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William Ray "Bill" Engvall, Jr. (born July 27, 1957) is an American comedian best known for his work as a stand-up comic and as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy group. In 2007 TBS began airing his sitcom The Bill Engvall Show. He has released multiple comedy albums on Warner Bros. Records as well.
BiographyEarly lifeEngvall was born in Galveston, Texas. He attended Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas. He attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where he was a member of Xi Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. A staff member confirmed that Bill Engvall worked there at Inner Space Caverns many years ago when he was attending college, quickly mentioned in Engvall's autobiography, "Just A Guy." He also briefly mentioned this in one of the Blue Collar Comedy Tours. He left college, though, to pursue a career in the world of comedy.
Personal lifeBill and Gail Engvall have been married since December 18, 1982. They have a daughter named Emily (born 1986), a senior at the University of Puget Sound, as well as a son, Travis (born 1991), a freshman at Northern Arizona University. Both appear regularly in his humor.
CareerEngvall began his career on the sitcom Designing Women. He hit his first big break when he went on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and from there won the American Comedy Awards Comic of the Year. He then joined the cast of Delta Burke's self-titled series Delta, which lasted for one year
. He then began producing his own albums. Before becoming a well-known comedian, Engvall joined the popular talent show Star Search.
Engvall toiled in relative obscurity for several years, hitting a low point while starring as "CHUD #14" in the film C.H.U.D., until he turned his most famous routine, "Here's Your Sign," into a song by country music star Travis Tritt. The routine involves Bill offering "signs" to people to identify them as foolish upon them asking a redundant or obvious question.
He has appeared on The Jeff Foxworthy Show alongside best friend and fellow comic Jeff Foxworthy, with whom he starred in the hit film Blue Collar Comedy Tour (as well as its sequels and spin-off TV show). In the films and TV shows, Engvall performed his standup alongside Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy.
ComedyOverall, Engvall has released eight comedy albums, seven on Warner Bros. Records and one on BNA Records. His debut, ''Here's Your Sign'', is certified platinum by the RIAA, while 1998's Dorkfish is certified gold.
DiscographyAlbums |
