Nate Bargatze

Bargatze was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Carol and Stephen Bargatze,{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Marc |date=2024-12-10 |title=Nate Bargatze Isn't Here to Hurt Your Feelings |url=https://www.wsj.com./real-estate/nate-bargatze-comedy-a7205d44 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}} on March 25, 1979.{{Cite web |last=@natebargatze |title=Thank everyone for the birthday wishes! Now going to go home and update all my old jokes with my new age. |url=https://twitter.com/natebargatze/status/580832878940045312 |website=Twitter|date=March 25, 2015}} Stephen was a clown, member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and motivational speaker, while Carol worked in the ticket office for the Vanderbilt Commodores.{{Cite web |last=Gleason |first=Holly |date=2022-07-20 |title=Everyman Comic Nate Bargatze Celebrates 20 Years in Comedy |url=https://variety.com/2022/legit/features/everyman-comic-nate-bargatze-1235319057/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://magicofstephen.com/#about |access-date=2021-09-11 |website=Stephen Bargatze |language=en-US}} After a troubled childhood, Stephen had initially studied to become a preacher, but ultimately graduated from Trevecca Nazarene College with a bachelor's degree in education, 10 years after leaving high school.{{Cite web |last=KRONE |first=KATHY |date=2001-06-27 |title=Magician's tricks help children learn that laughing matters |url=https://www.stategazette.com/archives/magicians-tricks-help-children-learn-that-laughing-matters/article_4e71bd6c-bf1a-56f0-9751-efe96e982e31.html |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=State Gazette |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-01 |title=Magician Stephen Bargatze 'realizing how great God is' |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/magician-stephen-bargatze-realizing-how-great-god-is/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Baptist Press |language=en-US}}

Raised in a devoutly religious Christian household, Bargatze is one of three children.{{Cite web |last=Ashley Hume |first=Larry Fink |date=2023-02-10 |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze talks being clean Christian comic for over 20 years |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/comedian-nate-bargatze-clean-christian-comic-over-20-years |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} His father practiced magic tricks with him while growing up, and Bargatze stated he performed in skits with his church group, beginning when he "was around 11". He attended DuPont Elementary in Old Hickory, Tennessee until fourth grade, when he transferred to Donelson Christian Academy (DCA) in Nashville, where his father had a day job as a history teacher. He competed in track and field at DCA and tried out for the basketball and golf teams, but was cut from both. He graduated in 1997.{{Cite web |last=Organ |first=Mike |title=Nate Bargatze: Comedian's high school in Tennessee will name gym after him |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/01/08/nate-bargatze-comedian-donelson-christian-academy-gym/77557489007/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}

Bargatze then attended Volunteer State Community College in nearby Gallatin for a year.{{Cite web |last=Schmitt |first=Brad |title=Was Nate Bargatze's dad really wearing his mom's pants to a funeral? We asked |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2024/12/16/nate-bargatze-jokes-magician-dad-stephen-nashville-christmas/76807511007/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} During this time, he had various jobs, such as working in construction, manning a cellphone kiosk at Walmart, and delivering furniture. He enrolled in Western Kentucky University, but flunked each of his courses and dropped out. He also had a stint working at Applebee's and later landed a job as a meter-reader for a water company in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. He was a fan of The Bob & Tom Show, a radio program which often hosted comedians, and it inspired him to become a comedian himself.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Marc |date=2024-12-10 |title=Nate Bargatze Isn't Here to Hurt Your Feelings |url=https://www.wsj.com./real-estate/nate-bargatze-comedy-a7205d44 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}} One of his fellow meter-readers, Michael Clay, also had an ambition to become a comedian, and together they decided to quit their jobs and both pursue a career in comedy.{{Cite web |last=Schmitt |first=Brad |title=Comic Nate Bargatze started as Mt. Juliet meter reader |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2016/09/29/comic-nate-bargatze-started-mt-juliet-meter-reader/90280164/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} Bargatze's parents were supportive of his decision and attended his first open mic event.

