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Nick Kroll

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Nick Kroll
Kroll in 2024
Born
Nicholas Kroll

(1978-06-05) June 5, 1978 (age 48)
Rye, New York, U.S.
EducationGeorgetown University (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Lily Kwong
​
(m. 2020)​
Children2
FatherJules Kroll
Relatives
Websitenickkroll.com

Nicholas Kroll (born June 5, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is known for the FX comedy series The League (2009–2015); creating and starring in the Comedy Central series Kroll Show (2013–2015); and starring in and co-creating the animated Netflix series Big Mouth (2017–2025), Human Resources (2022–2023) and Mating Season (2026), as well as the Hulu sketch comedy series History of the World, Part II (2023).

He has acted or voice-acted in films such as I Love You, Man (2009), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Adult Beginners (2014), Vacation (2015), Sausage Party and Sing (both 2016), Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), The House (2017), The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), Sing 2 and How It Ends (both 2021), The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022), First Time Female Director (2023), Red One (2024) and Smurfs (2025).

Early life

Kroll was born in Rye, New York,[1][2] on June 5, 1978,[3] to Lynn and Jules Kroll. His father is a billionaire businessman who founded the corporate investigations and risk consulting firm Kroll Inc.[3][4] The youngest child in the family,[5] Kroll has a brother, Jeremy, and two sisters, Vanessa and Dana.[3] He grew up in a Conservative Jewish family,[6] and attended the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester.[7] He went on to high school at Rye Country Day School.[8] During this time, he briefly attended The Mountain School in Vershire, Vermont, where he developed a fondness for hiking.[9] In 2001, Kroll graduated from Georgetown University.[5] He described himself as a history major who minored in art and Spanish, but found himself "gravitating toward media studies as time went on."[10]

Career

Early in his career, Kroll contributed writing for Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show and MTV's Human Giant. In November and December 2008, he toured with Aziz Ansari on his Glow in the Dark comedy tour in the United States.[11] Kroll's live work is a mix of standup, sketch and characters. In 2011, Comedy Central aired his stand-up special Thank You Very Cool.[12] He has studied and performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City and Los Angeles and co-hosted the stand-up show Welcome to Our Week with Jessi Klein.[13][14]

He has performed characters such as Bobby Bottleservice, who has been featured in a number of online videos for the website Funny or Die, including the Ed Hardy Boyz and an audition tape for the MTV show Jersey Shore.[15] Other characters include Ref Jeff and Fabrice Fabrice, and Gil Faizon of The Oh, Hello Show, who he created with writing partner John Mulaney.[16] His character work features prominently in Kroll Show, a sketch comedy show on Comedy Central. Kroll was honored with the Breakout Star of the Year award from the 2013 Just For Laughs festival.[17]

The Oh, Hello Show

Kroll toured the U.S. alongside John Mulaney in The Oh, Hello Show, with both in character as Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland, respectively. The show premiered on Broadway on September 23, 2016, and ran for six months to positive reviews. The Broadway performance was filmed and released on Netflix in 2017.[18]

Television

Kroll at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016.

Kroll's first significant career success came when he co-starred in the ABC sitcom Cavemen, based on the Geico insurance TV commercial characters. Although the show was cancelled after seven episodes, he called his role "the most important experience of my professional career".[19] He went on to VH1's Best Week Ever, and to guest-starring roles on Parks and Recreation, Community, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and New Girl. He made appearances on numerous Comedy Central series such as Reno 911!,[20] John Oliver's New York Stand Up Show, and The Benson Interruption, both performing as himself and in character.[citation needed]

Kroll had a starring role as Rodney Ruxin in the FXX comedy series The League, which aired October 29, 2009, to December 9, 2015. Concurrently, he created and starred in his own Comedy Central sketch series, Kroll Show, which aired January 16, 2013, to March 24, 2015. Kroll had a recurring role on Childrens Hospital on Adult Swim. His voice work includes the character Stu on the HBO animated series The Life & Times of Tim, Andrew LeGustambos in the animated Fox comedy series Sit Down, Shut Up,[21] and Reuben Grinder in the PBS Kids GO! series WordGirl. Kroll was one of the roasters on the Comedy Central Roast of James Franco.[22]

