# Greg Proops
**Greg Proops** (Gregory Everett Proops, born 1959 in [Phoenix, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/phoenix-arizona)) is an American stand-up comedian, improviser, and actor best known for his appearances on both the British and American versions of the improvised comedy show *Whose Line Is It Anyway?*[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) • [2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/). A stand-up comic from San Francisco who lives in Hollywood, he also works as a voice actor, podcaster, and author, and performs largely in Europe as a comic and improviser[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/) • [3](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/greg-proops).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Gregory Everett Proops, born 1959 in Phoenix, Arizona[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) |
| Signature show | *Whose Line Is It Anyway?*, both UK (Comedy Central/Channel 4, 1989–1998) and US (ABC, 1998–2006) versions; first appeared in 1989[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/31/greg-proops-interview-whose-line-is-it-anyway) |
| Voice roles | Voice of Bob in *Bob the Builder* (from 1999); Fode, half of the podrace announcer, in *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace*; Tal Merrick in *Clone Wars*[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) • [5](https://gregproops.com/bio/) |
| Podcast | *The Smartest Man in the World*, recorded live in Hollywood, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Oslo, and other cities[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/) |
| Book | *The Smartest Book in the World*, Touchstone, May 5, 2015, 304 pages[6](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/greg-proops/the-smartest-book-in-the-world/) |
| Live touring | *Whose Live Anyway?* with Ryan Stiles, Joel Murray, Jeff B. Davis, Laura Hall, and Gary Anthony Williams, touring the US and Canada[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/) |
| Marriage | Married Jennifer Canaga in 1991[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) |
## Early life and education
Proops was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and lived in Lancaster, in [Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-california)'s high desert, before his family moved to the [San Francisco Bay Area](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-bay-area), where he attended grade school from age six to twelve[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-greg-proops-1250995.html). He has said that a sixth-grade language and arts teacher, Wade Haggard, had students perform radio plays and write books, and that he did his first voiceover work for that class[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-greg-proops-1250995.html).
After a year working as a sandwich maker, he studied radio at junior college in San Mateo, intending to become a DJ, and then studied theater at [San Francisco State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-state-university), leaving after two and a half years while already performing plays and stand-up professionally[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-greg-proops-1250995.html). Among his fellow students he counted the actor [Annette Bening](https://www.edgepedia.org/annette-bening) and the comedian [Mike McShane](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-mcshane), a later *Whose Line* colleague[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-greg-proops-1250995.html).
## Whose Line Is It Anyway?
*Whose Line Is It Anyway?* began on Britain's Channel 4 in 1988 after a brief radio stint, and Proops first appeared on the show in 1989[4](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/31/greg-proops-interview-whose-line-is-it-anyway). He became a regular on the British version, which ran on [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central) and [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) between 1989 and 1998, and lived in London for five years while appearing on the program[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698681). When the show was adapted for American television in 1998, he became a recurring guest performer on the ABC series, which ran from 1998 to 2006[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) • [9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/greg-proops/).
In a 2016 Guardian interview, Proops called the show "the one time I'm confident," and he returned for live reunion performances, including a show at the [London Palladium](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-palladium)[4](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/31/greg-proops-interview-whose-line-is-it-anyway). His own site describes his appearances on both versions as "impulsive"[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/).
## Other television and film work
In 1997 Proops hosted the Channel 4 science-fiction quiz show *Space Cadets* as its "high commander"[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops). His film credits include *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace* (1999), in which he portrayed Fode, one half of the podrace announcer, a role he reprised in subsequent video games, and *The Nightmare Before Christmas* (1993)[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698681). On television he voiced the villain Tal Merrick in the animated series *Clone Wars* on [Cartoon Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/cartoon-network)[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/).
He played Ben, the shallow agent, in [Illeana Douglas](https://www.edgepedia.org/illeana-douglas)'s Streamy-winning web series *Easy to Assemble*, and appeared in the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) series *True Jackson, VP*, shooting a second season[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/). His talk-show appearances have included *Late Night with Jimmy Fallon*, *The View*, *The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson*, and *Chelsea Lately*[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/).
