Matt Besser: Movies & Filmography

Matthew Gregory Besser, known professionally as Matt Besser, is an American actor, comedian, director, producer, and writer who first rose to prominence as one of the four founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) sketch comedy troupe. Born on September 22, 1967 in Little Rock, Arkansas, he grew up in a mixed‑faith household—his father was Jewish and his mother Christian—though Besser later identified as an atheist with a quarter‑German and quarter‑French heritage from his mother’s side. After studying American Studies at Amherst College, where he discovered stand‑up comedy, Besser briefly pursued a comedy career in Denver before moving to Chicago, taking improv classes at the Second City iO Theater and joining the improv group Victim’s Family, later renamed The Family, under the mentorship of Del Close. In 1990 he co‑founded UCB with Ian Roberts, Ali Farahnakian, Adam McKay, Rick Roman, and Horatio Sanz, and the troupe’s success led to a Comedy Central series that aired from 1998 to 2000, showcasing Besser alongside Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh. Beyond television, Besser has appeared in films such as Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Year One, and Drillbit Taylor, and has made guest spots on popular sitcoms like Reno 911!, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, and Community with his wife Danielle Schneider. He is also the creator and host of the improvisation‑based podcast Improv4humans, which features weekly episodes of spontaneous comedy. In addition to his on‑stage and on‑screen work, Besser continues to run UCB theaters in Los Angeles and New York, producing live shows such as the long‑form improv extravaganza ASSSSCAT 3000, and has directed and written independent films like Freak Dance and the Adult Swim special In Search Of Miracle Man.