Harland Williams


Harland Reesor Williams is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, singer, author, artist, musician, and radio personality.

Personal life

Harland Reesor Williams was born on November 14, 1962, in Toronto, Ontario, to Lorraine Mary, a social worker, and John Reesor Williams, a lawyer who served as a member of the Ontario legislature from 1975 to 1985. He is the middle child of five with two older, his brother Steve, and two younger sisters.
Harland holds dual citizenship with Canada and the United States.
He is the author and illustrator of his own series of children's books involving a little brontosaurus named Lickety Split. Williams' love of art drove him to create the series, in which the curious, young dinosaur embarks on a series of amazing adventures and learns important life lessons in the process. The artistically inclined Williams had refined his passion for drawing and painting at Canada's Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Finding a creative outlet in poetry and painting while working as a forest ranger for five years after dropping out of Sheridan College, Williams set his goals to leave the forest as a stand-up comic and actor, soon moving to Los Angeles to pursue his newfound calling.
Williams is cousin to Barenaked Ladies keyboardist Kevin Hearn, and together they have a hobby band called The Cousins. Williams also played the security guard in the music video for the band’s 2001 single "Falling for the First Time".

Career

Williams is known for his movie roles, which include Dumb and Dumber, Freddy Got Fingered, There's Something About Mary, Half Baked, RocketMan, Sorority Boys, Down Periscope, Superstar and Employee of The Month. Williams starred as the security guard in the music video for the 2001 Barenaked Ladies song "Falling for the First Time". He has performed his stand-up comedy routines on Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central and at comedy clubs throughout the country.
His improvisational skills led to him winning the award for 'Best Improviser' on an episode of NBC's prime time series Thank God You're Here in 2007.
Williams's ventures include voicing 'Monster' on Nickelodeon's animated series Robot and Monster and starring as Warwick the Warlock in Disney's direct-to-DVD movie Spooky Buddies.
He has a free, bi-weekly podcast called The Harland Highway.
Rocker Parry Gripp of the rock band Nerf Herder wrote a song in homage to Williams, entitled "I Wanna Be Your Harland Williams".
He has appeared on Tom Green's House Tonight and on the Adam Carolla Podcast numerous times. He is known for his performance of bird sounds on Carolla's show.
In August 2012 he began filming in Vancouver a 13-part CityTV comedy series called Package Deal, in which he stars.
Williams created the Disney Junior series Puppy Dog Pals that debuted in 2017.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1994Dumb and DumberState Trooper
1995SimonSimon Hemple
1996Down PeriscopeE.T. "Sonar" Lovacelli
1997RocketManFred Z. Randall
1997Wag the DogPet Wrangler
1997Space Ghost Coast to CoastHimself1 episode
1997Ned's NewtNewton First cartoon voice role; Main voice role; Episodes 1–35
1998Half BakedKenny Davis
1998There's Something About MaryHitchhiker
1998Dog ParkCallum
1998Mr. HeadmistressTucker
1999SuperstarSlater
2000The Whole Nine YardsSpecial Agent Steve Hanson
2000Big Money HustlasOfficer Harry Cox
2000Becoming DickRichard Breggs
2001Freddy Got FingeredDarren
2001Gary & MikeMike Bonner
2001Family GuyJeff Foxworthy/Sam's father
2002Back by MidnightSheriff Hubbard
2002Sorority BoysDoofer/Roberta
2003Family TreeJake
2003Kart RacerZee
2005Lucky 13Bleckman
2005Because of Winn-DixiePoliceman
2005RobotsLugnut
2006Employee of the MonthRussell Porpis-Gunders
2006Surf SchoolRip
2006The Emperor's New SchoolCabby
2007Meet the RobinsonsCarl
2007'Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
2008'Derek
2008'Giraffe
2009Fudgy Wudgy Fudge FaceElmore P. Fudge
2009My Life in RuinsBig Al Sawchuck
2009The Haunted World of El SuperbeastoGerard the Exterminator
2011Spooky BuddiesWarwick the Warlock
2011Lloyd the ConquerorVulcan
2011Dahmer Vs. GacyGod
2011Dan Vs.HiramEpisode: Technology
2011Robot ChickenProfessor Cornelius Q. Quibblefingers 1 episode; also writes 4 episodes
2012The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying OrangeApple
2012Robot and MonsterMonster Main Role
2014Back in the DaySkunk
2015Jake and the Never Land PiratesCaptain Frost
2015'Helper Hue
2016Sausage PartyKetchup Bottle/Drug Dealer/Baba Ganoush
2016Skylanders AcademyHugo
2017–presentPuppy Dog PalsBob Also show creator
2019The Addams FamilyNorman Pickering, Ggerri