Rob Riggle
Robert Allen Riggle Jr. (born April 21, 1970) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps.[1][2]
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, Riggle graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.A. in theater and film before commissioning as a Marine Corps officer, serving 23 years total with nine on active duty and deployments including Liberia, Kosovo—where he earned the Combat Action Ribbon—and Afghanistan.[3][2][4]
After retiring in 2013 with over 20 medals and ribbons, he pursued entertainment, gaining prominence as a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2006 to 2008, a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and through comedic film roles in Step Brothers, The Hangover, and 21 Jump Street.[2][5][1]
Early Life and Education
Family Background and Childhood
Robert Allen Riggle Jr. was born on April 21, 1970, in Louisville, Kentucky, to parents Sandra Shrout Riggle and Robert Allen Riggle Sr., the latter of whom worked in the insurance industry.[1] The family, including Riggle's older sister Julia, relocated to Overland Park, Kansas, when he was two years old, where they settled into suburban life.[6][2] Riggle grew up in Overland Park, a community in the Kansas City metropolitan area, attending Shawnee Mission South High School during his formative years.[2] Details on his early family dynamics are sparse, but Riggle has described his sister Julia McKee—now a labor and employment lawyer—as a key influence in his household.[7] His upbringing emphasized standard Midwestern values, with no publicly documented accounts of unusual hardships or notable events shaping his childhood beyond the move from Kentucky.[1]Academic Pursuits
Riggle attended the University of Kansas, where he majored in theater and film, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992.[8][9] During his undergraduate years, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and earned a private pilot's license, initially aspiring to become a naval aviator.[4][9] Following his commissioning in the Marine Corps, Riggle pursued graduate studies, earning a Master of Public Administration degree from Webster University in 1997.[5] This advanced degree aligned with his military roles in public affairs and supported his later transition into entertainment.[10] In recognition of his achievements, the University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts and Sciences awarded Riggle its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018, citing how his theater and film education provided foundational skills for his multifaceted career.[10]Military Service
Commissioning and Active Duty
Riggle enrolled in the Marine Corps Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program during his time at the University of Kansas, securing a guaranteed contract for naval aviation training after obtaining his private pilot's license as an undergraduate.[4][11] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduating with a B.A. in theater and film in 1992, marking the start of his 23-year military career.[10][12] Upon entering active duty, Riggle initially pursued the aviation pipeline with the goal of earning Wings of Gold as a naval aviator. He ultimately left flight school to prioritize public affairs roles, reflecting his growing interest in communication and performance alongside military service.[13][14] As a public affairs officer (MOS 4302), he handled media relations and information operations, serving nine years on active duty until transitioning to the reserves around 2000.[5][4] Specific active-duty postings included support to operational units, though details on locations such as potential stints in California or elsewhere remain limited in public records.Deployments and Reserve Obligations
Riggle transitioned from active duty to the Marine Corps Reserve around 2000, continuing his service as a public affairs officer while pursuing comedy in New York City and Los Angeles.[4][15] In the reserves, he fulfilled obligations that included multiple overseas deployments, serving in roles such as public affairs and civil affairs officer.[4][13] Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, Riggle volunteered to return to active duty status within the reserves, initially assisting in recovery efforts at Ground Zero in New York City by clearing rubble and supporting public affairs operations.[4] He then deployed to Afghanistan for two tours, in 2001 and 2002, as part of Operations Enduring Freedom, contributing to civil-military operations in the region.[13] Additional reserve deployments took him to Kosovo, where he earned the Combat Action Ribbon for engagement under enemy fire; Albania; and Liberia, involving peacekeeping and humanitarian support missions.[4][5] These reserve commitments spanned 14 years, allowing Riggle to balance military duties with his civilian career until his retirement on January 1, 2013, after 23 total years of service.[5] His deployments underscored the flexibility of reserve forces in responding to global contingencies, from post-9/11 operations to Balkan and African stability efforts.[4][13]Retirement and Military Honors
Riggle retired from the United States Marine Corps on January 1, 2013, with the rank of lieutenant colonel after 23 years of total service, comprising nine years on active duty and 14 years in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve.[13][16] His reserve commitments allowed him to balance military obligations with his emerging entertainment career, including deployments that informed his public persona as a veteran comedian.[17] Throughout his service, Riggle earned numerous decorations reflecting operational and administrative contributions across deployments to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Liberia. These include two Meritorious Service Medals for sustained performance in public affairs and intelligence roles; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; a Joint Service Achievement Medal; and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.[13][16] He also received the Combat Action Ribbon for direct exposure to enemy fire during operations.[18] Campaign and service medals awarded to Riggle encompass the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star device; Kosovo Campaign Medal with one bronze star; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal for relief efforts; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass and "M" devices denoting mobilization; and NATO Medal for Kosovo operations.[16] These honors underscore his roles in public affairs, intelligence analysis, and support to combat units, culminating in his honorable discharge.[18]Entertainment Career
Entry into Comedy and Improvisation
