Greg Proops
This bespectacled upstart from Whose Line Is It Anyway? has some lip on him and doesn't seem afraid to rip the mick out of us Brits and our refined English sensibilities.
When Whose Line Is It Anyway? hit our TV screens in 1988 it ushered in a whole new comedy genre - improv. The show also introduced the UK to four impressive American/Canadian comics - Mike McShane (the big fella), Ryan Stiles (half-man half-chicken) Colin Mochrie (made of rubber?) and, most notably, Buddy Holly-with-attitude Greg Proops.
This bespectacled upstart had some lip on him and didn't seem afraid to rip the mick out of us Brits and our refined English sensibilities. But - hey - he was kinda cute, so we sort of adopted him.
Gregory Everett Proops was born in 1959 in Phoenix, Arizona. With glasses already on, we imagine. He grew up in California and then studied acting at San Francisco State University whilst also dabbling in improv. After graduation, he joined improv group Faultline with Mike McShane and the pair came to the attention of the Whose Line? producers.
Never short of a brash wisecrack on anything from pop culture to politics, Greg proved a real hit on the show, becoming a regular both in the UK and US versions.
Although best known for Whose Line?, Greg's popped up in numerous other TV and radio shows including Space Cadets and Mock the Week.
He also happens to be one of the most intelligent and articulate stand-ups you're ever likely to see, especially when he abandons the script and goes "off piste" which, by his own admission, is his greatest strength.
