Ray Ellin
Ray Ellin was thrown out of nursery school for biting the other kids. He is also a comic, television host, actor, writer and filmmaker.
After performing at his 6th grade graduation, Ray knew what he wanted to do with his life: comedy. By age fifteen, he began hitting the open mics at comedy clubs in Boston.
By 18, he was a fixture on the local scene. While attending Boston University, Ray continued to do standup. After graduating as a film major, Ray moved to New York City. He bounced around apartments. When rent money was tight, he lived in his 1976 Dodge Aspen - not the most spacious living accommodations, and no plumbing, but cheap.
To make ends meet Ray temped. He tended bar. He sold postal uniforms to letter carriers. Measuring a mailman's inseam wasn't exactly his dream job, but he was good at it.
All along, Ray continued to perform. He hosted shows at some of New York's top clubs: Comic Strip Live, Gotham, Comedy Cellar. Known for his ability to ad-lib and improvise with any crowd, Ray became one of New York's most sought-after hosts. Honored as one of the Ten Standout Stand-Ups Worth Watching by Back Stage magazine, Ray has performed at hundreds of clubs and colleges around the country. He also served as TBS emcee at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival.
Ray began booking television commercials, appearing in spots for Coke, Volkswagen and Bud Light. He eventually won the role as host of Metro channel's New York Now, where he interviewed celebrities from Michael Douglas to Russell Simmons to Katarina Witt to former NYC mayor Ed Koch. Ray's duties included everything from in-studio and live remote broadcasts to scripting segments and production.
Ray has made many television appearances, and has been profiled on the NBC show "Dateline." As an actor, he has had several roles, including co-starring in the romantic comedy Killing Cinderella, where he played Jessica Capshaw's conservative boyfriend.
In 2000, Ray was hired to co-create and produce the animated series La Familia starring John Leguizamo. He also co-created and produced the highly successful Jack Daniel's Latino Comedy Series, a 13-week event in New York City that ran in other US cities including Chicago and Miami.
Ray decided to put his college degree to use and make a film. Profiling the top three Latin comics in the country, Ray executive produced and directed the movie The Latin Legends of Comedy. He wanted to make a film that would celebrate the early Latin comics who were so influential but didn't get their due.
Ray financed the movie using six credit cards and the gamble paid off: after only his third showing at a film festival, he received his first studio offer to purchase the movie. More offers followed and Ray sold his film to Twentieth Century Fox. The movie also received the Best Documentary Award at the Boston International Film Festival. The film finished third at the box office (per-screen average) and is now on dvd. A live national stand-up tour is currently in production.
Ray has always loved the late-night tv format. He is the creator/producer and host of LateNet with Ray Ellin, the first comedy/variety show to combine both an in-studio and a live, interactive online audience.
"LateNet" features A-List celebrities, top comedians, and musical guests, including Hank Azaria, Chevy Chase, Leonard Nimoy, Fran Drescher, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Richard Belzer, Paul Shaffer, Gilbert Gottfried, Artie Lange, Amy Sedaris, and many more.
"LateNet's" official home on the web is DailyComedy.com, the website Ray founded in the hopes of giving comedians a great outlet to showcase themselves, and for comedy fans to get some laughs.
Ray is also the host of and writer for the new cable shows "The Movie Loft," "Premium TV," and "BrainFuelTV."
Ray lives in New York, has two older sisters, has no tolerance for women who don't eat on dates, and likes Barry Manilow.
And he can still get a good deal on a pair of postal pants.
