Who is Bill Burr? A Deep Dive into the Life and Career of the Stand-Up Comedian

You may hear a wild rant on a show and still ask, who is bill burr. You catch his voice on a podcast, a video game, or in a trailer for an animated sitcom, and still feel you lack the full story.

That gap can feel like a missing puzzle piece.

Bill Burr started his first stand-up act in a local club when he was 23. This post will trace his path from warehouses in Canton to the top of comedy, cover his time on a crime drama series, his voice role in a video game, his own monday morning podcast, and his co-founding of all things comedy.

Read on.

Key Takeaways

• Bill Burr was born June 10, 1968, in Canton, Massachusetts; he graduated Canton High School in 1987 and earned a communications degree from Emerson College in 1993.
• He launched his stand-up career on March 2, 1992, released his first HBO special Why Do I Do This? in 2008, and then seven Netflix specials between 2010 and 2025 (Let It Go, You People Are All the Same, I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, Walk Your Way Out, Paper Tiger, Live at Red Rocks, Drop Dead Years).
• On screen, Burr played Patrick Kuby on Breaking Bad (2011–2013), voiced Jason Michaels in Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) and its 2009 expansion, and appeared as Migs Mayfeld on The Mandalorian in 2019.
• He began the Monday Morning Podcast in May 2007 and co-founded the All Things Comedy network in 2012 with Al Madrigal, hosting shows like Hollywood Babble-On and The Adam Carolla Show.
• Burr married writer Nia Renée Hill, has a daughter (2017) and son (2020), holds an FAA helicopter-pilot license, and earned a Grammy nomination in 2021 and an Emmy nomination in 2022.

Early Life and Education

Shifting gears to Burr’s roots in Canton, Massachusetts shows where the story began. He was born on June 10, 1968 to Linda Ann and Robert Burr. His mother worked in healthcare and his father ran a dental office.

This future american stand-up comedian found early humor in small town life.

Graduating Canton High School in 1987 set a milestone. Burr spent two semesters at North Carolina State University then returned home. He earned his bachelor’s in communications at Emerson College in Boston in 1993.

William Frederick Burr used those lessons to shape his early performances.

Rise in Stand-Up Comedy

He grabbed a microphone on cramped club stages, sharpening his observational humor with each punchline. He then stormed festivals and cable showcases, paving the way for his first specials.

Initial career milestones (1992–2009)

Bill Burr grew up in Canton, Massachusetts. He performed his first stand-up act on March 2, 1992.

1. Bill Burr moved to New York City in 1994 to chase open mics. He found his voice on small stages.
2. Television producers booked him on Showtime at the Apollo in 2000. He faced a tough crowd and won laughs.
3. Comedy Central Presents featured him in 2003. He joked about daily life and tossed in “you people are all the same.”
4. Fans spotted him as a regular on Chappelle’s Show in 2004. He learned grit in front of a TV audience.
5. Critics and crowds praised him at Just for Laughs in 2004. He showed sharp timing in Montreal.
6. The network gave him a One Night Stand special in 2005. He pushed boundaries with frank jokes.
7. Live at Gotham aired in 2006. Then he unleashed a 12-minute rant in Philadelphia on September 9, 2006.
8. The first stand-up DVD dropped in 2009 under the title Why Do I Do This? It cemented his spot as an American stand-up comedian.

Breakthrough comedy specials

He spent years on small stages as a young stand-up comedian. His first big special then appeared on HBO.

1. Why Do I Do This? (2008) launched on HBO. It marked his first hour-long special. He tackled marriage, chores, and sports. The set linked back to Canton, Massachusetts.
2. Let It Go (2010) joined Netflix. He teased several bits on the Monday Morning Podcast. The set zeroed in on male ego and tech life. Fans praised its raw style.
3. You People Are All the Same (2012) debuted on Netflix. He slammed social double standards with fiery riffs. The title echoed his animated sitcom fans love.
4. I’m Sorry You Feel That Way (2014) released on Netflix. He filmed in black and white. The comedian touched on parenting, race, and career doubts.
5. Walk Your Way Out (2017) landed on Netflix. It mined aging themes and pop culture. Burr kept the crowd roaring with tight delivery.
6. Paper Tiger (2019) dropped on Netflix. He mixed sharp barbs on cancel culture and free speech. Critics hailed it as his peak set.
7. Live at Red Rocks (2022) hit Netflix. It captured him at Colorado’s famed amphitheater. Natural acoustics and scenery boosted the energy.
8. Drop Dead Years (2025) arrived on Netflix. It blended grief, humor, and middle age. Viewers placed it near the top of streaming charts.