## Voice acting
Proops has an extensive voice career. He has been the voice of Bob in the animated children's series *Bob the Builder*, seen on PBS, beginning in 1999 and continuing in *Bob the Builder: Project Build It* in 2005[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops) • [5](https://gregproops.com/bio/). He also provided the announcer voice Hank "Buckshot" Holmes for the Sega game *MadWorld* and voiced Sirol in the animated *Bagboy!* on Cartoon Network[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/) • [1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops).
## Podcasts, books, and stand-up
Proops hosts the podcast *The Smartest Man in the World*, so named because a friend told him he always came across like a know-it-all[4](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/31/greg-proops-interview-whose-line-is-it-anyway). The show is recorded live before audiences, and in a single year he recorded it in Australia, New Zealand, Montreal, Edinburgh, San Francisco, Austin, London, aboard a ship in the Caribbean, and [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland)[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/). Rolling Stone described him as "bravely recording some of the boldest comedy on the podcasting frontier right now"[5](https://gregproops.com/bio/). He also hosts the *Greg Proops Film Club Podcast*, curated by his wife Jennifer and recorded live at the American Cinematheque in Hollywood[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/).
His book *The Smartest Book in the World: A Lexicon of Literacy, a Rancorous Reportage, a Concise Curriculum of Cool* was published by Touchstone on May 5, 2015, a 304-page compendium of short essays on subjects from [Satchel Paige](https://www.edgepedia.org/satchel-paige) to Ovid[6](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/greg-proops/the-smartest-book-in-the-world/). [The A.V. Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-a-v-club) called it essentially a reference book that flits from topic to topic, a formula that works for a podcast but felt undercooked in prose[10](https://www.avclub.com/the-smartest-man-in-the-world-delivers-a-book-that-does-1798183673).
As a stand-up, he has released comedy albums including *Free State of California*, recorded live on New Year's Eve in San Francisco, and *Kidding. But Still.*, improvised live at the Punchline in San Francisco for aspecialthing records[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/) • [11](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/). British critics reviewing his Edinburgh Festival Fringe work in the 1990s noted his speed of attack and his grasp of British culture from an outsider's perspective; The Independent wrote that "for pure gags-per-minute consistency, he's hard to beat"[12](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/fringe-greg-proops-1311040.html).
## Live improv touring
Proops tours constantly with *Whose Live Anyway?*, the live improv show featuring his longtime cohorts Ryan Stiles, Joel Murray, Jeff B. Davis, Laura Hall, and Gary Anthony Williams, playing venues across the United States and Canada[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/) • [5](https://gregproops.com/bio/). Scheduled dates include venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver and Hard Rock Live in Orlando[3](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/greg-proops). He has also performed with Danny Elfman in the *Nightmare Before Christmas* live show with full orchestra at Halloween and Christmas in London, New York, Tokyo, Dublin, Mexico, and the Hollywood Bowl[2](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/).
## References
1. [Proops, Greg 1959- (Gregory Proops), Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/proops-greg-1959-gregory-proops)
2. [About Greg, Greg Proops official site](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/about-greg/)
3. [Greg Proops Concert & Tour History, Concert Archives](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/greg-proops)
4. [Greg Proops on Whose Line Is It Anyway?: 'It's the one time I'm confident', The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/31/greg-proops-interview-whose-line-is-it-anyway)
5. [Greg Proops official bio](https://gregproops.com/bio/)
6. [The Smartest Book in the World, Kirkus Reviews](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/greg-proops/the-smartest-book-in-the-world/)
7. [PASSED/FAILED: Greg Proops, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-greg-proops-1250995.html)
8. [Greg Proops, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698681)
9. [Greg Proops, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/greg-proops/)
10. [The smartest man in the world delivers a book that doesn't earn its title, The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/the-smartest-man-in-the-world-delivers-a-book-that-does-1798183673)
11. [The Smartest Man in the World, Greg Proops official site](https://www.gregproops.com/blog/)
12. [Fringe / Greg Proops, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/fringe-greg-proops-1311040.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stand-up comedy and comedians*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; 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