Bruce Vilanch

Acting

Bruce Vilanch

Born 1948-11-23 · New York, New York

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Bruce Vilanch (born November 23, 1948) is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winner known to industry professionals in Hollywood and New York as "the fat guy who writes everyone's jokes." He is likely best known for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as both a celebrity participant and head writer for the show. He also performed off-Broadway in his one-man show Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous in 2000. Since 2000, Vilanch has been the head writer for the Oscars, after being an Oscar program co-writer for the previous 10 years. He is a featured writer for the Tonys, Grammys and Emmys. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bruce Vilanch, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

You Don't Mess with the Zohan poster
5.7

An Israeli counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to become a Manhattan hairstylist. Zohan's desire runs so deep that he'll do anything -- including faking his own death and going head-to-head with an Arab cab driver -- to make his dreams come true.

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

2008

Jackie's Back! poster
6.9

A British documentarian profiles washed-up diva Jackie Washington as she prepares for her comeback concert.

Jackie's Back!

1999

Breathless poster
5.9

Jesse, a small-time criminal, high-tails it to Los Angeles to rendezvous with a French exchange student. Stealing a car and accidentally killing a highway patrolman, he becomes the most wanted fugitive in L.A.

Breathless

1983

Commitment to Life poster
NR

Against a rich Hollywood backdrop, "Commitment to Life" documents the true story of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles - and how an intrepid group of people living with HIV/AIDS, doctors, movie stars, studio moguls and activists changed the course of the epidemic.

Commitment to Life

2023

The Aristocrats poster
5.9

One hundred superstar comedians tell the same very, VERY dirty, filthy joke--one shared privately by comics since Vaudeville.

The Aristocrats

2005

The Ice Pirates poster
5.7

In the not too distant future, where by far the most precious commodity in the galaxy is water. The last surviving water planet was somehow removed to the unreachable centre of the galaxy at the end of the galactic trade wars. The galaxy is ruled by an evil emperor presiding over a trade oligarchy that controls all mining and sale of ice from asteroids and comets.

The Ice Pirates

1984

Call Me Claus poster
5.7

When Lucy Cullins, a successful but cranky producer at a home shopping network hires an actor named Nick to play Santa Claus on the network, she gets more than she bargained for.

Call Me Claus

2001

Spring Breakdown poster
5.4

Three women in their thirties head to a popular Spring Break destination and try to relive the Spring Break they never had.

Spring Breakdown

2009

Queer Duck: The Movie poster
4.2

Queer Duck and his partner of 18 months (a lifetime in gay years), Stephen Arlo "Openly" Gator, hit a relationship crisis when the fey fowl is wooed by a brassy Broadway broad. Queer Duck wonders if he'd be happier being straight, while Gator the waiter spills his problems to a compassionate Conan O'Brien.

Queer Duck: The Movie

2006

Going Down in La-La Land poster
5.8

A fresh face comes to Hollywood to act in movies but only the gay porn studios are eager to provide him with work.

Going Down in La-La Land

2011

The Morning After poster
6.0

Failed actress Alex Sternbergen wakes up hungover one morning in an apartment she does not recognize, unable to remember the previous evening -- and with a dead body in bed next to her. As she tries to piece together the events of the night, Alex cannot totally rely on friends or her estranged husband, Joaquin, for assistance. Only a single ally, loner ex-policeman Turner Kendall, can help her escape her predicament and find the true killer.

The Morning After

1986

Get Bruce! poster
6.5

Affectionate tribute to Bruce Vilanch, who writes material for celebrities who make public appearances, from Oscar hosts and award recipients to Presidents. We meet his mom and see photos of his childhood; in Chicago, he writes for the Tribune and then heads West. Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and Bette Midler talk with him and to the camera about working with Bruce, and we also watch Bruce help others prepare for Liz Taylor's 60th, Bill Clinton's 50th, and an AIDS awards banquet where the hirsute, rotund Vilanch lets his emotions show.

Get Bruce!

1999

The Fabulous Allan Carr poster
5.0

Armed with a limitless Rolodex and a Benedict Canyon enclave with its own disco, Allan Carr threw the Hollywood parties that defined the 1970s. A producer, manager, and marketing genius, Carr built his bombastic reputation amid a series of successes including the mega-hit musical film "Grease," until it all came crashing down after he produced the 1989 Academy Awards, a notorious debacle.

The Fabulous Allan Carr

2017

Tru Loved poster
4.8

Recently relocated from San Francisco to conservative suburbia by her lesbian mothers, Tru struggles like all teens to fit in and find love, but her quest is complicated by sexual politics, closed minds, and closeted friends as she seeks to establish her school's first Gay-Straight Alliance.

