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Eric André
Eric André
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Eric Samuel André (born April 4, 1983) is an American comedian, actor, television host, writer, producer, and musician. He is best known as the creator, host, and co-writer of the Adult Swim surreal comedy series The Eric Andre Show (2012–2023). His other notable roles include Mike on the FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman (2015–2017), Luci on the Netflix series Disenchantment (2018–2023), and the voice of Azizi in the remake of The Lion King (2019) and Stuart Clarke in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries Ironheart. He also performs music under the stage name Blarf.

Key Information

Early life

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Eric Samuel André[1] was born in Boca Raton, Florida,[2] on April 4, 1983.[3] His mother is an American of Ashkenazi Jewish descent from New York's Upper West Side, and his father was an Haitian immigrant who worked as a psychiatrist.[4][5][6] He identifies as both Black and Jewish.[4][7][8] In 2001, after graduating from Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, he studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he played the double bass and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music degree.[9][10]

Career

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André performing in 2007

André began his comedy career in 2003.[11] He is the creator and host of The Eric Andre Show, a parody of public access talk shows, on Cartoon Network's late night programming block Adult Swim.[12] The show features pranks, shock humor, sketches, and celebrity interviews. He co-starred as Mark on the ABC comedy series Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and guest-starred on 2 Broke Girls as Deke, Max's love interest and fellow pastry student.[13] He played Mike in the FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman, which premiered in 2015.[14]

He voices Luci in the Netflix animated show Disenchantment.[15] His first standup special on Netflix, Legalize Everything, was released on June 23, 2020.[16] In 2021, he created and starred in the Netflix prank comedy film Bad Trip.[citation needed]

André is a signatory of the Film Workers for Palestine boycott pledge that was published in September 2025.[17]

Personal life

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André dated actress Rosario Dawson from 2016 to 2017.[18] In March 2021, he said that he was in a relationship with a woman he had met at a farmer's market who did not know he was well-known until after they started dating.[19]

André is a self-described agnostic atheist[20] and a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation.[21] He openly takes whippets as a way to reduce his anxiety.[22]

When addressing his views on sexuality in a 2016 interview, he said, "I think everyone is bi, right? There's no such thing as sexual orientation, or race, or gender. Those are all obsolete man-made concepts. I'll say it again, a hole is a hole." He was then asked if he was coming out as bisexual, to which he responded, "I'll fuck anything that moves."[23]

He endorsed Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential election.[24]

In October 2022, André and fellow comedian Clayton English filed a federal lawsuit against Clayton County, Georgia, claiming that they were subjected to a police program that racially profiled, coerced, and illegally searched passengers boarding planes for drugs at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport without reasonable suspicion. Their lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of the program.[25] The district court dismissed the lawsuit based on qualified immunity of the police. André and English appealed this decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in January 2024.[26]

In 2024, André signed the "Film Workers for Palestine" boycott, a campaign that denounces Israeli film institutions for their role in the war in Gaza. He has also shared social media posts critical of Israel's military actions and has called for a permanent ceasefire.[27][28] André participated in a protest organized by Jewish Voice for Peace against the Gaza genocide.[29]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Invention of Lying Man No. 4 Cameo
2010 The Awkward Comedy Show Himself Featured comedian
Thin Skin Passenger Short film
2012 Should've Been Romeo Buzz
2013 The Internship Sid
2015 Flock of Dudes Mook
2016 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Dreadlocked CMZ reporter
2017 Rough Night Jake
2019 The Lion King Azizi (voice) [30]
2021 Bad Trip Chris Carey Also writer and producer
The Mitchells vs. the Machines Mark Bowman (voice) [30]
Sing 2 Darius (voice) [30]
2022 Jackass Forever Himself Writer and guest appearances[31]
Animal Attraction Darius (voice) Short film
Jackass 4.5 Himself Writer and guest appearances
2023 Trolls Band Together John Dory (voice) [30]
2025 Happy Gilmore 2 Steiner
2026 Animal Friends TBA Post-production
Street Fighter Don Sauvage Post-production[32]
Little Brother TBA Post-production
TBA Balls Up TBA Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Set P.A. 2 episodes
2010 The Big Bang Theory Joey Episode: "The 21-Second Excitation"
2011 Zeke and Luther Zorn Episode: "Skate Troopers"
Hot in Cleveland Jeff Episode: "Elka's Wedding"
Fact Checkers Unit Mirage Episode: "Excessive Gass"
Level Up Max Ross Television film
2012–2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Mark Reynolds 22 episodes
2012–2023 The Eric Andre Show Himself Creator, host, writer and executive producer
2013–2014 2 Broke Girls Deacon "Deke" Bromberg 8 episodes
2014 Lucas Bros. Moving Co. Various characters (voice) 2 episodes
Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself Episode: "Eric Andre Wears a Cat Collage Shirt & Sneakers"
2015 Robot Chicken Various characters (voice) Episode: "Zero Vegetables"
2015 Ridiculousness Himself Episode: "Eric Andre"
2015–2017 Man Seeking Woman Mike 30 episodes[33]
2016 Animals Alex Voice, episode: "Cats."[30]
Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch Ancient Aliens Himself Episode: "Founding Fathers"
American Dad! The Drifter Voice, episode: "Stan Smith Is Keanu Reeves as Stanny Utah in Point Breakers"
2017 Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special Baby Archer Variety special
2018 Mostly 4 Millennials Executive producer[34]
2018–2023 Disenchantment Luci / Pendergast Voice, 50 episodes[30]
2020 Legalize Everything Himself Stand up special on Netflix
2021 Archer Colt / The Professor Voice, 3 episodes
2022 The Righteous Gemstones Lyle Lisson Season 2
Impractical Jokers Himself Episode: "Eric Andre"
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities Randall Roth Episode: "The Viewing", Episode 7
2023 The Prank Panel[35] Himself Host; also executive producer
2025 Abbott Elementary Cedric Episode: "Testing"
Ironheart Stuart Clarke / Rampage Episode: "Take Me Home"

