Early life

Oswalt was born January 27, 1969, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Carla (née Runfola) and Larry J. Oswalt, a career United States Marine Corps officer. He was named after General George S. Patton. He has one younger brother, Matt Oswalt, a comedy writer best known for the YouTube web series Puddin'. While he was a military brat, his family later lived in Ohio and Tustin, California, before settling in Sterling, Virginia. He is a 1987 graduate of Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia and subsequently graduated from the College of William and Mary, where he majored in English and was initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.

Career

Oswalt first began performing stand-up comedy in the late 1980s or early 1990s, by his own reckoning. After writing for MADtv and starring in his own 1996 comedy special for HBO, he went on to garner notable roles in films and television shows. His most prominent and long-running role was as Spence Olchin on The King of Queens. His first starring film role was as the voice of Remy, the lead character in the 2007 Pixar film Ratatouille. He has also appeared in smaller roles in such films as Magnolia and 22 Jump Street.

Oswalt wrote the comic book story "JLA: Welcome to the Working Week", a backup story in Batman #600; a story for Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon Noir #01 and a story for Masks: Too Hot for TV. Expanding his voice artist repertoire, he began voicing the villainous character "Tobey" on PBS Kids GO! series WordGirl in 2007. He also appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner. In August 2007, he appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav. In 2007, he appeared on an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, "The Original Fry Cook", as Jim. In 2008 Oswalt moderated a reunion panel of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast at the San Diego Comic-Con International.

In 2009, Oswalt played Paul Aufiero, the leading role in Robert D. Siegel's 2009 directorial debut, Big Fan. He was to star in a 2010 Broadway revival of Lips Together, Teeth Apart. However, the show was postponed then eventually canceled due to Megan Mullally's departure from the production when the director denied her request to replace Oswalt due to his lack of stage experience.

He starred in the Showtime drama The United States of Tara as Neil, an employee of Four Winds Landscaping. He also provided the voice of Thrasher, a robot protagonist from the Cartoon Network show, Robotomy.

In 2011, Oswalt released the book Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.

In November 2011, Oswalt played the role of Hurlan Heartshe in the surrealist comedy miniseries The Heart, She Holler on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. Also in November 2011, Oswalt was depicted blowing the second-ever puff of 3D pot smoke in A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. In December 2011, Oswalt played Matt Freehauf in Jason Reitman's black comedy Young Adult. In 2012, he originated the role of Billy Stanhope on Two and a Half Men.

As of September 2013, Oswalt narrates the TV series, The Goldbergs. He also had a recurring role as Constable Bob Sweeney in the fourth season of the FX series Justified.

As of March 20, 2014, it was announced that Patton would be cast in the role of Agent Koenig on the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He later appeared in separate episodes as brothers Eric and Billy Koenig. He continued to appear in the second season as Billy and a third brother Sam (as the original brother Eric is now deceased).

In January 2015 Oswalt's memoir Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film was published by Simon & Schuster. He also voiced the male version of Jesse in Minecraft: Story Mode, which was released in October 2015.

In November 2015, Oswalt was announced to be the second "Mad" to appear in the reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000, apparently as a relative of Frank Conniff's character TV's Frank.

Stand-up comedy

Oswalt's stand-up comedy covers topics ranging from pop culture frivolity, such as comic book supervillains and 1980s glam metal, to deeper social issues like American excess, materialism, foreign policy and religion. He also discusses his atheism in his stand-up. On February 28, 2009, Oswalt recorded his third comedy album at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington D.C. It premiered on Comedy Central as Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong on August 23, 2009, and was released on DVD August 25, 2009.

Oswalt's album, Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour, was released on September 19, 2011. The extended and uncensored DVD of this special was released in April 2012, a few days after its television premiere on Comedy Central.

Oswalt's comedy special Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time was to be released on January 16, 2014, via online movie streaming website Epix but was pushed back by the company for unknown reasons. However, it did premiere on Comedy Central on April 6 and became available for purchase on April 8 in both DVD and CD format.

Oswalt's comedy special Talking for Clapping was released on Netflix on April 22, 2016.

Personal life

Oswalt is an atheist and has referenced his atheism in his comedy specials, No Reason to Complain, Feelin' Kind of Patton, My Weakness Is Strong, and Finest Hour. It was also referenced by Katt Williams in the opening act of The Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.

In 2013, he teamed up with PETA and spoke out against chaining pet dogs, and sent a letter to the mayor and members of the city council of Newport News, Virginia, urging them to ban the practice.

Oswalt married writer Michelle McNamara on September 24, 2005. They have one daughter, Alice Rigney Oswalt, born April 15, 2009. On April 21, 2016, McNamara died in her sleep in their Los Angeles home at the age of 46. On the season 3 finale of The Goldbergs, they dedicated the episode in memory of her.

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Label	Chart positions
2003	222	Chunklet Magazine	—	—	—	—	—
2004	Feelin' Kinda Patton	United Musicians	—	—	—	—	—
2007	Werewolves and Lollipops	Sub Pop	137	1	—	18	4
2009	My Weakness Is Strong	Warner Bros.	67	1	5	—	—
2011	Finest Hour	Comedy Central Records	71	1	—	12	—
2014	Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time	Comedy Central Records	54	1	19	9	—

EPs

• Patton vs. Alcohol vs. Zach vs. Patton (2005) with Zach Galifianakis
• Melvins/Patton Oswalt split 7 (2006) with The Melvins
• Comedians of Comedy Tour 3"CD (2006)
• The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company (2006) with Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, and Eugene Mirman
• Frankensteins and Gumdrops (2008) Available during the WFMU pledge drive

Compilation album appearances

• Beth Lapides' Un-Cabaret - The Un & Only (2002)
• Beth Lapides' Un-Cabaret - The Good, The Bad, and the Drugly (2006)
• Comedy Death-Ray (2007)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Down Periscope	Stingray Radioman
1999	Man on the Moon	Blue Collar Guy
1999	Magnolia	Delmer Darion
2000	Desperate But Not Serious	Auteur No. 1
2001	Zoolander	Monkey Photographer
2002	ZigZag	Shelly
2003	Run Ronnie Run	Dozer
2003	Calendar Girls	Larry
2004	Taxi	Impound Cop
2004	Blade: Trinity	Hedges
2004	Starsky and Hutch	Disco DJ
2004	Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2	Himself	Direct-to-video
2005	The Comedians of Comedy	Himself	Documentary
2006	Failure to Launch	Techie Guy
2007	Reno 911!: Miami	Jeff Spoder
2007	Wrong Turn 2: Dead End	Tommy (voice)	Direct-to-video
2007	Ratatouille	Remy (voice)	Nominated—Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
2007	Balls of Fury	The Hammer
2007	Super High Me	Himself	Documentary
2008	Sex and Death 101	Fred
2008	All Roads Lead Home	Milo
2009	Observe and Report	Roger
2009	Big Fan	Paul Aufiero	Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Breakthrough Actor Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
2009	Informant!, TheThe Informant!	Ed Herbst
2010	Blood into Wine	Himself	Documentary
2011	Young Adult	Matt Freehauf	New York Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Comedy Palm Springs International Film Festival: Chairman's Vanguard Award Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Virtuoso Award Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
2011	Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, AA Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas	Larry Juston
2012	Seeking a Friend for the End of the World	Roache
2012	Nature Calls	Randy
2013	Odd Thomas	Ozzie P. Boone
2013	The Secret Life of Walter Mitty	Todd Maher
2014	Jason Nash Is Married	Producer
2014	22 Jump Street	MC State History Professor	Uncredited
2015	Dude Bro Party Massacre III	Chief
2015	Freaks of Nature	Stuart Miller
2016	Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie	Merv Griffin
2016	Space Cop	Space Police Chief
2016	Nerdland	Elliot (voice)
2016	The Confirmation	Drake
2016	The Circle	Tom Stenton	Post-production
2016	FML		Filming

