Matt Gourley

Matthew James Gourley was born and raised in Whittier, California, by his mother Welford.{{cite news |last1=Greiving |first1=Tim |title=How Conan O'Brien co-host Matt Gourley broke through the podcast clutter |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-11-27/matt-gourley-podcast-conan-obrien-pasadena |access-date=27 November 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=27 November 2023}}{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/matthew-rhys/ |title=Matthew Rhys |website=Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend |publisher=Earwolf |host=Conan O'Brien |date=December 27, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mattgourley/status/597498972530311171?lang=en|title=Matt Gourley on Twitter: "I'd like to sincerely say how much I love my mom, this Mother's Day. And sincerely say how much I love her strange first name. It's Welford." / Twitter|publisher=Twitter|date=May 10, 2015|last=Gourley|first=Matt|accessdate=February 10, 2020}} He grew up near Richard Nixon's childhood home.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/derek-waters-and-jeremy-konner-on-idrunk-historyis-102772|title=Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner on Drunk History's first four episodes|publisher=The A.V. Club|date=September 12, 2013|last=Eakin|first=Marah|accessdate=August 23, 2013}}

Gourley graduated from California State University, Long Beach,{{cite news|url=http://www.daily49er.com/uncategorized/2009/06/24/four-comedians-hang-on-to-their-egos-with-popular-podcast|title=Four comedians hang on to their egos with popular podcast|publisher=Daily 49er|date=June 24, 2009|last=Oyama|first=Jonathan|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} with a bachelor's degree in technical theater and an MFA in performance.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedysportzla.com/performers/MattGourley.html|title=matt gourley|publisher=ComedySportz|accessdate=August 23, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080903/http://www.comedysportzla.com/performers/MattGourley.html|archivedate=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite video|date=September 24, 2009|title=Full interview with co-creator of Superego comedy podcast|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmJMSvFr6qc|format=Youtube|medium=Video interview|language=English|publisher=Video 49er|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}

Gourley has acted in, directed, and worked on the technical side of productions in the Los Angeles area since the early 1990s, including as Curly in Of Mice and Men,{{Cite podcast |url=http://iwastheretoo.wolfpop.com/audio/20144/there-will-be-blood-with-paul-f-tompkins |title=There Will Be Blood with Paul F. Tompkins - I Was There Too |publisher=Wolfpop |host=Matt Gourley |date=November 3, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2015}} Antipholus in The Comedy of Errors,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-09-ca-40382-story.html|title='Errors' Gets Plenty Right in Sight Gags|date=March 9, 1995|last=McCulloh|first=T.H.|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 22, 2015}} Dogberry's henchman in Much Ado About Nothing,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-27-ca-50454-story.html|title=THEATER REVIEW : Relocated 'Ado' Earns Its Stripes|date=September 27, 1995|work=Los Angeles Times|last=McCulloh|first=T.H.|access-date=August 23, 2015}} Orville in The Doctor In Spite of Himself,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-08-ca-62376-story.html|title=Moliere's 'Doctor' Suffers as Musical|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 8, 1996|last=Monji|first=Jana|access-date=August 23, 2015}} Hal in Loot,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-05-ca-15461-story.html|title=Uneven 'Loot' Has an Evergreen Theme: Greed|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 5, 2000|last=Shirley|first=Don|access-date=August 23, 2015}} Brindsley in Black Comedy,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-26-et-shirley26-story.html|title=Stock 'Black Comedy' Furnishes Few Laughs|date=February 26, 2002|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Shirley|first=Don|access-date=August 23, 2015}} the director of Tooth and Nail at the Little Fish Theatre,{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettes.com/story-about-illness-family-explored-in-tooth-and-nail/article_f8b7a9ab-01c5-51d8-a263-6ad1cca63638.html|title=Story About Illness, Family Explored In "Tooth And Nail"|publisher=Gazettes|date=May 19, 2010|last=Scarborough|first=James|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} and as a set/lighting designer on The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettes.com/students-tackle-abridged-shakespeare/article_09bd3428-bc26-58d9-ad3c-bbf51433745c.html|title=Students Tackle Abridged Shakespeare|date=July 28, 2010|publisher=Gazettes|last=Gottlieb|first=Shirle|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Gourley did video work and set design for multiple productions of Fellowship!.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-10-et-fellowship10-story.html|title='Fellowship' parody rings with laughter, inside jokes|date=December 10, 2004|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Foley|first=F. Kathleen|access-date=August 23, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://tolucantimes.info/theatre_review/two-totally-opposite-productions-to-talk-about-this-time%E2%80%A6/|title=Two totally opposite productions to talk about this time...|date=June 10, 2009|last=Taylor|first=Pat|publisher=The Tolucan Times|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-10-et-fellowship10-story.html|title=Theater Review|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 10, 2009|last=Nichols|first=David C.|access-date=August 23, 2015}}

Gourley began performing with ComedySportz in Los Angeles during elementary school.{{cite web|url=http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2015/05/17/carterisms-the-story-of-superego-pt-1-a-weed-infused-origin-story/|title=CARTERISMS: The Story of Superego, Pt. 1 — A Weed-Infused Origin Story|publisher=KQED|last=Carter|first=Jeremy|date=May 17, 2015|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} He met Jeremy Carter at a ComedySportz tournament in San Jose in the mid-90s.{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/07/talking-to-the-guys-behind-the-podcast-superego-about-their-new-country-rock-album/|title=Talking to the Guys Behind the Podcast 'Superego' About Their New Country-Rock Album|website=SplitSider.com|date=July 2, 2013|last=Evans|first=Bradford|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} He spent years as an actor and improviser at various Disney theme parks along with Carter and Mark McConville, among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.yesterland.com/duh.html|title=D.U.H. Department of Untapped Hilarity at Yesterland|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nevernotnotes.com/?p=4991|title=15J - Park Hopping with Matt Gourley|publisher=Never Not Funny|date=October 24, 2014|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Gourley has also performed at Second City, ImprovOlympic, and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.{{cite web|url=http://www.earwolf.com/person/matt-gourley/|title=Matt Gourley on Earwolf|publisher=Earwolf|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}

Gourley has taught theater and improvisation at Riverside City College,{{cite web|url=http://www.rcc.edu/departments/performingarts/theatre/Pages/Faculty.aspx|title=Faculty|publisher=River City College|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Long Beach City College,{{cite web|url=http://www.lbcc.edu/tdf/TheatreStaff.cfm|title=Theatre Faculty & Staff|publisher=Long Beach City College|accessdate=August 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915072520/http://www.lbcc.edu/tdf/TheatreStaff.cfm|archive-date=September 15, 2015|url-status=dead}} and College of the Canyons.{{cite web|url=https://www.canyons.edu/Departments/THEATR/Pages/faculty.aspx|title=Theatre Department - Faculty|publisher=College of the Canyons|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.canyons.edu/Offices/PIO/Pages/nr051914comedians.aspx|title=Comedians of the Canyons to Host Evening of Improv May 30|date=May 19, 2014}} He has also led workshops on Shakespearean improv at the Fracas! Improv Festival.

Gourley and Carter were founding contributors to Channel 101, producing and starring in the "retro futuristic action spectacular" Ultraforce. Ultraforce lasted three episodes and also featured Derek Mears, Jeff B. Davis, and Chris Tallman.

Gourley appeared in the late 90s on Kwik Witz, an Improvisational comedy program on NBC. At this time, he was one of the "mileage mules" employed by Steve Belkin, one of Kwik Witz' producers who later became a travel entrepreneur.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fltimes.com/matt-gourley-helped-an-nbc-producer-scam-airlines-conan-obrien-needs-a-friend/video_06a56dee-3cfc-52e6-ae36-b2f450117db3.html|title=Matt Gourley Helped An NBC Producer Scam Airlines | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend|date=September 5, 2024|website=Finger Lakes Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/mileage-maniac-steve-belkin-frequent-flier-miles/index.html|title=How this 'mileage maniac' earned 40 million frequent flier miles|first=Tamara|last=Hardingham-Gill|date=September 7, 2021|website=CNN}}

In 2013, Gourley sold a pilot titled Wunderland that he wrote with his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Amanda Lund, to Fox.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/fox-buys-comedy-from-amanda-lund-matt-gourley-jack-black-diablo-cody-638253/|title= Fox Buys Comedy From Amanda Lund, Matt Gourley, Jack Black & Diablo Cody|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=Deadline|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} The series was a workplace comedy loosely based upon the time Gourley and Lund spent working as actors at Disney theme parks, though it did not end up getting produced. This pilot can be heard recorded on the Dead Pilot's Society Podcast's 3rd episode.{{Cite web|url=https://deadpilotssociety.libsyn.com/episode-3-wunderland-written-by-amanda-lund-matt-gourley/|title=Dead Pilots Society: Episode 3 - Wunderland written by Amanda Lund (Ghost Ghirls, Goosebumps) & Matt Gourley (Podcasts: Super Ego; I Was There Too)|website=deadpilotssociety.libsyn.com}} Gourley has appeared on Community, HarmonQuest, Ghost Ghirls, and Drunk History, as well as doing voice work for Adventure Time.

Gourley's best known commercial work is his position as a spokesperson for Volkswagen in 2014 and 2015.{{cite web|url=https://braxton-calloway.squarespace.com/s/July-2014-SER-SOM-Advertising-Overview-FINAL.pdf|title=Volkswagen Turbocharged Sales Event|publisher=Braxton-Calloway|date=July 2014|accessdate=August 23, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309170623/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53c87557e4b014ac66b5c605/t/53caf537e4b03cd266be53e5/1405809975775/July+2014+SER+SOM+Advertising+Overview+-+FINAL.pdf|archivedate=March 9, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/LyH/matt-gourley|publisher=iSpot|title=Matt Gourley TV Commercials|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} He has also appeared in ads for McDonald's,{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/1265991|title=Matt Gourley 'Just Hangin' McDonald's Commercial|publisher=Vimeo|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Carlton Draught,{{cite web|url=http://adsoftheworld.com/media/online/carlton_draught_any_excuse|title=Carlton Draught: Any excuse|publisher=Ads of the World|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Lowe's,{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/9804034|title=Matt Gourley Lowe's 'Kitchen Project' Commercial|date=February 28, 2010|publisher=Vimeo|accessdate=August 24, 2015}} Hewlett-Packard, Hyundai, Xbox,{{cite web|url=http://www.viflux.com/portfolio/matt-gourley-game-with-fame-xbox-call-of-duty-promo-275989|title=Matt Gourley 'Game With Fame' XBox Call Of Duty Promo|date=February 22, 2010|website=viflux|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Late Night with Conan O'Brien,{{Citation needed|date=November 2024|reason=link no longer valid.}} and Budweiser.

In 2006, Gourley and Carter launched Superego, an improvisational podcast they conceived of on Christmas Eve 2005 based on the conceit of clinical case studies.{{cite web|url=http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/print/arts/the-doctors-are-in |title=The Doctors Are In |last=Clements |first=Miles |website=TheDistrictWeekly.com |date=March 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504121530/http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/print/arts/the-doctors-are-in |archivedate=May 4, 2010 }} Superego has since added Mark McConville, Jeff Crocker, and Paul F. Tompkins as regular cast members.{{cite web|title='Superego' Season 4 Is Coming; Paul F. Tompkins to Join Group Full-Time|url=http://splitsider.com/2014/07/superego-season-4-is-coming-paul-f-tompkins-to-join-group-full-time/|website=SplitSider.com|last=Evans|first=Bradford|date=July 18, 2014|accessdate=August 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906200756/http://splitsider.com/2014/07/superego-season-4-is-coming-paul-f-tompkins-to-join-group-full-time/|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}

In September 2013, Gourley started hosting a podcast along with Matt Mira titled James Bonding on the Nerdist network,{{cite podcast|url=http://nerdist.com/james-bonding-000-do-you-expect-me-to-talk/|title=James Bonding #000: Do You Expect Me To Talk?|date=September 5, 2013|publisher=Nerdist|host=Matts Gourley and Mira|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} later acquired by the Earwolf podcast network. The podcast discusses the James Bond films one by one with guests.{{cite web|url=http://byzantiumshores.blogspot.com/2014/08/responding-to-bonding.html|title=Responding to Bonding|publisher=Byzantium's Shores|date=August 5, 2014|last=Sedinger|first=Kelly|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} In November 2014, Gourley helped launch the new Wolfpop podcast network, a sister to Earwolf, along with Paul Scheer and Adam Sachs.{{cite podcast|url=http://www.earwolf.com/episode/wolfpop-curator-paul-scheer-podcast-developer-matt-gourley/|title=Wolfpop Curator Paul Scheer & Podcast Developer Matt Gourley, episode #66 of The Wolf Den on Earwolf|publisher=Earwolf|host=Adam Sachs|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} As part of this launch, Gourley himself began a new podcast, titled I Was There Too, which focuses on the actors and stories behind the most classic scenes from film and television.{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2014/11/paul-scheers-new-podcast-network-wolfpop-launches-today/|title=Paul Scheer's New Podcast Network Wolfpop Launches Today|date=November 4, 2014|last=Wright|first=Megh|work=Splitsider |accessdate=August 23, 2015}} Gourley also co-hosted The Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project on Earwolf with Andy Daly.

