Brian Palermo

Brian Palermo (born September 12, 1966) is an American character actor and comedian. He has appeared in a number of television shows, commercials and movies. He is also a writer whose credits include Warner Brothers' Histeria!, Disney's Dave The Barbarian and Disney's The Weekenders.

His film credits include The Social Network, My Life In Ruins, Daddy Day Care and Big Momma's House among others. Television credits include Entourage, Friends, Gary Unmarried, 90210, Zeke and Luther, The Middle, State of Georgia, Will and Grace, Digimon Data Squad, Malcolm In The Middle and many others.

Palermo has appeared numerous times on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, mostly in sketches within the show, though in April 2011 he started doing 'correspondent' pieces. These are introduced live by Palermo and Jay Leno.

Palermo has also appeared as a recurring character on Tyler Perry's House of Payne as Phil who adopts a fake French accent and persona as "Phillipe."

Palermo is a member of the improvisational and sketch comedy group called "The Groundlings" based in Hollywood, California. He both performs and teaches with this company. He has performed alongside many well-known comedians such as Will Ferrell, Eddie Izzard and Harland Williams.

Palermo was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended St. Clement of Rome elementary school, Archbishop Rummel High School and the University of New Orleans. He earned a B.A. in Communications.

Palermo won the 1988 "Big Easy" award for Best Actor for his role as "Teach" in David Mamet's American Buffalo.