# Brian Posehn
**Brian Edmund Posehn** is an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice actor, and writer, born in 1966 in [Sacramento, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/sacramento-california), best known as a writer and performer on HBO's sketch series *Mr. Show*, for recurring roles on *Just Shoot Me*, *The Sarah Silverman Program*, and *The Big Bang Theory*, and for a stand-up and comedy-metal career built around his self-professed nerd and heavy-metal identity.[1](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-posehn-mn0000987384)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966, Sacramento, California[1](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography) |
| Signature sketch work | Writer and performer on HBO's *Mr. Show* (1995–98); co-producer of the 2014 Netflix series *W/ Bob and David*[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) |
| Notable acting roles | Kevin Liotta on *Just Shoot Me*, Brian Spukowski on *The Sarah Silverman Program*, Bert on *The Big Bang Theory* and its 2026 spinoff *Stuart Fails to Save the Universe*[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-posehn-mn0000987384) • [1](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography) • [4](https://apnews.com/article/79cb6a516f3286520cd587b48af1caa0) |
| Stand-up record | Four one-hour specials (*The Fartist*, *Criminally Posehn*, *25 X 2*, *Posehna Non Grata*), two Comedy Central half-hours, and four comedy albums, starting with *Live In: Nerd Rage* (2006)[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) |
| Writing | Co-writer of 45 issues of Marvel's *Deadpool*; first graphic novel *The Last Christmas* (2006); memoir *Forever Nerdy* (2018)[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/) |
| Music | Comedy metal album *Grandpa Metal*, released February 2020 with members of Anthrax, Dethklok, Slayer, and Soundgarden[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) |
| Podcast | Producer and host of the Dungeons & Dragons comedy podcast *Nerd Poker*[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) |
## Early career and Mr. Show
Posehn began performing in comedy clubs in the early 1990s, then relocated to Los Angeles to break into television writing.[1](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography) He had been a longtime friend of [David Cross](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-cross), and the two had worked together in the stage show *Three Goofballs*, which eventually morphed into *Mr. Show with Bob and David*, the HBO sketch series led by Cross and [Bob Odenkirk](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-odenkirk) that ran from 1995 to 1998.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-posehn-mn0000987384) • [1](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography) Posehn wrote for and appeared in the series, and his work on it brought Emmy nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program in 1998 and 1999.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/)
The *Mr. Show* relationship lasted long after the series ended. Posehn contributed to all four seasons, co-wrote the abandoned script for *Bob and David Make a Movie*, joined the duo's 2013 live tour, and returned for their 2014 Netflix series *W/ Bob and David*, which his own bio credits as a co-production of Odenkirk and Cross's return to sketch.[6](https://exclaim.ca/comedy/article/brian_posehn-the_fartist) • [3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) He is also credited, with Odenkirk, on the humor book *Hollywood Said No!*.[7](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/brian-posehn/)
## Television and film acting
**Sitcom regular work.** The *Mr. Show* credits led to a regular gig on NBC's *Just Shoot Me* (1997–2003), where Posehn played mailroom clerk Kevin Liotta, written as [Ray Liotta](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-liotta)'s fictional cousin.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-posehn-mn0000987384) His best-remembered character role is Brian Spukowski on [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central)'s *The Sarah Silverman Program* (2007–2010), on which he was one of the show's stars.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/) • [3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) He has also had recurring roles on *The Big Bang Theory*, playing geologist Bert, and on *New Girl*, and has appeared on *Seinfeld*, *NewsRadio*, *Everybody Loves Raymond*, *Friends*, and NBC's *Lopez vs Lopez*.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [8](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/brian-posehn/)
His film work includes roles in *The Devil's Rejects*, *The Five Year Engagement*, and *The Wedding Singer*, with his first feature starring role in the dark indie comedy *Uncle Nick*.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [9](https://www.therockpit.net/2016/interview-brian-posehn/) A voice-acting career runs alongside the on-camera work: he made his acting debut in 1994 as the voice of Hayashi in the English version of *Pom Poko*, starred on the animated series *Mission Hill* (as Jim Kuback) and *3-South*, and has appeared in *Adventure Time*, *American Dad!*, *Bob's Burgers*, *Steven Universe*, *Scooby-Doo*, and *The Simpsons*, as well as DreamWorks's animated film *Captain Underpants*.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/) • [3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [8](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/brian-posehn/)
