Comic, Actor, Writer, Joy-Spreader
Mike Gandolfi is an Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe Award-winning television writer, who has written for the popular shows Roseanne, Veronica’s Closet, and Dennis Miller Live. While on staff at Roseanne, Mike co-wrote the 100th episode, “The Dark Ages,” which was nominated for a Writers Guild Award. Currently, he has several feature films in development, with producers, directors, and talent attached. In addition, he also had a recurring role as Andrew on the WB television series, Gilmore Girls.
Mike started his career as a stand-up comic, performing in comedy clubs all over the country, working with Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, and Tom Arnold, among many others.
I don’t always write about myself in the third person. Some random things about me:
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Comparative Literature from San Diego State University.
I got married at Disneyland on Leap Day 2004.
I’ve run (and finished!) the Los Angeles Marathon twice.
I was one of the original writers for the Air America radio network.
I’ve taken classes at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
I was accepted to Graduate School to get a Masters of Library and Information Science degree (MLIS) but decided I’d rather take Improv classes.
In 2012 I played ice hockey at the (now, sadly, closed) Culver City Ice Rink. I was (by far!) the oldest player out there.
My wife Stephanie and I got engaged at the Dromoland Castle in County Clare, Ireland.
I’ve taken four yoga teacher trainings. I’ve never taught a yoga class.
When I was in 10th grade our High School put on the musical Guys and Dolls. I didn’t sing or dance (still don’t) so I was one of the gamblers in Nathan Detroit’s clan. The student who choreographed the show (and played Nicely-Nicely Johnson) went on to bigger and better things: Casey Nicholaw was nominated for Tony Awards for choreographing Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone, and The Book of Mormon and won a Tony for co-directing The Book of Mormon.
My grandfather was a Pearl Harbor survivor. Years later, he worked on Operation Wigwam and Operation Redwing, nuclear tests conducted by the US military in the Pacific.
My 10x-Great-Grandmother, Martha Carrier, was accused and convicted of being a witch during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
Unplanned each time, I’ve spent one night in three different airports: Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia International, and Mumbai.
I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do from Beverly Hills Martial Arts
While in college, one December I worked as “Christmas Help” (today known as a “seasonal employee”) at Toys R Us. A co-worker claimed to be – and if you’d met him, you would believe him – the basis for Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
My parents were the first couple married at All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla, CA.
I grew up in San Diego and went to many Padres games growing up. I was in the left field bleachers on June 12, 1970 when Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter against the Padres while on LSD.
In 1993, on the “First Cousin, Twice Removed” episode of Roseanne, the cousin (played by Joan Collins) was named Ronnie. The writers tossed out names for the character and I said, “Veronica – Ronnie” and that was the one used. In 1997 I co-wrote the episode “The Kiss Is the Thing” for the animated show Life with Louie. The character voiced by Laurie Metcalf was named Miss Kinney. Both of these characters were named after a real person: my great-aunt Veronica Kinney. Veronica was my father’s mother’s sister. She lived maybe five blocks from us and had no children; we were her family. She always told me that I could be a writer. For a long time, I believed her. The year after she died I got hired on Veronica’s Closet.
Mike Gandolfi 