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Derek Waters
Derek Waters
Derek Waters
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Derek Waters is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for his work on the television series Drunk History (2013–2019), which earned him eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Waters was raised in Lutherville, Maryland.[1] Waters is Jewish, dyslexic, and was in special education in school.[2] As a child, he aspired to be a professional baseball player, but didn't make his high school team, and so became a Little League umpire.[2] He attended Towson High School in Towson, Maryland, graduating in 1998.[3] The following year, he went to Second City in Toronto, Canada, 1999 to study sketch and improv comedy.[4]

Career

[edit]

After moving to Los Angeles, he worked at Tower Video, a job he liked since he had never been exposed to independent movies before.[2] He has performed sketch comedy in Los Angeles since 2000, and for many years was part of the comedy duo Derek & Simon with Simon Helberg. The two starred together in the web series Derek & Simon: The Show on the comedy website Super Deluxe, which they created with comedian Bob Odenkirk. They made two short films "Derek & Simon: The Pity Card" (co-starring Zach Galifianakis and Bill Hader) and "Derek & Simon: A Bee and a Cigarette" (co-starring Casey Wilson and Emily Rutherfurd) and had a pilot deal with HBO in 2005.

In 2003, he co-starred in the ABC series Married to the Kellys.

Waters has appeared on television programs such as The League, Funny or Die Presents, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Nick Swardson's Pretend Time, Maron, Happy Endings, Suburgatory, The Sarah Silverman Program, Santa Clarita Diet, and The Middle. He has also appeared in films such as The Brothers Solomon, Hall Pass,[5] For Your Consideration, and This Means War. Waters also voiced the self-centred, non sequitur-spouting weasel Dipster in the 2012 Shut Up! Cartoons series Weasel Town, starring with Jason Ritter.[6]

Waters co-created and hosts the Comedy Central series Drunk History. The show originally started as a series of shorts for Funny or Die.[citation needed] The show has won multiple awards, such as the jury prize in short filmmaking at the Sundance Festival and was nominated for seventeen Primetime Emmy Awards, garnering Waters eight nominations.[7]

Influences

[edit]

Some of Waters's influences are Mark Borchardt and Christopher Guest.[2]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Derek Waters

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Derek Waters (born July 30, 1979) is an American comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer best known for co-creating, directing, and hosting the anthology series [Drunk History](/page/Drunk History) (2013–2019), which features inebriated narrators recounting historical events reenacted by celebrities. Born and raised in , , Waters moved to in his early twenties to pursue a career in acting and quickly immersed himself in the local scene. Early in his career, Waters formed a comedy duo with , leading to the creation of the Derek & Simon: The Show in 2007 on , executive produced by and featuring guest appearances from actors such as and ; the series concluded after the platform's merger, after which Helberg joined the cast of . He gained further recognition through appearances on sketch shows like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and roles in films such as (2011), alongside guest spots on series including Happy Endings, , , and . Waters originated Drunk History as a series of short videos on in 2007, co-created with director Jeremy Konner, inspired by a drunken storytelling session with friend ; the concept won a jury prize for short filmmaking at the 2010 and evolved into a full series in 2013, earning critical acclaim and eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Waters, including for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. The show's innovative format, blending humor with educational content, has been praised for highlighting underrepresented historical narratives, and Waters has continued to work in and television, including acting roles in Mythic Quest (2020) and its spin-off Side Quest (2025), following its conclusion.

Early life

Family background

Derek Waters was born on July 30, 1979, in , . He was raised in Lutherville, a suburb of , where he developed a strong connection to the city's distinctive cultural environment from an early age. Growing up amid 's vibrant local traditions, including its humor-infused community life and traditions like crab feasts, Waters absorbed the region's eclectic spirit, which later influenced his comedic sensibilities. Waters' family played a pivotal role in shaping his worldview and career aspirations. The household dynamics, rooted in Baltimore's humorous and resilient ethos, offered a foundation for Waters' appreciation of storytelling through .

Education and early interests

Waters attended in , graduating in the late 1990s. After high school, he briefly enrolled at the (CCBC) Essex campus for one semester to study and dramatics, where he achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA to satisfy his parents' expectations. During his teenage years, Waters discovered his passion for comedy, particularly influenced by the work of . He engaged in early creative pursuits such as stand-up routines, skit performances, and even auditioning for commercials, using humor as a key outlet for expression. These endeavors highlighted his budding talent and helped shape his comedic voice. Following his short college stint, Waters made the deliberate choice to forgo further formal education in favor of a full-time pursuit in entertainment, moving to to train in improvisation and at .

