Bruce Vilanch


An award-winning comedy writer, Bruce Vilanch has other strings to his bow. He has appeared on stage, television, and film, writes for The Advocate and other publications, and is a tireless proponent of glbtq causes. He performed for Adam Weinstock and Creative Concept Production in
Provincetown 2000

Vilanch began performing regularly at benefits and remains strongly committed to the cause of AIDS research and education.
Over the years Vilanch has become recognized as the premier comedy writer for awards shows. His material has become a fixture of Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Awards telecasts. Vilanch has won two Emmy Awards himself for his work on the Academy Awards shows in 1991 and 1992.

Vilanch became an audience favorite when he joined the cast of the revival of the television game show Hollywood Squares in 1998. During his four-year stint with the program he was also head writer, providing witty banter for the celebrities who took part.
Vilanch was both the subject and star of Andrew J. Kuehn's 1999 documentary Get Bruce!, which featured interviews with stars such as Midler, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg, who all benefited from Vilanch's comedy writing talents. Also appearing was Vilanch's mother, who stole all her scenes. Vilanch is extremely close to her and credits her with developing his sense of humor.

Vilanch took to the stage in 2000 with Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous, a show about his life and career. After treating the spectators to behind-the-scenes tales of his work with performers on television shows and on stage--Tallulah Bankhead and Sophie Tucker among the latter--Vilanch fielded questions from the audience and responded with characteristic wit.

Vilanch has recently appeared in the musical Hairspray (book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman) based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name. Vilanch played Edna Turnblad, the role originated by Divine in the movie, with the show's national touring company in 2003, and the following year he replaced Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway production.

Vilanch has been the recipient of a number of awards for his copious work in support of glbtq rights and AIDS charities. Among these are the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation's Daniel P. Warner Service Award (1990), GLAAD Media's Stephen F. Kolzak Award (1997), the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center's Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award (1998), the Outfest Honors Award for contributions to gay and lesbian visibility (2002), and the AIDS Project of Los Angeles Hero Award (2003).

" a big, gay, Jewish bear of a man with a Mason Reese haircut and what appears to be the world's largest collection of captioned t-shirts. He's also a gifted craftsman who's put words into the mouths of many famous friends and clients... A-list types including Roseanne, Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, Paul Reiser, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams .
» »TV Guide

" As the man who pens funny "ad libs" for everyone from Raquel Welch to Steven Segal when they've got to "play themselves" at an awards or charity event, Bruce Vilanch has half the industry in his debt .

Vilanch writes "specialized material" for Hollywood stars. When Whoopi emcees, when Billy does the Oscars, when Bette Midler opens a new show at Radio City Music Hall, much of what they say (and most of the funniest stuff) has passed through Bruce's laptop computer.
» » Roger Ebert