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Seinfeld	Video Store Clerk	Episode: "The Couch"
1995-97	MADtv	Crip in Wheelchair	Episode: "1.5"; also writer
1996	NewsRadio	Guy	Episode: "The Trainer"
1996-1998	Mr. Show with Bob and David	Famous Mortimer / Man in Restaurant	2 episodes
1997	Weird Al Show, TheThe Weird Al Show	Seymour	Episode: "Bad Influence"
1997	HBO Half Hour Comedy Hour	Himself	Stand-up special
1998	Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist	Patton (voice)	2 episodes
1998	Pulp Comics: Margaret Cho	Various roles	Television special
1998-2007	King of Queens, TheThe King of Queens	Spence Olchin	125 episodes
1999	Comedy Central Presents	Himself	Stand-up special
2000	Batman Beyond	Eldon Michaels (voice)	Episode: "Sentries of the Last Cosmos"
2000-04	Static Shock	Specs/Spectral (voice)	3 episodes
2000	Super Nerds	Leslie	Pilot
2002	Man Show, TheThe Man Show	Weepum Buzzkillus	Uncredited Episode: "Juggy Car Wash"
2002	Home Movies	Helmet (voice)	Episode: "Renaissance"
2002-03	Crank Yankers	Boomer (voice)	4 episodes
2003-06	Aqua Teen Hunger Force	DP / Skeeter / Ezekial (voices)	3 episodes
2003-07	Kim Possible	Professor Dementor/Professor DeMenz (voice)	10 episodes
2004	Fairly OddParents, TheThe Fairly OddParents	Crimson Chin Writer	Episode: "The Big Superhero Wish"
2004	Tom Goes to the Mayor	Zynx (voice)	Episode: "Pioneer Island"
2004-09	Reno 911!	Various roles	10 episodes
2005	Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker	Carter Bogie	Episode: "Kids Putt-Putt/Double Dutch"
2006	Clark and Michael	Realtor	1 episode
2006	Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner	Roaster	Television special
2006	Patton Oswalt: No Reason to Complain	Himself	Stand-up special
2006	Squidbillies	Shecky Chucklestein (voice)	Episode: "Survival of the Dumbest"
2006-07	Batman, TheThe Batman	Cosmo Krank/Toymaker / Marty Slack (voices)	2 episodes
2006	Amazing Screw-On Head, TheThe Amazing Screw-On Head	Mr. Groin (voice)	Pilot
2007	Human Giant	Frat Boy / Let's Go Fan / The Wire Fan	3 episodes; also consultant writer
2007	SpongeBob SquarePants	Jim (voice)	Episode: "The Original Fry Cook"
2007	Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav	Roaster	Television special
2007	Reaper	Leon	Episode: "Leon"
2007-08, 2016	American Dad!	Bob Cinema / Ticket Man / Kiss Cam Operator (voices)	2 episodes
2007-08	Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!	Joshua Beard / Beaver Boys Doctor	3 episodes
2007-15	WordGirl	Theodore "Tobey" McCalister III / Robot / Various voices	33 episodes
2008	Lewis Black's Root of All Evil	Himself	6 episodes
2009	Flight of the Conchords	Elton John Impersonator	Episode: "Prime Minister"
2009	Iron Chef America	Himself	Episode: "Symon vs. Nawab: Pineapple"
2009	Venture Bros., TheThe Venture Bros.	Wonderboy (voice)	Episode: "Self-Medication"
2009	Dollhouse	Joel Mynor	2 episodes
2009	Patton Oswalt: My Weakness Is Strong	Himself	Stand-up special Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
2009-10	Community	Male Nurse Jackie	2 episodes
2009-11	United States of Tara	Neil	21 episodes
2009-11	Bored to Death	Howard Baker	4 episodes
2010	Sarah Silverman Program, TheThe Sarah Silverman Program	Vincent Van Guy	Episode: "A Good Van is Hard to Find"
2010	Neighbors from Hell	Pazuzu (voice)	10 episodes
2010	Caprica	Baxter Sarno	6 episodes
2010	Glenn Martin, DDS	Volunteer Center Guy (voice)	Episode: "Volunteers"
2010-2011	Robotomy	Thrasher (voice)	10 episodes
2011	Futurama	Unattractive Giant Monster (voice)	Episode: "Benderama"
2011	Jon Benjamin Has a Van	Steven Drears	Episode: "House on the Lake"
2011-present	Heart, She Holler, TheThe Heart, She Holler	Hurlan	28 episodes
2011	Raising Hope	Rubin	Episode: "Bro-gurt"
2011	Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour	Himself	Stand-up special Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
2012	High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange, TheThe High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange	Clyde the Pac Man Ghost (voice)	Episode: "Generic Holiday Special"
2012	Bob's Burgers	Moody Foodie (voice)	Episode: "Moody Foodie"
2012	Metalocalypse	Dr. Bartholomew Grahsrihajul / Klokateer (voices)	2 episodes
2012-13	Two and a Half Men	Billy Stanhope	5 episodes
2012	The Simpsons	T-Rex (voice)	Episode: "The Day the Earth Stood Cool"
2012-14	Comedy Bang! Bang!	Himself	2 episodes
2012	Burn Notice	Calvin Schmidt	3 episodes
2013	Portlandia	Thor83	2 episodes
2013-15	Justified	Constable Bob Sweeney	6 episodes
2013	Parks and Recreation	Garth Blundon	Episode: "Article Two" Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series
2013-15	Axe Cop	Sockarang (voice)	12 episodes
2013-present	The Goldbergs	Adult Adam Goldberg (voice)	52 episodes
2013	Brooklyn Nine-Nine	Fire Marshall Boone	2 episodes
2014	29th Independent Spirit Awards	Host	Television special Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) - Specials
2014	Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time	Himself	Stand-up special Nominated—American Comedy Award for Comedy Special of the Year Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
2014	Mighty Med	Ed	2 episodes
2014-present	Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.	Eric, Billy, and Sam Koenig	7 episodes
2014	Modern Family	Ducky	Episode: "Las Vegas"
2014-15	Drunk History	Charles Sumner / Mac Brazel	2 episodes
2014	Gravity Falls	Franz (voice)	Episode: "The Golf War"
2014-present	BoJack Horseman	Pinky Penguin / Various voices	8 episodes
2015	Battle Creek	Mayor Hardy	Episode: "Cereal Killer"
2015	Veep	Teddy Sykes	5 episodes
2015	Maron	Patton Oswalt	Episode: "Anti-Depressed"
2015-present	We Bare Bears	Nom Nom (voice)	4 episodes
2015	Rick and Morty	Beta Seven (voice)	Episode: "Auto Erotic Assimilation"
2015	The Adventures of Puss in Boots	Francisco (voice)	Episode: "Luck"
2016	Archer	Alan Shapiro (voice)	4 episodes
2016	Inside Amy Schumer	AMZ Host	Episode: "Madame President"
2016	Full Frontal with Samantha Bee		1 episode
2016	Lady Dynamite	Patton Cop	2 episodes