Bargatze began his comedy career in 2002, and moved to Chicago to attend The Second City, an improvisational comedy troupe. He soon decided against improv, and instead enrolled in Jim Rauth's Comedy College, which focused on stand-up comedy. At this time, Bargatze rented a basement apartment with his former co-worker Michael Clay and worked as a waiter at a nearby bar. He performed fill-in spots at Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago, and also performed at Zanies Nashville.{{Citation | work= Nateland | title= Ep #22 - The Wife | date= 25 November 2020 | via= YouTube |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mp_EMWbR7g |access-date= 2023-09-27 |language=en}}

In 2004, Bargatze moved to New York City,{{Cite web |date=2009-11-24 |title=Meet Me In New York: Nate Bargatze – The Comic's Comic |url=https://thecomicscomic.com/2009/11/24/meet-me-in-new-york-nate-bargatze/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |language=en-US}} where he became a barker for the renowned Boston Comedy Club, handing out flyers in Greenwich Village in exchange for stage time at night in the club. Bargatze also worked as a dogwalker and a FedEx delivery driver during the day to support his comedy career. He has called the Jerry Seinfeld documentary Comedian (2002) "life-changing" and a "big reason" why he moved to New York.{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVdLd1BBEFM|title= Nateland Ep #72 - Seinfeld ft. Mark Normand|website= Youtube|date= 10 November 2021|accessdate= May 25, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Silverstein |first=Sara |date=2024-12-20 |title=Nate Bargatze Reveals His Plan to Build a Comedy Empire to Support the Next Wave of Comedians (Exclusive) |url=https://parade.com/tv/nate-bargatze-netflix-christmas-special-interview |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Parade |language=en}} While at the Boston Comedy Club, he saw comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Patrice O'Neal, and Bill Burr perform live. Bargatze stated that it took "about a year" before he received a paying gig in New York. He spent most of his early years performing for single-digit crowds.

Bargatze had a turning-point year in 2008, featuring on Comedy Central{{’}}s stand-up show Live at Gotham, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. He toured extensively with the USO, performing for American troops stationed in countries such as the Bahamas, Greenland, Honduras, Iraq, and Kuwait.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-29 |title=Nate Bargatze takes standup slow |url=https://www.straight.com/arts/nate-bargatze-takes-standup-slow |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Byron |title=Nate Bargatze on Recording His Special and Playing Baseball With Pizza Boxes |url=https://www.westword.com/arts/nate-bargatze-on-recording-his-special-and-playing-baseball-with-pizza-boxes-6048338 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Westword |language=en}} He co-hosted a podcast, It Could Be Better, with Chris Laker and Yannis Pappas from 2009 to 2013.{{Cite web |title=Catching Up With Nate Bargatze |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/nate-bargatze/catching-up-with-nate-bargatze |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}} He won both New York’s Comedy Festival and the Boston Comedy Festival in 2010,{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=Boston Comedy Festival celebrates 25 years of laughter and competition |url=https://www.wgbh.org/culture/2025-03-28/boston-comedy-festival-celebrates-25-years-of-laughter-and-competition |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=GBH |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=NashvilleStandUp.com |date=2012-09-21 |title=Nate Bargatze: 'Yelled At By A Clown' album available now! |url=https://nashvillestandup.com/nate-bargatze-yelled-at-by-a-clown-album-available-now/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=NashvilleStandUp.com |language=en-US}} and released his first 30-minute special in 2011, as part of an episode of Comedy Central Presents.{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Nate Bargatze to star in "going away" comedy show for Dylan Shelton |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2011/05/25/nate-bargatze-to-star-in/23954563007/ |date=2011-05-25 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Zaino |first=Nick A. III |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze is no ordinary everyman |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/09/arts/comedian-nate-bargatze-is-no-ordinary-everyman/ |date=2022-09-09 |access-date=2025-04-01 |work=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}

