Stephen Guarino (born November 14, 1975) is an American actor and comedian, known as Sully Patterson on the Jim Carrey-produced Showtime series I'm Dying Up Here (2017–2018) and for his recurring role as Derrick in the ABC comedy series Happy Endings, a character that has since been carried over to the NBC sitcom Marry Me,"Stephen Guarino Will Eat You Alive". The Advocate, November 22, 2011. as well as Connor on the ABC sitcom Dr. Ken.
Discovered by Rosie O'Donnell, he was one of the prominent sketch comedy stars on the groundbreaking Logo TV series The Big Gay Sketch Show (2007–2010) with fellow comedians Kate McKinnon, Erica Ash, Colman Domingo, Jonny McGovern, Julie Goldman, Paolo Andino, Dion Flynn, and Michael Serrato. In 2018, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role as "Quincy" in the Netflix series EastSiders. He also received the Outfest Best Actor award for his role in the feature film BearCity.
Early life and education Guarino is originally from Orlando, Florida and was a member of SAK Comedy Lab. He graduated from Florida State University as well as The Public Theater's Shakespeare program. After appearing in numerous Off-Broadway productions, Guarino was a co-creator of the Off-Broadway improv musical The Nuclear Family with fellow members Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio, and Matthew Loren Cohen. Guarino was later cast on The Big Gay Sketch Show in 2005.
Career After the success of The Big Gay Sketch Show, he appeared on television shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as well as the films Confessions of a Shopaholic, the BearCity franchise, and I Hate Valentine's Day In 2011, he moved to Los Angeles after receiving a talent deal from CBS.
His first breakout role was on Happy Endings where he played Penny Hartz's (Casey Wilson) over-the-top friend Derrick for three seasons. He also appeared on The Wedding Bells, 'Til Death, The Neighbors, The Comeback, Marry Me, Finding Carter, Jessie, Sofia the First, Superior Donuts, 2 Broke Girls. He played Connor on ABC's Dr. Ken, Quincy on Netflix's EastSiders (Daytime Emmy nomination), and Sully Patterson on Jim Carrey's Showtime drama I'm Dying Up Here.
He has done three network pilots with James Burrows including Me & Mean Margaret, Relatively Happy, and Superior Donuts.
Guarino was to appear in Logan Paul's feature Airplane Mode (2019).
Directing and producing
Guarino was the director of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase in Los Angeles (2017–unknown). Notable alumni include Tiffany Haddish, Kate McKinnon, Fortune Feimster, Justin Hires, Nicole Byer, Nasim Pedrad, John Milhiser.
He previously directed Kate McKinnon's one-woman show Best Actress at the Upright Citizens Brigade. He directed Showgirls: Live in Drag starring RuPaul's Drag Race stars Willam Belli, Detox Icunt, and Vicky Vox.
In 2015, Guarino co-produced and co-wrote a CBS sketch comedy pilot called The Night Crew with Michael Serrato, Steven Borzachillo, Mark Hurtado, and Ryan Noggle David Burtka, and Neil Patrick Harris starring himself, Tiffany Haddish, Fortune Feimster, Jimmy Ray Bennett, and Nico Santos.
Personal life Guarino is gay.
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNotes 2006–2010 The Big Gay Sketch Show Various 23 episodes 2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Garrett Episode: "Haystack" The Wedding Bells Ross Episode: "Wedding from Hell" 2010 'Til Death Ryan Episode: "Sell the House" 2011–2020 Happy Endings Derrick 8 episodes 2012 Hustling Don Dixon 4 episodesNominated – Indie Series Award for Best Guest Actor – Drama 2013 The Neighbors Chad Episode: "Mother Clubbers" The Gates Brett Pilot 2014 The Comeback Chateau Host Episode: "Valerie Makes a Pilot" Marry Me Derrick Episode: "Scary Me" Finding Carter Toby 4 episodes Jessie James McMillan Episode: "Snack Attack" 2015 Life's a Drag DJ Tricky Dicky Episode: "Retrograde"Indie Series Award for Best Guest Actor – Comedy Sofia the First King Marcus (voice) Episode: "Minding The Manor" 2015–2018 Sorry, Ari Marcus 4 episodes 2016 Gay Skit Happens Various 2 episodes Me & Mean Margaret Paul Pilot 2016–2017 Relatively Happy Perry Pilot Dr. Ken Connor 9 episodes Superior Donuts Brad Pilot 2 Broke Girls Richie Episode: "And the Stalking Dead" 2017–2018 I'm Dying Up Here "Sully" Patterson 10 episodes 2018 The Strivers Mark Cicero Pilot 2018–2019 EastSiders Quincy 19 episodesNominated – Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actor – DramaNominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series 2019–2022 The Goldbergs Joseph Lynch / Administrator Dean 5 episodes 2021 Kenan Van Sherman-Willis 1 episode This Is Us Kevin's Agent 1 episode The Sex Lives of College Girls Sips Manager 3 episodes Good Trouble Scott Farrell 8 episodes 2022 Unconventional Kenny Rogers Episode: "Apple" 2022–2024 The Really Loud House Howard McBride 6 episodes 2023 Bookie Viggy Episode: "Nepo Bookies" 2025 Gen V Kyle / The Rememberer Episode: "Justice Never Forgets"
Theatre YearTitleRoleNotes 2024–2025 Titanique Ruth DeWitt Bukater Original West End cast
Film YearTitleRoleNotes 2002 The Year That Trembled Gilbert Blakely 2008 The Clique Vincent Confessions of a Shopaholic Allon 2009 An Englishman in New York Demonstrator I Hate Valentine's Day Bill 2010 BearCity Brent Richards Outfest Award for Best Actor 2012 BearCity 2: The Proposal Brent Richards 2016 BearCity 3 Brent Richards-Dean The Happys Johnathan 2018 Airplane Mode Himself 2019 Blind Sight The Security Guard 2019 American Bistro Milton Buckner 2020 Catfish Killer Bud 2024 Reagan Mike Deaver
Awards and nominations +YearWorkOrganizationCategoryResult 2015 Hustling 7th Indie Series Awards Best Supporting Actor — Drama Nominated 2015 Life is a Drag 7th Indie Series Awards Best Guest Actor — Comedy Won 2018 EastSiders 45th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Nominated
References
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