Fred Armisen full name Alfredo “Fred” Armisen. He is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, voice artist and singer-musician. Armisen was associated with ‘Saturday Night Live’, a live television sketch comedy show, for over a decade – from 2002 to 2013. During his association with the show, Armisen essayed several recurring characters and also did celebrity impressions with Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and David Patterson. Along with Carrie Brownstein, Armisen co-created the IFC sketch comedy series Portlandia. The actor was nominated for an Emmy Award back-to-back for three years from 2012 to 2014 in the category – Of Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.
Armisen began his acting career in the mid-’90s. He was first interested in music and used to play the drums in a local band along with his high school friends in Valley Stream, New York in 1984. However, the group soon dissolved. Later in 1988, he moved to Chicago to play the drums for the punk rock band Trenchmouth, and in the 1990s he played background drums with Blue Man Group.
Armisen played the drums on three tracks for Les Savy Fav’s 2007 album Let’s Stay Friends, as well as tracks for Matthew Sweet’s 2011 album Modern Art and Wandering Lucy’s 1996 album Leap Year.
He was the bandleader and frequent drummer of the 8G Band, the house band for Late Night with Seth Meyers, in February 2014. In 2018, Armisen played the drums as part of Devo at John Waters’ Burger Boogaloo festival in Oakland, California. In July 2021, he performed at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. However, he later chose to try acting and made his way to Hollywood. In this article, we will discuss more about Fred Armisen, both his personal and professional life.
Fred Armisen Bio
Fred Armisen was born on December 4, 1966, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His father, Fereydun Herbert Armisen, was of Korean and German descent, while his mother, Hildegardt Mirabal Level, was from Venezuela. They met while studying at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.
Soon after his birth in Hattiesburg, the family moved to New York, where at some point in time his father found job in the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). However, his mother became a teacher. Later, they spent two years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before moving back to the USA.
Back in the USA, they settled down in Long Island in Valley Stream, New York, where he went to Valley Stream Central High School and learned Spanish with his mother’s support. Sometimes now, he also developed a desire to become an artist. His mother equally supported him. In 1984, he began playing drums in a local band. However, the group did not last long and on graduating from school, he left home to enter the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.
Career
In 1988, Fred Armisen dropped out of the School of Visual Arts and moved to Chicago with his friend Damon Locks. There they formed a punk band, Trenchmouth with Armisen as the drummer, Locks as the vocalist and percussionist, Chris DeZutter, as the Guitarist and Wayne Montana as bassist.
Trenchmouth included diverse genres in their music. These are fusing Caribbean rhythms with hardcore punk, post-punk, funk, no-wave, reggae etc. However, music critics gave a negative review about them. In 1989, they released their debut LP, a post-punk track titled ‘Snakebite’.
In 1991, they released their debut studio album, Construction of New Action. After that, in 1993 they did ‘Inside The Future’ and in 1994 ‘Trenchmouth Vs. the Light of the Sun’. The first two were not very successful. However, the third made them a little popular and was named “Album Pick” by AllMusic.
After Trenchmouth, they released two more studio albums; Volumes, Amplifiers, and Equalizers in 1995 and The Broadcasting System in 1996. However, the group was dissolved soon after that. Armisen then went to work for Blue Man Group and received his first paycheck for it. While not playing with the band Trenchmouth, Armisen’s interests switched to acting.
In a January 2006 interview, he said, “I wanted to be on TV somehow. For some reason, I always thought it would be an indirect route; I didn’t know that it would be a comedy and Saturday Night Live. I just wanted to do something with performing that would lead me there.”
Fred Armisen Movies and TV Shows
Debut- 2014
Fred Armisen made his debut as an ‘interviewer’ in the music television series ‘Reverb’ in 1997. The show aired its final episode in November 2001. In 2002, he starred as the ‘New Age Dad’ in the sports comedy film ‘Like Mike’ directed by John Schultz. The film opened to mixed reviews and did not have good box office success. That same year, he also joined the cast of the American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show. It was ‘Saturday Night Live’. He starred in 229 episodes and remained a part of the show until 2013.
Armisen next appeared in television series and shows like ‘Comedy Lab’ (2004), ‘New York Noise’ (2005), ‘Squidbillies’ (2005-2008), and ‘Freak Show’ (2006). He also worked in ‘Tom Goes to the Mayor’ (2006), ‘Tim and Eric Nite Live!’ (2007), ‘The Sarah Silverman Program’ (2008), and ‘Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday’ (2008-2012).