Career

Early comedy work

After graduating high school in in 1998, Waters briefly studied and improv at in in 1999 before relocating to in 2000 at age 21 to pursue a career in entertainment. Upon arriving in the city, he took an entry-level job at Tower Video, a now-defunct rental store, where he gained exposure to a wide range of cinema that influenced his comedic sensibilities. To support himself, Waters performed and participated in skit-based performances at local venues, while also appearing in commercials to make ends meet. In the early 2000s, Waters immersed himself in ' burgeoning and scene, training and performing at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB), a key hub for emerging comedians. He formed a creative partnership with fellow performer , creating the duo Derek & Simon, which produced short-form content including web videos for platforms like starting around 2006. These early web shorts featured absurd, character-driven humor that showcased Waters' knack for delivery and ensemble sketches, helping him build a network within the community. Waters' first notable collaborations came through the ecosystem in the mid-2000s, where he connected with creators and amid the rise of their surreal programming. He contributed to the offbeat style of their projects, including a as part of the "Prank Crew" in the 2007 "Chunky" of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, which built on the foundational weirdness established in their earlier series (2004–2006). These experiences solidified his role in the indie comedy landscape, emphasizing low-budget, experimental sketches that prioritized bizarre narratives over traditional punchlines.

Drunk History

Drunk History originated as a created by Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner in 2007, inspired by drunken storytelling sessions among friends, such as actor recounting the tragic death of musician while intoxicated. The initial short, featuring Johnson as the narrator and in a reenactment, was posted on and quickly gained viral attention for its humorous take on historical anecdotes delivered through slurred, unscripted narration. The ' success led to its adaptation as a television program on , premiering in July 2013 with Waters serving as host, writer, director, and producer alongside Konner. Executive produced by and , the show expanded the format to full half-hour episodes, running for six seasons and concluding in after 70 episodes. In the television version, Waters appears as the host, guiding inebriated narrators—typically comedians or actors—through their boozy retellings of historical events, which are then reenacted by celebrity guest stars lip-syncing the narration with comedic exaggeration. The series' distinctive format blended education and comedy, covering topics from the to lesser-known tales like the invention of the , with standout episodes including Season 5's "Sex" featuring as and Season 4's "Are You Afraid of the Drunk?" highlighting ghost stories in . received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to historical storytelling, earning 17 Primetime Emmy nominations, including multiple nods for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, as well as a win for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program in 2016. Reviewers praised its ability to make accessible and entertaining, with outlets like noting its "booze-fueled journeys to the past" as a fresh twist on sketch comedy. Production challenges included the rapid turnaround required for each episode, often shooting multiple segments in a single day to capture authentic intoxication levels, as well as the logistical demands of coordinating celebrity reenactors like , who portrayed figures such as , and as . Casting high-profile talent was facilitated by Ferrell and McKay's involvement, but Waters and Konner faced hurdles in selecting obscure yet compelling historical stories through extensive with historians, ensuring factual accuracy amid the comedic liberties. Despite these obstacles, the show's DIY from its web origins persisted, contributing to its and influence on educational humor.

Acting roles

Waters began his on-screen acting career with supporting roles in independent and mainstream comedies during the mid-2000s. In the 2007 film , directed by , he portrayed the Video Store Clerk, a minor character interacting with the film's socially awkward protagonists in a video rental store scene. His breakthrough supporting film role came in the 2011 ensemble comedy , where he played Brent, a competitive and resentful who becomes a romantic rival in the story of two husbands granted a "hall pass" from their marriages. On television, Waters established himself through recurring and guest appearances in popular comedy series, often leveraging his improvisational skills in ensemble casts. He appeared as Glaze, the eccentric friend of main character Dave Rose, in multiple episodes of the ABC sitcom Happy Endings from 2011 to 2013, contributing to the show's quirky group dynamics. He also made guest spots in Comedy Central's Reno 911! across its run from 2003 to 2009, embodying the show's improvised absurdity in various peripheral characters. Additionally, Waters took on smaller roles and voice work in cult favorites like Adult Swim's (2008–2016), where he contributed to the parody medical drama's humor through brief live-action and animated segments. Waters has lent his voice to animated projects, showcasing his comedic timing in performances. Notably, in the 2011 direct-to-video animated film Barbie: Princess Charm School, he voiced Brock, a sassy royal attendant adding levity to the fairy-tale narrative. In recent years, Waters has taken on more prominent ensemble roles in streaming series. He stars as , the long-suffering head of the art department, in the 2025 Apple TV+ anthology Side Quest, an expansion of the universe that delves into the lives of game developers and fans through standalone stories; his performance highlights Phil's tormented yet resilient personality in a key episode focused on workplace pressures.

Directing and producing

Derek Waters has directed numerous episodes of the Comedy Central series Drunk History, which he co-created. His directorial work on the show earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series in 2019. Waters' approach to directing emphasized the unique blend of inebriated narration and reenactments, often collaborating closely with co-creator Jeremy Konner to capture the chaotic energy of historical retellings. As a , Waters served as an on Drunk History throughout its run, overseeing the transition of the concept from short-form content to a full television format. The series originated as a on in 2007, where Waters produced initial episodes featuring comedians recounting history while intoxicated, laying the groundwork for its expansion into a 70-episode TV program. This producing role extended to extensions, including early digital shorts that tested the format's viability before its 2013 pickup. Waters' writing contributions include sketches for projects in the alt-comedy space, such as appearances and contributions to Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! on , where he helped shape surreal comedic elements in episodes like "Chunky" in 2007. His standalone sketches, often produced for online platforms like , further demonstrated his versatility in short-form comedy writing. In recent years, Waters has focused on producing through his company, Be Nice or Leave Productions, which signed a with in 2019 to develop new comedy content for TV and digital platforms. Waters' career evolution reflects a progression from independent web productions, like the original Drunk History shorts and the web series Derek & Simon, to established network television, where he maintains creative control over multifaceted comedy projects.

Influences and style

Comedic inspirations

Derek Waters' comedic sensibilities were profoundly shaped by Baltimore's cultural landscape, including the work of the renowned filmmaker , whose cult classics like and Hairspray blended irreverent humor with social satire, inspiring Waters' early interest in boundary-pushing comedy. Growing up in , Waters immersed himself in Baltimore's nascent local comedy scene during his teenage years, experimenting with acting classes and homemade films alongside neighborhood friends, which honed his penchant for absurd, collaborative sketches before he pursued formal training. A pivotal personal influence came from comedian , whose high-energy captivated Waters as a teenager; Farley's untimely death at age 33 in 1997 motivated the 18-year-old Waters to commit to a career in comedy, viewing it as a way to honor that exuberant style. In Los Angeles, Waters drew from trailblazers, notably through his mentorship under , co-creator of Mr. Show with Bob and David, whose surreal, interconnected sketches influenced Waters' approach to narrative absurdity during their collaboration on the web series Derek & Simon. Waters' affinity for exaggerated reenactments stemmed from his fascination with poorly acted crime reconstructions in 1980s and 1990s true crime television programs, such as those on and , where amateurish portrayals of perpetrators added unintended humor that directly informed the stylistic choices in . Key collaborators like and further molded his taste for ; as a recurring performer on Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Waters absorbed their experimental, discomforting humor, which emphasized awkward, off-kilter scenarios over traditional punchlines. Broader cinematic touchstones included mockumentaries like (1984), directed by , whose improvisational satire of rock excess resonated with Waters' interest in observational, character-driven comedy that pokes fun at earnest pretensions. These elements collectively fostered Waters' enduring draw toward humor that thrives on imperfection, exaggeration, and cultural subversion.

Signature style and impact

Derek Waters' comedic style is characterized by absurd historical retellings, where inebriated narrators deliver rambling, error-prone accounts of events, which are then faithfully reenacted by actors in a manner, amplifying the inherent ridiculousness. This approach, central to , juxtaposes factual history with slurred, subjective interpretations, creating layers of irony through visual mismatches between and . Waters' self-deprecating hosting further enhances this voice, as he frequently interrupts segments with bumbling interventions or becomes comically entangled in the reenactments, underscoring the chaos of memory and storytelling. A key innovation in Waters' work lies in seamlessly blending DIY web sensibilities with mainstream television production, originating Drunk History as a low-budget series in 2007 before its expansion to in 2013, which popularized the drunk narration format as a viable comedic structure. This transition democratized historical parody, making it accessible and replicable, and influenced the format's adoption in international adaptations, including Drunk History: and Drunk History: . The show's impact is evidenced by eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and Directing for a Variety Series, recognizing its blend of education and absurdity. It also inspired spin-offs like Drunk History: Black Stories, which extended the format to highlight underrepresented narratives in Black history. Waters' legacy extends to elevating character actors within comedy, providing platforms for talents like , , and to deliver memorable, exaggerated performances in short-form sketches that prioritize ensemble dynamics over star vehicles. His emphasis on diverse has broadened comedic representation, focusing on overlooked figures and events from to civil rights, fostering inclusivity in historical satire up to the series' conclusion in 2019. By 2025, this influence persists in parody series that echo the ironic reenactment trope, such as anthology-style historical comedies on streaming platforms. In recent works like the 2025 Apple TV+ anthology Side Quest, Waters evolves his style by incorporating gaming culture and ensemble-driven narratives, reprising his role as the tormented from Mythic Quest in stories exploring the ripple effects of virtual worlds on diverse characters, blending awkward humor with emotional depth. This shift maintains his signature absurdity—through exaggerated character interactions in game-inspired scenarios—while expanding into multifaceted tales of and creativity, marking a maturation toward more layered, interactive .

