Dax Shepard

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Dax Shepard
A headshot of Dax Shepard at PaleyFest in 2013 in Los Angeles
Shepard at PaleyFest 2013 in Los Angeles
Born
Dax Randall Shepard

(1975-01-02) January 2, 1975 (age 46)
Highland Township, Oakland County, Michigan, U.S.
Alma materSanta Monica College

West Los Angeles College

University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • director
  • podcast host
Years active1996–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2

Dax Randall Shepard[1] (born January 2, 1975)[2] is an American actor, comedian, writer, director and podcast host. Since 2018, he has hosted Armchair Expert, a podcast that interviews celebrities, journalists, and academics about their lives.

Shepard is best known for his work in the feature films Without a Paddle (2004), Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), Employee of the Month (2006), Idiocracy (2006), Let's Go to Prison (2006), Hit and Run (2012), and CHiPs (2017), the last pair of which he also wrote and directed. Shepard portrayed Crosby Braverman in the NBC comedy-drama series Parenthood from 2010 to 2015. He also played Luke Matthews in the Netflix show The Ranch, co-starred in ABC's Bless This Mess, and acted in the MTV practical joke reality series Punk'd (2003).

Early life and education[]

Shepard was born in Highland Township, Michigan, in suburban Detroit.[3][1] He is the son of Laura LaBo,[4][5] who worked at General Motors (GM), and David Robert "Dave" Shepard, Sr.,[6][7][8] who was a car salesman.[7][9] His parents divorced when he was 3 years old.[3]

Shepard's mother developed a substantial business by the time he was in high school.[4] She worked car shows with traveling events at race tracks. She started as a janitor on the midnight shift at GM,[10] then worked in fleet management at the GM proving grounds in Milford, Michigan, then hosted hospitality days for all the GM family members, eventually moving into public relations at an ad agency.[9] She went back to GM, becoming the owner of four shops that managed publicity events for magazine journalists. From the age of 14 to 18, Shepard worked for his mother on the road, going from racetrack to racetrack.[3] For about two years, Shepard had a stepfather who was an engineer on the Corvette.[3][9] Shepard's mother has been married four times; Shepard said he's had three stepfathers.[11]

According to Shepard, his mother named him for the rich playboy Dax (Diogenes Alejandro Xenos), in Harold Robbins' novel The Adventurers.[12] He has an older brother, David Shepard Jr., who lives in Oregon,[7] and a younger half-sister, Carly Hatter,[3] whom he cast in two films: 2012's Hit and Run[13][14] and 2017's CHiPs.

Shepard has said that he was raised in Milford,[3] although he lived in a lot of places in suburban Detroit, growing up primarily in Walled Lake, Michigan. He graduated from Walled Lake Central High School in 1993[15] before enrolling in The Groundlings school.[16] After attending Santa Monica College and West Los Angeles College, Shepard transferred to UCLA, where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Anthropology.[17] He had a deal with his mother that if he went to college she would pay his rent.[3]

Career[]

Shepard at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City

After a year in Santa Barbara, California, Shepard moved to Los Angeles in 1996. He found out about The Groundlings improv troupe from a friend from Santa Barbara, Kareem Elseify, ended up auditioning (the first time he acted), and took classes while also attending UCLA. After about five years of classes, he got into the Sunday Company of The Groundlings—in a group that included Melissa McCarthy, Fortune Feimster, Tate Taylor and Nat Faxon.[3]

From 2003 onwards, Shepard became known from his work in the improv Candid Camera-type show, Punk'd, with Ashton Kutcher. When the show had its 2012 revival, he continued to appear. Shepard said he auditioned for Punk'd and while doing the pilot became friendly with Kutcher, who arranged for him to get an agent.[3] He had auditioned unsuccessfully for 10 years before landing the role in Punk'd, his first.[3]

In 2004, Shepard starred in the comedy Without a Paddle, alongside Seth Green and Matthew Lillard. Although the film received negative reviews, it was a commercial success that as of 2009 had grossed more than US$65 million worldwide.[18] In 2005, he starred as The Astronaut in Zathura: A Space Adventure, a science fiction adventure fantasy film. In 2006, he appeared with Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson in the comedy Employee of the Month and in Mike Judge's film Idiocracy as the character Frito.

