 George Wallace, comedian - Upon graduating from college, armed with degrees in transportation and marketing, George Wallace began his adult life selling rags to dentists, mechanics, airlines-anyone who would buy them. After a year, he decided to move from rags in search of riches. In a few years, he became VP of a company, supervising the sale of ad space on mass transit vehicles. He was a successful businessman... Unbeknownst to all, his life in sales was only a pitstop on his career path toward the love of his life-COMEDY. According to Wallace, sales and comedy are very similar. "In advertising, I had to sell space, whereas in comedy, I have to sell myself." Wallace won the American Comedy Award for "Best Standup Comedian" after being nominated in 1991, 92, 93, and 94.
He was featured in his own HBO One Night Stand, and he has appeared in several motion pictures including Batman Forever (as mayor of Gotham City); A Rage in Harlem; Punchline; Burt Rigby; You're a Fool; Hot to Trot; Things are Tough All Over; and Postcards from the Edge. TV credits include his own CBS sitcom, Tall Hopes, and a guest-starring role in the CBS movie of the week, In the Heat of the Night. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, Oprah, Late Night with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Entertainment Tonight, The Home Show, Comic Strip Live, Sunday Comics, E! Entertainment and Extra. Wallace played boxing impresario Don King in the NBC special, TV or Not TV. He has appeared at The Comedy Store, Budd Friedman's Improvisation, Catch a Rising Star, and The Punchline. He has worked as opening act for many top name entertainers including Kenny G, The Beach Boys, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, Natalie Cole, Tom Jones, The Pointer Sisters, George Benson, and Paul Anka. Wallace derives his comedy from everyday moments of life. He finds humor everywhere-from the media to relationships to dialogue cliches. He is known to be an ace at reading an audience. Among comedians, he is known as "the guy who can roll the room over if it's dead."
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