Even after fighting in five combat zones and two wars as a U.S. Marine, comedian Rob Riggle still sees the lighter side of life.
It's all about your personality. I know a lot of guys that are awesome and fun
and I know a lot of guys that are sticks in the mud Riggle said via phone from New York City. When I see people taking themselves seriously I jump to make fun of them.
The multi-talented entertainer will be all laughs tomorrow during his Dads Weekend comedy show at Ohio University's Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
The cost of the program, including Riggle's compensation, is $18,000, which will be completely covered by ticket sales, said Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center and booking agent for the Performing Arts Series.
Best known as a former correspondent on The Daily Show, Riggle has also appeared on Saturday Night Live and in movies such as The Hangover and Step Brothers. Though he started his career doing improvisational and sketch comedy with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York, his real passion lies in portraying silly characters such as The Hangover's Taser-clad Officer Franklin.
I like finding a character and blowing him out and making him either way more subtle or way more obnoxious
said Riggle, a native of Louisville, Ky., who studied theater and film at the University of Kansas. But I consider myself a man who wears many
many hats.
As a veteran of various forms of comedy, Riggle views stand-up as one of the best ways to exercise his humor muscle
he said.
Stand-up
I think
is one of the most pure art forms out there
he said. It's you
a microphone and the audience
and you've got to go out there and entertain them. Sometimes they're enjoying what you're doing and sometimes they're not