Video games

Year	Title	Voice role
2005	Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories	Radio Caller on Heartland Values with Nurse Bob
2006	Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories	New World Order Caller / Reporter
2007	Ratatouille	Remy
2007	Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am	DP / Skeeter
2012	Kinect Fun Labs: Kinect Rush - A Disney Pixar Adventures: Snapshot	Remy
2013	Metro: Last Light	Additional Voices (Uncredited)
2015	Minecraft: Story Mode	Jesse (male)

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist
2001	"Another Perfect Day"	American Hi-Fi
2011	"Excuse"	The Ettes
2013	"The Magic Clap"	The Coup
2014	"Foil"	"Weird Al" Yankovic
2015	"Will You Dance?"	The Bird and the Bee

Bibliography

• JLA: Welcome to the Working Week (DC Comics, 2003)
• The Overrated Book (co-author with Henry H. Owings, Last Gasp, San Francisco, 2006)
• The Goon: Noir (co-author with Thomas Lennon, Steve Niles and Eric Powell, Dark Horse Comics, 2007)
• The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture for Fans & Bands (co-author with Henry H. Owings, Quirk Books, Philadelphia, 2008)
• Serenity: Float Out (Dark Horse Comics, 2010)
• Zombie Spaceship Wasteland (Scribner, 2011)
• Silver Screen Fiend (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]