Illinois-born Jim Gaffigan got his start in comedy when a friend dared him to sign up for a stand-up seminar. The former ad man was instantly hooked, and honed his craft at open mic nights and clubs around New York before getting his big break on Late Night with David Letterman in '99. Gaffigan is now a huge draw, with audiences around the world adoring his observations on food, family, and laziness, and has boosted his public profile with a series of books and acting appearances in films like Away We Go and on TV series such as Bored To Death and Sex and the City.