Acting Career

He jumps into gritty scenes, lighting up each frame with sharp humor and raw edge on camera. He plays fixer Patrick Kuby in Breaking Bad and then spins galaxy tales as mercenary Migs Mayfeld in The Mandalorian.

Roles in television and film

Burr moved from stand up to on-screen work with ease. He blends sharp wit with solid acting.

• Townies (1996): This NBC sitcom cast Bill Burr, the american stand-up comedian, as a supporting actor, marking his TV debut.
• Two Guys and a Girl (1998): Burr appeared in a brief role on this sitcom, honing his comedic timing on network TV.
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2002): Burr landed a guest part on this crime drama series, showing he could shift to serious roles.
• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) and Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (2009): He voiced Jason Michaels, a biker leader, in this crime game and its expansion.
• Date Night (2010): Burr played a tough cop in this comedy with Steve Carell and Tina Fey, earning praise for his intensity.
• The Heat (2013): He teamed with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in this buddy cop film, acting as Agent Andy.
• Daddy’s Home (2015): Burr stepped in as a tough friend to Will Ferrell’s character in this family comedy.
• The King of Staten Island (2020): He portrayed the on-screen father of Pete Davidson in this Judd Apatow film, blending humor and heart.
• Old Dads (2023): Burr made his directorial debut here, also starring as one of two aging parents in a modern comedy.

Notable performances in “Breaking Bad” and “The Mandalorian”

Bill Burr took on on-screen parts. His dramatic turns surprise many.

1. He starred as Patrick Kuby on Breaking Bad from 2011 to 2013. This crime drama series on a cable network features him as a fixer for Saul Goodman. He works with Bob Odenkirk’s lawyer role, pulling off cons in tense scenes. Burr adds his stand-up comedian style to dark moments.
2. He joined The Mandalorian cast as Migs Mayfeld in 2019. This Star Wars adventure streams online. He plays an ex-Imperial sharpshooter with a blunt edge. Fans cheer as he banters with Din Djarin on each mission.

Podcasting and Other Ventures

He hosts the Monday Morning Podcast on a popular audio platform. He cofounded an independent network, All Things Comedy.

“Monday Morning Podcast”

Bill Burr started the Monday Morning Podcast in May 2007, after years touring comedy clubs. The american stand-up comedian taps a sound recorder weekly. He explores personal stories, current events, and sports.

Fans laugh at his raw takes on baseball scores, news headlines, and daily life. He uploads each episode via RSS feed to podcast platforms, so listeners never miss a rant.

Listeners feel a coffee-clutch vibe as Burr cracks jokes about flight lessons as a licensed helicopter pilot. He drops pop culture nods to Breaking Bad, F is for Family, and Grand Theft Auto IV.

He invites fellow comics like Al Madrigal or Ari Shaffir for playful banter. The free show streams on audio streaming apps and uses simple audio input device gear to keep the tone casual.

Founding All Things Comedy

He co-founded All Things Comedy in 2012 alongside Al Madrigal. The network gave comics a place to host shows. It rolled out All Things Records to publish albums by stand-up stars.

Hosts deliver episodes via an audio platform and RSS feed. Monday Morning Podcast joined Hollywood Babble-On, free luigi, and The Adam Carolla Show there. The launch helped him refine his style and shape his influences.

Style and Influences

Bill Burr hits the microphone as an American stand-up comedian. His voice cracks like an electric guitar solo. He spares no group. He takes on race, politics, love and sports. He channels AC/DC and Iron Maiden during a rant.

He roars with cynical humor. He asks why do i do this? He even raged in Bill Burr: Walk Your Way Out. He got that title from his 2008 special. His pace feels like a drum beat. He drops angry truths.

