2002Contest Searchlight
Writer Year Title Notes1985Nothin' Goes RightUncredited1991The Sunday Comics2002Comedy Central Presents6.05 "Lenny Clarke"
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