Stephen Rannazzisi

Stephen Rannazzisi
Born (1978-07-04) July 4, 1978
Smithtown, New York, U.S.
Alma mater State University of New York Oneonta
Occupation Actor, stand-up comedian
Years active 2001–present

Stephen Rannazzisi (born July 4, 1978)[1] is an American actor, and stand-up comedian. He acted in the FXX comedy series The League as fantasy football league player Kevin MacArthur.

Personal life

Rannazzisi, born in Smithtown, New York on July 4, 1978, briefly attended the Catholic St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York on Long Island, leaving after a year in what he called a mutual decision. He went on to graduate from Smithtown High School[2] in 1996.[3] Rannazzisi graduated from State University of New York at Oneonta, where he majored in communications.[4] He is of Italian and Irish descent.[5]

9/11 Controversy

For 14 years, Rannazzisi said he worked in the south tower of the World Trade Center at Merrill Lynch, on the 54th floor during the September 11 attacks, and described his experience escaping death.[6] He said the events inspired him to move to Los Angeles and pursue stand-up comedy. In September 2015, after being contacted by a reporter from The New York Times for an article debunking his claim,[4] Rannazzisi admitted his story was a lie, saying:

I was in Manhattan but working in a building in midtown and I was not at the Trade Center on that day. I don’t know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry. For many years, more than anything, I have wished that, with silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man. It only made me more ashamed. How could I tell my children to be honest when I hadn't come clean about this? It was profoundly disrespectful to those who perished and those who lost loved ones. The stupidity and guilt I have felt for many years has not abated. It was an early taste of having a public persona, and I made a terrible mistake.[7][8][9][10]

Rannazzisi was never employed by Merrill Lynch, which did not have offices in the World Trade Center then, and did not attend the State University of New York at Purchase, as he additionally had claimed.[4]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Fax, TheThe Fax Whitley Short film
2005 Lost Reality 2 Billy Barnes
2006 For Your Consideration Studio gate guard
2009 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Stuart
2009 Imagine That Noah Kulick
2010 Homewrecker Charles
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Punk'd Field Agent 5 episodes
2005 Kitchen Confidential Banker Episode: "Aftermath"
2006–07 Big Day Skobo Main role; 12 episodes
2008–09 Samantha Who? Seth Barber 6 episodes
2009 Trust Me Jonah Quarles Episode: "But Wait, There's More"
2009–2015 League, TheThe League Kevin MacArthur Main role
2010 Outsourced Brad Dempsey Episode: "Temporary Monsanity"
2011 Love Bites Kyle 2 episodes
2016 Roast Battles Himself Episode: "Night One"
2016 New Girl Todd Ploons Episode: "No Girl"
Web
Year Title Role Notes
2012–13 Daddy Knows Best Steve Main role; 17 episodes

References

  1. ↑ "Stephen Rannazzisi". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ O'Reilly, Brendan J. (June 27, 2014). "Steve Rannazzisi Performs at Bay Street Theater Monday". Dan's Papers. Southampton, New York. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Stephen Rannazzisi: Smithtown High Class of 1996". Smithtown High School. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 Kovaleski, Serge F. (September 16, 2015). "Steve Rannazzisi, Comedian Who Told of 9/11 Escape, Admits He Lied". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ Donnelly, Shawn. "Steve Rannazzisi Talks World Cup, Italian Hair". Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 31 – Steve Rannazzisi / Listener Email" (Podcast). December 17, 2009. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2015. (subscription required)
  7. ↑ "Center towers on 9/11....". Steve Rannazzisi verified Twitter account. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ Rannazzisi, Twitter, "I don’t know why I said this."
  9. ↑ Rannazzisi, Twitter, "silence, I could somehow erase...."
  10. ↑ Rannazzisi, Twitter, "it is to the victims of 9/11...."


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