Ritch Shydner
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December 3, 1952
Ritch Shydner | |
|---|---|
 Shydner in 1989 | |
| Born | Ritchie A. Shidner December 3, 1952 Pennsville, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Medium | Stand-up, writing, television, film |
| Genres | Improvisational comedy, observational comedy |
| Website | www |
Ritchie A. "Ritch" Shydner (born December 3, 1952) is an American stand-up comedian, comedy writer and actor.[1][2][3][4]
Shydner was born in the small town of Pennsville Township, New Jersey, and attended Pennsville Memorial High School.[5] He studied business and sociology at Gettysburg College, where he and sidekick, Camillo "Mad-Dog" Melchiorre, wrote, produced and starred in comedy skits for parents' weekends and fraternity events. Carmen "Honest-Abe" Volpecelli and Pluto "Fenderhead" Dombrosky also contributed to their "Used Car Salesman" skit. After graduation, Shydner was a substitute teacher in Pennsville, and managed a band. He began to work for a congressman, which sparked his interest in law school. As a student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, he decided to become a stand-up comedian. He began writing, and sent material to Mad magazine and National Lampoon, but found little success. Shortly thereafter, Shydner started performing stand-up comedy.
In the mid-1970s, Shydner went to open mic nights at local coffeehouses, and began opening for bands in Washington, D.C. and New York City. In 1982, he brought his act to Los Angeles. Slowly he started getting called in to audition for casting directors. Shydner studied acting for about four years and landed a regular role on Married... with Children.[6]