David Herman
A character actor whose perfectly pitched exasperation became the essential foil for some of comedy's most chaotic minds.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: February 20·Generation X
Biography
David Herman possesses one of those malleable, instantly recognizable faces that seems built for comedy. He first gained attention as an original cast member on 'MADtv,' where his knack for impressions and off-kilter characters shone. But it was a single role in a cult film that cemented his place in pop culture: the quietly suffering, white-collared Michael Bolton in Mike Judge's 'Office Space.' His deadpan delivery of lines about case files and a misplaced stapler captured the soul-crushing absurdity of corporate life. Herman's voice then became a staple of the animated world, lending his versatile pipes to a wild array of characters on 'Futurama,' 'Bob's Burgers,' and 'King of the Hill.' He never quite became a household name, but his specific brand of beleaguered normalcy has provided the perfect straight-man foundation for decades of comedic chaos.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Michael Bolton in the cult classic film 'Office Space,' creating an iconic character of workplace frustration.
- Was an original cast member on the sketch comedy series 'MADtv' during its first two seasons.
- Voiced multiple characters on 'Futurama,' including the greedy bureaucrat Abner Doubledeal and the robot Hedonismbot.
- Provided voices for numerous characters on 'King of the Hill,' most notably the nerdy conspiracy theorist Octavio.
- Had a recurring voice role as Mr. Frond's rival, 'Regular-Sized Rudy,' on the animated series 'Bob's Burgers.'
Did You Know?
He is a talented musician and was in a band called 'The Non-Commissioned Officers.'
Herman is an avid fan and collector of vintage science fiction memorabilia.
He performed the voice of the villainous 'The Monarch' on 'The Venture Bros.' for several episodes before being replaced.
His first major television role was on 'MADtv' after being discovered performing with the Groundlings improv troupe.
“I'm just trying to make something funny that doesn't make me hate myself.”