Bargatze decided to move to Los Angeles in 2012, taking inspiration from Jerry Weintraub’s quote "as soon as you feel comfortable that's when it's time to start over".{{Cite web |last=Paulson |first=Dave |title=Nate Bargatze: Comedy's newest superstar hails from Old Hickory |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/life/2023/04/12/nate-bargatze-comedys-newest-superstar-hails-from-old-hickory/70073956007/ |date=2023-04-12 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} He released his first comedy album, Yelled At By A Clown, in 2012 on Aspecialthing Records. It was on the Billboard Top Ten Comedy Charts for two weeks, peaking at No. 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/5785956/nate-bargatze/chart |title=Nate Bargatze| publisher= |website= billboard.com| accessdate= July 4, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.natebargatze.com/|title=Nateland|first=Nate|last=Bargatze|website=natebargatze.com|accessdate=July 4, 2017}} Bargatze received effusive praise from Marc Maron, and appeared on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomedybureau.com/post/23364303593/marc-maron-recommendations-rolling-stone|title=Marc Maron Continues to Be a Statesman For Comedy|date=May 19, 2012|accessdate=July 4, 2017|work=The Comedy Bureau}} He was booked on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2013.{{cite web| url= http://fusion.net/video/3333/meet-jimmy-fallons-favorite-new-comedian-nate-bargatze/ |title=Meet Jimmy Fallon's 'Favorite New Comedian' Nate Bargatze|publisher=Fusion Media Network|work=Fusion.net| accessdate= July 4, 2017|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170801034825/http://fusion.net/video/3333/meet-jimmy-fallons-favorite-new-comedian-nate-bargatze/ |url-status= dead}} He also was part of Jimmy Fallon's Clean Cut Comedy Tour that year.{{cite web| url= http://www.clubnokia.com/events/detail/245367|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116143957/http://www.clubnokia.com/events/detail/245367|archivedate=November 16, 2013 |accessdate= July 4, 2017|url-status= dead|title=Jimmy Fallon's Clean Cut Comedy Tour|publisher=AEG Live| work=ClubNokia.com}}{{cite web|url=http://comedynerdinterviewscomedians.podbean.com/e/episode-218-nate-bargatze/ |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129113146/http://comedynerdinterviewscomedians.podbean.com/e/episode-218-nate-bargatze/|archivedate=November 29, 2014|url-status=dead| accessdate=July 4, 2017|title=Episode 218 - Nate Bargatze|work=The Stand-Up Chronicles |first=Adam| last=Harris| date=January 19, 2014}} Speaking of his participation in the tour and his choice to be a clean comedian, Bargatze said: "I grew up watching clean comedy. Starting out, I wanted my parents to come watch me. I still think that way, even though I’m a parent now. I’m a clean comic, but I don’t really want people to notice it. ... A good compliment for me would be, 'I didn’t even notice that you were clean.' That’s my goal."{{Cite web |last=Kozell |first=Isaac |date=2015-05-01 |title=Finding the Balance with Nate Bargatze |url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/05/finding-the-balance-with-nate-bargatze.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Vulture |language=en}}

In 2014, Bargatze developed a deal with NBC Universal to create a sitcom based on his life, with Fallon serving as producer. NBC ultimately scrapped the project.{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Phil |date=2014-02-18 |title=Talking to Nate Bargatze About Standup and Developing an NBC Sitcom with Jimmy Fallon |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/talking-to-nate-bargatze-about-standup-and-developing-an-nbc-sitcom-with-jimmy-fallon.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Vulture |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Lacey |date=2024-12-17 |title=Nate Bargatze Conquered Comedy. Hollywood is Next. |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/nate-bargatze-interview-stand-up-comedy-acting-1236085644/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Also in 2014, he auditioned for The Daily Show and made it to a final shortlist of two. Jordan Klepper was hired instead of Bargatze. After two years in Los Angeles, Bargatze returned home to Nashville, deeming it more suitable for his wife and daughter. He initially kept the move to Nashville quiet as he did not want people in the industry to think he had quit comedy.{{Cite web |last=Provencio |first=Phil |date=2016-10-07 |title=Up Next, Nate Bargatze. A Look Through the Lens at New York Comedy - The Interrobang |url=https://theinterrobang.com/next-nate-bargatze-look-lens-new-york-comedy/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=D. Patrick |date=2022-10-26 |title=Nate Bargatze on Nashville and 'the Panic' of Writing New Material |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/comedy/nate-bargatze-on-nashville-and-the-panic-of-writing-new-material/article_ed73efe8-53ec-11ed-a80a-832ab9d6ce5d.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Nashville Scene |language=en}} His first hour-long special, Full Time Magic, was released in 2015 by Comedy Central.{{cite web| url=http://press.cc.com/press-release/2015/04/15/press-nate-bargatze-full-time-magic-debuts-on-comedy-central-may-2-at-midnight| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521043758/http://press.cc.com/press-release/2015/04/15/press-nate-bargatze-full-time-magic-debuts-on-comedy-central-may-2-at-midnight| url-status=dead| archive-date=May 21, 2015| title=The World Premiere of 'Nate Bargatze: Full Time Magic' Debuts on Comedy Central® on Saturday, May 2 at Midnight ET/PT|date=April 15, 2015| accessdate=July 4, 2017| work= Comedy Central Press| publisher= Comedy Partners}}{{Cite web |title=Nate Bargatze │ Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/comedy/article/nate_bargatze-full_time_magic |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Nate Bargatze │ Exclaim! |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2017-10-18 |title=Jerrod Carmichael to Produce Comedy Put Pilot at Fox Based on Life of Nate Bargatze (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/jerrod-carmichael-nate-bargatze-fox-1202593606/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The album version of Full Time Magic reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Ten Comedy Charts.{{Cite web |last=Dedmon |first=Tanner |title=Bonnaroo 2016: Nate Bargatze on telling jokes at Bonnaroo |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/06/06/bonnaroo-2016-nate-bargatze-telling-jokes-bonnaroo/85511878/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} The special premiered on the same night as Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao. Bargatze said: "Nobody watched my special that night. I didn't even watch it, since I wanted to see that fight so bad."{{Cite web |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze to perform Sunday at Paramount in Cedar Rapids |url=https://www.thegazette.com/arts-entertainment/comedian-nate-bargatze-to-perform-sunday-at-paramount-in-cedar-rapids/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=www.thegazette.com |language=en-US}}

