Actor/comedian Stephen Rannazzisi got his first taste of television success in 2003 as one of the smart-ass cast members on MTV’s Punk’d. After being recognized onstage by Ashton Kutcher at the Comedy Store in West Hollywood, Stephen was quickly signed up for the show. Since then, he has continued to make audiences laugh in television, feature films and on comedy stages across the country.

Stephen grew up in Long Island and majored in Theater and Film at the State University of New York at Purchase. After graduation and a short-lived desk job in the World Trade Center, Stephen left the big apple and moved out to Los Angeles to pursue his dream career in entertainment.

Upon arrival, his first job was as a doorman at the world-famous Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. It was there that he honed his skills amongst some of the most prolific comics in the business, such as Eddie Griffin, Joe Rogan and Andrew Dice Clay. He also worked hard on his character acting and improvisational skills with The Groundlings school and comedy troupe.

After his success on Punk’d, Stephen was made a series regular on ABC’s Big Day, which chronicled all the hilarious happenings of a couple’s wedding. He played the wisecracking bestman, ‘Skobo.’ After that, Stephen was cast yet again by ABC as a lead opposite Heather Locklear in See Jayne Run. He was also seen opposite Eddie Murphy and Thomas Hayden Church in the Paramount feature film Imagine That as “Kulik,” the level-headed partner in the financial investment firm where Eddie Murphy worked. He is also recognizable from Sony Pictures’ blockbuster comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop, where he played “Stuart,” the manager of the pen store in a mall that gets taken over in a robbery heist.

In addition to performing stand-up, Stephen’s credits include guest-starring roles in the FOX series Kitchen Confidential, HBO’s Sex and the City, and NBC’s Third Watch. Stephen has also performed on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, and appeared in the feature films, Summer of Sam and For Your Consideration.