Mitch Rouse

Mitch Rouse is a prolific writer, director and actor who has worked in theater, TV and film. A veteran in the world of improvisation, Rouse grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, home of the atomic bomb. After a short stint in college, almost two months, he dropped out and moved to Chicago, where he studied improvisation under the late, great Del Close. During this time Mitch was asked to join Chicago's famed, Second City Theatre, (John Belushi, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Tina Fey) where he wrote and performed several shows.

Rouse then moved to New York, to perform in the David Sedaris play, "Stiches", at La Mama Theatre. It was in while in New York, that Mitch teamed up with Second City alum,Stephen Colbert, to create and star in "Exit 57", Comedy Central's first original half-hour, sketch comedy series. "Exit 57" ran for two seasons and received five Cable Ace Award nominations, including Best Actor (Rouse) and Best Writing for a comedy series.

Rouse is also well-known for creating and appearing in the cult-hit "Strangers with Candy", the comedy network's first half-hour, scripted series, which also went on to become a feature film. He has written, directed and starred in numerous shorts, including "You Told Her What?" (1990), "The Ad Man" (1990), Wheels of Fury (1998) and "End of the Date" (1990).

Other television appearances include "Reno 911!", "Spin City" and "The Secret Lives of Men". He has appeared in hit feature films, including Rudy, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Friends with Money, and the Farrelly Brother's The Heartbreak Kid.

Rouse wrote Employee of the Month (Bull's Eye Entertainment) while starring in the ABC sitcom "Lost at Home" (2003). Rouse also directed Employee of the Month (2004), which stars Matt Dillon, Steve Zahn and Christina Applegate. "Employee" premiered at The Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and it has since become a cult classic. He also wrote Paramount Pictures summer comedy Without a Paddle, starring Seth Green, Dax Shepard and Burt Reynolds.

While appearing on ABC's hit sitcom "According to Jim", Mitch created, wrote and directed Spike TV's first foray into the comedy world, with the critically acclaimed "Factory" (2008), which Rouse starred in with longtime friend and fellow Second City member, David Pasquesi.