Web

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Laugh Track Mash-Ups Parker Leon Episode: "At Your Sir-vice"
2013 Getting Doug with High Himself 1 episode[36]
The ArScheerio Paul Show Flavor Flav Episode: "Vanilla Ice & Flavor Flav"
2016 Hot Ones Himself Episode: "Eric Andre Turns Into Tay Zonday While Eating Spicy Wings"
2020 Episode: "Eric Andre Enters a Fugue State While Eating Spicy Wings"
Steve-O's Wild Ride! Podcast
1 episode
2021 Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? 1 episode
2022 Toro y Moi: Goes By So Fast Panther Film accompanying Mahal[37]
2023 Steve-O's Wild Ride! Himself 1 episode
2024 Chicken Shop Date Himself 1 episode

Discography

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Albums

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Title Release date Record label Notes
BLARF (EP) December 25, 2014 Self-released with The First Seed
Cease & Desist (LP) June 26, 2019 Stones Throw Records as Blarf

Guest appearances

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Title Lead artist(s) Release date Album
"Eric's Advice (Skit)"[38] Nocando March 18, 2014 Jimmy the Burnout
"Intro" and "PSA"[39] OG Swaggerdick August 9, 2019 Views from the Dick
"Love Me in My Heart"[40] (as Eric "Scratch" Andre) Lee "Scratch" Perry & Mr. Green August 23, 2019 Super Ape vs. 緑: Open Door
"Face" Detahjae November 10, 2025 Flare

Awards

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Eric Samuel André (born April 4, 1983) is an American comedian, actor, musician, television host, writer, and producer best known for creating, hosting, and co-writing the surreal sketch comedy series The Eric André Show on Adult Swim. Born in Boca Raton, Florida, to an Ashkenazi Jewish mother and an Afro-Haitian father who worked as a psychiatrist, André initially pursued music, graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2005 with a degree in double bass performance. André's career shifted to after Berklee, where he developed a style characterized by , pranks, and of conventional formats, leading to the debut of The Eric André Show in as a of late-night talk shows featuring chaotic interviews, set destruction, and surreal elements. The series, which has aired six seasons as of 2023, satirizes entertainment norms through its incompetent host persona and public disruptions, earning acclaim for subverting traditional television structures. In 2024, André received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Short Form or Series for the show, highlighting its influence in short-form comedy. Beyond television, he has released stand-up specials such as Legalize Everything on and contributed voice acting to projects including .

Early Life and Background

Family and Upbringing

Eric Samuel André was born on April 4, 1983, in , to Pierre André, an Afro-Haitian psychiatrist, and Natalie André, a of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. His father immigrated from , while his mother's heritage traces to Eastern European Jewish roots, creating a multicultural household that André has described as blending Black and Jewish identities. André was raised in Boca Raton, where his parents provided a stable environment amid their diverse ethnic backgrounds; his father practiced locally, and the family emphasized education, leading André toward interests from a young age. He has recounted limited emotional expressiveness in family dynamics, including his father's rare verbal affirmation of love shortly before Pierre's death, highlighting a reserved paternal influence during his formative years. No siblings are documented in , and André's upbringing reflected the intersection of Haitian immigrant resilience and Jewish cultural traditions, though he identifies primarily as and Jewish without formal religious observance from his non-Jewish father. This mixed heritage has informed his self-perception, as he has publicly embraced dual ethnic identities despite occasional external confusion over his appearance and background.

