# Mitch Rouse

Edward Mitchell "Mitch" Rouse (born August 6, 1964) is an American film and television actor, director, and screenwriter. He is known for co-creating Comedy Central's Exit 57 (1995–1996) and Strangers with Candy (1999–2000), with fellow The Second City alumni Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris. In 2008 he created and starred in Spike TV's comedy series Factory.

## Early life

Rouse was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He played football at Oak Ridge High School, where he graduated in 1983. He attended the University of Tennessee, then developed an interest in acting.

## Career

Rouse studied acting in Atlanta and later, improvisation in Chicago, where he became involved with improv guru Del Close and Chicago's Second City Theatre where he met long-time friend David Pasquesi and future collaborators Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. After writing and performing in a number of Second City productions, Rouse, Dinello and Sedaris moved to New York City where they put on a play titled Stitches, which they performed Off-Broadway at LaMama theater.

### Television

In 1995, with Sedaris, Dinello, and fellow Second City alumn, Stephen Colbert, he co-created and starred in Comedy Central's sketch show Exit 57. The show aired through 1996. Although it lasted only 12 episodes, the show received favorable reviews and was nominated for five CableACE Awards in 1995, in categories including best writing, performance, and comedy series.
After the show was cancelled, Rouse and Sedaris had developed another pitch, which Sedaris described as "something based on after-school specials" inspired by shows like The Brady Bunch. They presented it first to MTV, as Rouse knew someone there; while his friend loved it, they were told the channel would not go for it. Later Dinello and Colbert joined them, and Comedy Central picked it up. Strangers with Candy ran from 1999 to 2000 for three seasons
Rouse has further appeared on episodes of Reno 911!, Home Improvement, Still Standing, The Norm Show and Lost at Home. He appeared in seasons 4–6 of the sitcom According to Jim as Ryan Gibson, Dana's fiancee and later husband. Rouse also voiced Round John Virgin and Comet in the Holiday movie Olive, the Other Reindeer.
Rouse created and starred in Spike TV's 2008 comedy series Factory.
In 2013, Rouse played Eddie, the lead character in a single episode of the television series Call Me Crazy: A Five Film.

### Film

Rouse appeared in several feature films, including Austin Powers, Friends with Money, Rudy, and The Heartbreak Kid. His most prominent screen appearance as an actor was playing the leading role opposite Janeane Garofalo in 1997's Sweethearts. He directed and co-wrote the movie Employee of the Month starring Matt Dillon, Steve Zahn, Christina Applegate, and Andrea Bendewald as well as co-wrote Without a Paddle, starring Seth Green and Dax Shepard.

## Personal life

In 2001, he married actress Andrea Bendewald in Malibu, California. The couple met while performing on the sitcom The Secret Lives of Men. Jennifer Aniston was the matron of honor at their wedding on August 19, 2001. He has two children, one son and one daughter.