A doughy comic actor who came to prominence as a quick-with-a-quip sidekick on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Richter initially honed his sense of humor in myriad improv troupes and stage shows. In the early '90s, friend Robert Smigel introduced him to O'Brien, and Richter quickly landed a writing gig on the talk show. His noticeable chemistry with O'Brien earned him an on-camera promotion, and for seven seasons, he provided dry support to the wacky carrot-top host. In 2000, Richter struck out on his own, playing small sarcastic roles on the big screen, and headlining the quirky cult sitcom Andy Richter Controls the Universe, which was prematurely axed (although his subsequent series, the atrocious Quintuplets, deserved to die). While he remained a formidable small-screen presence as a perennial guest star, Richter continued to search for an appropriate showcase for his offbeat talents.