In 2017, Kroll co-created, wrote, and starred in Big Mouth, an animated television show on Netflix.[23] The show features the experiences of a group of 7th graders in the throes of puberty. Two of the main characters are based on, and named after, Kroll and his best friend from childhood, Andrew Goldberg.[23] Kroll plays Nick, as well as Coach Steve, Maurice the Hormone Monster, Lola, Rick the Hormone Monster, the Jansen twins and Lady Liberty, in addition to several further minor and one-off characters. The show's success led its creators – Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett – to form the production company Brutus Pink, which works with Titmouse, Inc. to produce other shows for Netflix like the spin-off Human Resources, as well as the series Mating Season.

Film

Kroll starred in A Good Old Fashioned Orgy and had supporting roles in comedy films such as Sing, Dinner for Schmucks, Date Night, Get Him to the Greek, Adventures of Power, and I Love You Man.

In 2016, Kroll's first villain role was a vaginal douche in the adult animated film Sausage Party.[24] Originally, he played Douche's voice in a British accent, but the team wanted to make a Pixar-like film instead of a Disney Renaissance-like film.[25]

In 2017, Kroll then had a second villain voice role as a villainous mad scientist Professor Poopypants in the DreamWorks animated superhero film Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. Although many critics only either mentioned his character in passing, some pointing out his similarities with Albert Einstein,[26][27][28] or his "committed" performance,[29][30] Matt Zoller Seitz took particular note of his performance, praising it as "irrepressibly silly" with "an orange juice spit-take voice". Seitz further stated that "[t]he way Kroll savors every syllable of his alternately peevish, self-pitying and nonsensical dialogue—aided mightily by the animators, who've given the character a fireplug body and a waddling walk—transforms the ridiculous into the sublime."[31] In recent years, Kroll has taken several non-comedic acting roles, such as that of Bernie Cohen in Loving and Rafi Eitan in Operation Finale, both historical drama films.[32][33]

Book

In 2005, Kroll published a book, Bar Mitzvah Disco, cowritten with Jules Shell and Roger Bennett.[34]

Personal life

In May 2013, Kroll began dating comedian and actress Amy Poehler.[35] They ended their relationship in 2015.[36]

Kroll met landscape artist Lily Kwong in 2018.[37] They married in November 2020 and their son was born in January 2021.[38][39] In November 2023, they announced the birth of their daughter.[40]

Kroll's brother-in-law is journalist Roger Bennett, who is married to Kroll's sister Vanessa.[41] Through his wife, his cousin-in-law is fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra.[42][43][44]

Before the 2020 United States elections, Kroll and other celebrities participated in the #IDCheck Challenge from VoteRiders to raise awareness about what identification voters need to cast a ballot in the election.[45]

