Craig Cackowski

Craig Cackowski

Craig Cackowski is a highly respected American actor, improviser, and teacher, known for his extensive work in both television and film, as well as his significant contributions to the world of improvisational comedy.Born on October 3, 1969, in Virginia, USA, Cackowski has built a career characterized by a versatile range of roles and a deep commitment to the art of improv. He has been a prominent figure in the improv scene since the early 1990s, having worked with renowned theaters like The Second City in Chicago and iO (formerly ImprovOlympic) in both Chicago and Los Angeles. At The Second City, he was a resident company member for five revues and also appeared as Scrooge in their holiday show "Twist Your Dickens." He is a three-time winner of the Del Close Award as Teacher of the Year at iO West.Cackowski is particularly well-known for his long-form improv work, having performed with the three-man troupe Dasariski (with Bob Dassie and Rich Talarico) and the duo Orange Tuxedo (with his wife, Carla Cackowski), with whom he tours nationally and internationally. He also helped create improv forms such as JTS Brown and Close Quarters.On screen, Cackowski has appeared in numerous popular television shows and films. Some of his notable TV roles include a series regular on "Drunk History," Cliff in "Veep," Officer Cackowski in "Community," and appearances in "How I Met Your Mother," "Arrested Development," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Mindy Project," "Bajillion Dollar Propertie$," "The Sex Lives of College Girls," "History of the World, Part II," and "Hysteria!". His film credits include "Wine Country," "The Kings of Summer," "21 & Over," "Year of the Dog," and "Magazine Dreams."Beyond performing, Cackowski is also a dedicated improv teacher, currently teaching at WGIS (World's Greatest Improv School) and having taught for iO Chicago and iO West since 1995. He is also a familiar voice on podcasts such as "The Thrilling Adventure Hour," "Spontaneanation," and his own podcast, "Craig's List."

Person History