Education and Early Influences

André attended the , a public magnet high school in , specializing in performing and , where he participated in the as a bass player during his time there from approximately 1998 to 2001. He graduated from Dreyfoos in 2001. Following high school, André enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, pursuing studies in double bass performance from 2001 to 2005. He completed the program, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in 2005, during which he served as principal bassist. Despite his classical training focus, André later described his relationship with the upright bass as tortured, citing the instrument's physical demands and competitive environment at Berklee as factors in his eventual pivot away from professional music. André's early comedic inclinations emerged amid his music education, with his initial forays into around 2003—while still at Berklee—drawing from his musical background, including , which informed an experimental, unstructured approach to performance. He transitioned fully to post-graduation, citing influences such as Tom Green's prank-style antics, ' sharp one-liners, and the sketch of Chappelle's Show as shaping his shift toward absurd, boundary-pushing humor over musical pursuits. This period marked the beginnings of his stand-up career in New York, where he honed a style blending musical rhythm with chaotic .

Career Trajectory

Stand-Up and Initial Breakthroughs

Eric André initiated his career in 2003, following his departure from , where he had studied before shifting focus to performance arts. His early routines emphasized and high-energy disruption, drawing from influences like experimental musicians and comedians, though he later described the repetitive nature of crafting and refining jokes as a psychological grind. Performing at comedy clubs across New York and beyond proved financially precarious, leading André to a nomadic existence; he frequently crashed in green rooms post-gig or relied on acquaintances for lodging while his collaborator occasionally slept on subways. To sustain himself, he took side work in commercials and as the mascot for promotional events, amassing modest savings that funded rudimentary video experiments blending stand-up with visual pranks. These efforts marked his initial breakthrough, as André independently produced a low-budget demo—including man-on-the-street stunts and staged studio chaos—using self-taught editing skills over a year in a disused Brooklyn storefront. Despite rejections from other networks, the tape's raw, unpolished absurdity resonated with executives, who greenlit a 10-episode order in 2012 while André remained on with minimal funds. This self-reliant pivot from pure stand-up to hybrid content underscored his methodology of subverting conventional comedy structures for visceral impact.

The Eric André Show and Television Hosting

is an American surreal comedy series created, hosted, and co-written by Eric André, which debuted on Adult Swim on May 20, 2012. The program parodies conventional late-night talk shows through chaotic elements including absurd sketches, prank segments, and disruptive celebrity interviews, often subverting audience expectations with anti-humor and discomfort-inducing antics. André stars as a manic host who frequently destroys the studio set, embodies erratic personas, and engages in surreal interactions, distinguishing the show from standard interview formats. Initially co-hosted by comedian , who provided contrast to André's hyperactivity across the first several seasons, the series aired 62 episodes over six seasons by 2020. Buress departed after 42 episodes, with subsequent episodes featuring a character named Blannibal as a replacement . The show's production emphasized thematic cohesion per season while experimenting with visual and comedic styles, incorporating pranks and low-budget aesthetics to enhance its raw, unpredictable energy. Beyond the core series, André has hosted specials tied to the show's universe, such as The Eric Andre New Year's Eve Spooktacular, which aired on December 31, 2014, blending live elements with the program's signature mayhem. These productions underscore André's role as a pioneering figure in boundary-pushing , prioritizing and over polished entertainment norms. His hosting approach draws from influences like and stunt-based humor, consistently challenging viewers' tolerance for discomfort in pursuit of comedic subversion.

Film and Voice Acting Roles

André's live-action film roles have largely consisted of comedic supporting or lead parts emphasizing absurd humor. In 2013, he appeared as Sid, a engineer mentoring the protagonists played by and , in the Shawn Levy-directed comedy . In 2016, he played Mook, a partygoer, in the independent comedy . His most prominent live-action role to date is Chris Carey in the 2021 hidden-camera prank road-trip film , where he stars as a hapless traveler enduring escalating antics to retrieve his institutionalized sister and win back an ex-girlfriend, co-starring and . In voice acting, André has featured in major animated studio releases, often voicing eccentric or disruptive characters. He provided the voice of the wisecracking hyena Azizi in Disney's 2019 photorealistic remake of , directed by . In 2021, he voiced Darius, a backup singer in the boy band "The Baddest," in Illumination's . That same year, in Netflix's , he voiced Mark Bowman, the bumbling, gadget-obsessed father in a family battling a robot apocalypse. In 2023, André voiced , the arrogant former frontman of the boy band BroZone, in DreamWorks' .
YearTitleRoleType
2013SidLive-action supporting
2016MookLive-action supporting
2019Azizi (voice)Animated supporting
2021Chris CareyLive-action lead
2021Darius (voice)Animated supporting
2021Mark Bowman (voice)Animated supporting
2023John Dory (voice)Animated supporting