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
2008The Negotiating TableWGA employeeShort film
Adventures of PowerVersatio Bakir
2009I Love You, ManLarry
2010Date NightThe Maître D
Get Him to the GreekKevin McLean
Dinner for SchmucksJosh
Little FockersYoung Doctor
2011A Good Old Fashioned OrgyAdam Richman
2014Adult BeginnersJake WentonAlso writer
2015VacationColorado Cop
Knight of CupsNick
2016JoshyEric
My Blind BrotherBill
Sausage PartyDouche (voice)
LovingBernie Cohen
SingGunter (voice)[46][47]
2017Captain Underpants: The First Epic MovieProfessor Poopypants (voice)
The HouseBob Schaeffer
2018Uncle DrewMookie
Operation FinaleRafi Eitan
2019Olympic DreamsEzraAlso writer and producer
The Secret Life of Pets 2Happy Sergei (voice)
The Addams FamilyUncle Fester (voice)
2020Have a Good Trip: Adventures in PsychedelicsHimselfDocumentary
2021How It EndsGary
The Addams Family 2Uncle Fester (voice)
Sing 2Gunter (voice)
2022The Bob's Burgers MovieScary Carnie (voice)
Don't Worry DarlingDean
2023First Time Female DirectorClyde
2024I Don't Understand YouDom
Red OneTed
2025SmurfsChernobog
2026GoatModo Olachenko (voice)
RoommatesBrianPost-production[48][49]
Television shows
Year Title Role Notes
2006CHTVPSA AnnouncerEpisode 1: The Pilot[50]
Late Night with Conan O'BrienVariousEpisode: "2269"
Cheap Seats without Ron ParkerTodd LazarovEpisode: "NFL/MLB Arm Wrestling"
Samurai Love God(voice)Miniseries
2007Human GiantFabrice Fabrice, Various, Brolin DiBiasi2 episodes
2007–2008CavemenNick Hedge8 episodes
2008Best Week EverHimselfEpisode: "November 14, 2008"
2008–2009Worst WeekAdam6 episodes
2008–2011Childrens HospitalNicky, Dr. Geza6 episodes
2008–2012The Life & Times of TimStu (voice)30 episodes
2009The CollegeHumor ShowChuck PaulsonEpisode: "Rival Site"
Reno 911!El Chupacabra3 episodes
Mayne StreetPaparazzoEpisode: "There's Ben"
Sit Down, Shut UpAndrew LeGustambos (voice)13 episodes
2009–2010WordGirlReuben Grinder (voice)2 episodes
2009–2015The LeagueRodney RuxinMain cast; also writer
2010Nick Swardson's Pretend TimeHeadmasterEpisode: "I Just Got Voodoo'd"
John Oliver's New York Stand-Up ShowHimselfEpisode: "1.1" (as Fabrice Fabrice), "1.5"
2011CommunityJuergenEpisode: "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism"
PortlandiaDaniel Prison2 episodes
2011–2012American Dad!Dry Cleaner, Student, Andy Dick (voice)4 episodes
2011–2015Parks and RecreationThe Douche5 episodes
2012–2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Various5 episodes
2013–2015Kroll ShowVarious characters23 episodes; also co-creator, executive producer, writer
2013New GirlJamieEpisode: "Chicago"
Burning LoveKhris4 episodes
The Greatest Event in Television HistoryJeremy BayEpisode: "Hart to Hart"
The SoupHimselfEpisode: "9.55"
Comedy Central Roast of James FrancoRoasterTV special
Family GuyRicky (voice)Episode: "Into Harmony's Way"
Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!Himself3 episodes
The Jeselnik Offensive2 episodes
2014Drunk HistoryRonald ReaganEpisode: "Hollywood"
MulaneyJesse Tyler MunozEpisode: "It's a Wonderful Home Alone"
2015Brooklyn Nine-NineAgent KendrickEpisode: "Windbreaker City"
Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtChristopher "Tristafé" MicelliEpisode: "Kimmy Rides a Bike!"
The Grace Helbig ShowHimselfEpisode: "Nick Kroll & Tyler Oakley"
The SimpsonsLem (voice)Episode: "Halloween of Horror"
SuperMansionCleb (voice)Episode: "Babes In The Wood"
2016Animals.Jerry (voice)Episode: "Pigeons."
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$Graham SimonEpisode: "Predator Party"
Mr. Neighbor's HousePhoto Joe (voice)TV special
201732nd Independent Spirit AwardsHimself (host)
2017–2021Bob's BurgersMr. Desanto / Customer (voice)2 episodes
2017Oh, Hello on BroadwayGil FaizonTV special
I'm SorryLonEpisode: "Weekend Alone"
2017–2025Big MouthNick Birch / Maury the Hormone Monster / Coach Steve / Lola / various voices81 episodes; also co-creator, executive producer, writer
2017At Home with Amy SedarisRandy FingerlingEpisode: "Gift Giving"
201833rd Independent Spirit AwardsHimself (host)TV special
ExplainedNarratorEpisode: "!"
PortlandiaGil FaizonEpisode: "Peter Follows P!nk"
2019–2022What We Do in the ShadowsSimon the Devious3 episodes
2019–2020Crank YankersHimself (voice)2 episodes
2020Curb Your EnthusiasmRestaurant ManagerEpisode: "The Ugly Section"
High MaintenanceNickEpisode: "Trick"
Home Movie: The Princess Bride[51]Vizzini / Inigo Montoya / FezzikEpisode: "The Shrieking Eels"
2021DickinsonEdgar Allan PoeEpisode: "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?"
2022Bust DownDJ Jacuzzi (voice)Episode: "Party of Two"
2022–2023Human ResourcesMaury the Hormone Monster / Rick / various voices20 episodes; also co-creator, executive producer, writer
2022Our Flag Means DeathGabriel2 episodes
RoarDougEpisode: "The Woman Who Disappeared"
2023History of the World, Part IIVarious8 episodes; also writer, director, and executive producer
ExtrapolationsAlpha (voice)Episode: "2047: The Fifth Question"
2024Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Cantaloupe / Coconut (voice) Episode: "Medicaid"
John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA Gil Faizon Episode: "Paranormal"
Mr. Throwback Himself Episode: "Eric Roth Costs a Fortune, Bro"
KrapopolisGrarg/Jörmungandr (voices)Episode: "Thor"
The Franchise Kyle Episode: "Scene 83: Enter the Gurgler"
2026Mating Season Ray the Raccoon (voice) Main role; also co-creator, executive producer, writer [52]