Tru Loved

2008

And the Oscar Goes To... poster
6.8

The story of the gold-plated statuette that became the film industry's most coveted prize, AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... traces the history of the Academy itself, which began in 1927 when Louis B. Mayer, then head of MGM, led other prominent members of the industry in forming this professional honorary organization. Two years later the Academy began bestowing awards, which were nicknamed "Oscar," and quickly came to represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement.

And the Oscar Goes To...

2014

Inside the Golden Statue poster
6.5

A behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the live broadcast of the 69th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.

Inside the Golden Statue

1998

I Am Divine poster
7.3

Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine (1945-1988) was the ultimate outsider turned underground hero. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine succeeded in becoming an internationally recognized icon, recording artist, and character actor of stage and screen. Glenn went from the often-mocked, schoolyard fat kid to underdog royalty, standing up for millions of gay men and women, drag queens and punk rockers, and countless other socially ostracized misfits and freaks. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality, and revolutionized pop culture.

I Am Divine

2014

Scrooge & Marley poster
4.0

A modern day, queer variation on Charles Dickens' classic story of the holidays, "A Christmas Carol." On Christmas Eve, Ben Scrooge, the man who hates the holidays, is given the chance to begin again when he is visited by three spirits - the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Recounted from a gay sensibility with heart, comedy and music.

Scrooge & Marley

2012

The World According to Allee Willis poster
NR

Take one look at award-winning songwriter / artist Allee Willis and you see someone unafraid to be themselves. Dressed in a cacophony of prints and colors, her signature asymmetrical haircut and famed parties at her real-life Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Allee didn’t waste any opportunity to tell you what she was about. But privately, Allee struggled with not fitting established gender and sexual norms. She buried herself in her work, until true love manifested her ultimate masterpiece - self-acceptance.

The World According to Allee Willis

2024

Mahogany poster
5.9

An aspiring designer from the slums of Chicago puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the world's top designers. Her ambition leads her to Rome spurring a choice between the man she loves or her newfound success.

Mahogany

1975

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution poster
6.2

This rapturous documentary steps into the dynamic world of queer stand-up and examines the powerful cultural influence it has had on social change in America. The film combines rare archival materials, stand-up performances, and interviews with a show-stopping lineup to present a definitive history of queer comedy.

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

2024

Live at Mister Kelly's poster
NR

The iconic Mister Kelly’s bedazzled the country by launching superstars like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, and Steve Martin. It smashed color and gender barriers to put controversial voices on stage and transformed entertainment in America in the '50s, '60s, and ’70s.

Live at Mister Kelly's

2021

Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp poster
6.8

The final volume of Time Warp digs deep into what makes us laugh over and over again as we reveal the greatest cult comedies and campy classics of all-time. From "Fast Time at Ridgemont High" and "Office Space" to "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and "Showgirls."

Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp

2020

The Drifter poster
4.5

A suspensefilled thriller about a successful single woman who, on a deserted road, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker. Once back in the city, "The Drifter" follows her every move. Every attempt to free herself of his harassment fails until the shocking conclusion is revealed!

The Drifter

1988

Behind the camera

No artwork available
7.3

A special celebrating Elizabeth Taylor's 65th birthday featuring never-before-seen footage of her life and career.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life

1997

The Star Wars Holiday Special poster
3.4

Luke Skywalker and Han Solo battle evil Imperial forces to help Chewbacca reach his imperiled family on the Wookiee planet - in time for Life Day, their most important day of the year!

The Star Wars Holiday Special

1978

Naked Boys Singing! poster
5.0

This whimsical Off-Broadway hit musical is aptly reworked and transferred to the screen. The self-descriptively titled Naked Boys Singing is a musical revue of songs that poke fun at gay life, body image, love, loss and yearning.

Naked Boys Singing!

2007

Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus poster
7.7

The Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus originally aired November 27, 1987. Join Mickey Mouse, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Tony Randall, Kim Fields, Tim Conway, and Jim “Earnest” Varney along with 500 Clowns, lions and elephants for this once in a lifetime event. EPCOT Centers World Showcase plays host for the breathtaking performances.

Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus

1987

Bette Midler: Art or Bust poster
7.0

The Divine Miss M is featured in a concert filmed at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, at the culmination of her most recent cross-country tour which was known as "De Tour". This live recording was a combination of footage from both September 10 and 11, 1983. Set against a Renaissance art background and outfitted in a rainbow array of costumes, Midler sings and performs her uninhibited stage antics.

Bette Midler: Art or Bust

1984

Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville poster
8.0

An all-star cast lead by Richard Dreyfus perform sketches celebrating the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, including new animation done by Disney.

Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville

1987

Charo poster
NR

A variety show headlined by Spanish "Cuchi Cuchi Girl" Charo, who tells jokes, acts, sings, dances, and performs on a guitar.

