Lawrence John Miller (born October 15, 1953) is an American comedian, actor, voice actor, podcaster, and columnist. He is primarily regarded as a character actor, with The A.V. Club noting that he "can be counted upon to improve every film or television show he appears in". His better known roles include Lou Bonaparte in Mad About You (1993–1998), Pointy-haired Boss in Dilbert (1999–2000), Edwin Poole in Boston Legal (2004–2008), Mr. Hollister in Pretty Woman (1990), Dean Richmond in The Nutty Professor (1996) and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), Walter Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Principal Elliot T. Jindraike in Max Keeble's Big Move (2001), and Paolo Puttanesca in The Princess Diaries (2001) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). He reprised his role as Walter Stratford in the television series 10 Things I Hate About You (2009–2010).
Miller has also served as one of the regular players in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films.
Early life and education Miller was born in Brooklyn into a Jewish family, and grew up in Valley Stream, New York, on Long Island. He studied music (voice, cello, piano, drums) at Amherst College.
Career
Miller's first acting job was as the emcee on the TV series Fame. He gained mainstream attention for his part in popular scenes of Pretty Woman involving him as a store clerk for the main characters.
His film roles include Walter Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You as well as several characters in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films. He has held prominent supporting roles in Carry On Columbus, Radioland Murders, The Nutty Professor, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and Max Keeble's Big Move. He has over 50 film appearances.
He was part of the main cast of Life's Work, The Pursuit of Happiness, and High School Cupid, a Cupid Inc. Story. He is also a frequent guest actor on television, most notably as the nasty doorman on Seinfeld in the episode "The Doorman". He played Edwin Poole in the ABC dramedy Boston Legal. He played nightclub owner Michael Dobson in two Law & Order episodes, first in the episode "Coma" and then later in "Encore". Miller appeared as himself in a third episode, "Smoke". He was also in 8 Simple Rules, where he played Tommy, Kyle's obnoxious father and Paul's (John Ritter) colleague.
Miller is a friend of Jerry Seinfeld, and auditioned for the part of George Costanza.
Other work As a stand-up comic, he is best known for his monologue "The Five Levels of Drinking", which Vulture hailed as "masterful, well-written, and influential".
From 2002 to 2004, Miller wrote a column for the magazine The Weekly Standard that usually ran once every two weeks. Since then, he continued to occasionally contribute to the magazine, and to the Washington Examiner, which absorbed The Weekly Standard when it ceased publication. His subject matter has included politics as well as reminiscences about fellow entertainers and anecdotes from his own life.
Two of the columns he wrote in 2002 served as the text for frequently forwarded emails at the time, though in both cases his words were attributed to others. The first was his very first Weekly Standard column in January 2002, in which he mocked various anti-war platitudes of the time; the text was incorrectly attributed to retired Air Force general Richard E. Hawley. The second was an April 2002 column defending Israel in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which was attributed to fellow comedian Dennis Miller. Another email which also began to be forwarded in 2002, purporting to offer "George Carlin's Views on Aging", was derived in part from a stand-up routine that Larry Miller performed in the 1990s.
Miller began a weekly podcast on the Carolla Digital Network, This Week with Larry Miller, suspending it after falling and injuring his head severely in April 2012. After hospitalization and a coma, he said in January 2013 that he was convalescing. Miller resumed the podcast on January 9, 2013. In February 2015, the podcast was retitled The Larry Miller Show with direct distribution. The podcast ended on December 2, 2020. Miller referred to it as the "grand finale" after not broadcasting a new show in the previous six months. The show page cited issues with producing the show safely during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Personal life Miller married television writer Eileen Conn in 1993. The couple have two children.
Miller was hospitalized after hitting his head in a fall. He went into a coma and was put on life support for one month after the accident. He made a complete recovery.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes1989 Three Fugitives Street Cop - Second Officer Out Cold Plumber No. 21990 Pretty Woman Mr. Hollister Almost an Angel Teller1991 L.A. Story Tom Suburban Commando Adrian Beltz Necessary Roughness Dean Phillip Elias Frankenstein: The College Years Professor Loman Television film1992 Carry On Columbus The Chief Frozen Assets Newton Patterson1993 Undercover Blues Halsey Dream Lover Norman1994 The Favor Joe Dubin Corrina, Corrina Sid Radioland Murders Herman Katzenback 1995 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Dean Al Valentine Television film1996 The Nutty Professor Dean Richmond Waiting for Guffman Mayor Glenn Welsch Dear God State Judge1997 For Richer or Poorer IRS Inspector Derek Lester Bayou Ghost Reverend Carmichael 1998 Chairman of the Board Bradford McMillan Carnival of Souls Louis Seagram1999 The Minus Man Paul 10 Things I Hate About You Walter Stratford Runaway Bride N.Y.C. Bartender Kevin Uncredited The Big Tease Dunston Cactus Pros & Cons Ben