Music Releases and Other Projects

André has released music primarily through his experimental project , which originated as a band in 2001 featuring and elements. In collaboration with The First Seed, he issued the self-released EP on December 25, 2014, comprising four tracks—"iSteal," "Who I Am," "Wickedpedia," and "Beef Patty"—characterized by freestyled vocals over chaotic beats. In 2019, André revived as a solo endeavor presented in band format, releasing the album Cease & Desist via on June 6. The record features 13 tracks blending hip-hop, noise, and absurdity, including "Smelly" and "Moustache Ride." Beyond music, André co-authored the book Dumb Ideas: A Exposé on Making Pranks and Other Stupid Creative Endeavors with producer Dan Curry, published on November 14, 2023, by Gallery Books. The volume recounts prank executions from The Eric André Show, offering tips and anecdotes on chaotic comedy production. He also hosts the podcast Bombing with Eric Andre, which debuted in 2023 and explores mishaps through interviews with peers like and , distributed on platforms including and iHeart. Episodes average 45-60 minutes, focusing on failures in stand-up, pranks, and industry bombing.

Comedy Style and Methodology

Core Elements of Absurdism and Pranks

Eric André's comedy is characterized by through the deliberate subversion of conventional structures, featuring chaotic studio segments where he destroys furniture, feigns erratic behavior, and conducts interviews with nonsensical questions and props to elicit discomfort and disorientation from guests. This approach draws on techniques, rejecting traditional punchlines in favor of prolonged awkwardness and boundary-pushing excess that fractures the viewer's sense of reality. In The Eric André Show, which premiered on October 6, 2012, these elements manifest as stream-of-consciousness monologues blending and , parodying late-night formats like by amplifying isolation and unpredictability. Pranks form a parallel core, often executed as hidden-camera operations with absurd, illogical premises designed to provoke raw reactions rather than scripted laughs, as seen in street stunts involving fake escalator malfunctions or public disruptions without narrative grounding. Unlike prank genres reliant on deception for humiliation, André's variants emphasize "benevolent" chaos, where participants are startled into vulnerability but not enduring harm, evolving from influences like Tom Green's public antics into a psychedelic critique of social norms. In projects like the 2021 film Bad Trip, pranks integrate shock humor—incorporating sexual innuendos, bodily fluids, and dark themes—with real bystander involvement, heightening the surreal by blurring consent and performance boundaries. The interplay of and pranks underscores a of discomfort as , where exposes performative facades in and everyday interactions, though critics note ethical tensions in non-consensual elements that risk real distress for comedic effect. This style prioritizes visceral, unfiltered responses over polished wit, positioning André's work as that challenges audience expectations of coherence and politeness in .

Influences and Evolution

Eric André's comedic style draws heavily from a background in music, where he initially pursued upright bass performance at before transitioning to around 2003. This musical foundation, particularly free jazz's improvisational chaos, informed his prank-oriented absurdity, as André has described early comedy sketches as rhythmically driven like jazz sessions. He credits influences such as Tom Green's public pranks, Joan Rivers's sharp one-liners, and for shaping his boundary-pushing humor during his stand-up phase in New York. Key televisual inspirations include for its surreal interview parody and late-night talk show deconstruction, alongside Chris Farley's manic hosting persona from . André's adoption of anti-humor—deliberately subverting expectations through discomfort and non-sequiturs—echoes Sacha Baron Cohen's in ambushing real people, evolving into a signature blend of physical chaos and shock value by the time The Eric André Show premiered on in 2012. Figures like further underpin this, with André channeling Kaufman's esoteric discomfort in pranks that prioritize unease over punchlines. Over time, André's methodology shifted from solo stand-up bombing—self-described as raw failures turned into material—to collaborative, production-heavy spectacles, incorporating Adult Swim's sketch traditions and Dave Chappelle's advice on fearless execution. By the mid-2010s, his evolution emphasized hypermodern anti-comedy, amplifying surreal elements like set destruction and unscripted guest torment, while maintaining core absurdist roots akin to Monty Python's illogical sketches. This progression reflects a deliberate rejection of conventional resolution, prioritizing causal disruption for comedic realism over audience appeasement.