Charo

1976

John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body poster
7.0

John Ritter shows off his comedic talent with a collection of comedy sketches.

John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body

1980

Divine Madness poster
6.4

Divine Madness is a 1980 concert film directed by Michael Ritchie, and featuring Bette Midler during her 1979 concert at Pasadena's Civic Auditorium. The 94-minute film features Midler's stand-up comedy routines as well as 16 songs, including "Big Noise From Winnetka," "Paradise," "Shiver Me Timbers," "Fire Down Below," "Stay With Me," "My Mother’s Eyes," "Chapel of Love/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Do You Want to Dance," "You Can’t Always Get What You Want/I Shall Be Released", "The E-Street Shuffle/Summer (The First Time)/"Leader of the Pack" and "The Rose".

Divine Madness

1980

For Our Children poster
7.7

Benefit concert with an incredible group of stars and musicians.

For Our Children

1993

Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On poster
8.0

Filled with plenty of girls and gags and an enchanting repertoire of her greatest hits, The Showgirl Must Go On was a concert residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that starred pop diva Bette Midler. Showgirl premiered on February 20, 2008 and closed on January 31, 2010. Midler signed for 300 shows from 2008 to 2010 at a pace of 100 performances a year. Shows were presented five nights a week with the house dark on Mondays and Thursdays. On December 31, 2010, The Showgirl Must Go On was broadcast on HBO channels at 9 pm. The 70 minute special contained some of the performances from the 2 hour long show.

Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On

2010

The Ice Capades with Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano poster
NR

A special featuring celebrity guest stars and championship ice skaters from the United States and the Soviet Union. Notable for the Mario Ice Capades segment.

The Ice Capades with Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano

1989

Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back poster
8.5

In 1977, Bette Midler's first television special premiered, featuring guest stars Dustin Hoffman and Emmett Kelly. It went on to win Bette her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Special — Comedy-Variety or Music. To make the show palatable to home viewers, the special featured heavily cleaned up versions of the material Midler was performing at that time on stage. The title of the show, Ol' Red Hair is Back, was a takeoff on the title of Frank Sinatra's recent album Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back.

Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back

1977

Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas poster
7.8

Diva Las Vegas was a show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas starring Bette Midler performing as singer and comedian. The one-time performance was filmed for television; HBO released it as a TV special originally broadcast on January 18, 1997 and repeated on February 2, 1997. Midler won the 1997 Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for the special. Among the songs performed were The Rose, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, From A Distance, Friends, Wind Beneath My Wings, Stay With Me and Do You Want To Dance?. Bette's daughter Sophie von Haselberg appeared for a short time during the song "Ukulele Lady". She sat with the rest of the cast and musicians on stage playing a ukulele and singing the words.

Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas

1997

The Barry Manilow Special poster
8.3

Join Barry "live" on-stage at Ravinia Music Festival in Chicago...and "live" on the streets of New York City with special guest star Penny Marshall. The special was broadcast to record-breaking ratings on ABC in 1977 when more than 34 million people tuned in to see Barry's first national TV showcase. At the 1977 Emmys, Manilow and the program won Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music.

The Barry Manilow Special

1977

Comic Relief VI poster
NR

A TV special to raise money for the homeless, hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams.

Comic Relief VI

1994

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special poster
5.6

A Halloween-themed television special starring Paul Lynde which aired only once on October 29, 1976 on ABC. It features guest stars including Margaret Hamilton (who reprises her role as the Wicked Witch of the West), Billie Hayes (as Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf), Tim Conway, Roz Kelly, Florence Henderson, rock band KISS, Billy Barty, Betty White and, in an unbilled surprise appearance, Donny and Marie Osmond.

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special

1976

The Bette Midler Show poster
9.5

The Bette Midler Show is a HBO Video special of one of Bette Midler's tours entitled 'The Depression Tour', The video is of her show at the Cleveland Music Hall during February 1976. the show features many of Bette's popular songs, such as "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "Friends", "In The Mood", "Hello In There", and "Lullaby of Broadway" As well as dazzling the audience with her spontaneous wit with her 'Wonderful Sophie Tucker Jokes' and her special 'The Vicki Eydie Show'

The Bette Midler Show

1976

Making the Yuletide Gay: A Very Special Paul Lynde Christmas poster
8.0

A fun take on the classic TV Christmas specials from the 60s, 70s and 80s - written by the show’s head writer, Emmy-winner, comedian and gay icon, Bruce Vilanch.

Making the Yuletide Gay: A Very Special Paul Lynde Christmas

2022

Gayracula poster
3.7

Count Drac is back - and this time he's sucking more than just necks! Count Gaylord stalks the streets of L.A. for the hunkiest victims to ever succumb to lust, as well as his enemy, the Marquis de Suede.

Gayracula

1983