During the same time, Shepard began appearing in more films and landed his first main character role in Let's Go to Prison (2006), alongside Will Arnett and Chi McBride. He also had a main role in the 2008 comedy Baby Mama, starring opposite Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Shepard wrote the script for the Paramount venture Get 'Em Wet, in which he again appeared with Arnett. In 2010, he wrote, directed and starred in the low-budget satirical mockumentary feature Brother's Justice; the film won an Audience Award at the 2010 Austin Film Festival. He also had a supporting role in the 2010 romantic comedy film When in Rome, which also starred his future wife Kristen Bell.

From 2010 to 2015, Shepard was part of the main cast of the NBC drama Parenthood, playing Crosby Braverman.[19][20][21]

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard

Shepard wrote, produced, co-directed, and starred in the 2012 low-budget film Hit and Run alongside Bell and his close friend Bradley Cooper.[22][23] He said the movie, which includes numerous car chases and fast driving scenes, allowed him to live out his Smokey and the Bandit fantasy.[3]

Shepard had a supporting role in the 2014 film The Judge, which starred Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall and Vera Farmiga.[24]

In September 2014, Dax starred with his wife, Kristen Bell, in a commercial for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S.[25] It was so popular (with over 20 million YouTube views) that they did another commercial for the holiday season.[26] The ad agency McKinney was behind both.[27]

Shepard wrote and directed a feature-length film called CHiPs, based on the 1977 to 1983 American crime drama of the same name, where he starred as Officer Jon Baker alongside Michael Peña as Frank "Ponch" Poncherello.[24] The project was released by Warner Bros.[28][29][30] on March 24, 2017 to negative reviews.

On February 14, 2018, Shepard launched the podcast Armchair Expert with cohost Monica Padman. The show explores the stories of their well-known guests. Featured guests on the show have included Kristen Bell, Ashton Kutcher, Will Ferrell, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. On June 7, 2018, the show released their first episode of "Experts on Expert", in which Shepard and Padman interview experts in their fields. Featured experts on the show have included psychologist Wendy Mogel, comedian and author David Sedaris, and speechwriter Jon Favreau. The show was the most popular new podcast on iTunes in 2018.[31] On December 3, 2019, it was revealed the Shepard will be a host of the revived Top Gear America, which will debut on Motor Trend in Spring 2020.[32]

Personal life[]

Relationships[]

Shepard met actress Kristen Bell, also a native of Detroit's northern suburbs, at the birthday party of a mutual friend; they began dating in late 2007. The couple announced their engagement in January 2010; however, they decided to delay marriage until the state of California passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage.[33][34] After section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on June 26, 2013, Bell asked Shepard through Twitter to marry her,[35] which he accepted.[36] They were married at the Beverly Hills County Clerk's Office on October 17, 2013.[37] They have two daughters, born in March 2013[38] and December 2014.[39]

Substance abuse[]

Shepard has said that, except for a year in high school when he used drugs (in 1992, leading to the mayor and his mother getting involved), he did not have a substance abuse problem until he was 18 years old.[3] After many struggles, Shepard achieved sobriety in September 2005.[3] On September 25, 2020, in a special episode of his podcast, Armchair Expert, Dax revealed he had relapsed while recovering from an accident by buying painkillers to augment a prescription. He also announced that he was again sober, with seven days of sobriety as of the recording date (September 21, 2020).[40][41]

Interests and charity work[]

Shepard races motorcycles at Buttonwillow Raceway, including his Ducati Hypermotard 1100S and Suzuki GSX-R1000.[42] He donates much of his time to the Hollenbeck Youth Center, an after-school program that provides opportunity to at-risk inner-city youth. He has served as their official Master of Ceremonies, along with his friend Tom Arnold, for the Inner-City Games and Hollenbeck Youth Center's Miracle on 1st Street Toy Giveaway Program in East Los Angeles.[43][44]

He is an avid car enthusiast[45] and can rebuild an engine. He owns the 1967 Lincoln Continental that was featured in the movie Hit and Run, and races off-road.[3]

Shepard and his wife are advocates of California Senate Bill 606, called "no-kids paparazzi".[46] Bell said: "We're not saying that we can't be newsworthy. We're saying that our child is not newsworthy."[47] California Senate Bill 606[48] passed in 2013, with testimony by actresses Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner.[46]

