Stephen Guarino
Guarino is originally from Orlando, Florida and was a member of SAK Comedy Lab. He graduated from Florida State University as well as The Public Theater's Shakespeare program. After appearing in numerous Off-Broadway productions, Guarino was a co-creator of the Off-Broadway improv musical "The Nuclear Family" with fellow members Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio, and Matthew Loren Cohen. Guarino was later cast on "The Big Gay Sketch Show" in 2005. After the success of "The Big Gay Sketch Show", he appeared on television shows including "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" as well as the films "Confessions of a Shopaholic", the "BearCity" franchise", a"nd "I Hate Valentine's Day" In 2011, he moved to Los Angeles after receiving a talent deal from CBS. His first breakout role was on "Happy Endings" where he played Penny Hartz's (Casey Wilson) over-the-top friend Derrick for three seasons. He also appeared on "The Wedding Bells", "Til Death", "The Neighbors", "The Comeback", "Marry Me", "Finding Carter", "Jessie", "Sofia the First", "Superior Donuts", "2 Broke Girls". He played Connor on ABC's "Dr. Ken", Quincy on Netflix's "EastSiders ("Daytime Emmy nomination")", and Sully Patterson on Jim Carrey's Showtime drama "I'm Dying Up Here". He has done three network pilots with James Burrows including "Me & Mean Margaret, Relatively Happy"", and Superior Donuts."
Guarino is appearing in Logan Paul's feature "Airplane Mode ("2019). Guarino is the director of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase in Los Angeles (2017–present). Notable alumni include Tiffany Haddish, Kate McKinnon, Fortune Feimster, Justin Hires, Nicole Byer, Nasim Pedrad, John Milhiser. He previously directed Kate McKinnon's one-woman show "Best Actress" at the Upright Citizens Brigade. He directed "Showgirls: Live in Drag" starring RuPaul's Drag Race stars Willam Belli, Detox Icunt, and Vicky Vox. In 2015, Guarino co-produced and co-wrote a CBS sketch comedy pilot called "The Night Crew" with Michael Serrato, Steven Borzachillo, Mark Hurtado, and Ryan Noggle David Burtka, and Neil Patrick Harris starring himself Tiffany Haddish, Fortune Feimster, Jimmy Ray Bennett, and Nico Santos. Guarino is openly gay.
Career
In 2018, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role as "Quincy" in the Netflix series "EastSiders." He also received the Outfest Best Actor award for his role in the feature film "BearCity".