Jim Nabors was one of Robert "Bobcat" Goldthwait's influences. "Both musically and comically," Goldthwait said during a phone interview from a production studio in Los Angeles. "No wait, I was kidding.
"Actually, I remember seeing George Carlin on 'Dinah Shore' when I was really young. I mean, here was this dirty old hippie who was so jarring but very funny. I liked that."
Goldthwait — who is famous for his shrill, whiny characters in the "Police Academy" movies and the demon Pain in Disney's "Hercules," such TV shows as "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "Married . . . With Children," "Hollywood Squares" and "Unhappily Ever After" — will perform, fittingly, on April 1, in Wiseguys at the Grizzly's Plaza, 3500 S. 2200 West. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door.
While it was Carlin who turned Goldthwait on to comedy, it was such other stand-ups as Andy Kaufman and Steve Martin who showed the young, impressionable teen that he could do the same thing.
"Actually, I liked Steve until he went insane and stopped doing his comedy."
Since debuting on "Late Nite with David Letterman" back in 1982, Goldthwait has done a lot of different things in show business — stand-up, movies, TV and directing. "If I had known how much fun directing was, I would have started that first," the comedian joked. "I really didn't have any goals for what I wanted to do with my life. I don't operate like that. But after working on (the 1991 film) 'Shakes the Clown,' I began to direct things here and there. I just got more interested."
Goldthwait has directed music videos for the Aquabats and Chopper One, and has directed episodes of "The Man Show" and "Strip Mall," as well as writing for syndicated programs such as "Unhappily Ever After," for which he voiced a stuffed bunny, and the "HBO Comedy Half Hour."
"I was fortunate to know people nice enough to let me direct a couple of things," Goldthwait said. "But I still like doing stand-up. So that's what I'll do. I'll go do stand-up on the weekends and direct during the week. It keeps me busy, but I can't complain."
Recently, Goldthwait became engaged to his "Unhappily Ever After" co-star Nikki Cox. (She currently stars in her own sitcom, "Nikki," on the WB.) "We haven't set a date yet," he said. "Well, actually, we've set a lot of dates and they've passed because we've been too busy with our own schedules to actually take the time to get married."
In nearly 20 years of show biz, Goldthwait said one thing stands out as a major accomplishment for himself. "A lot of freakin' flying miles. Actually, the fact that I am a somewhat healthy guy is one thing. The fact that I'm engaged and that my 14-year-old daughter lives with me are some other good things.
"I saw one of my friends whom I grew up with, and he just had his colon removed. I look at him and think to myself, I've no room to complain. I'm a very lucky guy to be doing what I'm doing and being able to do it."
While doing production and directing is something he'd like to pursue more passionately in the future, Goldthwait loves to do comedy. "I always keep mental notes of what to talk about when I get on stage. It's an ongoing thing."
And the present state of comedy is right where it should be, according to Goldthwait. "A lot of comedians make me laugh. And I'm friends with some of them. I just finished a gig with Kevin Meaney and Robert Schimmel, and that was really enjoyable. They make me laugh on and off stage."
He's also been trying to find the right material to do a new comedy album. "I did one a few years ago. But I've been flirting with the idea right now. I don't want it to be a straight comedy album. I want to have skits throughout."
Goldthwait would like to see himself directing more in the future. "Maybe some big features will come my way."
But until then, he's happy to have a role in the upcoming Johnny Depp film 'Blow,' which will hit the big screen Friday, April 6, to be directing "The Man Show" episodes and doing stand-up.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com