## Stand-up comedy
Posehn is one of the original members of the Comedians of Comedy, the touring group with [Patton Oswalt](https://www.edgepedia.org/patton-oswalt), Maria Bamford, and [Zach Galifianakis](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-galifianakis) documented in the concert film *The Comedians of Comedy*; the film's exposure led to his series work on the Silverman program and his first comedy album.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [1](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography) In 2013, that group's tour featured an on-stage exchange between Posehn, Oswalt, and Bamford that became a noted moment in the act.[10](https://research.library.mun.ca/8960/1/Brodie_IanBernard.pdf)
His recorded output began with *Live In: Nerd Rage* (2006), released on [Relapse Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/relapse-records), an indie metal label, an unusual home for a comedy album that signaled the metal-and-nerd brand of the act; the album included a bonus track, "Metal by Numbers," featuring Anthrax's Scott Ian and [Armored Saint](https://www.edgepedia.org/armored-saint)'s Joey Vera.[11](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9358-live-in-nerd-rage/) Relapse also released his follow-up *Fart and Weiner Jokes*, before he moved to New Wave Dynamics for the DVD *The Fartist* (2013), his third stand-up special and the first of his records with no music on it.[12](https://metalinsider.net/interviews/interview-the-fartist-currently-known-as-brian-posehn) Reviewing *The Fartist*, recorded at Seattle's Neptune Theatre before an 800-person crowd, Exclaim! described his delivery as having grown conversational while keeping his self-deprecating, gross-out style.[6](https://exclaim.ca/comedy/article/brian_posehn-the_fartist) Across his career he has recorded two Comedy Central half-hour specials, four comedy albums, and four one-hour specials: *The Fartist*, *Criminally Posehn*, *25 X 2*, and *Posehna Non Grata*, the last of which was released on YouTube in 2023 as his fifth special.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [13](https://www.distractify.com/p/brian-posehn-comedy-special) His material draws heavily on his metalhead and nerd past, from *Star Wars* prequel grievances to arguments with his wife, and his frequent self-labeling as a "total metal dork" and "nerd" is itself part of the act.[11](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9358-live-in-nerd-rage/)
## Metal music and comic books
**Grandpa Metal.** Posehn's long-running collaboration with [Scott Ian](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-ian) grew out of "Metal by Numbers" on his early comedy records; after a later single, "More Metal Than You," the pair decided to record a full album. The project took about six years to complete, slowed by Posehn's and Ian's schedules, and enlisted producer Jay Ruston and [Metalocalypse](https://www.edgepedia.org/metalocalypse) creator [Brendon Small](https://www.edgepedia.org/brendon-small).[14](https://metalinsider.net/interviews/brian-posehn-on-the-late-jill-janus-weird-al-new-music-that-doesnt-suck-grandpa-metal) The album, *Grandpa Metal*, was finished in 2019 and released in February 2020, with guests drawn from Anthrax, Dethklok, Slayer, Soundgarden, and, on the single, Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [15](https://loudwire.com/brian-posehn-grandpa-metal-interview/) Posehn said he did not have the energy to front a band for a tour behind it.[15](https://loudwire.com/brian-posehn-grandpa-metal-interview/)
**Comics.** In comics, Posehn co-wrote 45 issues of Marvel's best-selling *Deadpool* series, released his first graphic novel, *The Last Christmas*, in 2006, and has more recently co-written *Rifters* with Trohman and *Grommets* with Rick Remender, with collections of both announced through [Image Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/image-comics).[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) • [5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/) He published his first book, the memoir *Forever Nerdy*, in 2018.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/)
## Podcast and current work
Posehn produces and hosts *Nerd Poker*, a popular [Dungeons & Dragons](https://www.edgepedia.org/dungeons-and-dragons) comedy podcast.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/) He also had a cameo in Disney+'s Star Wars series *The Mandalorian*.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/)
**Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.** In 2026, Posehn reprised his *Big Bang Theory* character Bert, the geologist, in the [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) spinoff *Stuart Fails to Save the Universe*, starring Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, and John Ross Bowie, created by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady.[4](https://apnews.com/article/79cb6a516f3286520cd587b48af1caa0) • [16](https://elpais.com/television/series/stuart-no-consigue-salvar-el-universo/) The ten-episode series premiered in July 2026, and on August 14, 2026, Deadline reported that HBO Max had renewed it for a second season.[17](https://brianposehn.com/) The format marked a change for the cast: unlike the multi-camera flagship series, the spinoff shed the live audience for more kinetic, single-camera storytelling, and Posehn observed that "Bert never ran in the old show."
