Josh Gad to Portray Comedian Sam Kinison in Upcoming Biopic
By: Tyler Peterson Aug. 05, 2013
THE BOOK OF MORMON's Josh Gad has lined up his big screen gig.
According to Deadline, Gad is set to portray late comedian Sam Kinison in the upcoming biopic from David Permut, with Larry Charles, the acclaimed director behind BORAT, at the helm. The project is based upon Bill Kinison's book BROTHER SAM and adapted by Richard Wilkes.
The film will follow Kinison throughout the 80s, beginning with his stand up career, leading into his breakout role on HBO, courtesy of Rodney Dangerfield's young comic special, as well as his decline into drinking and drugs. Kinison eventually got sober, only to be killed by a drunk driver in 1992. The film will also reportedly feature a number of stand up comedians playing real life comics and colleagues of Kinison, including Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Howard Stern, and Richard Pryor.
"There was nothing conventional about Sam Kinison and neither will be the cinematic interpretation of his life," Permut told the site. "Larry Charles is the perfect director to bring Rich Wilkes' incredible script to screen, and Josh Gad's tremendous ability to morph into a role will bring great depth to Kinison's larger than life persona."
For Deadline's original report, click here.
Gad was last seen on Broadway in The Book of Mormon, and before that, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He recently starred in the TV series 1600 Penn, and his film work includes Jobs, The Internship, and the upcoming movies Frozen and Zach Braff's Wish I Was Here. Other credits include Thanks for Sharing, She Wants Me, the TV series Good Vibes, Gigi: Almost American, Woke Up Dead and Back to You, the films Love & Other Drugs, Crossing Over, The Rocker and more.
Photo by Walter McBride
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