Prank Show Incidents and Ethical Critiques

The Eric André Show has featured numerous street pranks and ambush-style segments that occasionally escalated into physical altercations or legal repercussions. In a Season 1 prank at a Mensa convention, André disrupted the event dressed as a , posing absurd questions to attendees, which prompted members to physically handle him roughly. Another Season 1 incident involved André interrupting a town council meeting with promises of outlandish policies, leading to his arrest and overnight detention in jail. During a Season 5 celebrity interview, wrestler reacted to the chaotic setup by throwing André through a shelf, resulting in a that required hospitalization. An early episode prank saw André punching through a car window with his bare hand, necessitating stitches and impacting subsequent production. Ethical critiques of these pranks center on issues of and potential harm to non-consenting participants, particularly in street segments targeting everyday . Philosophers have argued that while participants often sign release forms post-prank, the lack of prior raises moral concerns, as some individuals later refuse broadcast rights, indicating discomfort or . Specific examples include a prank posing lewd questions to a , potentially exacerbating gender-based vulnerabilities, and a barbershop segment in a Black community that ended with a participant chasing with a knife, heightening risks of emotional distress or for marginalized groups. Critics contend these tactics exploit social stresses, such as faced by women or scrutiny on of color, without adequate safeguards. Defenders, including analyses of André's approach, counter that the comedian assumes greater personal risk—frequently facing public humiliation, injury, or aggression himself, amplified by his identity as a Black man in unpredictable settings—and deliberately avoids pranks on those unable to disengage. The format's absurdism aims to subvert norms rather than maliciously target victims, with André positioning himself as a "benevolent attacker" lacking intent to cause lasting harm. Nonetheless, the recurrent physical toll on André, including arrests and medical treatment, underscores the pranks' high-stakes nature, where escalation often stems from participants' defensive responses rather than premeditated cruelty. No major lawsuits have directly stemmed from these show pranks, though isolated backlash highlights ongoing debates over boundaries in unscripted chaos comedy.

Racial Profiling Lawsuit Against Georgia Police

In October 2022, comedian Eric André and fellow comedian Clayton English filed a federal lawsuit against , and its police department, alleging and unlawful detention under the Fourth Amendment during a drug interdiction operation at Hartsfield-Jackson . The suit claimed that on October 5, 2022, plainclothes officers from the Clayton County Police Department (CCPD) targeted the two men—described in the complaint as an "internationally-celebrated stand-up comedian" and a producer—based on their race, detaining them pre-boarding for a warrantless search without of criminal activity. No drugs or were found, and the plaintiffs argued the stop was part of a broader CCPD pattern of selecting passengers disproportionately for intrusive searches, supported by data showing over 90% of interdictions focused on individuals perceived as or Latino. The initial complaint detailed the officers' approach, which involved surrounding André and English at their , demanding identification, and conducting pat-downs and luggage inspections without articulable facts justifying the , leading to what the suit described as a "dehumanizing and traumatic" ordeal lasting approximately 30 minutes. André publicly stated the incident felt like "clearly... ," emphasizing the absence of behavioral cues typically required for such stops. The sought compensatory damages, injunctive relief to end the alleged discriminatory practices, and a declaration that CCPD's methods violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen dismissed the case in December 2022, ruling that the officers had based on the men's proximity to a flight's boarding area and general airport drug-trafficking risks, without addressing the claim substantively. and English appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, supported by amicus briefs from former law enforcement officials, celebrities including and , and the Policing Project at NYU School of Law, which argued the district court's analysis overlooked evidence of discriminatory intent and . On August 19, 2025, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit reversed the dismissal in part, holding that and English had plausibly alleged a Fourth Amendment violation through , as the complaint raised genuine issues about whether the stop was pretextual and racially motivated rather than based on individualized suspicion. The court remanded the case for further proceedings on the profiling claims against the officers in their individual capacities, while upholding dismissal of claims against the county for lack of a policy or custom under Monell v. Department of Social Services. As of that date, the lawsuit remains ongoing in the Northern District of Georgia, with no final resolution on liability or damages.

On-Set Assault Allegations

In 2022, during production of the ABC prank competition series , co-hosted by Eric and , an incident occurred involving the use of a on set. Daniel , a producer and former writing collaborator with André, alleged that Knoxville tased him without consent, causing him to collapse, lose , and suffer ongoing physical injuries including rigid muscle spasms and emotional trauma. According to the filing, the sequence began when André attempted to tase Knoxville as part of unscripted horseplay; Knoxville then seized the device and chased Curry through the set, deploying it against him while Curry was running, resulting in a hard fall. filed a $3 million civil suit in May 2024 against Knoxville, Jimmy Kimmel's production company, and other entities, claiming battery, , and a failure to ensure set safety despite known risks of tasers causing involuntary muscle locking and falls. He described the environment as one of escalating pranks without proper safeguards, less than a week into his involvement, and stated that the incident prompted him to quit the show. The suit highlighted that , new to the production, viewed the tasing as rather than consensual stunt work. André's role drew scrutiny, with and observers accusing him of minimizing the severity by framing it as standard "Jackass-style" antics, potentially contributing to a culture where dangerous improvisations were normalized. No formal charges were filed against André, and the lawsuit primarily targets Knoxville for the direct act, but the event underscored ethical concerns over physical pranks in productions involving André. As of October 2025, the case remains unresolved, with no reported settlements or dismissals.

