Patton Oswalt
A sharp-witted comedian and actor whose deeply personal, pop-culture-saturated stand-up evolved into a powerful voice on grief, fandom, and modern life.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: January 27·Generation X
Biography
Patton Oswalt began as a master of nerdy, incisive observation, a stand-up who could dissect the absurdities of comic books and fast food with equal passion. His early career was defined by a clever, everyman frustration, leading to a breakout role on 'The King of Queens.' But Oswalt never settled into sitcom comfort, instead using his platform to explore darker, more complex material. His comedy albums became events, and his acting choices—from a poignant turn on 'Parks and Recreation' to voice work in 'Ratatouille'—showcased surprising range. A profound personal tragedy, the sudden death of his wife in 2016, transformed his art. The resulting special, 'Annihilation,' was a raw, critically hailed masterpiece that redefined him as a comedian of remarkable resilience and emotional honesty, proving his depth far exceeded the 'comic's comic' label he once wore.
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.
Patton was born in 1969, 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 Patton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Patton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
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
1974Started school
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
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
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
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for 'Talking for Clapping' in 2017.
- Received widespread critical acclaim for his Netflix special 'Annihilation,' which dealt with grief and loss.
- Voiced the character Remy in the Academy Award-winning Pixar film 'Ratatouille'.
- Published a bestselling book of comedy essays, 'Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.'
Did You Know?
He provided the voice for the narrator, adult Adam Goldberg, on the TV series 'The Goldbergs'.
He is a well-known 'Star Wars' fan and has written for Marvel Comics.
He attended the College of William & Mary, where he began performing stand-up.
He famously delivered a lengthy, improvised filibuster full of 'Star Wars' lore in an episode of 'Parks and Recreation.'
“"It's chaos. Be kind."”
