- Dan Cortese
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Dan Cortese Born Daniel James Cortese
September 14, 1967
Sewickley, Pennsylvania, U.S.Occupation Actor, director, spokesperson Years active 1992–present Spouse Dee Dee Hemby
(m. 1994–present) 2 childrenDaniel James "Dan" Cortese ; born September 14, 1967) is an American actor, director and spokesperson. He is known for his roles as Perry Rollins on Veronica's Closet and as Vic Meladeo on What I Like About You.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Cortese was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. He is of Sicilian descent.[1] Prior to becoming an actor, he was a walk-on member of the University of North Carolina football team as a backup quarterback. His freshman year he traveled with the team to the Aloha Bowl. He graduated with a B.A. in Broadcasting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Career
Cortese first came to prominence as host of MTV Sports from 1992 to 1997. He gained further recognition in 1995 as Jess Hanson in Melrose Place.[2] He played Jake Hanson's half brother for 8 episodes in the third season but was killed off in that season's finale. He had the main role as Jason in the 1996 movie The Lottery. He had starring roles in the 1993 remake/sequel of Route 66, Traps, The Single Guy, Veronica's Closet (in which he played Perry for three seasons), Rock Me Baby and Ball & Chain. Cortese appeared in the NBC television series Seinfeld, where he played Tony, Elaine's ultra-cool, vapid, good-looking boyfriend. In the episode, entitled "The Stall", he was dubbed a "mimbo" (a male bimbo). He was also featured in The WB television series What I Like About You in a recurring role as Vic, Val's boss, from 2002 to 2003 a role he reprised as a series regular from 2005 to 2006 during the fourth and final season, which he directed one episode and in two episodes of 8 Simple Rules in 2004, playing Bridget's tennis coach. He has also starred in the natural horror film Locusts: The 8th Plague.
During Burger King's "Your Way, Right Away" advertising campaign during the 1990s, Cortese was hired as the fast-food company's official spokesperson.
He was the host of My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad, which aired on NBC for one season before being cancelled. Dan then appeared on the first season of Superstars as the partner of Lisa Leslie.
In 2008, Cortese landed a role in Soccer Mom as a famous Italian soccer player alongside Emily Osment.
He was the co-host of the ABC game show, Crash Course (which was canceled after 4 episodes) and hosts VH-1's Money Hungry.
References
External links
- Dan Cortese at the Internet Movie Database
- University of North Carolina Famous Alumni
- Entertainment Weekly "Dan Dan The Whopper Man" article [1]
Categories:- 1967 births
- Actors from Pennsylvania
- American game show hosts
- American film actors
- American people of Italian descent
- American television actors
- Burger King people
- Living people
- North Carolina Tar Heels football players
- People from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Players of American football from Pennsylvania
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
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