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1169531/
  2. https://www.tvinsider.com/people/derek-waters/
  3. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/62836-derek-waters?language=en-US
  4. https://www.earwolf.com/person/derek-waters/
  5. https://laist.com/shows/the-frame/drunk-history-creator-derek-waters-tries-to-tell-the-stories-not-told-in-textbooks
  6. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/drunk-history-wins-sundance-jury-20080/
  7. https://variety.com/gallery/hollywood-funnymakers-who-changed-the-game-in-2013/
  8. https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/derek-waters
  9. https://deadline.com/2017/04/lin-manuel-miranda-drunk-history-derek-waters-comedy-central-1202066795/
  10. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/drunk-history-tv-review-581507/
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9184820/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24512588/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1169531/bio/
  14. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2020/08/28/whats-next-for-drunk-history-creator-derek-waters-probably-a-trip-back-home-to-baltimore/
  15. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2014/07/01/a-very-sober-minded-derek-waters-on-work-life-and-doing-baltimore-in-season-2-of-drunk-history-2/
  16. https://nofilmschool.com/2019/01/diy-story-drunk-history-creator-derek-waters
  17. https://www.avclub.com/drunk-history-s-derek-waters-answers-our-11-questions-1798270271
  18. https://movieweb.com/drunk-history-season-4-derek-waters-interview/
  19. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts-culture/sorta-comedians-tim-and-eric-on-influences-audiences-and-whats-not-funny-6453155/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0925680/fullcredits/
  21. https://www.wired.com/2013/10/bob-odenkirk/
  22. https://www.vulture.com/2013/07/talking-to-derek-waters-about-drunk-history-comedy-central-and-humanizing-abraham-lincoln.html
  23. https://www.fastcompany.com/1683352/making-history-hilarious-educational-and-drunk
  24. https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/drunk-history-canceled-comedy-central-1234741009/
  25. https://www.avclub.com/derek-waters-and-jeremy-konner-on-drunk-history-s-first-1798240802
  26. https://www.vulture.com/article/best-drunk-history-segments-ranked.html
  27. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/drunk-history-abbi-jacobson-plays-gloria-steinem-undercover-playboy-bunny-201200/
  28. https://deadline.com/2020/08/drunk-history-end-canceled-comedy-central-six-seasons-no-season-7-comedy-central-emmy-nominations-1203018042/
  29. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/derek-waters-drunk-history-emmy-nom-i-m-still-here-watch-1134026/
  30. https://variety.com/2017/artisans/production/drunk-history-production-design-1202528728/
  31. https://deadline.com/2020/06/drunk-history-derek-waters-jeremy-konner-search-for-stories-contenders-1202964586/
  32. https://www.vulture.com/2014/07/derek-waters-on-how-drunk-history-is-made.html
  33. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-brothers-solomon/cast/2000349849/
  34. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/hall-pass/cast/2030353266/
  35. https://screenrant.com/hall-pass-cast-character-guide/
  36. https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a334294/derek-waters-signs-for-happy-endings-role/
  37. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/derek_waters
  38. https://tv.apple.com/us/show/side-quest/umc.cmc.1pwtcaq7wyb6hdz2ctk1tvtng
  39. https://collider.com/side-quest-anna-konkle-derek-waters-mythic-quest-phil/
  40. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/side-quest-review-apple-tv-mythic-quest-spinoff-1236172199/
  41. https://deadline.com/2019/08/drunk-history-renewed-season-7-series-co-creator-derek-waters-first-look-deal-comedy-central-1202703004/
  42. https://therumpus.net/2013/07/05/the-rumpus-interview-with-derek-waters/
  43. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/with-bob-and-david-netflix-review
  44. https://www.vulture.com/2011/10/the-lost-projects-of-bob-odenkirk-and-david-cross.html
  45. https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/why-creator-drunk-history-obsessed-bad-crime-reenactments-174556/
  46. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/arts/television/derek-waters-explains-his-tv-series-drunk-history.html
  47. https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/a-drinking-game-interview-with-drunk-history-creator-derek-waters-23938/
  48. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5612212/
  49. https://www.c21media.net/news/comedy-central-orders-second-round-of-drunk-history-black-stories/
  50. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/drunk-history-co-creator-says-goodbye-shares-shows-takeaways-lets-learn-from-our-past-and-improve-our-future-guest-column-4050227/
  51. https://www.npr.org/2014/07/02/327079981/drunk-history-serves-an-educational-cocktail-with-comedic-twist
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