Daniel Kevin "Dan" Fogler is an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, playwright, filmmaker, and voice artist. He won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He was the voice of Zeng in Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda Holiday.
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» All Actor InterviewsI'm Dan Fogler and I've loved doing AMA's in the past. You might remember me from Fanboys, Balls of Fury, Take Me Home Tonight, Good Luck Chuck, etc. I can currently be seen on ABC's Secrets and Lies and I have a Kickstarter for my latest comic project Brooklyn Gladiator:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/218080050/brooklyn-gladiator
My Proof: http://imgur.com/Puyw1wL
So go on kiddies... ASK ME ANYTHING!
Fanboys is one of the most criminally underrated comedies of the last 10 years! Any chance at a sequel?
Thanks for doing this AMA!
sorry guys im back! had a crazy interview! ok yes I actually have stated on the kickstarter that if folks pledge 1k And we get fully funded then I will personably help get fanboys2 made and or a fanboys tv show within the next 2-3 years!
as a matter of fact I'm pledging to help make that happen! either a fanboys2 or a tv show in the next 2-3 years!! IF my kickstarter reaches it's goal!!!
What was it like shooting Take Me Home Tonight? Seemed like that movie would have been a riot to shoot. Was there a lot of real coke being snorted?
the coke was powdered milk- the partying was very real! what a blast!
hope we make a sequel
You and Ryan seem to have such great chemistry on Secrets and Lies as Ben and Dave. Love the Bromance. Would be so great to see you two in other projects. Any chance of that happening and are you friends in real life?
yes we are pals and we're planning to work on something in the near future yes! thanks for watching!
Dan, Take Me Home Tonight is one of my favorite movies. What was it like making it?
total blast 24/7 party
Hello Dan, I'm sure I read somewhere that you are a sculptor, are photos of (and information about) your work available online ? Also, Balls Of Fury is a film my family enjoy, it always makes us laugh, thank you for that.
I have one sculpture that survived my sculpting days. tweet @mrdanfogler and I'll get u a pic if u wish. I miss it. not enough time. thanks for watching!
What ever happened to "Man Up"? That show was hilarious and Imdb says (2011- ). will it be back?
interesting... it's on hulu baby!
How do you get your hair in such amazing luxuriously beautiful locks? Whats your secret to being slightly larger actor in Hollywood when everyone is all about looking like brad pit or some shit?
there's a lot of furry funny Fat guys in Hollywood! I don't know I guess that's why I'm such a character. Hollywood always needs character. be yourself love yourself. my hair is part DNA part herbal essences...
Hello Dan!
I remember seeing your final performance in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. You were hilarious and helped cement that show as one of my favorites. Any good stories from the off Broadway / Broadway days?
When will you return to the musical stage?
I'd love to do another musical. I wrote a play called little exodus that should see the light of day soon. broadway was amazing can't believe I got there by creating a character based on my childhood & allergies and now people are performing magic foot around the globe!
How was working on Hannibal? Also, I feel like Hannibal had some affinity for your character and almost didn't want him to die (even though he killed him). How do you feel Hannibal felt about Franklin?
it was really cool. fan of the whole silence of the lambs universe! mads is fun! franklyn was so annoying and delightful to play. I don't think franklyn was more than a shrimp cocktail to the good doctor.
Has "You want to take your shirt off" ever worked in real life?
several times.
What was it like working on the set of Hannibal? Did you know going into it what would happen to your character?
I loved it! got to play a weirdo! fun! mads was a hoot. yeah I kinda knew what was gonna happen but it was awesome just to b part of the history of lechter
What's it like taking a role like in Secrets and Lies? I had to do a double take when your character made his first appearance, and proceed to explain to my wife who you were.
it's like taking any other role. I know it's hard to believe but tell yer wife I've done Shakespeare
I love Secrets and Lies. How many seasons till we find out whodunit?
you find out who killed tom... this season !! mwahahahahahaha!!!
how did you come up with the idea for Brooklyn Gladiator?
good question, ever since 9/11 I've been obsessed with conspiracy theories and who's really running things.
the book comes from my fascination of real science like nanites & Tesla tech and the nightmare it might become if let run amok. it's also an homage to akira the matrix & starwars
Love your character Dave in Secrets and Lies. Did you watch the Aussie version before you took on the role of Dave in the US version?
no I never saw the Aussie version I heard it's brilliant- I didn't want to know who did it! thanks for watching!
