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William Gardell Jr. (born August 20, 1969) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Gardell played Chicago police officer Mike Biggs on Mike & Molly. He also had a recurring role as Billy Colivida on Yes, Dear, and appeared in a dozen episodes of My Name Is Earl as a police officer. Gardell voiced Santa Claus in , as well as starring on Sullivan & Son in the recurring role of Lyle Winkler. From 2019 to 2024, Gardell played Bob Wheeler in the CBS sitcom series Bob Hearts Abishola.
Gardell was a member of International Thespian Society Troupe 850, whose other notable alumni include Amanda Bearse, who is a fellow graduate of Winter Park High School, and Ben Rock of The Blair Witch Project.
Gardell continues to make weekly appearances on hometown local radio station WDVE, appearing on The DVE Morning Show. Gardell also appeared on Chelsea Lately, as a roundtable participant. Gardell appeared on a special for Comedy Central Presents in 2007 that aired on April 4, 2008. Gardell also played the host of Pizza Talk, an imaginary TV series, in commercials for Round Table Pizza. In 2006, Gardell's first comedy album, Billy Gardell: Throwback, was released.
From September 2010 to May 2016, Gardell starred in Mike & Molly, alongside Melissa McCarthy. In November 2011, he lent his voice to Santa Claus in . His stand-up special Halftime was released in 2011 and aired on Comedy Central. It was filmed in Pittsburgh and profiles working-class America. As of 2011, he continued to tour as a stand-up comedian in addition to acting. In a 2011 Orlando Sentinel article, Gardell said he would not mind doing movies again.
In 2013, Gardell's comedy special Billy Gardell Presents Road Dogs premiered on Showtime. In 2015, Gardell started the lottery game show Monopoly Millionaires' Club, featuring contestants who bought tickets for the Monopoly Millionaires' Club lottery game; the latter began on October 19, 2014. Gardell earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host in 2016, but lost to Craig Ferguson.
Gardell had a recurring role on the CBS spinoff sitcom Young Sheldon as neighbor Herschel Sparks. In October 2018, he was cast as Bob in the CBS pilot of Bob Hearts Abishola, alongside Folake Olowofoyeku. In May 2019, the series was ordered, and it premiered in September 2019.
Gardell began appearing in advertisements for A1C medication Semaglutide in 2021. This followed his involvement in the Ozempic reality series “My Type 2 Transformation” two years previous.
Gardell is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and attended games at Heinz Field. His favorite player growing up was Jack Lambert.
Regarding his weight, Gardell explained in 2011 that he "always had a little gut" and weighed at one point. In 2022, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he discussed his weight loss and said that he reduced his weight to 212 pounds (96 kg). Gardell managed his weight loss by changing his lifestyle and having bariatric surgery.
| Voice |
| Episode: "Block Buster" |
| 4 episodes |
| Episode: "Vegas Mother's Day: Part 2" |
| Episode: "Lust for Life" |
| Recurring role, 26 episodes |
| 13 episodes |
| Voice; 3 episodes |
| Episode: "Mr. Monk and the 12th Man" |
| 4 episodes |
| 2 episodes |
| Episode: "Iced" |
| Main role |
| Episode: "Delinda's Box" Pt. 1 |
| Television film |
| Recurring role, 12 episodes |
| Episode: "Billy Gardell" |
| Episode: "The Gun Song" |
| Episode: "The Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" |
| Lead role |
| Television special; voice role |
| Episode: "Ratings Guy" |
| 3 episodes |
| Voice; episode: "Love at First Byte" |
| Guest host |
| Host |
| Voice; episode: "If You Can't Scooby-Doo the Time, Don't Scooby-Doo the Crime" |
| Episode: "Girl Meets High School: Part 2" |
| Episode: "Es Good" |
| Main role |
| Episode: "Go Get 'Em, Tiger" |
| 2 episodes |
| over 100 episodes |
| Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| Lead role |
| Episode: "The Consequences of Sushi" |
| 2006 | Throwback | CD only |
| 2011 | Halftime | Comedy Central special also CD |
| 2013 | Billy Gardell Presents Road Dogs | Showtime special |
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