Political Engagement and Views

Public Statements on U.S. Politics

Eric André has expressed a deep cynicism toward the , describing politicians as "sociopathic murderers controlled by the of war profiteers" who prioritize interests of manufacturers, , and companies over public welfare. In a 2016 interview, he stated that "all politicians are horrible," reflecting a broader of institutional power structures. During the 2016 presidential election, André critiqued both major candidates. He characterized Donald Trump's campaign as a "goof," suggesting it lacked seriousness, while accusing of having "blood on her hands" due to her policy record, including support for , signing the twice, backing the invasion, the , and drone strikes in Pakistan. He had voted for in both 2008 and 2012, viewing the election of a Black president as "a huge victory for our country," but condemned Obama's administration for drone strikes that killed innocent civilians, including women and children, warning that continued bombings in could provoke "another 9/11 attack." In the 2020 Democratic primaries, André endorsed , participating in phone banking efforts and aligning with a of unconventional celebrities supporting the senator's campaign. Regarding , he advocated legalizing all drugs and activities to undermine policing incentives, stating in a 2020 interview amid protests against police brutality that such a policy would eliminate pretexts for overreach. In October 2024, he opposed California Proposition 36, which sought to increase penalties for certain drug and theft offenses, arguing it would reinstate long mandatory prison terms for nonviolent crimes, fund private prisons, and divert resources from , drug treatment, and prevention programs, thereby exacerbating incarceration disparities affecting Black and brown communities.

Positions on Israel-Palestine Conflict

In October 2023, shortly after the -led attack on , André signed an organized by Hollywood figures thanking President for his support of and calling for the release of hostages held by . The letter attributed responsibility for the ensuing conflict to and praised Biden's "moral clarity" in standing with . By March 2024, André participated in a protest action with the Jewish activist group in , where demonstrators hung banners over a freeway reading "No Money for Massacre" to oppose U.S. military aid to amid the Gaza war. , which critiques Israeli government policies toward , framed the action as a rejection of funding what they described as atrocities. In May 2024, publicly shifted toward advocating a permanent , stating in a video as a "self-loving Jew" that should "stop weaponizing ," end the "siege on Gaza," and "let Gaza live," while calling to "impeach Netanyahu." He condemned Israeli military actions, including bombings of schools and hospitals, and urged donations to Palestinian aid groups, criticizing U.S. defense contractors like and . emphasized intertwined Jewish and Palestinian safety, partnering again with for the message. On October 22, 2025, André signed an from Jewish figures worldwide urging the and global leaders to impose sanctions on over its conduct in the conflict. The letter positioned the signatories against Israeli policies, reflecting André's alignment with international criticism of the government's actions.

Criticisms of Activism from Opposing Perspectives

André's disruptive pranks targeting Republican events during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign drew sharp rebukes from Trump supporters and conservative figures, who viewed them as juvenile interference rather than legitimate activism. At a July 2016 "" rally in , André crashed the stage, making crude remarks that prompted conspiracy theorist to confront and physically engage with him and his crew, leading to André being roughed up by attendees. Jones later described the incident as an attempt by André to provoke chaos, aligning with broader conservative dismissals of such antics as performative left-wing agitation rather than substantive political critique. In the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, André's initial public support for elicited criticism from pro-Palestine activists, who saw it as complicity in alleged oppression. On October 23, 2023, André signed an to President thanking him for U.S. to following the Hamas attacks, which prompted social media outcry accusing him of ignoring Palestinian suffering. This backlash contributed to the cancellation of a planned , 2024, performance celebrating his 40th birthday at New Orleans' Music Box Village, after local band LSD Clownsystem withdrew, citing André's stance as incompatible with their values. André subsequently canceled the event entirely, highlighting fractures within entertainment circles over divergent views on the conflict. André's later shift toward advocating a Gaza ceasefire, including participation in a March 2024 Jewish Voice for Peace action blocking and a May 2024 video calling to "impeach Netanyahu" and end the "siege on Gaza," has not drawn documented widespread opposition from pro-Israel advocates in public discourse, though it represents a pivot that alienated some initial supporters of his earlier position. Critics from pro-Israel perspectives have occasionally framed such interventions as naive or harmful to Jewish , but specific rebukes targeting André remain sparse compared to intra-left critiques of his prior alignment.