## Public image and style
AllMusic's David Jeffries describes Posehn as a "self-professed nerd and heavy metal addict" who became a cult favorite through *Mr. Show*, and his stand-up persona, as the Pitchfork review of *Nerd Rage* put it, speaks to "thirtysomething middle-class metal heads" while delivering crude, affable material.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-posehn-mn0000987384) • [11](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9358-live-in-nerd-rage/) He hosted Revolver Magazine's Hottest Chicks in Metal ("Holden Gods") Awards in 2009, reflecting his standing in the metal community.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/) He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son, and two dogs.[3](https://brianposehn.com/bio/)
## References
1. [Brian Posehn Biography, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/brian-posehn-542056/biography)
2. [Brian Posehn Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-posehn-mn0000987384)
3. [About Brian Posehn, brianposehn.com](https://brianposehn.com/bio/)
4. [What to Stream: 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/79cb6a516f3286520cd587b48af1caa0)
5. [Brian Posehn Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-posehn/bio/3030399902/)
6. [Brian Posehn: The Fartist, Exclaim!](https://exclaim.ca/comedy/article/brian_posehn-the_fartist)
7. [Brian Posehn, Hachette Book Group](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/brian-posehn/)
8. [Brian Posehn Biography, Fametown](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/brian-posehn/)
9. [Interview: Brian Posehn, The Rockpit](https://www.therockpit.net/2016/interview-brian-posehn/)
10. [Stand-Up Comedy: A Folkloristic Approach (Brodie), Memorial University](https://research.library.mun.ca/8960/1/Brodie_IanBernard.pdf)
11. [Brian Posehn: Live in: Nerd Rage! Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9358-live-in-nerd-rage/)
12. [Interview: The 'Fartist' Currently Known As Brian Posehn, Metal Insider](https://metalinsider.net/interviews/interview-the-fartist-currently-known-as-brian-posehn)
13. [Brian Posehn YouTube Comedy Special, Distractify](https://www.distractify.com/p/brian-posehn-comedy-special)
14. [Brian Posehn on 'Grandpa Metal', Metal Insider](https://metalinsider.net/interviews/brian-posehn-on-the-late-jill-janus-weird-al-new-music-that-doesnt-suck-grandpa-metal)
15. [Brian Posehn: I Don't Have the Energy to Front a Band for a Tour, Loudwire](https://loudwire.com/brian-posehn-grandpa-metal-interview/)
16. [Stuart no consigue salvar el universo, El País](https://elpais.com/television/series/stuart-no-consigue-salvar-el-universo/)
17. [Brian Posehn, Latest News (Deadline renewal report), brianposehn.com](https://brianposehn.com/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stand-up comedy and comedians › American stand-up comedians, contemporary › Stand-up comedians born 1960–1969*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license