In 2009, he starred as ‘Ryan Koening’ in the romantic comedy film ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ directed by P. J. Hogan. Even though the film saw negative reviews upon release, it was a box-office success. It grossed over $108.3 million against a budget of $44 million. The next year, he appeared in the American romantic comedy film ‘Our Family Wedding’. He next acted in ‘The Smurfs’ (2011), ‘The Dictator’ (2012), ‘The Smurfs 2’ (2013), and ‘The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow’ (2013).
2014- Present
In 2014, he joined the late-night and news satire talk show ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’. He still appears on the show as the bandleader. Armisen has also appeared in TV series and shows such as ‘Mike Tyson Mysteries’ (2014-2020), and ‘Man Seeking Woman’ (2015). In the same year, he did ‘The Jim Gaffigan Show’ (2015) and ‘Difficult People’ (2015).
In 2015, he launched the TV series ‘Documentary Now!’. The series aired 3 seasons and was on for a fourth season in 2019. From 2016 to 2020, Armisen portrayed suspected murderer Robert Durst on five episodes of Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,”.
In 2017, he began voicing Elliot Birch on another Netflix series named “Big Mouth”. In 2018, Fred co-starred with “SNL” alum Maya Rudolph on the Amazon Prime Video series “Forever,”. After that, in 2019, he began starring on, writing, and producing the Spanish-language HBO series “Los Espookys.”
In 2020, Armisen joined the cast of the Showtime series “Moonbase 8,” starring as Dr. Michael “Skip” alongside John C. Reilly and Tim Heidecker; Fred is also a writer and producer on the show. He has appeared in the films “The Little Hours” (2017), “Battle of the Sexes” (2017), “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” (2019), and “All Together Now” (2020).
He did the television series “The Last Man on Earth” (2017–2018), “Superstore” (2019), “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (2020), “Mapleworth Murders” (2020), and “Schmigadoon!” (2021). In 2021, he also voiced the character ‘Splendib’ in ‘Centaurworld’. It was an American animated musical comedy TV series. In 2022, he did the American comedy film ‘The Bubble’ directed by Judd Apatow. After that, in 2023, he got to play the role of Uncle Fester on the Netflix Series Wednesday.
Other Works
In 1998, he posed as a music journalist for the short film Fred Armisen’s Guide to Music and South by Southwest. His then-girlfriend Sally Timms filmed it. It featured Armisen’s “pranking musicians and industry types” during the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
Armisen is part of ThunderAnt. It is a comedy duo with guitarist Carrie Brownstein. The duo creates comedic short skits often about one-man shows, feminist bookstores, and bicycle rights activists.
Armisen has directed music videos for bands like ‘The Helio Sequence’. He also had a role in the Wilco documentary ‘I Am Trying to Break Your Heart’. He was also in video segments on Blue Man Group’s How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0. Armisen often writes for Pitchfork Media and interviewed Cat Power for that company.
Fred played Jens Hannemann on Jimmy Kimmel Live on October 19, 2007. After that, In 2010, Armisen briefly joined Joanna Newsom’s tour for her album Have One on Me as his character Jens Hannemann. In 2013, Armisen was in the official music video for Portland. It was a Oregon-based band Red Fang’s song “Blood Like Cream”. In 2021, he appeared as the lead in the official music video for the 2020 mix of George Harrison’s song “My Sweet Lord”. Along with Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis, Armisen voiced radio characters in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.
Awards and Achievements
Fred Armisen was a nominee for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2012. It was for his work on Portlandia. After that, in 2014 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 2014. He received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album for Standup for Drummers in 2019.
He has also won two Peabody Awards. One in 2008 as part of the Saturday Night Live political satire cast and one in 2011 for Portlandia. Since 2019, he co-stars and acts as writer and executive producer on the Spanish-language series Los Espookys, which he co-created.
- 2019 Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Nominated
- 2017 Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Nominated
- 2016 Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Nominated
- 2016 Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: Nominated
- 2015 Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Nominated
- 2014 Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Nominated
- 2014 Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: Nominated
- 2013 Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: Nominated
- 2012 Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: Nominated
Fred Armisen Net Worth
As of 2023, Fred Armisen has a net worth of amount $10 million. His main source of income is from his career as an actor, producer and singer. Armisen’s successful career has earned him some lavish lifestyles and some fancy car trips. He is one of the richest and most popular actors in the United States. He is also the co-founder of the website ‘ThunderAnt.com’ along with Carrie Brownstein. In 2014, he purchased a home in Los Angeles for $763,000. He listed the house for $949,000 in 2016. Fred is now the owner of a $2.03 million house in Los Feliz.
