Bruce Vilanch – Making it as Jokesmith of the Entertainment World
Bruce Gerald Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter, and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award winner.
Vilanch is best known to the public for his four-year stint as a celebrity participant on Hollywood Squares while working behind the scenes as a head writer for the show. In 2000, he performed off-Broadway in his self-penned one-man show, Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous.
Since 2000, Vilanch has been the head writer for the Oscars, after being an Oscar program co-writer for the previous ten years. He is also a featured writer for the Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys.
Vilanch was the subject of the documentary Get Bruce! The film included interviews with Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg. Vilanch’s mother, whom he credits with developing his sense of humor, also appeared in the documentary.