STARS WITH TIES TO MISSOURI
CATCHING UP WITH
COMEDIAN BILL CHOTT
St. Louis native Bill Chott currently appears opposite
Lauren Holly in the film, Marshall The Miracle Dog. He
can be seen in The Rum Diary with Johnny Depp, and
appeared regularly in the Disney hit show, Wizards of
W
averly Place. He has a successful career in Hollywood
and owns an “improv” school in St. Louis. He
attended Central Methodist University and trained in
improvisation at The Second City, where he worked with
such comedy powerhouses as Tina Fey, Steve Carell and
Stephen Colbert, among many others.
Bill starred on The Dana Carvey Show, does cartoon
voices on PBS, Saturday Night Live and in film, appeared
in Galaxy Quest, Dude Where’s My Car, and he was a lead
role as Thomas, the Special Olympian who brings home
the bronze in the Farrelly brothers’ film, The Ringer.
His family friendly humor is infused with a twisted dark side
that shows you can play clean and still be very, very disturbed.
Gazelle: Who’s the best actor you’ve worked with?
Bill: The best actor I’ve worked with so far has been
Selena Gomez. She was able to keep her work very subtle
and realistic even on a network that prefers its actors to
“go big” and exaggerate reality. She has a very human
appeal, and I think that’s the most important thing about
being an actor.
Gazelle: What is your most memorable career moment?
Bill: The opening of the film, The Ringer, and the
shooting of the film itself. Tim Shriver, head of Special
Olympics, asked me how the process was different
from other films I had worked on. Most of the extras on
the film were actual Special Olympians. I told him the
main difference was this was the first film I worked on
where I got 20 hugs a day. I had never been to a movie
premiere, so it was exciting just on that level. I was also
excited to be in the cast and walk the red carpet. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s and Maria Shriver’s kids came up
to me and asked for my autograph. I was blown away.
“Look who your parents are, and you’re asking for MY
autograph.” That was cute and pretty sweet.
Gazelle: Who’s your celebrity crush?
Bill: I don’t have a real crush on any celebrity, but I did
have a bit of a “bro-crush” on Bruce Willis when I met
him years ago when I was touring with The Second City.
He came to see our show, and he brought the whole cast
out for drinks at his club in Sun Valley, Idaho. I was star
struck and couldn’t think of a thing to say.
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Bill sporting apparel from local company, St. Lu Clothing Company.
Order your own St. Lu shirt and cap at stluclothing.com.
Gazelle: Do you have a favorite St. Louis restaurant?
Bill: That’s tough. I love the brunch at Bevo Mill, and
I love the lunch buffet at Mangia Italiano. Best fried
pickles in town is at Hammerstone’s.
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY