- Jim Zulevic
Jim Zulevic (
February 20 1965 –January 7 2006 ) was an Americanactor , improvisational comedian,television writer , andradio host .He died suddenly, possibly due to a heart attack, at age 40. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117936265.html?categoryid=25&cs=1]
Early life
Zulevic, of Scottish and Croatian extraction, grew up in
Chicago , where he graduated from St. Thomas More Grammar School {Go Tommy More}, Brother Rice High School andColumbia College Chicago . He drank many underage beers at Hayes Park, Eppers, Farrells, and various unpaved alleys. He miraculously avoided killing himself and others while recklessly piloting his parents sweet, silver station wagon on many an "oldies cruise". Jim shocked the Hayes Park sports world when he arrived for a 16-inch softball game sporting his moms' powder blue sweatpants. Jims' other sports claim to fame was being kicked out of a Seattle Mariners late night hotel party by Gaylord Perry. He went on to work a number of jobs, from underaged bouncer at Chicago's famed Exit club to a runner at the Board of Trade to support his acting habit. All the while he studied atThe Second City , where he was taken under the wing of mentorSheldon Patinkin . Sheldon always encouraged Jim by telling him if a no talent hack like John Cusack could make it in movies, so could he. Before joining the Second City, he performed for a short time at Chicago'sImprov Institute .Second City
Zulevic joined
The Second City comedy troupe in 1992. He starred in nine stage revues, including "Paradigm Lost" withTina Fey andRachel Dratch . Zulevic created his most famous character of "Billy" at this time.He was also the resident director for
GayCo Productions , a gay and lesbian comedy ensemble based in Chicago, although Zulevic himself was heterosexual ( [http://www.gayco.net/] ).Television
Zulevic wrote for the "
Jamie Kennedy Experiment ".He appeared on "Curb Your Enthusiasm ", "The Drew Carey Show ", "Early Edition ", "Prison Break ", "Real Time with Bill Maher ", "The Shield ", and the final episode of the long-running series, "Seinfeld " ( [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0958570] Rs|date=September 2008).He also created commercials for the
Fox Broadcasting Company inChicago , where he was known for his quirky comments on reruns of "The Simpsons ". [http://www.zulkey.com/diary_archive_091004.html]Movies
Zulevic appeared in "
The Bogus Witch Project ", "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover ", "Let's Go to Prison ", "Matchstick Men", "The Specials", and "Talent". He also directed a comedy short, "Baby Time Share", in 2005.Other activities
Zulevic hosted the weekly radio show "Second City Radio" on
WCKG -FM, and taught improv classes atColumbia College Chicago andThe Second City .References
External links
*imdb name|0958570
* [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117936265?categoryid=25&cs=1 "Variety" writeup]
* [http://www.zulkey.com/diary_archive_091004.html Interview at Zulkey.com]
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