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Frank Caliendo (born January 19, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American comedian best known for his impersonations on the FOX Network television series MADtv, and has been the in-house prognosticator for FOX NFL Sunday.
Biography
After college, Caliendo began performing stand-up comedy, taking a job as a M.C at a local comedy club. Within a year he was headlining. He made his network series debut on the sketch comedy series Hype.
Caliendo has performed stand-up on such series as cable's Premium Blend, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The View, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His signature 'John Madden' impression is frequently seen on FOX NFL Sunday, The Best Damn Sports Show Period and Mohr Sports. Caliendo has also appeared on Comedy Central (Comedy Central Presents), as well as the Opie and Anthony, The John Boy and Billy Big Show, Elliot In the Morning and his favorite, The Drew and Mike Show in Detroit.
MADtv
Caliendo officially joined the cast of MADtv in 2001 as a repertory performer, for the seventh season. During his tenure, he has become well regarded as one of the most talented impersonators in comedy today, and as MADtv's equivalent to Saturday Night Live's Darrell Hammond. He also did almost the whole cast of Seinfeld in an anti-drug episode. In 2002, Caliendo replaced Will Sasso as the impersonator of George W. Bush, but he would win audience members over with an offbeat impersonation of former FOX sports announcer John Madden. Both became some of the cast member's most popular impressions on MADtv, and would be featured quite prominently during his tenure.
Caliendo's other famous impersonations included Al Pacino, Andy Rooney, Donald Trump, Jack Nicholson, Jay Leno, Kelsey Grammer, Robin Williams, Rod Roddy, Ted Koppel, Brian Regan, and Terry Bradshaw.
He is also known to breakdance occasionally. He learned to break dance as a kid and was a member of the Night Hawks break dance group.
In August 2006, Caliendo announced he would not return to MADtv for its 2006-2007 season.
Impersonations
Below is a list of impersonations that Frank Caliendo has done while on MADtv and in his standup routine.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Al Michaels
- Andy Rooney
- Bill Clinton
- Casey Kasem
- David Letterman
- Donald Trump
- Doris Roberts
- Dr. Philip McGraw
- Fred Grandy
- George W. Bush
- Ian McShane
- Jack Nicholson
- James Gandolfini
- Jay Leno
- Janeane Garofalo
- Jeff Goldblum
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Joe Pesci
- Joey Fatone
- John Madden
- Jonathan Winters
- Keanu Reeves
- Kelsey Grammer
- Larry Flynt
- Louie Anderson
- Matthew Perry
- Michael Richards
- Pat Summerall
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Ray Romano
- Regis Philbin
- Robert De Niro
- Robin Williams
- Roger Ebert
- Sean Astin
- T.R. Knight
- Ted Knight
- Ted Koppel
- Tom Brokaw
- William Shatner
FOX NFL Sunday
As the prognosticator for the NFL on FOX, he appears on FOX NFL Sunday to give his predictions for the coming NFL week. Typically these come after he does a skit, typically a one-man skit, where he does one of his famous impersonations. For example, for the first week's FOX NFL Sunday of the 2006 NFL season, he impersonated James Brown, who left the show in the off-season to join The NFL Today on CBS. He also imitates the cast of FOX NFL Sunday on occasion, most frequently Terry Bradshaw.
Television appearances
- Comedy Central Presents (2004)
- Mind of Mencia (2005) as George W. Bush (voice)
- MADtv (2001- 2006) as Various Characters