Babbitt2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Dean Richmond Best in Show Max Berman2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? Earl Radburn The Princess Diaries Paolo Uncredited Max Keeble's Big Move Principal Elliot T. Jindraike 2002 Teddy Bears' PicnicUncredited2003 A Guy Thing Minister Ferris A Mighty Wind Wally Fenton2004 Raising Helen Car Buyer Uncredited The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Paolo2005 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Dabney Shaw The Aristocrats Himself Documentary Uncommon Sense Larry Television film Life of the Party Dr. Trent2006 Keeping Up with the Steins Arnie Stein Lance is a Jerk Ron DeLuca The Ant Bully Fred Nickle Voice A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. For Your Consideration Syd Finkleman2007 The Pre Nup Daniel Short Chasing Robert Peter Vondra Bagboy Pike The Final Season Roger DempseyVoice Bee Movie Buzzwell Blonde Ambition Richard Connelly2008 Get Smart CIA Agent Senior Skip Day Principal Dickwalder The Spleenectomy Sir Henry Pierre Short The Other End of the Line Kit Hawksin 2009 The Six Wives of Henry Lefay Lipschutz2010Valentine's Day Oversized Baggage AgentAlpha and Omega Marcel Voice Keep It in Your Pants Doctor Rosenrosen Federal Bureau of Manners: The NodShort Federal Bureau of Manners: Cell Phones2011 New Year's Eve Harley Segment "Ahern Party" Deck the Halls Willie Meehan Television film2012 Foodfight! Vlad Chocool Voice General Education Rich Collins The Mystery Cruise Willy Meehan2014 Night Vet RichShort New Soul New Soul Advisor No. 512015 Road Hard Barry 'Baby Doll' Weissman Pearly Gates Rabbi2016 Hot Bot Senator Biter Mother's Day Motorcycle Cop2018 Rock Steady Row The Dean The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot Ed Second Act Weiskopf 2020 Love, Weddings & Other Disasters Story only 2021 More than Miyagi, The Pat Morita Story Himself Documentary
Television Year Title Role Notes 1982FameThe EmceeEpisode: "But Seriously, Folks"1984 Late Night with David Letterman HimselfEpisode: "October 4, 1984" The Bob Monkhouse ShowEpisode #1.7 1986–1989 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson3 episodes1995 Seinfeld DoormanEpisode: "The Doorman" Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Himself Voice, episode: "Everybody's Got a Tushy" The Single Guy The Cable GuyEpisode: "Pilot" The Pursuit of Happiness Larry Rutledge7 episodes 1990–1996 Dream On Sergeant McDougal/Irwin Bader9 episodes 1996 Boston Common WarrenEpisode: "Everybody's Stalking" 1996–1997 Life's Work Jerome Nash18 episodes1997 George & Leo LloydEpisode: "The Bribe" Just Shoot Me! Emerson GrayEpisode: "The Assistant" 1993–1998 Mad About You Lou Bonaparte5 episodes1998 The Larry Sanders Show HimselfEpisode: "I Buried Sid" Michael Hayes Orwell2 episodes 3rd Rock from the Sun GarvinEpisode: "Dr. Solomon's Traveling Show" 1998–1999 Hercules Lynceus Voice, 2 episodes 2000 Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane ProfessorEpisode: "No Good Deed" 1999–2000 Dilbert Pointy-haired Boss Voice, 30 episodes 2000 Bull C.J. Cox4 episodes2000–2001 DAG Special Agent Nash2 episodes Buzz Lightyear of Star Command XRVoice, 38 episodes2001 TV Funhouse NarratorVoice, episode: "Astronaut Day" The Weakest Link Himself (contestant) Episode: "Scene Stealers Edition"2002 Providence Dr. MinkusEpisode: "Shadow Play" The Guardian Dale PetrockiEpisode: "Lawyers, Guns and Money" My Wife and Kids Stuart Tyler3 episodes The Mind of the Married Man Ernie SpivakEpisode: "Peter Pan" 1994–2003 Law & Order Michael Dobson, Himself3 episodes 2003 The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire Scott Haggis4 episodes 2002–2003 8 Simple Rules Tommy12 episodes 2004 King of the Hill Doctor Tabor Voice, episode: "Dale Be Not Proud" 2005 Desperate Housewives Leonard HarperEpisode: "Color and Light"2006 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Charlie BrownEpisode #14.224 2007 Medium Dylan KravitzEpisode: "Joe Day Afternoon" 2005–2007 Monk Garrett Price2 episodes2008 Dirt Bill HopeEpisode: "God Bless the Child" Burn Notice Harvey GundersonEpisode: "Comrades" 2004–2008 Boston Legal Edwin Poole4 episodes 2009 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Larry StevesEpisode: "Hair" 2009–2010 10 Things I Hate About You Walter Stratford20 episodes2010 Gravity Dr. Tepperman4 episodes Aqua Teen Hunger Force Himself Voice, episode: "Larry Miller Hair System" Late Night Liars Episode #1.12011 The Protector Alan BronskiEpisode: "Help" Curb Your Enthusiasm Eddie KravitzEpisode: "Palestinian Chicken" Shake It Up Larry DillerEpisode: "Camp It Up" 2012 Bent Bob Episode: "A-Game" 2011–2012 The Penguins of Madagascar Clemson Voice, 3 episodes2013 Devious Maids FrankEpisode: "Cleaning Out the Closet" Liv and Maddie Principal FickmanEpisode: "Team-A-Rooney"2014 Hot in Cleveland LarryEpisode: "Elka Takes a Lover" Comedy Bang! Bang! Jery PickensEpisode: "Alison Brie Wears a Black Mesh Top & Mini-Skirt" Mystery Girls Arthur J. StanwickEpisode: "Passing the Torch" 2015 Clipped Unnamed characterEpisode: "Free Wednesday" 2017 Runaways PhilEpisode: "Rewind" 2016–2017 High School Cupid, a Cupid Inc. Story Principal Perkales 9 episodes 2011–2019 NCIS Ed Slater 2 episodes
Videos Year Video Role Notes 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins XR Voice2005 Final Approach Walter The Legend of Frosty the Snowman Principal Pankley Voice2008 Senior Skip Day Mr. Frankfurt Dickwalder Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control Underchief, CIA Chief
Video games Year Game Role Notes 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command XR Voice
References
External links
Larry Miller's official website
Website for the Larry Miller Show