Shepard practices the Transcendental Meditation program.[49]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Hairshirt Guy Vomiting at Party Credited as Dax Sheppard
2003 Cheaper by the Dozen Camera Crew Member
2004 Without a Paddle Tom Marshall
2005 Sledge: The Untold Story SFX Coordinator
Zathura: A Space Adventure Adult Walter / The Astronaut
2006 Employee of the Month Vince Downey
Idiocracy Frito Pendejo
Let's Go to Prison John Lyshitski
2007 Knocked Up Himself Uncredited Cameo
The Comebacks Sheriff
Smother Noah Cooper
2008 Baby Mama Carl
Confessions of an Action Star Bucky
2009 Old Dogs Gary Uncredited Cameo
2010 When in Rome Gale
The Freebie Darren
Brother's Justice Himself Also writer, director, stunt coordinator
2012 Hit and Run Charlie Bronson/Yul Perrkins Also writer, director, editor
2014 Veronica Mars Overconfident Club Boy Cameo
This Is Where I Leave You Wade Beaufort
The Judge C.P. Kennedy
2015 Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle 4 White Fang Short film
2017 CHiPS Jon Baker Also writer, director and producer
El Camino Christmas Deputy Billy Calhoun
2020 Buddy Games Durfy
2021 PAW Patrol: The Movie Ruben Voice

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2003–2012 Punk'd Himself 56 episodes
2004 Life with Bonnie Kyle Levine,[50] Dr. Iskarr[51] 2 episodes
2004–2008 King of the Hill Zack (voice) 2 episodes
Asa (voice) 1 episode
2005 My Name Is Earl Dirk
2005–2016 Robot Chicken Various voices 4 episodes
2007 The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show Joe Sands 1 episode
Halfway Home Ben
2009 The Goode Family Steve (voice)
2010–2015 Parenthood Crosby Braverman Main role, 90 episodes
Director, 1 episode
2011 Good Vibes Jag Knullerbrod (voice) 1 episode
Smilin' Mike (voice)
2013 Hollywood Game Night Himself
2014–2015 About A Boy Crosby Braverman 2 episodes
Director, 1 episode
Web Therapy Abel Jans 3 episodes
2015 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Jojo 1 episode
Parks and Recreation Hank Muntak
Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself
2017 SuperMansion Titanium Dax (voice) 2 episodes
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Mikey
Ghosted SAM Episode: “Sam”
2018 The Good Place Chet Episode: “Rhonda, Diana, Jake, and Trent”
The Final Table Himself Episode: “USA”
2018–2020 The Ranch Luke Matthews Main role: 25 episodes
2019–2020 Bless This Mess Mike Main role
Also producer
2019 Spin the Wheel Himself/Host Also producer
2020 Top Gear America Himself / Host
2020 Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time Himself - Video Clue Presenter 1 episode

