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American actor, musician, film producer and screenwriter From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vance Elliott DeGeneres (born September 2, 1954)[1][2] is an American actor, comedian, musician, film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in television and movies.
Vance DeGeneres | |
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![]() DeGeneres in 2008 | |
Born | Vance Elliott DeGeneres September 2, 1954 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1979–present |
Spouses | Mimi DeGeneres
(m. 1990; div. 1991)Joanna Brooks (m. 2013) |
Parent(s) | Elliott DeGeneres Betty DeGeneres |
Relatives | Ellen DeGeneres (sister) Portia de Rossi (sister-in-law) |
DeGeneres was born at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, Louisiana to Betty and Elliott DeGeneres.[1] He is the older brother of comedian Ellen DeGeneres.[3]
After a two-year period in the Marine Corps, during which he reached the rank of corporal, DeGeneres hosted a radio program called New Wave New Orleans in the late 1970s, broadcast on WQUE-FM.
He played bass guitar and was a songwriter in the band The Cold, a new-wave band founded in New Orleans in the late 1970s.[4] The Cold was inaugurated into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2018.[5]
He was the original "Mr. Hands" of "The Mr. Bill Show."[6]
In 1991, DeGeneres was a staff writer on Eerie, Indiana, on NBC.[6] In 1993, DeGeneres co-created, with Karl Schaefer, a pilot script for ABC called Lost Angels, he wrote an episode for Diagnosis Murder.[6] In 1994–95, DeGeneres wrote and produced 9 Line. In 1995, he and Emily Cutler co-created and co-hosted Movies Schmoovies, a movie review pilot.
In 1995, DeGeneres and Alex Herschlag co-created and co-hosted a comedy show called The 4th Floor Show, a mock talk show. The pilot episode aired on E! In 1996/97, DeGeneres was a writer on Ellen.[6] In 1998, DeGeneres was a writer on the UPN sitcom Hits.[6]
DeGeneres has been a writer on The Academy Awards, The Emmy Awards, and The Grammy Awards.[6]
In the mid-1980s, DeGeneres co-founded the rock band House of Schock with The Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock on Capitol Records.
In 1998, he played keyboards and guitar for the New Orleans-based band Cowboy Mouth. In March 2006, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show with Cowboy Mouth to perform their song "The Avenue".
DeGeneres was a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 1999 to 2001.[7]
In 2002, he co-created, with Andy Lassner at Fox, a comedy pilot called Your Local News. DeGeneres also hosted.
DeGeneres was co-president of Carousel Productions at Warner Bros. for six years, Steve Carell's production company, developing comedy movies, including Crazy Stupid Love and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.[8] He was an executive producer on both films.
DeGeneres was an executive producer on the Showtime series Inside Comedy, hosted by David Steinberg, for four seasons.
He currently has a television development deal at Telepictures Productions, a division of Warner Bros.[citation needed]
During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, DeGeneres and Rick Springfield created the online series, Rick Springfield & Vance DeGeneres Present the Miniseries: the 60 Second Guide to Songwriting with a Partner. The comedic series resulted in two songs: "The Wall Will Fall" and "Welcome to Your Bright New World", with proceeds benefitting Feeding America.[9]
He was an executive producer on Ellen's Game of Games, which aired on NBC in 2020.
DeGeneres married his wife Joanna in 2013 in a small ceremony at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and actor Steve Carell were among the guests.
In 2020, he publicly defended his sister over allegations she fostered a "toxic workplace environment".[10]