Riggle initiated his pursuit of comedy in 1997 by enrolling in improvisation classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB) in New York City, at a time when he remained on active duty as a public affairs officer in the United States Marine Corps.[19][20] This decision followed his earlier shift from naval aviation training in the early 1990s, where he had left flight school to allow greater flexibility for extracurricular interests, transitioning instead to roles that accommodated his growing interest in performance.[14][21] At UCB, Riggle immersed himself in the principles of long-form improvisation, studying under instructors including Amy Poehler and progressing from student to performer and instructor within the troupe.[22][20] His training emphasized collaborative scene-building and spontaneous character development, skills he credits as foundational to his comedic approach, often balancing late-night rehearsals with military deployments to locations such as Liberia and Kosovo.[23][4] By around 2000, after approximately seven years of consistent involvement at UCB's New York location, Riggle had established a reputation in the improv community, having taught classes and contributed to ensembles that honed his ability to adapt military-honed discipline to onstage unpredictability.[23][24] This period marked his transition to the Marine Corps reserves, freeing additional time for comedy pursuits without fully severing his service obligations, which continued for over a decade alongside emerging entertainment opportunities.[4][5]Television Milestones
Riggle's breakthrough in national television came as a featured player on Saturday Night Live during its 30th season, from September 25, 2004, to May 21, 2005.[25] In this role, he contributed to sketches and impersonations including country singer Toby Keith, baseball player Mark McGwire, journalist Rick Sanchez, politician Howard Dean, and comedian Larry the Cable Guy.[26] His one-season stint on the NBC sketch series marked his transition from improv stages to mainstream broadcast comedy, building on prior Upright Citizens Brigade performances.[27] Subsequently, Riggle joined The Daily Show as a correspondent from 2006 to 2008 under host Jon Stewart on Comedy Central.[26] His segments frequently incorporated references to his U.S. Marine Corps background, positioning him as a "Senior War Correspondent" for satirical field reports on politics and current events.[27] This period solidified his reputation for blending military authenticity with humor, leading to expanded opportunities in scripted television.[4] Beyond these foundational roles, Riggle took on varied television appearances, including guest spots as Captain Jack on The Office in 2006 and Congressman John Van Huesen on Arrested Development that same year.[27] He contributed sketches to MTV's Human Giant in 2007–2008 and held recurring parts in later series such as NTSF:S.D.:S.V.U. as the "President of the Navy."[26] In animation, Riggle voiced the character Noel in the ABC special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011), earning a 2012 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance.[26] These credits, alongside hosting duties on ABC's Holey Moley starting in 2019, highlight his versatility across sketch, news parody, sitcom, and game show formats.[27]Film Appearances
Rob Riggle's film career features a range of comedic supporting roles, often portraying authority figures or eccentric characters in ensemble comedies.[28] His breakthrough came with appearances in high-profile films produced by Judd Apatow's circle, transitioning from smaller independent projects to mainstream hits.[27]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Terrorists | Badger[28] |
| 2004 | Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story | Eddie Reynolds[28] |
| 2008 | Step Brothers | Randy[28] |
| 2009 | The Hangover | Officer Franklin[28] |
| 2009 | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard | Peter Selleck[28] |
| 2010 | Killers | Henry[28] |
| 2010 | Going the Distance | Ron[28] |
| 2010 | The Other Guys | Martin[28] |
| 2011 | Larry Crowne | Jack Strang[28] |
| 2012 | Big Miracle | Dean Glowacki[28] |
| 2012 | Nature Calls | Gentry[28] |
| 2012 | 21 Jump Street | Mr. Walters[28] |
| 2012 | Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | Mr. O'Hare (voice)[28] |
| 2014 | Just Before I Go | Rowley[28] |
| 2014 | Let's Be Cops | Segars[28] |
| 2014 | Dumb and Dumber To | Travis / Capt. Lippincott[28] |
| 2015 | Absolutely Anything | Grant[28] |
| 2015 | Hell & Back | Curt (voice)[28] |
| 2015 | Hotel Transylvania 2 | Bela (voice)[28] |
| 2016 | Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life | Bear[28] |
| 2016 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Northwestern Rep[28] |
| 2016 | Albert, Albert | Cactus Pete[28] |
| 2017 | A Happening of Monumental Proportions | Mr. Pendlehorn[28] |
| 2017 | How to Be a Latin Lover | Scott[28] |
| 2017 | The Emoji Movie | Ice Cream (voice)[28] |
| 2018 | Status Update | Darryl Moore[28] |
| 2018 | Night School | Mackenzie[28] |
| 2018 | Midnight Sun | Jack[28] |
| 2019 | UglyDolls | Exposition Robot (voice)[28] |
| 2020 | The War with Grandpa | Arthur[28] |
| 2022 | Bromates | —[28] |
| 2023 | Strays | Rolf (voice)[28] |
| 2025 | Bad Man | Chief Sandy[28] |
| 2025 | Code 3 | Dr. Serano[28] |
Stand-up and Live Performances
Riggle initiated his live comedy performances during his U.S. Marine Corps service, joining Armed Forces Entertainment tours that delivered shows to troops stationed in Bosnia and Kosovo in 1998 and 1999. [19] These appearances marked his early efforts to blend military duties with comedic outlets, performing sketch and improvisational routines adapted for deployed audiences. [19] After transitioning to full-time entertainment pursuits post-active duty, Riggle focused primarily on improvisational and sketch comedy in live settings, including stints with New York City troupes and as a Groundlings member from 2003 to 2005. [19] His live work emphasized spontaneous formats, contributing to credits on stages associated with Saturday Night Live and other sketch outlets before his broader television success. [19] Riggle expanded into stand-up comedy later in his career, culminating in the release of his debut special, "It's All Going to Hell," via Comedy Central on May 3, 2024. [31] The hour-long set features observational humor drawn from personal experiences, military background, and everyday absurdities. [31] He maintains an active touring schedule for stand-up, with multiple dates listed for 2025 across U.S. venues, often marketed as solo comedy events blending anecdotes and crowd interaction. [32] [33] In addition to stand-up, Riggle continues improvisational live performances, such as the ensemble show "Dinosaur Improv Live!" slated for November 5, 2025, at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., alongside comedians including Jason Mantzoukas and Paul Scheer. [34] Other engagements include moderated evenings like "Grit, Spit & Never Quit" on November 11, 2025, at the Montclair Art Museum, where he shares career and service stories in a comedic format. [35]