Biography
Handsome, dark-haired comedian Ken Marino is one member of the sketch-comedy troupe The State that seems to have broken off from the group in favor of a career in television sitcoms. Born in Long Island, he studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute and N.Y.U. before working in touring companies and off-Broadway plays. In the early '90s, he joined up with the gang that would become
The State, the hilarious comedy show that aired on MTV from 1994-1995. His good looks and memorable characters (the Talking Hormone and Louie, the guy who's gonna dip his balls in it) earned him many admiring fans. After the show's cancellation, he was cast in the NBC sitcom
Men Behaving Badly. (Starring
Rob Schneider and
Ron Eldard, the short-lived show was an Americanized version of a popular, long-running British series.) Several guest-starring appearances followed, leading to a recurring role as Professor Wilder on the WB's teen drama
Dawson's Creek.
Marino made his film debut with a small role in
Gattaca, which was followed by several poorly distributed independent comedies (
Love Happens, Carlo's Wake, and 101 Ways [The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo]). He also had supporting roles in the more mainstream romantic comedies
Tortilla Soup and
Joe Somebody. In 2001, he reunited many other members of
The State for the teen satire
Wet Hot American Summer as sexually desperate camp counselor Victor. Back on NBC, he starred as young San Francisco lawyer Miles Lawton in the series
First Years, another short-lived Americanized version of a popular, long-running British TV series. When the show was canceled after a month, he starred in the NBC sitcom
Leap of Faith as magazine reporter Andy, best friend of the titular Faith (
Sarah Paulson). When this show was canceled after a month, he went back to guest-starring roles on shows like
Las Vegas and
Rock Me Baby. Projects for 2004 include a leading role in the independent romantic comedy feature
Love for Rent opposite Colombian actress
Angie Cepeda. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide