Change Begins Within

14th Annual David Lynch Foundation
Benefit and Awards Dinner

Starring

Jerry Seinfeld

JerrySeinfeld

Entertainment icon Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television: Seinfeld. The show ran on NBC for nine seasons, winning numerous Emmy, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice awards, and was named the greatest television show of all time in 2009 by TV Guide. In 2012 Seinfeld was also identified as the best sitcom ever in a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll.

Seinfeld has also starred in, written, and produced movies (Comedian, Bee Movie), directed and produced a Broadway hit (Colin Quinn Long Story Short), and wrote a best-selling book (Seinlanguage) and a children’s book (Halloween). Seinfeld directed the off-Broadway production of Colin Quinn: The New York Story and the Netflix stand-up special. His latest project is the Emmy-nominated and critically-acclaimed series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which has garnered over 100 million views, and which the New York Times describes as “impressively complex and artful” and Variety calls “a game changer.” Seinfeld resides in New York City with his wife and three children. He remains active as a standup comedy performer, continuously touring both nationally and internationally.

John Mulaney

JohnMulaney

John Mulaney is a comedian and an Emmy Award-winning writer. He has spent the past year touring the United States with his most recent show, Kid Gorgeous, which was released as a Netflix special in May 2018 and nominated for an Emmy. A former member of the Saturday Night Live writing team, he returned to SNL in Season 43 to host the April 14, 2018, episode. John starred in the Broadway hit, Oh, Hello on Broadway alongside Nick Kroll. In 2015 Mulaney released his third hour-long stand up special,a Netflix Original titled The Comeback Kid, which the AV Club called “his best hour of his career.”

Mulaney began his career in New York’s East Village and has since toured around the world. In 2008, he began writing at Saturday Night Live, where he appeared as a Weekend Update correspondent and co-created such characters as Stefon with Bill Hader. He currently writes for IFC’s Documentary Now and for Netflix’s Big Mouth, on which he voices the character of Andrew. Mulaney’s first comedy album, The Top Part, was released in 2009. He released his second Comedy Central special and album, New In Town, in 2012, which reviewer Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly hailed Mulaney as “one of the best stand-up comics alive.” He lives bi-coastally with his wife and his dog, Petunia.

Mike Birbiglia

MikeBirbiglia

Mike Birbiglia is a comedian and storyteller who has performed in front of audiences worldwide, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall. His most recent shows, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend and Thank God for Jokes, were both filmed for Netflix. Mike has released four albums for Comedy Central Records, including My Secret Public Journal Live, which was named one of the “Best Comedy Albums of the Decade” by The Onion AV Club. In addition to performing live, Birbiglia is an author and filmmaker who wrote, directed, and starred in the acclaimed films Sleepwalk with Me and Don’t Think Twice. His book, Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories, was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Thurber Prize For American Humor. As an actor, Birbiglia has appeared on Orange is the New Black, Inside Amy Schumer, and Girls as well as in the films Trainwreck, The Fault in Our Stars, and Popstar. Birbiglia currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife Jen.

Vanessa Bayer

VanessaBayer

Vanessa Bayer is an Emmy-nominated actress and comedian, known for her seven seasons on Saturday Night Live, as well as her roles in films such as Trainwreck, Office Christmas Party, and most recently, Netflix’s Ibiza.

Host

Steve Higgins

SteveHiggins

Steve Higgins is the announcer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he introduces guests and sketches, participates in celebrity games, and takes on memorable roles in the show’s celebrated Digital Originals. He was previously the announcer for the entire run of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Higgins is also a longtime producer and writer for Saturday Night Live. His work on SNL episodes and specials has garnered 4 Emmy Awards and 30 additional nominations. Additionally, he has received six Writers Guild Awards and 11 nominations, as well as two Peabody Awards. He is also Emmy-nominated for his contribution to the 2009 ESPY Awards.

Higgins was previously a writer, producer and cast member for the comedy show The Higgins Boys and Gruber, a cable television show that aired weekday afternoons on The Comedy Channel from 1989 to 1991. He was also the head writer for The Jon Stewart Show from 1993 to 1995.

Higgins lives in New Jersey with his family.