Gourley co-hosted Pistol Shrimps Radio with his Superego colleague Mark McConville.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-hershon/podcast-review-pistol-shr_b_7569622.html|work=Huffington Post|title=Podcast Review: Pistol Shrimps Radio|date=June 12, 2015|last=Hershon|first=Marc|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} The podcast consisted of unedited commentary of the games of The Pistol Shrimps, a women's rec league basketball team in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2015/06/this-week-in-comedy-podcasts-kevin-smith-visits-michael-ian-black-on-how-to-be-amazing/|title=This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Kevin Smith Visits Michael Ian Black on 'How To Be Amazing'|date=June 11, 2015|last=Wright|first=Megh|work=Splitsider |accessdate=August 23, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomedybureau.com/post/123490691010/pistol-shrimps-radio-gourley-mcconville|title=Superego's Matt Gourley and Mark McConville Do Live Game Commentary For Pistol Shrimps Basketball as "Pistol Shrimps Radio" Podcast|publisher=The Comedy Bureau|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}

In addition to hosting his own shows, Gourley has guested on numerous podcasts over the years, including Never Not Funny, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Thrilling Adventure Hour, and Spontaneanation. In addition to editing Superego, Gourley has also edited Judge John Hodgman and The Sound of Young America.{{cite web|url=http://jessethorn.tumblr.com/post/15678234125/what-podcasts-do-you-subscribe-to-jesse-folks|title=What podcasts do you subscribe to, Jesse?|last=Thorn|first=Jesse|date=January 11, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://babelfishcomedy.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/superego-interview/|title=BFC Interview: Superego|publisher=Babel Fish Comedy|date=November 21, 2011}}

In 2018, he started hosting In Voorhees We Trust With Gourley and Rust with Paul Rust, a podcast series reviewing every Friday The 13th film in the franchise. The self-proclaimed "easy-listening cozy-cast," now simply titled With Gourley and Rust, has had several seasons analyzing and discussing horror films.{{cite web |last1=Earl |first1=William |title=The Coziest Horror Movies of All Time, From 'Halloween' to 'Psycho II' |url=https://variety.com/lists/coziest-horror-movies-halloween-psycho-ii/halloween-1978-2/ |website=variety.com |date=October 14, 2022 |publisher=Variety |access-date=5 June 2023}}

Gourley has served as a producer and co-host on Conan O'Brien's podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend since it debuted in November 2018.

In January 2023, Gourley debuted the first episode of Mallwalkin' with co-host Mark McConville. Each episode the co-hosts walk a local mall and comment on retail offerings while recording impromptu interviews with business owners and avoiding audio recording policy violations. {{Cite web |title=Mallwalkin' by Pistol Shrimps Radio on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/mm/podcast/mallwalkin-by-pistol-shrimps-radio/id990481682 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-GB}}

Gourley is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He composed the theme for I Was There Too with James Bladon.{{cite web|url=http://iwastheretoo.wolfpop.com/blog/339861/show-theme-song|title=Show theme song - I Was There Too|publisher=Wolfpop|accessdate=August 23, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306215848/http://iwastheretoo.wolfpop.com/blog/339861/show-theme-song|archivedate=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead}} He has released a solo album titled Garanimal Farm,{{cite web|url=http://www.comedysportzstore.com/cds-books.html|title=CDs & Books|publisher=ComedySportz|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} recorded tracks with his band named Townland,{{cite web|url=https://myspace.com/townland|title=TOWNLAND|publisher=MySpace|accessdate=August 23, 2015}} and released an album with The Journeymen titled Mount Us More.{{cite web|url=https://gosuperego.bandcamp.com/album/mount-us-more|title=Mount Us More - Superego|publisher=BandCamp|date=July 2, 2013|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}

In 1997, Gourley won a contest to see who could best imitate the sound of a flushing toilet.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-09-me-41038-story.html|title=100 Black Men = 1-on-1 Help|date=October 9, 1997|last=Hicks|first=Jerry|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 23, 2015}}

Gourley lives in Pasadena with his wife, Amanda Lund, with whom he has a daughter.

Other appearances:

• Star Wars Minute
• Comedy Film Nerds
• Earwolf Challenge
• Accept the Mystery
• Cracked
• Podcast: The Ride
• Jordan Jesse Go
• Feral Audio
• Before You Were Funny
• Succotash
• Feliz Navipod
• The Biggest Mistake
• Film Junk
• Doug Loves Movies
• The Big Ones
• Newcomers
• How Did This Get Made?

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Official website|https://www.mattgourley.com/}}
• {{IMDb name|1750822}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gourley, Matt}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Whittier, California

Category:California State University, Long Beach alumni

Category:Actual_play_performers

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male comedians

Category:American comedy podcasters

Category:Male actors from California

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:Long Beach City College faculty

Category:College of the Canyons

Category:Comedians from California

Category:21st-century American comedians