Personal Life and Habits

Relationships and Family

André was born on April 4, 1983, in , to an Ashkenazi Jewish mother, Natalie André, originally from New York and an award-winning activist, and an Afro-Haitian father, Doctor Pierre André, a former medical professional. He identifies as both and Jewish, reflecting his mixed heritage. No public information confirms the existence of siblings. André has not married and has no known children. He dated actress from 2016 to 2017. In 2012, he was romantically linked to actress , with the relationship reportedly lasting until around 2013. Early 2023 saw brief public sightings with model , fueling short-lived dating rumors that appear to have ended without confirmation of a formal relationship. In a March 2021 interview, André described being in a relationship with an unnamed woman he met at a farmer's market, who was initially unaware of his celebrity status. He maintains relative privacy regarding his personal romantic life beyond these reported connections.

Health Issues and Substance Use

Eric André has publicly discussed experiencing significant anxiety, describing himself as a "nervous wreck" despite his on-screen persona, and copes through and . In a 2021 interview, he emphasized prioritizing , including practices like to manage underlying nervousness. Physically, André has sustained multiple injuries from stunts on The Eric André Show, including and damaged knees accumulated over years of chaotic production. In August 2024, he sought hospital treatment for a after being thrown through a shelf by during a segment. Additionally, in 2023, he intentionally lost 40 pounds over six months through calorie counting, training with three personal trainers, and guidance from a to prepare for the show's sixth season. In April 2025, André reported contracting gastrointestinal parasites after consuming mushrooms extracted from cow dung during a trip to , . Regarding substance use, André has shared experiences with various drugs, favoring psychedelics and describing positive encounters on podcasts and at events like SXSW in 2023. He uses (whippets), alcohol, and benzodiazepines to alleviate anxiety, while acknowledging the dangers of the latter two, stating in a 2023 that benzodiazepines are "incredibly dangerous" and alcohol similarly risky. In discussions with figures like , he recounted both favorable and adverse drug experiences without indicating dependency. His 2020 Netflix special Legalize Everything features advocacy-tinged humor on , critiquing government inconsistencies in substance regulation.

Professional Output

Filmography

Eric André's film credits encompass supporting live-action roles in comedies, lead performances in prank-style films he co-created, and voice work in animated features. His breakout film role came in (2021), where he starred as Chris Carey alongside co-writer and director Kitao Sakurai, drawing from hidden-camera antics similar to his television style. He has also provided voices for major animations, including Azizi in Disney's remake (2019), Mark Bowman in (2021), and Elwood in (2021). Earlier appearances include Jake in the ensemble comedy (2017) and smaller parts in films like (2013) as Stuart.
YearTitleRole
2026Don Sauvage
2023John Dory (voice)
2022Self
2021Elwood (voice)
2021Mark Bowman (voice)
2021Chris Carey
2019Azizi (voice)
2017Jake
2016Mook
2013Stuart

Television Appearances

André created and hosted The Eric André Show, a surreal late-night parody series on that premiered on May 20, 2012. The program features chaotic interviews with celebrity guests, interspersed with absurd sketches, man-on-the-street pranks, and studio destruction, drawing from influences like and Tim and Eric's style. It ran for 40 episodes across its first four seasons from 2012 to 2018, followed by a fifth season of 10 episodes in 2020 and a sixth season premiering June 4, 2023. In on , André portrayed Mike, the eccentric best friend of lead character , appearing recurringly across all three seasons from 2015 to 2017. He contributed sketches and appeared in , a 2018 variety series hosted by collaborator that satirized millennial trends through parody segments and viral-style content. André guest-starred as Lyle Lissons in season 3 of HBO's in 2019. Earlier guest roles include uncredited appearances in two episodes of (season 7, episodes 9–10, 2011) and a brief role in (season 4, episode 8, "The 21-Second Excitation," 2010). He has made numerous promotional and comedic appearances on late-night talk shows, including multiple segments on Conan (TBS, 2012–2021) discussing his series and performing improvised monologues, as well as interviews on The Late Show with (CBS), such as a 2016 segment recounting a prank at a political rally.

Discography

Eric André's discography consists primarily of collaborative EPs, singles, and soundtrack contributions, often blending hip-hop, experimental sounds, and comedic elements reflective of his performance style. His earliest notable music release is the EP BLARF (stylized as such), credited to Eric Andre & The First Seed and self-released on December 25, 2014, via . The four-track project includes "iSteal," "Who I Am," "Wickedpedia," and "Beef Patty," featuring raw, lo-fi production with André's over beats produced by The First Seed. André has released sporadic singles outside of full projects, such as an independent track showcasing his humorous lyricism. Additional music credits include features on tracks like "Love Me in My Heart" and "PSA," available on streaming platforms. In 2023, André contributed vocals to the Trolls Band Together soundtrack as part of the fictional boy band BroZone, alongside , , , and . Notable performances include "Better Place (Family Harmony)," which has exceeded 62 million streams on ; "Perfect" with over 50 million; "BroZone's Back" with 45 million; "It Takes Two" with 29 million; and with 19 million. These pop tracks marked his most commercially successful music output to date. No full-length studio albums have been released under André's name as of October 2025, with his musical endeavors remaining secondary to his television and stand-up .

