Larry Miller (comedian)
A master of the exasperated everyman, his precise comic timing and distinctive voice have elevated countless films and TV shows for decades.
Born 1953 (age 73)·American comedian·Birthday: October 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Larry Miller carved a space in Hollywood as a supporting actor who could steal scenes with a single line or look of dismay. Born in 1953, he began on the stand-up stages of New York, honing his ability to find the absurd in the mundane. That skill translated to the screen, where he played roles requiring a blend of pomposity and panic. He was the nervously scheming hotel manager in 'Pretty Woman,' the hilariously stern father in '10 Things I Hate About You,' and the perpetually baffled boss in 'Dilbert.' His work extends into writing and podcasting, maintaining a voice that is witty and warmly observational. He remains a beloved figure in comedy.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Larry was born in 1953, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Larry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1953
#1 Movie
Peter Pan
Best Picture
From Here to Eternity
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Larry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1953Born
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1958Started school
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1966Became a teenager
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Could drive
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1971Could vote
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Turned 21
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1983Turned 30
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
1993Turned 40
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 50
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 60
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 70
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 73 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the iconic, strict father Walter Stratford in the cult classic film '10 Things I Hate About You.'
- Served as a series regular playing the quirky neighbor Lou Bonaparte on the long-running sitcom 'Mad About You.'
- Brought the pointy-haired, incompetent boss from Scott Adams' comic strip to life as the voice of the character in the 'Dilbert' animated series.
- Delivered a memorable supporting performance as the nervous hotel manager Mr. Hollister in the blockbuster film 'Pretty Woman.'
Did You Know?
He is a frequent guest on Dennis Miller's radio show (no relation), often discussing politics and culture.
Miller maintains a popular humor column and has published books collecting his comedic essays.
He created and hosts the podcast 'The Larry Miller Show,' featuring interviews and his signature monologues.
Before comedy, he studied at New York University and briefly considered a career in law.
““The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.””
