The comedian who once set a talk show chair on fire

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known for an energetic persona and a distinctive, high-pitched raspy voice, Bobcat Goldthwait has built a career on unsettling black comedy. From performing with Nirvana to becoming a regular radio panelist, his career is defined by a refusal to play it safe, even when it leads to legal trouble.

Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait has become a staple of American comedy, recognized for a unique brand of political satire and bizarre black humor. His career spans stand-up, acting, and directing, including notable films like the 1991 dark comedy Shakes the Clown, which served as a satire of the dysfunctional stand-up circuit. His early work includes the 1985 HBO series Apt. 2C. He also co-wrote his first two comedy specials alongside Martin Olson.

Goldthwait's reputation for unpredictability was cemented by several high-profile television incidents. During an April 1994 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, he protested the programme's cancellation by throwing gear and spray-painting "Paramount Sucks" onto a glass partition. Only a few days later, on May 9, 1994, he used lighter fluid to momentarily set the guest chair ablaze on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This made him the first guest in the show's history to be charged with a crime for his actions, resulting in a $2,700 fine and a requirement to film public-service announcements regarding fire safety. His unpredictable antics even inspired a MadTV parody about fire safety. These incidents were later used as the plot for an episode of The Larry Sanders Show.

Beyond the stage, Goldthwait has been a prolific voice actor, providing voices for series such as Hercules and the Skylanders video game franchise, where he voices the character Pop Fizz. Since 2012, he has also been a regular panelist on the NPR radio-quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!. He also provided voices for various animated projects like Capitol Critters and The Moxy Show. Additionally, he has hosted his own comedy quiz show titled Bobcat's Big Ass Show.

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