Earlier Campbell's father also had acting ambitions. When he came out of the Navy in the '50s, he had the chance to go to the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. He turned it down, to his later regret. Inspired by his father, and determined to avoid regrets in his own life, Campbell decided to pursue acting.

His knack for comedy landed him with the Second City troupe in Detroit, where he was involved in the stage productions of "Greetings From Viagra Falls," "Send in the Clones" and "One Nation Undecided." He also wrote and directed "Accidental Terrorist" and "Guns and Moses" for that troupe. While Campbell was performing with Second City in 1998, Bob Saget came out and improvised with the troupe. A week later Saget's manager flew to Detroit to watch the group and ended up signing Campbell, along with a fellow performer.

Campbell's television credits include a guest starring role on ABC's "The Geena Davis Show," the position of host of WXYZ-TV's "Film Fest 7" in Detroit, and guest-starring roles on "Suddenly Susan," "Friends" and "Stark Raving Mad." On the big screeen he has a part in the upcoming feature film "Showtime," with Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro, and has also appeared in the features "One Half Gone" and "Get the Hell Out of Hamtown."

With a couple of friends, Campbell started up The Tasty Face Theatre Company in North Hollywood, California, and have staged productions of David Mamet's "The Woods" and Lanford Wilson's "Serenading Louie."

Campbell loves sports and, true to his Michigan roots, he is still a great fan of Detroit's football and baseball teams, the Lions and the Tigers. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Peggy, and their one-year old girl, Gabriella Mae. The couple is expecting another child in December.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Hometown: Cadillac, MI
Birthdate: November 29

Need to write? Here's where to send mail to Larry Joe Campbell.

Learn about how to write the stars.