Larry Sanders

Grew up… far from Hollywood, which may be why he’s still not used to the rules of celebrity life. Larry is a Minnesota boy at heart, despite his current, spoiled show-business lifestyle.

Living… in the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles. Larry has been in the business for decades, but he still acts like an outsider in Hollywood. That’s a trait that plays very well in his show’s monologues, enabling Middle America to laugh at the media capitals. “Sonny Bono did not get elected to a Senate seat here in California,” he tells his audience one night. “That’s when you know you live in California, when you look on the ballot and Sonny Bono is running for a Senate seat.”

Profession… comedian and talk show host. Larry struggled his way to the top, and all he has to show for it is a ton of anxiety and more stress than he could have imagined. O.K., plus wealth and fame. But mostly stress.

Interests… himself and his career. Larry, to the supreme displeasure of his wife, ends every day by watching his own show in bed. He can only focus on his own problems, which he often pawns off on his producer Artie to deal with.

Relationship Status… married, again. Larry is currently in the middle of his second marriage, but love in Hollywood tends to be fleeting.

Challenge… keeping his television show on the air. Larry is determined to do whatever it takes to satisfy his network and his sponsors. His non-confrontational personality means that he’d rather deploy his attack-dog of a producer, Artie, to do his dirty work.

Personality… self-deprecating, insecure, neurotic, and witty. Larry prefers to mask his anxieties by covering them up with jokes. Here’s one: “The only reason I’m not running for president this year, I swear to God, is I’m afraid no woman would come forward to say she had sex with me.”