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Show Category Result Ref.
2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Reality/Variety Star – Male Punk'd Nominated
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Dramatic TV Actor Parenthood Nominated
2020 People's Choice Awards Top Podcast of the Year Armchair Expert Nominated [52]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Birthplace given as Milford, Michigan in "Dax Shepard". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019. Birth Name: Dax Randall Shepard
  2. ^ "UPI Almanac for Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019". United Press International. January 2, 2019. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019. actor Dax Shepard in 1975 (age 44)
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Maron, Marc (September 15, 2014). "Episode 533 – Dax Shepard" (Podcast). WTF with Marc Maron. Retrieved September 20, 2014.(subscription required)[better source needed]
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Sammons, Mary Beth (January 30, 1994). "Car Firm Shows Off For Celebrities, Press". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  5. ^ Jewett, Dale (July 11, 2012). "Dax Shepard goes full throttle: Actor's hot-rod Lincoln, desert racer are stars in new movie". Autoweek. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  6. ^ "David R Shepard". United States Social Security Death Index. December 30, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2014 – via FamilySearch.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Shepard, Dax (March 20, 2013). "My Father's Horniness". Don't Try: Dax Tumbler. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Dax Shepard Writes Emotional Post About His Late Father And Kristen Bell (Photo)". Huffington Post. March 22, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Dax Shepard: Motor City hit and run man". The New Zealand Herald. September 6, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  10. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (December 9, 2014). "Dax Shepard Talks Directing 'About a Boy's' Take on 'A Christmas Carol'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  11. ^ Stern, Howard (September 16, 2010). "Thursday, September 16, 2010". Howard Stern Show. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. ^ Aukerman, Scott (June 26, 2009). "Comedy Death Ray Radio with Scott Aukerman – Episode 9 – Chip Pope, Dax Shepard, Neil Hamburger, Paul F. Tompkins" (Audio interview (podcast)). Comedy Bang! Bang!. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  13. ^ Olya, Gabrielle (July 28, 2013). "Dax Shepard: Being a Father Is Like Falling in Love for the First Time". People. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  14. ^ Ellwood, Gregory (August 21, 2012). "Dax Shepard gives his friends a career showcase in 'Hit and Run'". HitFix. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  15. ^ "Dax Shepard pays tribute to FOX 2 anchor in new movie". WJBK. July 9, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  16. ^ "Performers – Dax Shepard". The Groundlings. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  17. ^ D., Spence (August 19, 2004). "Dax Shepard and Matthew Lillard". IGN. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  18. ^ "Without A Paddle (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  19. ^ "First impressions – "Parenthood"". Variety. July 6, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  20. ^ Lowry, Brian (February 25, 2010). "Review: 'Parenthood'". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  21. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 11, 2014). "NBC Renews 'Parenthood' for Sixth and Final Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  22. ^ Debruge, Peter (August 20, 2012). "Review: 'Hit & Run'". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  23. ^ DeFore, John (August 19, 2012). "Hit and Run: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b Buchanan, Kyle (September 5, 2014). "Dax Shepard Will Flash His Anus While Acting If That's What It Takes". Vulture. New York Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  25. ^ "Galaxy Tab S – What You Really Need". www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEdfCdbxJJ9ouWKLSRCRRw. Samsung Mobile USA YouTube. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Kristen & Dax: Home for the Holidays". www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEdfCdbxJJ9ouWKLSRCRRw. Samsung Mobile USA YouTube. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  27. ^ "Samsung work page". mckinney.com. McKinney. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  28. ^ Couch, Aaron (September 2, 2014). "Dax Shepard Making 'CHiPS' Movie for Warner Bros". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  29. ^ Fowler, Matt (September 3, 2014). "Dax Shepard, Michael Peña to Star in CHiPS Movie". IGN. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  30. ^ Modell, Josh (September 3, 2014). "Dax Shepard will turn '70s cop show CHiPs into a movie". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  31. ^ Sanchez, Omar (December 6, 2018). "Here Are the Top Podcasts of 2018 on Apple Podcasts". TheWrap. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  32. ^ "REVEALED! Meet the Hosts of Top Gear America". Motor Trend. December 3, 2019.
  33. ^ "Exclusive: Kristen Bell Is Engaged To Dax Shepard!". US Magazine. January 31, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  34. ^ "'Hit & Run' Couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard Won't Marry Until Same-Sex Marriage is Legal in California". Celebuzz. August 14, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  35. ^ Bell, Kristen [@IMKristenBell] (June 26, 2013). ".@daxshepard1 will you marry me? Xo #marriageequality #loveislove"" (Tweet). Retrieved June 26, 2013 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ Shepard, Dax [@daxshepard1] (June 26, 2013). "@IMKristenBell Fuck Yes!!!!!!!!!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 26, 2013 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ Ravitz, Justin (October 17, 2013). "Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard Get Married in "No Frills" Wedding at County Clerk's Office". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  38. ^ "Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell Welcome Daughter Lincoln". People. March 28, 2013. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  39. ^ "Dax Shepardand Kristen Bell Welcome Daughter Delta". People. December 19, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  40. ^ "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard: Day 7 on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  41. ^ "Day 7". Armchair Expert. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  42. ^ Carolla, Adam (August 12, 2009). "Dax Shepard". Adam Carolla's CarCast. Archived from the original (audio interview (podcast)) on September 21, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  43. ^ Chong, Michele (December 16, 2008). "Hollenbeck Gym Hosts Toy Giveaway". MyBoxingFans.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  44. ^ "Picture – Tom Arnold and Dax Shepard – Photo 586706". Contactmusic.com. December 15, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  45. ^ Hunkins, Johnny (January 8, 2013). "1967 Lincoln Continental – Lincoln Stuntinental". Popular Hot Rodding. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  46. ^ Jump up to: a b Shepard, Dax (January 30, 2014). "Why Our Children Should Be Off Limits to the Paparazzi". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  47. ^ Saad, Nardine (January 31, 2014). "Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard urge boycott on celebrity kid photos". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  48. ^ "Senate Bill No. 606, Chapter 348". California Legislative Information. September 24, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  49. ^ Majewski, Lori (October 1, 2013). "31 things you didn't know about Kristen Bell". Women's Health (Australia). Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  50. ^ Act Natural, retrieved November 22, 2019
  51. ^ Nip, Tuck and Roll, retrieved November 22, 2019
  52. ^ Longeretta, Emily (November 16, 2020). "People's Choice Awards 2020: Complete List of Winners and Nominees". Retrieved December 12, 2020.

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