Bio
Fred Armisen is an American comedian, musician and actor best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-colour foreign characters in various comedy films including EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out.
With his comedy partner, Carrie Brownstein, Armisen is the co-creator and co-star of the IFC sketch comedy series Portlandia. He also lent his voice to the animated comedy series Unsupervised, in 2012.
Most notably, Fred took on the roles of U.S. President Barack Obama and former New York Governor David Patterson. He has also contributed memorable impressions of Larry King, Libyan Dictator Moammar Khaddafy, Iranian President Mahmoud Amadinejad in the popular digital short Iran So Far Away and Prince, the often-silent host of the musician's talk show The Prince Show.
Other unforgettable characters of Fred's include the distracted court stenographer Elinda Nade, the political comedian Nicholas Fehn, and Mr. Vogelcheck in the 'too close for comfort' kissing family.
Fred has landed on Rolling Stone's Hot List as well as several times on Entertainment Weekly's Must List. He's appeared in countless feature films, including the animated feature The Smurfs, Cop Out, alongside Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, Confessions of a Shopaholic opposite Isla Fisher, The Rocker and The Promotion.
Fred also co-created, co-wrote, and stars in the critically-acclaimed IFC comedy series Portlandia. The show takes a comedic and whimsical look at the eco-friendly city of Portland, Oregon.
Fred began his career as a musician in the Chicago-based post-punk band Trenchmouth as well as playing with Blue Man Group. His transition to comedy came with the 1998 underground short film Fred Armisen's Guide to Music and SXSW which followed him through the Austin, Texas South by Southwest Music Festival posing as a music journalist.
In 2006, he tried his hand at actual musical journalism, profiling the indie darling Cat Power for the influential music website Pitchfork.com. He blended music and comedy, becoming drummer Jens Hannemann and releasing an instructional DVD Complicated Drumming Technique in 2007.
Fred currently lives in New York City.