Patton Oswalt is a famous American comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has been entertaining audiences with his witty and insightful humor for over three decades. Patton Oswalt is best known for his roles in The King of Queens, Ratatouille, The Secret Life of Pets 2, and Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., as well as his stand-up specials and books. In this article, we will explore his biography, career, achievements, and some interesting facts about him.
Patton Oswalt was born on January 27, 1969, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Carla and Larry J. Oswalt, a career United States Marine Corps officer. He was named after General George S. Patton. Patton Oswalt has one younger brother, Matt Oswalt, who is also a comedy writer and actor. He grew up in Sterling, Virginia, where he developed a passion for comic books, horror movies, and comedy.
Table of Contents
Age and Height
As of 2023, Patton Oswalt is 54 years old. Patton Oswalt is 5 feet 3.5 inches (161 cm) tall.
Early Life and Education
Patton Oswalt began performing stand-up comedy in 1988, when he was still a college student at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He majored in English and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991. Patton Oswalt was also a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Patton Oswalt moved to Los Angeles with his friend and fellow comedian Blaine Capatch to pursue a comedy career.
Quick Facts:
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Patton Oswalt |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1969 |
| Place of Birth | Portsmouth, Virginia |
| Age | 54 years As of 2023 |
| Parents | Carla and Larry J. Oswalt |
| Siblings | Younger brother, Matt Oswalt |
| Height | 5 feet 3.5 inches (161 cm) |
| Education | College of William & Mary, B.A. in English (1991) |
| Comedy Career Start | 1988 (while still in college) |
| Notable Comedy Specials | HBO comedy special (1996), Late Night with Conan O’Brien |
| Acting Career Highlights | The King of Queens, Ratatouille, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. |
| Writing and Books | Writer for various shows, books like Zombie Spaceship Wasteland, Silver Screen Fiend, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark |
| Net Worth | Estimated $15 million to $20 million (2023) |
| Marriage(s) | Michelle Eileen McNamara (2005-2016), Meredith Dawn Salenger (2017-present) |
| Children | Daughter Alice Rigney Oswalt (born 2009) |
| Family | Father – U.S. Marine Corps officer, Mother – homemaker and paralegal, Brother – Matt Oswalt (comedy writer and actor) |
| Social Media Presence | Active on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube |
| Notable Movies & TV Shows | The King of Queens, Ratatouille, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Eternals, The Goldbergs, A.P. Bio, The Sandman, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., M.O.D.O.K., and many more |
| Awards and Accolades | Emmy, Grammy, Critics’ Choice Television Award, Annie Award nomination, Gotham Independent Film Award nomination, Edgar Award nomination |
| Net Worth | Estimated $15 million to $20 million (2023) |
Comedy Career Beginnings
Patton Oswalt started his comedy career by performing at small clubs and venues in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. He also wrote for MADtv and starred in his own HBO comedy special in 1996. Patton Oswalt became a regular on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and appeared on several other shows like Seinfeld and NewsRadio.
Patton Oswalt also formed a comedy group called The Comedians of Comedy with Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, and Zach Galifianakis. They toured the country in rock clubs and theaters and made a documentary film and a TV series about their experience.
Acting Career
Patton Oswalt got his first major acting role as Spence Olchin on the sitcom The King of Queens, which ran from 1998 to 2007. He also voiced Remy, the rat chef, in the Pixar animated film Ratatouille in 2007, which earned him critical acclaim and an Annie Award nomination.
Patton Oswalt has since appeared in many other films and TV shows, such as Man on the Moon, Zoolander, Blade: Trinity, Big Fan, Young Adult, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Eternals, The Goldbergs (as the narrator), A.P. Bio (as Principal Durbin), The Sandman (as Matthew the Raven), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (as the Koenigs), M.O.D.O.K. (as the titular character), and many more.
Writing and Filmmaking
Patton Oswalt is also a prolific writer and producer who has written for various shows like The MTV Movie Awards, Crank Yankers, Futurama, SpongeBob SquarePants, Robot Chicken, Reno 911!, Parks and Recreation, Community, Veep, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return, etc.
Patton Oswalt has also written several books, such as Zombie Spaceship Wasteland (a memoir), Silver Screen Fiend (a film addiction memoir), I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (a true crime book completed after his late wife Michelle McNamara’s death), etc.
Patton Oswalt has also produced some of his stand-up specials and films like Talking for Clapping (which won him an Emmy and a Grammy), Annihilation (which dealt with his grief after losing his wife), Big Fan (which he also starred in), etc.