Fred Armisen Brooklyn 99
Fereydun Robert “Fred” Armisen is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer and musician. He portrays Mlep(clay)nos on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Mlep(clay)nos, (the clay is silent), is a man whom detectives Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago encountered and bonded with twice when they were on door duty as ordered by the new C.O. Then later into the series, he performs the wedding processional song to their ceremony.
Fred Armisen Wednesday
Fred Armisen proved himself to be the perfect man for the role as he appeared as Uncle Fester in Tim Burton’s Wednesday series on Netflix. The role of Uncle Fester was the final Addams Family character announced for the show. Therefore, Fester was even absent from Wednesday’s original trailer. Fred Armisen is best known as a comedic actor who had an eleven-year run on Saturday Night Live.
Fred Armisen is typically popular as a character actor with supporting roles in several movies and TV series. And also as the voice of Cranky Kong in the upcoming Super Mario Bros Movie. On the surface, Fred Armisen is a very uncommon person to take on the role of Uncle Fester over a more well-known name such as Johnny Depp. Fred Armisen only appears as Uncle Fester in a guest-starring role in Wednesday’s latest episode “If You Don’t Woe Me by Now”.
However, despite only appearing in this single episode, Armisen was quite invested in the role. It is not by only being willing to travel to the show’s shooting location in Romania but by deciding to shave his head.
Fred Armisen Modern Family
Fred Armisen along with comedian Patton Oswalt of ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ starred as guests on the ABC show. The ‘Modern Family’, in an episode filmed in Las Vegas, invited a couple of stars along. Fred Armisen guest stars as Langham, an ex-boyfriend of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s character Mitchell, who’s having a bachelor party in Sin City with his partner. However, Oswalt plays Ducky Schindler, the leader of a group of magicians that catch Phil’s (Ty Burrell) attention.
Fred Armisen Partner
American actress Natasha Lyonne and Fred Armisen were longtime partners. They were in a relationship for almost 7 years. Lyonne and Armisen were first linked in 2014 when they attended Netflix’s post-Emmys party at the Chateau Marmont. The two of them had been together since then. However, Fred Armisen and she called their quits in April 2022. In an interview, the 43-year-old actress opened up about her bond with Armisen and confirmed their split.
She said, “I honestly think we broke up because I wanted a swimming pool,” she continued. “We love each other just about as much as two people can love each other and we’re still talking all the time, but Freddy doesn’t like a swimming pool. It might seem like a mundane reason for a breakup, but during that pandemic, you’ve got to get your laps. I’m like Burt Lancaster in The Swimmer.”
However, Fred Armisen was previously married to English singer and songwriter Sally Timms from 1998 to 2004. After that, to actress Elisabeth Moss from 2009 to 2011. He got divorced from both of them. Moss, while describing their time together said, “extremely traumatic and awful and horrible”. He also dated artist Alice Lancaster. After their break-up, she painted a portrait of him entitled Fred Armisen: Portrait of a Sociopath.
FAQs
What nationality is Armisen?
Fred Armisen or Fereydun Robert Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is American by nationality. He is an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician.
What new show is Fred Armisen in?
Netflix’s official trailer for the upcoming comedy horror series “Wednesday” has been unveiled at New York Comic Con, with comedian Fred Armisen revealed as the bald and extremely pale Uncle Fester.
Is Fred Armisen fluent in Spanish?
Yes, Armisen speaks fluent Spanish with an accent.
How old is Fred Armisen?
Fred Armisen was born on December 4, 1966, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. As of 2023, he is 56 years old.
What is Fred Armisen known for?
Alfredo “Fred” Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is an American actor, comedian and musician. He is best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and for portraying off-colour foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Cop Out or Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
What is Fred Armisen ethnicity?
His mother, schoolteacher Hildegardt Mirabal Level, was born in San Fernando de Apure, Venezuela. He has family from both San Rafael de Atamaica and Apure. His father, Fereydun Herbert “Fred” Armisen, who worked for IBM, was born in Soltau, Lower Saxony, Germany to a German mother and a Korean-born father.
Is Fred Armisen married?
Fred Armisen was previously married to English singer and songwriter Sally Timms from 1998 to 2004. After that to actress Elisabeth Moss from 2009 to 2011. He got divorced from both of them. He was dating American actress Natasha Lyonne since 2014. However, the two of them split after 7 years.
Does Fred Armisen have children?
No, actor Fred Armisen does not have any children as of now.
