Nick Kroll is a versatile American actor, comedian, writer, and producer who has become a defining voice in modern comedy through his distinctive character work, animated series, and sharp observational humor. Born Nicholas Kroll on June 5, 1978, in New York City, he grew up in Rye, New York, in a family that valued education and creativity; his father was a prominent ophthalmologist and his mother a homemaker. Kroll attended Georgetown University, where he studied English and theater, and later honed his comedic instincts at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York, performing improv and sketch comedy alongside future collaborators like John Mulaney and Jenny Slate.
Kroll’s early career included writing and performing on the sketch series The Sarah Silverman Program and landing a recurring role on the FX comedy The League, where he played the hilariously arrogant and clueless Rodney Ruxin from 2009 to 2015. This role helped establish his reputation for playing over-the-top, narcissistic characters. He soon created and starred in his own Comedy Central sketch series, Kroll Show (2013–2015), which showcased a wide array of original characters including the foul-mouthed Bobby Bottleservice and the elderly El Chupacabra. The show earned critical acclaim for its absurdist humor and Kroll’s ability to inhabit multiple personas, cementing his status as a leading sketch comedian.
Kroll’s film career expanded significantly during this period, with supporting roles in comedies such as I Love You, Man, Get Him to the Greek, Vacation, and the animated hit Sausage Party, where he voiced multiple characters. He also appeared in Sing and its sequel Sing 2, as well as Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and The Secret Life of Pets 2. In 2017, he co-created the groundbreaking animated Netflix series Big Mouth alongside Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett; the show, which explores the awkwardness of puberty with unflinching honesty and surreal humor, became a massive hit, earning multiple Emmy nominations and a dedicated fan base. Kroll voices several characters on the series, including the hormonally charged monster Maurice the Hormone Monster and the eccentric Andrew Glouberman.
Beyond Big Mouth, Kroll extended his animated universe with the Netflix spin-off Human Resources (2022–2023) and the upcoming series Mating Season (2026), both co-created with his Big Mouth collaborators. He also executive produced and appeared in the Hulu sketch series History of the World, Part II, a follow-up to Mel Brooks’s classic film. In live-action, Kroll starred in the comedy The House alongside Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, and took on a rare dramatic role in How It Ends. He continued his voice work in The Bob’s Burgers Movie and appeared in the holiday action film Red One in 2024, as well as the animated adventure Smurfs in 2025.
Kroll has been in a long-term relationship with writer and actress Lily Kwong, with whom he shares a child. He remains active in the comedy community, frequently performing stand-up and collaborating with friends like John Mulaney and Jason Mantzoukas. With a career defined by fearless character work, inventive storytelling, and a willingness to tackle uncomfortable topics with humor, Nick Kroll has established himself as one of the most influential comedic voices of his generation, continuing to push boundaries across television, film, and streaming platforms.