How come we didn't see you at SWCA? Did you want to go but couldn't because of other commitments? Do you actually like RUSH?
rush is ok I'm more of a journey fan. I wish I could be there! I'll be at sdcc though selling Brooklyn Gladiator!
PS. Just backed your Kickstarter. Sorry it's not much!
thanks so much!
Do you still love a good game of ping pong from time to time?
fuck YEAH!!
What song do you wish you had written and how would you sing it differently?
can't always get what u want... instead of the "who-who's" I'd go "hey-hey!" or I'd do a hard rock version of fly me to the moon
Hi, Mr. Fogler!
I love your role in "Hellbenders"
Could you tell me your memory about that one? Thank you :)
I have no recollection. we were soo debaucherous! humping & murdering & drinking & sucking! it was great to work with Clancy what a lunatic! jt petty is a misunderstood genius.
I love your writing for the series Galavant. I've heard rumours that the show is being cancelled, though - is that true?
oh yeah that show has way to many cooks and bakers and candle stick shakers. thanks for watching. now go watch secrets & lies and support Brooklyn Gladiator!!
When ever I see you on something I get excited like you in the Goldbergs because you make things fun and take made home tonight is a great movie and you made it even better. can we be friends?
I mean sure lets take it slow... tweet at me 1st
Hey man! Loved you in TMHT and I am currently obsessed with Secrets and Lies (who did it?! Aagh!!)! Thanks so much for doing this!
Now for a question...
Are Topher Grace and Chris Pratt as nice in real life as they seem?
Thanks again!
thanks for watching! it's one of my faves!
topher and chris are super nice and charming dudes.
Maybe I'm not getting a joke here but don't you mean Dan Fogelman? No relation to Dan Fogler.
Edit: damn novelty accounts!
or dan fogelberg or the coffee people...
First off, I just wanted to say that your performance in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was inspired! What was it like to work with James Lapine and William Finn?
it was a dream come true. into the woods was
one of the 1st plays I saw. I was familiar with Finn's work in college
that whole experience was surreal how it all came together.. both men are incredible characters and they're both. masters. best case scenerio. I'm working with Lapine again on his film custody!
Will there every be a Balls Of Fury II?
I'd bet my left nut. and I've only got 1. so u know I'm serious.
Don't know if you're still taking questions, but I loved your performance in Balls of Fury and Fan Boys.
I gotta ask, of all the people you've made movies with, who would you consider the best to have worked with? Could be another actor/actress or a director.
Christopher walken hands down.
the statues with the huge boners (for those of you who might've never noticed-the trek vs star-wars battle)...tell me about the statues, was that something planned or something the sculptor threw in as an unexpected gift from the cinema gods? i love how it's never pointed out but the perceptive fans get that "rewind that shit a second bro." moment.
well 1st Weinstein was like Kirk needs a huge cock bulge. and then Kyle was like ok but then Kahn needs a huge cock bulge too to even it all out in the frame. then they were gonna take the cock bulge out of the film completely but then the fans fought for it to stay in...the rest was history
Dan I don't know if it was mentioned but your appearance in Type O Negative's "I Don't Wanna Be Me" was pants shitting hilarious and the impressions were spot on. Any chance you knew the guys before the video being you're from Brooklyn?? Otherwise, any cool stories about the late and great Peter Steele??
I did not know them before although we were all brooklyn guys - a couple guys grew up around Bensonhurst which is where my gramma lived. they were really nice chill guys- they didn't wanna kill me and eat my soul or anything.
What was your fave role you did ?
uncle Vanya.
Dan do you have any new tv stuff or film projects in the works?
secrets & lies, Billions, Barely lethal, Custody, evil nature, Brooklyn gladiator Moonlake vol3
What was it like working with Dane Cook? I hope you're still married to triple boob woman.
Did you get to interact much with Jim Carrey and/or Steve Carell during Horton Hears a Who?
Do people ever come up to you on the street and call you a Gweilo?
**One of my questions was asking about his favorite SNL skit, but I edited it out. That's why he said little chocolate donuts.
Dane was silly and very nice to me. my wife has two beautiful titties and I'm not ashamed to say it. little chocolate donuts...
dude I met jim at snL40 and he was super cool. sure people call me g-lo sometimes... in Chinatown. and frat parties. and poker games. and orgies.
Which song do you enjoy performing live more - 'Leader of the Band' or 'Longer'?
longer gives me a boner that I can't get down. it's weird. so I try not to play it often but it's my favorite.
