Ken Marino
A versatile comedic force whose deadpan delivery and scene-stealing roles have made him a beloved fixture in cult television and film.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actor·Birthday: December 19·Generation X
Biography
Ken Marino carved out a unique niche in American comedy, emerging from the inventive sketch troupe The State to become a reliable source of hilarious, often pompous characters. His face is familiar to anyone who has laughed at the absurdities of 'Wet Hot American Summer' or the frustrated ambitions of the catering staff in 'Party Down,' where his Ron Donald became an emblem of desperate optimism. Marino possesses a rare gift for balancing broad humor with genuine pathos, whether directing and starring in raunchy comedies or playing smarmy executives on shows like 'Black Monday.' His career is a masterclass in comedic utility, moving seamlessly between writing, directing, and performing, always leaving a memorable mark with his specific, committed brand of humor.
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.
Ken was born in 1968, 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 Ken Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Ken's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed comedy series 'Party Down' as Ron Donald.
- Was a founding cast member of the influential MTV sketch comedy series 'The State.'
- Played a lead role in the cult film 'Wet Hot American Summer' and its subsequent Netflix revival series.
Did You Know?
He provided the voice of the villainous Dr. Drakken in the animated series 'Kim Possible.'
He and his 'The State' colleague David Wain have collaborated on numerous projects, including 'Wet Hot American Summer' and 'They Came Together.'
He played a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom 'Marry Me.'
“The key to comedy is playing the truth of the character, no matter how absurd the situation.”