Reception and Impact

Critical Assessments

Critics have praised The Eric André Show for its subversive parody of conventions, highlighting its chaotic, low-budget aesthetic as a deliberate critique of polished television formats. Season 1 received a 91% approval rating on based on two reviews, with commentators noting its surreal elements and André's unhinged hosting as innovative disruptions to genre norms. Similarly, Season 4 earned 94% approval from one review, and Season 5 garnered 87% from two reviews, with describing André as "more unpredictable, deranged, and genuinely hilarious than ever" in its mockery of celebrity interviews and skits. However, assessments often critique the show's reliance on shock value and destruction, labeling it as crude or lacking substantive humor. IMDb user reviews reflect this divide, with fans appreciating the "fearless approach" while some critics deem it "crude and unfunny." Common Sense Media rated it 3 out of 5 stars, citing excessive ribald sexual language and mature content that parody late-night tropes but overwhelm with vulgarity unsuitable for broader audiences. Analyses describe André's style as "shock humor" centered on subjects like bodily functions and themes, which elicits discomfort rather than , potentially alienating viewers seeking coherence. André's stand-up specials have faced harsher scrutiny for amplifying raunchy, unstructured chaos without narrative payoff. Eric Andre: Legalize Everything (2020) holds a 41% Rotten Tomatoes critic score from 25 reviews, with detractors calling it a "hilarious dose of raunchy chaos" that prioritizes taboo-breaking over wit, functioning more as stoner-oriented absurdity than refined comedy. Some academic deconstructions frame his work as hypermodern anti-comedy akin to Dadaist influences, yet dismiss it as garish gross-out fare dismissed by critics despite comparisons to historical provocateurs like Brecht or Artaud. This polarization underscores a causal tension: André's intentional discomfort—via pranks and set demolitions—challenges audience expectations but risks devolving into performative anarchy without deeper satirical bite, as noted in essays on its internet-age roots. Broader evaluations position André's output as cult-favored , effective in highlighting media banalities through , yet limited by repetition and ethical qualms over deceiving guests into "houses of horrors." While (2021), a prank documentary co-starring , achieved 75% approval on from 63 reviews for its hidden-camera antics, it reinforces critiques of his oeuvre as prioritizing visceral reaction over intellectual engagement. Overall, critical consensus views André's influence as niche, thriving on energy but constrained by a formula that, per some observers, mocks talk-show safety without consistently transcending its own excesses.

Fan Base and Cultural Influence

Eric André's fan base primarily consists of younger audiences, including college-aged individuals and those engaged in skateboarding culture, as André himself described in a 2020 interview, categorizing fans as "college party dudes" or "black skateboarders." This demographic aligns with informal polls indicating that viewers who appreciate The Eric André Show skew younger, reflecting its appeal to millennials familiar with internet-driven humor. On social media, André maintains significant followings, with approximately 772,000 Twitter followers as of July 2023 and nearly one million on Instagram, where he shares content resonating with online comedy enthusiasts. Despite modest traditional television viewership—such as 206,000 viewers for episodes in late 2023—the show garners strong online popularity, often ranking highly among Adult Swim programs in digital metrics. André's cultural influence manifests through his pioneering of and shock-based , which subverts conventional comedy structures and emphasizes chaotic, expectation-defying sketches. This style has permeated , inspiring surreal millennial comedy that confronts life's illogicalities via "dank memes" and lowbrow themes, as seen in broader trends on platforms like and . His work draws parallels to Dadaism, resurfacing elements in user-generated memes and fostering a niche of discomforting, performative humor tailored to the digital age. Memes derived from André's sketches, such as the "Let Me In" clip and "Who Killed ?" format, have achieved widespread virality, embedding his chaotic persona into online discourse and amplifying his reach beyond television. These elements underscore his role in shaping culture, where his pranks and non-sequiturs serve as templates for absurd, shareable content that critiques social norms through exaggeration rather than direct .

Awards and Nominations

Eric André received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Short Form or Series in 2024 for his work on . was also nominated for two Primetime Emmys that year, including in a category for short-form series. André has earned several nominations across other awards ceremonies. In 2021, he was nominated for an Movie + TV Award for Best Comedic Performance. The following year, he received a Black Reel Award nomination for Outstanding Voice Performance and an Image Award nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.
YearAwardCategoryResultWork
2024Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama SeriesWonThe Eric Andre Show
2021MTV Movie + TV AwardsBest Comedic PerformanceNominatedN/A
2022Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Voice PerformanceNominatedN/A
2022NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Character Voice-Over PerformanceNominatedN/A

References

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