Bill Engvall

Bill Engvall (born William Ray Engvall Jr. on July 27, 1957) is an American stand‑up comedian, actor, and television host renowned for his down‑to‑earth Southern humor. Growing up in Galveston, Texas, and later moving through Arizona and Dallas, Engvall’s early life was shaped by a Navy‑doctor father and a series of odd jobs that led him to the local comedy club circuit. After dropping out of Southwestern University, he worked as a tour guide at Inner Space Caverns and as a disc jockey, where he first tried open‑mic comedy. By 1990 he relocated to Southern California to pursue comedy full‑time, quickly gaining exposure on shows like The Tonight Show and Late Show with David Letterman. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he was named Best Male Standup at the American Comedy Awards, and his signature routine “here’s your sign” catapulted him to national fame, earning a platinum‑certified album in 1996. Engvall’s career has spanned television sitcoms such as The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Delta, and his own series The Bill Engvall Show, as well as the highly successful Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, and Ron White. He also hosted the game show Lingo and competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2013, finishing fourth. After announcing a retirement tour in 2021 and a final performance in late 2022, he surprised fans by returning to the stage in 2025 for a new residency in Minnesota, proving his enduring appeal. Bill Engvall remains a beloved voice in country‑style observational comedy, known for his self‑deprecating anecdotes about family life, marriage, and everyday Southern culture.