Patrice O’Neal taught him to stay honest on stage. Aziz Ansari showed him brief scenes that hit hard. Tom Green gave him wild energy. Burr borrowed their best traits. He mixed them in a secret stew.

He built a style that puts fire under any topic. Rolling Stone ranked him 17th on its 2017 list. That list named him among 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time. He makes the microphone hiss with every line.

He moves the crowd like a headbanger in a mosh pit.

Personal Life

Bill Burr wed writer Nia Renée Hill, holds a rotorcraft license, and rides classic bikes, so keep reading to learn more.

Marriage to Nia Renée Hill

Burr married Nia Renée Hill. The stand-up comedian and his wife welcomed a daughter in 2017. They added a son in 2020.

The family lives in the City of Angels. His hobbies and interests show another side.

Hobbies and interests

William Fredeic Burr flies choppers over clear skies, taps skins on a drum kit, and lights stogies with a grin. He quit drinking alcohol in 2018, he still fills free hours with new thrills.

1. Licensed helicopter pilot – He earned an FAA certificate, he logs time above 10,000 feet in light aircraft, he relishes engine hum and endless blue.
2. Drumming on a kit – He pounds skins to old rock tracks, he tunes each beat by ear, he packs rhythm into tight rooms as a form of release.
3. Stogie smoker – He swapped drinks for leaf rolls in 2018, he savors slow draws on fine stogies, he calls each puff a brief retreat.

Awards and Recognitions

Bill Burr earned top nods at big shows. Fans and peers noticed his climb.

1. Recording Academy gave a Grammy nod in 2021 for Best Comedy Album, for Paper Tiger. The monday morning podcast crew still cheers that hit.
2. Television Academy granted an Emmy nod in 2022 for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Series, celebrating his raw turn in Immoral Compass.
3. Broadway.com Audience Awards nominated his turn in Glengarry Glen Ross in 2025, a wink from theater fans at his straight-shooting style.

Impact on Comedy and Pop Culture

Audience filled Fenway Park on August 21, 2022, to hear Burr challenge political correctness in front of 35,000 fans. He sold out Madison Square Garden on November 14, 2015, and again on November 11, 2023, raising the bar for live comedy events.

He turned casual listeners into critics with appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience, WTF with Marc Maron, and the Nerdist Podcast. His animated sitcom F is for Family gave him a fresh audience in living rooms nationwide.

Viewers see him as Patrick Kuby in Breaking Bad and hear him as Jason Michaels in Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned. He zaps crime drama series with a sharp, honest style. His Monday Morning Podcast set a new pattern for american stand-up comedian shows on Spotify.

Pop culture memes, quotes, and riffs echo his bold voice on social issues.

Bill Burr’s Age and Milestones

Here is a chronology of Bill Burr’s age and milestones in an HTML date chart for web viewers.

Next, we head to the conclusion.

Takeaways

Bill Burr grew from blue collar work to world stage. He grabbed a microphone and spoke truth with wit. Fans laughed at his rage filled jokes on stage and in crime drama series. His animated sitcom and video game roles showed wide range.

A podcast network rose from his drive. Nominations land from award groups. That blend of grit and grace keeps him fresh.

FAQs

1. Who is Bill Burr?

Bill Burr is an american stand-up comedian from canton, massachusetts. His birth name is William Frederic Burr, some fans just call him William Burr. He hosts the monday morning podcast, and he is a licensed helicopter pilot.

2. What are his big stand-up specials?

He made why do i do this? in 2012. He followed with you people are all the same in 2013. He dropped let it go in 2017. Each special shows his raw, honest style.

3. What TV and film work has he done?

He stars in f is for family, an animated sitcom. He had a brief role in the crime drama series breaking bad. He even tried nbc ’s saturday night auditions. He joined shows with kieran culkin and jason michaels too.

4. Has he done video game roles?

Yes, he voiced a character in grand theft auto iv. He also appeared in grand theft auto iv: the lost and damned mod. Plus, he did a cameo in the lost mc.

5. Who influenced him and helped his career?

He worked with patrice o’neal early on, that duo was like peanut butter and jelly. He met patrick kuby behind the scenes, they kept tight. He joked about crashing on stage once, then turned it into gold. He pulls real life stories into every act.