Mitch Rouse
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 6, 1964
- Place of birth
- Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Biography
Mitch Rouse (born August 6, 1964) is an American film and television actor, director, and screenwriter. He is a well known vet in the world of improvisation. Rouse grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He dropped out of college and moved to Chicago to study improvisation under the late, great Del Close. While there he was asked to join the Second City Theatre, birthplace of his idols John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. While there Mitch wrote and performed shows with Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Nia Vardalos and Scott Adsit. Mitch made his feature film debut alongside Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau in Rudy.
Rouse then moved to New York to star with Amy Sedaris, in the premiere of David Sedaris’ original play Stitches, at La Mama Theatre.
In New York, Mitch made a name for himself in TV as a writer/actor on Comedy Central’s EXIT 57, which he created with Stephen Colbert. EXIT was the network's first original sketch comedy series. It received five Cable Ace Award nominations, including Best Actor (Rouse) and Best Writing for a comedy series.
Rouse wrote and directed the dark humored independent film Employee of the Month, which starred Matt Dillon, Steve Zahn, and Christina Applegate. The film premiered at The Sundance Film Festival to a standing ovation and rave reviews.
Mitch created the cult-hit Strangers With Candy, with Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris. During it’s run the dark comedy attracted guest stars: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Winona Ryder, Steve Carrell, Matthew Broderick, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Allison Janney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman to name a few.
David Letterman and World Wide Pants produced the feature film version of Strangers, taking Rouse back to the Sundance film festival for it’s premiere.
While co-starring on ABC’s According to Jim, Mitch created SPIKE TV's first foray into comedy with the critically acclaimed FACTORY. Rouse starred in and produced the series with long time friend and Second City alum, David Pasquesi.
Other Film & Television: Transparent - Neighbors - RENO 911! - Austin Powers - Friends With Money - Spy School - Without A Paddle - The Heartbreak Kid - Spin City - Lost AT Home - and The Secret Lives Of Men
Mitch lives in Los Angeles with his wife Andrea and their kids, Tennessee & Strummer. He continues writing and directing unique characters with original voices.
Movies with Mitch Rouse
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 1999 · ★ 6.3
- The Heartbreak Kid 2007 · ★ 5.8
- Rudy 1993 · ★ 7.4
- Friends with Money 2006 · ★ 5.1
- The Truth About Cats & Dogs 1996 · ★ 6.1
- Employee of the Month 2004 · ★ 5.7
- Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control 2008 · ★ 5.1
- Olive, the Other Reindeer 1999 · ★ 6.7
- Spy School 2008 · ★ 4.7
- Call Me Crazy: A Five Film 2013 · ★ 7.0
- Nobody Knows Anything! 2004 · ★ 3.5
- In the Company of Darkness 1993 · ★ 6.5
- Sweethearts 1997 · ★ 4.2
- Mario and the Mob 1992 · ★ 9.0
- Merkin Penal 2014
Movies directed by Mitch Rouse
- Employee of the Month 2004 · ★ 5.7
- Merkin Penal 2014
- Killing Chuck