Patrick Bristow

Life and career

Bristow was born in Los Angeles, California, best known for his television role as Peter, the good friend of Ellen DeGeneres' character in the series Ellen. His TV guest-star roles include Seinfeld's "The Wig Master", his recurring role as the machiavellian Troy on Mad About You, and Larry David's choreographer on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He has also guest starred on Malcolm in the Middle, Friends, CSI, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, The Larry Sanders Show, Head Case, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and the animated series King of the Hill and Family Guy.

Bristow has also appeared as himself in episodes of both the U.K. and U.S. versions of the improvisational show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and on "Celebrity Apprentice." He is the Stage Show Director and Host for the Jim Henson Company's Puppet Up!, which combines comedic improvisation with puppetry, and which he co-created with Brian Henson.

Bristow has been nominated for a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, a Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award, and took home a Back Stage West Garland Award for originating the role of Bob in The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical, which received the prestigious 2006 Ovation Award for World Premiere Musical. His live show, "Stuffed and Unstrung," was also nominated for a Drama Desk award in 2010 in the category of "Unique Theatrical Experience." Bristow is also an alumnus of the Los Angeles landmark sketch comedy/improv troupe The Groundlings, where he still occasionally performs improvisation comedy. His film work includes Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery as a tour guide at Virtucon, the cult camp-classic Showgirls, "So I Married an Axe Murderer," The Longest Yard, The Twilight of the Golds, Jimmy and Judy, Enigma with a Stigma, and Pain & Gain.

In 2010, he appeared off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre as director and stage host of the revamped "Puppet Up", renamed "Stuffed and Unstrung" (co-created with Brian Henson) for its New York debut. The show, a mix of improvised, uncensored comedy sketches and recreations of vintage Jim Henson comedy pieces, garnered rave reviews, including an "A-" from Entertainment Weekly. Bristow is also credited as director and co-creator (alongside Brian Henson). He continues to teach improv in Los Angeles through his own school/repertory company, Improvatorium.

A Los Angeles native, Bristow is the third child of former performers Frank Bristow and Patricia O'Kane. He resides in L.A. with Andrew Nicastro, his partner since 1994 and the former Director of Global Production for Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation. He and Nicastro were married in April 2010 in a ceremony in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, attended by friends and family.