OK Congrats on everything by the way.
What's your favorite thing to do to past the time? Is acting a hard profession? If you could do anything what would you do?
are u asking me my favorite thing to do in the past? that's a toughie. gotta go with humping cleopatra. :)
thanks! my favorite hobby is smoking pot. acting is VERY hard and very rewarding. u just have to want to do it with most of your heart. I'd like to have jack white's job
Hey man. I tended bar at the SoHo playhouse when you did the voyage of the carcass nearly 10 years ago. You were nice. Just wanted to say congrats on your success. And what does Aaron Eckert smell like?
HEY! u in NYC still? aaron smells like endorphins, and old spice and a hint of lion mane.
Govenor Bradford!!! You were the tits in FreeBirds, how was it working on that film?
thanks man! I loved working on freeBirds
and any animated movie. Mel blanc is one of my idols
Oh man oh man... Fanboys was hilarious! Loved that movie... Did you guys have to do a lot of research for your roles, or was most of the stuff already known?
What's your favorite story about that movie, or about any movie really?
I loved that movie no research necessary I was actually coaching some of the guys- there wasn't allot to do were we filmed so we went out- all us boys & girls and found high powers machine BB guns and made cardboard body armor and ran around shooting each other cops came one night thought we were terrorists. we were stuuuuuupid
What was your favorite audience interaction during the run of Spelling Bee?
david hassellhoff got up and started improvising and we couldn't get him off stage added 10 minutes to the show... that was rather memorable. there was an actual spelling champ kid we couldn't get off stage that was cool
What are the chances of you staying on as a consultant to Cornell in Secrets and Lies since Dave is a secret genius ? You two would be a riot working together.
that would b rad. the chances are slim but not impossible.
So this probably wont get answered, but I'll ask anyway. Hi Dan. I'm a big fan. Do you have any advice on how someone might get into the film industry? Not in acting like you but like a production assistant or something. I live in Colorado right now (Which I know isn't the greatest filming location), but I could move. Sorry if this is an uninteresting or silly question, but I figured I would ask someone who is in the business. Either way, you keep being awesome.
I'd move to where the action is. but that could be like Atlanta nowadays or even Vancouver. u can find a great place to grow your skills. if u come to NYC tweet @mrdanfogler
I only know you from secrets & lies. You are about the only thing I like about that show! Must seek out everything else you have done! What's your favorite project? I love you! Thanks for being awesome!
start with scenic route and work backwards to Mars needs Moms then end with balls of fury, fanboys & take me home tonight in that order. that's what I usually do.
Anyone who is a fanboy of Fanboys was looking forward to the movie for years before it came out. When we got word that the studio was trying to change the cancer story line so it wouldn't be as sad, what was that situation like for you guys (the people making the movie)?
Also according to Wikipedia: Roger Ebert gave the film 1½ out of 4 stars, calling it "an amiable but disjointed film that identifies too closely with its heroes. Poking a little more fun at them would have been a great idea. What do you think about that?
I always liked siskle better. he was the Ernie to roger's eBERT. the process of removing the heart from the film then eventually replacing it years later was much like botched surgery: painful,disorienting, and invasive. and in the end the soreness leaves u wondering if it was worth the fuss in the 1st place.
Hey Dan! Just want to say I loved Fanboys, Balls of Fury, Take Me Home Tonight, and Good Luck Chuck. I have got a question for you. How good are you at ping pong or as the Chinese say....ping pong?
during the film I could have killed a blue jay with my serve. now I'd be lucky to give a pidgin a concussion.
What is it like to suck major ass farts?
it's like holding a stinky ass bong hit that u know is bad for u but you do it anyway because otherwise yer pals will think yer big puss.
For some reason I'm always confusing you with actor Josh Gad and I don't know why. You guys don't even look alike. My question is: do people confuse you two often or is this just happening to me?
no idea I mean I'm like clearly a brad Pitt type and he's more of a dan Fogler type.
Can i call you Foggy?
absolutely although I prefer Fogey. like bogey.
What was it like working on the set of fanboys? And did you keep anything from the set?
fuck yeah I've got some pieces of the van. an action figure or 3. it was like being a kid again. got to reference everything I love. and meet many heroes
Hey buddy. What do you think about obesity in the US?
it fuckin sucks. it's an epidemic. I'm trying to lay off sugar & carbs myself.