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result
2009Denver Film Critics Society AwardDenver Film Critics Society Award for Best Acting EnsembleI Love You, ManNominated
2015People's Choice Award[53]Favorite Sketch Comedy TV ShowKroll ShowNominated
2017Annie AwardVoice Acting in a Feature ProductionCaptain Underpants: The First Epic MovieNominated
2018Gotham AwardBreakthrough Series – Long FormBig MouthNominated
2019Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Animated ProgramNominated
2020Nominated
2021Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Phelan, Kevin (December 12, 2014). "Rye native Nick Kroll talks 'Kroll Show'". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  2. ↑ Petersen, Anne Helen (March 5, 2015). "Nick Kroll's Walk In the Park". BuzzFeed.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nick Kroll". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  4. ↑ Barnett, Megan (December 1, 2010). "Nick Kroll: The other, other Kroll". Fortune. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Kroll, Nick. "Make 'Em Laugh: Nick Kroll (C'01)". Georgetown Alumni Online. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ Schleier, Curt (October 28, 2016). "Comedian Nick Kroll is serious about being funny". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ Serico, Chris (January 16, 2013). "'Kroll Show' star Nick Kroll recalls Rye upbringing". Newsday Hudson Buzz blog via Serico Stories. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  8. ↑ Gordon, Barry (August 16, 2011). "Growing Up in Rye Helps TV Star". Rye, New York: Rye.Patch.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ Goldman, Andrew (January 13, 2013). "Taking A Hike". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ Kroll in Heisler, Steve (October 29, 2009). "Nick Kroll". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  11. ↑ Faires, Robert (December 19, 2008). "Aziz Ansari: Ready, steady, glow!". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ Greenberg, Rudi (January 26, 2011). "One-Man Muppet Show: Nick Kroll, 'Thank You Very Cool'". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Wild times at UCB with Amy Poehler, Ilana Glazer, Nick Kroll and more". EW.com. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  14. ↑ Dobbs, Aaron; Oei, Lily (February 18, 2005). "Jessi Klein, Writer/Comedian". Gothamist. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ NPR Staff (January 19, 2014). "Before 'Jersey Shore' Owned Sleaze, There Was Bobby Bottleservice". NPR. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Oh, Hello". HuffPost. January 9, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  17. ↑ Tepper, Allegra (July 22, 2013). "What's Next for Just for Laughs Comedy Honorees". Variety. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  18. ↑ Kurp, Josh (May 18, 2017). "John Mulaney And Nick Kroll's Broadway Show 'Oh, Hello' Is Coming To Netflix". Uproxx.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  19. ↑ Petersen, Anne Helen (March 5, 2015). "Nick Kroll's Walk In the Park". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  20. ↑ WTFpod: Marc Maron interviews El Chupacabra (Nick Kroll), November 30, 2009, retrieved October 18, 2022
  21. ↑ Jensen, Michael (January 15, 2009). "Fox's animated "Sit Down, Shut Up" includes bisexual male character". After Elton. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  22. ↑ "The Comedy Central Roast Of James Franco". AV Club. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  23. 1 2 Gross, Terry (March 2, 2018). "Best Of: Nick Kroll & John Mulaney / 'Shape Of Water' Fish Man". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  24. ↑ Fox, Jesse David; writer, a Vulture; Jokes, host of Good One: A. Podcast About (August 12, 2016). "Sausage Party Takes Itself Too Seriously". Vulture. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Nick Kroll Breaks Down His Most Famous Character Voices". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  26. ↑ Jones, Oliver (June 2, 2017). "'Captain Underpants' Is an Inspired and Subversive Piece of Animated Silliness". Observer. Observer Media. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  27. ↑ Russo, Tom (June 1, 2017). "Feeling silly? 'Captain Underpants' is here for you". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  28. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (June 2, 2017). "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is a 'tighty-whitey triumph' with charm to spare". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  29. ↑ Berardinelli, James (June 1, 2017). "Captain Underpants (United States, 2017)". Reelviews. James Berardinelli. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  30. ↑ Oller, Jacob (June 2, 2017). "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie". Paste Magazine. Paste Media Group. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  31. ↑ Seitz, Matt Zoller (June 2, 2017). "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Movie Review (2017)". RogerEbert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  32. ↑ Burack, Emily (August 22, 2018). "A Super Jewish Interview with Nick Kroll: The Holocaust, Bagels, and 'Operation Finale'". Hey Alma. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  33. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (September 22, 2015). "Nick Kroll, Michael Shannon Join 'Loving' Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  34. ↑ Bennett, Roger; Kroll, Nick; Shell, Jules (2005). Bar Mitzvah Disco. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-1400080441.
  35. ↑ Johnson, Zach (October 14, 2014). "Amy Poehler Breaks Her Silence on Calling It Quits With Will Arnett: "Getting a Divorce Really Sucks"". E! Online. E!. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  36. ↑ Blasberg, Derek. "Nick Kroll, Comedy's Ultimate Tool, Is Actually a Pretty Decent Guy". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 13, 2017. (He and Amy Poehler split up in 2015 after two years of dating.)
  37. ↑ Orfanides, Effie (September 6, 2022). "Who Is Nick Kroll's Wife? All About Lily Kwong". People. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  38. ↑ Jokic, Natasha (November 28, 2020). "Surprise, Nick Kroll Just Got Married!". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  39. ↑ Ushe, Naledi (February 8, 2021). "Nick Kroll and His Wife Lily Kwong Welcome Their First Child: 'Our Beautiful Baby Boy'". People. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Nick Kroll Welcomes Baby No. 2, a Daughter, with Wife Lily Kwong: 'So Much Joy and Harmony'". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  41. ↑ "WEDDINGS; Vanessa Kroll, Roger Bennett (Published 2000)". The New York Times. October 29, 2000. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  42. ↑ "How Former Model Lily Kwong Became the Darling of Landscape Architecture". Observer. August 30, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Lily Kwong, Student & Model". Into The Gloss. February 24, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  44. ↑ "A Family story | Altuzarra Official Site". www.altuzarra.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  45. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (September 29, 2020). "Rory O'Malley, Amy Schumer, Elizabeth Banks and More Participate in VoteRiders #IDCheck Challenge". Broadway World.
  46. ↑ Yuen, Jenny (September 11, 2016). "TIFF 2016: Matthew McConaughey optimistic about 'Sing'". Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  47. ↑ Trumbore, Dave (November 11, 2015). "Meet the Animated Animals of Illumination Entertainment's 2016 Musical Comedy, 'Sing'". Collider. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  48. ↑ Alliance, Morris County Economic Development (June 25, 2025). "Adam Sandler Is Making Another Movie in NJ With His Daughter!". Morris County Economic Development Alliance. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  49. ↑ Mitra, Soma (July 12, 2025). "What Is 'Roommates' on Netflix? Everything You Need to Know About the New Comedy Drop". Netflix Junkie. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  50. ↑ "CollegeHumor: CHTV". Connected Ventures LLC. Archived from the original on August 14, 2006. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  51. ↑ Starner, Nina (June 26, 2020). "Quibi just announced a Princess Bride remake you never expected to see". Looper.com. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  52. ↑ DiLillo, John (February 17, 2026). "Meet the Cast of Mating Season, Coming May 22".
  53. ↑ Toomey, Alyssa (November 4, 2014). "Jennifer Lawrence, Shailene Woodley and Robert Downey Jr. Among People's Choice Nominees, Plus Find Out Who's Hosting!". E!. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
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