Despite his accomplished dramatic credits and serious training at the Lee Strasberg Institute (even scoring the Strasberg Studio Award), handsome, dark-haired actor Ken Marino was best known to many in the MTV generation as a member of the network's zany sketch comedy series "The State" (1994-95). The Long Island-born performer studied drama at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and at the Circle Rep Summer School of the Arts in addition to his other training. Marino got his feet wet with school productions of "Pippin" and "Brighton Beach Memoirs" while post-graduation, he could be seen in the touring company of "A Few Good Men" and the Off-Broadway adaptation of "Valley of the Dolls" (1996).In 1988, while still doing undergraduate work at NYU, Marino formed the comedy troupe that would become known as 'The State'. New York City performances won the group fans both on and off campus, and in 1992, 'The State' was called upon by MTV to create and appear in sketches for the network's viewer interactive series "You Wrote It, You Watch It" hosted by fellow up and comer Jon Stewart. Beginning in 1994, "The State" was a weekly half-hour of comedy sketches by the troupe. Writing and starring in the sketches, Marino brought his own brand of humor to the series. Both conceptual and slapstick physical in nature, his skewed view was best depicted in sketches such as "Hormones", which featured anthropomorphized hormones reacting to the various events in a couple's evening rendezvous. Though it was a hit with viewers, and spawned a dedicated cult following, the network and the group disagreed with the direction of the series, and in 1995, "The State" ceased airing new episodes. Later that year "The State's 43rd Annual Halloween Special", their first outing for CBS debuted. Poorly rated and lacking the comedic coherence of their earlier work, the special would be the group's only work for CBS.
Arguably the most versatile and photogenic member of the cast, Marino bounced back quickly from the fall of 'The State', racking up theater credits as well as TV guest spots. A 1996 appearance on the NYC-lensed sitcom "Spin City" (ABC) marked an early acting credit. The actor followed up with a regular role on the second season of the doomed sitcom "Men Behaving Badly" (NBC, 1997-98), paired with Rob Schneider as a couple of goofy single guys. Here he played a man from a wealthy background who strives to make it on his own with no assistance. He would revisit this theme on the NBC midseason entry "First Years" (2001) with the role of Miles Lawton, a charming attorney fresh from law school who separates himself from his family's money and influence to get ahead on the strength of his own smarts. Between regular series gigs, Marino stayed busy with guest shots on the series "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1999), "The Practice" (ABC, 1999) and "Angel" (The WB, 2000) as well as a recurring role as Mafia man Sammy Coke Bottles on the 2000 CBS crime drama "Falcone". On the big screen, Marino had a bit part in the thoughtful sci-fi feature "Gattaca" (1997) and did extensive work independent film, including a starring role in the romance "Love Happens" (screened at 1999's IFFM) and a supporting part as a neglectful counselor in the summer camp-set "Wet Hot American Summer" (shown at Sundance 2001), a veritable reunion of 'The State', directed by co-founder David Wain and starring members Michael Showalter, Jo Lo Truglio and Michael Ian Black.
Profession(s):
Actor, screenwriter, producer, director
Sometimes Credited As:
Kenneth Joseph Marino
2007 With David Wain co-wrote "The Ten" an anthology comedy comprised of ten vignettes inspired by the ten commandments
2005 - 2007 Had a recurring role on "Veronica Mars" (UPN/CW)as private detective Vinnie Van Lowe
2002 Co-starred in the NBC sitcom "Leap of Faith"
2001 Played an adventure counselor in the summer camp-set independent comedy "Wet Hot American Summer"
2001 Was seen briefly as the boyfriend of one of the trio of sisters in "Tortilla Soup"
2001 Played a professor who becomes romantically involved with Joey (Katie Holmes) on "Dawson's Creek" (The WB)
2000 Guested on an episode of "Angel" (The WB) as a dashing photographer who moonlights as the planter of demon seed
2000 Had a recurring role on the mob themed CBS series "Falcone" as Sammy Coke Bottles
1999 Acted in episodes of "Nash Bridges" (CBS) and "The Practice" (ABC)
1999 Co-starred in the independent feature "Love Happens" (screened at IFFM)
1998 Guest starred on the short-lived sitcom "Conrad Bloom" (NBC)
1997 Joined the cast of "Men Behaving Badly" (NBC) in the second season replacing former star Ron Eldard
1996 Guest starred on an episode of "Spin City" (ABC)
1996 Was featured in the acclaimed Off-Broadway adaptation of "Valley of the Dolls" at Circle in the Square Downtown
1995 Was featured in the CBS special "The State's 43rd Annual Halloween Special" (CBS)
1993 Starred on the MTV sketch-comedy show, "The State"
1992 Wrote, produced and starred in sketches for the MTV series "You Wrote It, You Watch It", hosted by Jon Stewart
1988 Formed the comedy troupe 'The New Group' (later renamed 'The State: Full-Frontal Comedy' and finally just 'The State')
Acted in the national stage company tour of "A Few Good Men"
