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Tom Cotter | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cotter at Comics Come Home Event in 2013 | |
| Born | Thomas Cotter Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Denison University |
| Spouse | Kerri Louise |
| Children | 3 |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Medium | Stand-up |
| Website | tomcotter |
Thomas Cotter is an American comedian known for being the runner-up of theseventh season ofAmerica's Got Talent, losing toOlate Dogs.[1][2]
Cotter was raised in the East Side enclave ofProvidence, Rhode Island as the youngest of six children. His father, Dr. Walter C. Cotter (1923-2021), was aWorld War II navy veteran and later became a well-regarded neurosurgeon.[3] His mother, Barbara Cotter, was a homemaker and managed his father's medical office. Cotter attended theMoses Brown School in Providence, andDenison University for his undergraduate degree.[4]
Cotter is married toKerri Louise, who is also a stand-up comedian, and the two have three sons. They have worked together on different projects includingTwo Funny, a reality show onWomen's Entertainment network.[5]
He has appeared onThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno,The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson andLast Comic Standing.[6] In 2003, Cotter filmed his own half-hour special forComedy Central.[1] Cotter has won several comedy competitions. In 1994, he won Seattle's International Stand-Up Comedy Competition.[1] He gained his first success in the Boston comedy scene, where he is still a favorite, and also won the grand prize at the Boston Comedy Festival and was voted Best Stand-Up at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival.[6] Additionally, Cotter has worked in film, theatre, and television productions and, as of 2012, he was working on an idea for a book.[1]
In 2012, Cotter appeared onseason 7 of NBC'sAmerica's Got Talent. He was given a pass toLas Vegas by the show's three judges. He further advanced to the top 48 (quarterfinals) to perform in the live episodes inNewark, New Jersey.[2] On July 10, 2012, he performed a stand-up routine making fun of common clichés and phrases and advanced to the semi-finals. On August 28, 2012, he presented the judges with a list of subjects and asked judgeHowie Mandel to pick one. Mandel picked "College", and Cotter then gave a short comedy set on the subject of college and teenagers. He advanced to the final round of six and was the runner-up of the season. On August 21, 2013, Cotter returned to the show to perform on the results show of that night.[7]