Net Worth and Earnings
According to various sources, Patton Oswalt’s net worth is estimated to be around $15 million to $20 million as of 2023. His main sources of income are his stand-up comedy tours, films, TV shows, books, voice-over work, awards, etc. He is estimated to earn an annual salary of around $2.3 million.
Relationships
Patton Oswalt married Michelle Eileen McNamara on September 24, 2005. She was a true crime writer who was working on a book about the Golden State Killer case when she died unexpectedly in her sleep on April 21 2016 due to an accidental overdose of prescription drugs and an undiagnosed heart condition. They had one daughter together named Alice Rigney Oswalt who was born on April 15, 2009.
Patton Oswalt remarried Meredith Dawn Salenger on November 4th, 2017. She is an actress who has appeared in films like The Journey of Natty Gann, The Kiss, Dream a Little Dream, etc. They met through a mutual friend and got engaged in July 2017.
Family
Patton Oswalt’s parents are Carla and Larry J. Oswalt. His father is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who served in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Patton Oswalt’s mother is a homemaker who also worked as a paralegal. His brother is Matt Oswalt, who is a comedy writer and actor who has worked on shows like Puddin’, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return, etc.
Social Media Presence
Patton Oswalt is very active on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. He has over 4.5 million followers on Twitter (@pattonoswalt), over 554K followers on Instagram (@pattonoswalt), over 5.7k followers on Facebook (Patton Oswalt Tour), and 100k subscribers on YouTube. He often posts about his comedy, films, TV shows, books, family, politics, pop culture, etc.
Movies and TV Shows
Patton Oswalt has appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows in his career. Some of his most notable ones are:
- The King of Queens (1998-2007) as Spence Olchin
- Ratatouille (2007) as Remy (voice)
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) as Max (voice)
- Eternals (2021) as Pip the Troll (voice)
- The Goldbergs (2013-2023) as Adult Adam F. Goldberg (voice)
- A.P. Bio (2018-2021) as Principal Ralph Durbin
- The Sandman (2022-2023) as Matthew the Raven (voice)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014-2020) as Eric/Billy/Sam/Thurston Koenig
- M.O.D.O.K. (2021) as M.O.D.O.K./George Tarleton (voice)
- Man on the Moon (1999) as Criss Angel
- Zoolander (2001) as Monkey Photographer
- Blade: Trinity (2004) as Hedges
- Big Fan (2009) as Paul Aufiero
- Young Adult (2011) as Matt Freehauf
- The Circle (2017) as Tom Stenton
Awards and Accolades
Patton Oswalt has won several awards and nominations for his work in comedy, film, TV, and literature. Some of his most notable ones are:
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping in 2016
- Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping in 2017
- Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for Parks and Recreation in 2014
- Annie Award nomination for Voice Acting in a Feature Production for Ratatouille in 2008
- Gotham Independent Film Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor for Big Fan in 2009
- Edgar Award nomination for Best Fact Crime for I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in 2019
Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Patton Oswalt:
- He was named after General George S. Patton by his father who was a fan of the military leader.
- Patton Oswalt is an avid comic book fan and has written stories for DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
- He is an outspoken atheist and has referred to his atheism in his comedy specials.
- Patton Oswalt is a big movie buff and has written a book called Silver Screen Fiend about his film addiction.
- He helped finish his late wife’s book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark after her death and also co-produced the HBO documentary series based on it.
- Patton Oswalt is friends with many other comedians like Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, Zach Galifianakis, David Cross, Sarah Silverman, etc.
- He has a French bulldog named Grumpus who often appears on his social media posts.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How old is Patton Oswalt?
Patton Oswalt is 54 years old as of 2023.
How much is Patton Oswalt worth?
Patton Oswalt’s net worth is estimated to be around $15 million to $20 million as of 2023.
What are some of Patton Oswalt’s best movies and TV shows?
Some of Patton Oswalt’s best movies and TV shows are The King of Queens, Ratatouille, and The Secret Life of Pets.
Conclusion
Patton Oswalt is a versatile and talented comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has been making people laugh and think for over 30 years. He has starred in many popular movies and TV shows, written several books and comic stories, produced his stand-up specials and films, and won many awards and accolades for his work.
Patton Oswalt has also faced many challenges and tragedies in his life, such as losing his first wife and coping with grief, but he has always found a way to overcome them with humor and grace. Patton Oswalt is a passionate and outspoken advocate for various causes and issues, such as atheism, social justice, mental health, etc.
He is also a loving husband, father, brother, son, and friend who enjoys spending time with his family and pets. He is one of the most influential and respected figures in the comedy world and a role model for many aspiring comedians. He is Patton Oswalt, and this is his biography.