Bargatze had a breakthrough in 2017, when Netflix launched The Standups, a series with each episode containing a 30-minute set by a different stand-up comedian. Bargatze was featured in the first episode. He said it "changed everything" and that there was a significant increase in attendance at his first gig following the episode's release.{{Cite web |last=Husband |first=Andrew |title=Nate Bargatze Doesn't Know Who 'The Tennessee Kid' Is Either |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewhusband/2019/03/26/nate-bargatze-netflix-special-interview/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}} In 2019, Bargatze released an hour-long special, The Tennessee Kid, on Netflix.{{Cite web|title=Nate Bargatze: The Tennessee Kid |url= https://www.netflix.com/title/81002880|access-date=2021-04-05|website= netflix.com|language=en}} Sarah Aswell of Forbes named it as the best comedy special of the year.{{Cite web |last=Aswell |first=Sarah |title=Nate Bargatze’s Quiet, Simple ‘Tennessee Kid’ Is My Favorite Standup Special Of 2019 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahaswell/2020/12/31/nate-bargatzes-quiet-simple-tennessee-kidis-my-favorite-standup-special-of-2019/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Also in 2019, Bargatze filmed a pilot of a multi-cam sitcom for ABC based on his life. Katie Aselton, Debra Jo Rupp, and Kurtwood Smith were cast as Bargatze's on-screen wife, mother, and father, respectively.{{Cite web |last=Crucchiola |first=Jordan |date=2019-08-09 |title=Eric's Parents From That '70s Show to Play Nate Bargatze's Parents in ABC Pilot |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/nate-bargatze-abc-pilot-debra-jo-rupp-kurtwood-smith.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Vulture |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nate Bargatze on His Sitcom Pilot, Beat-up Busses and the Comfort of Applebee's |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/nate-bargatze/nate-bargatze-on-his-sitcom-pilot-beat-up-busses-a |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}} The pilot was not picked up. Bargatze recalled in 2024 that "I don’t think there was a lot of entertainment made for people not on the coasts during that period," and said that while his subsequent success led to renewed interest from networks, "I don’t know if I’d do a sitcom now."

Bargatze began hosting The Nateland Podcast in 2020 along with Brian "Breakfast" Bates and Aaron Weber; in 2022, Dusty Slay joined as a fourth host.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=The Nateland Podcast on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nateland-podcast/id1521693509 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Nateland Podcast |url=https://natelandentertainment.com/nateland-podcast/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The Nateland Company |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=#100 The End (of the World) |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/100-the-end-of-the-world/id1521693509?i=1000563744381 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}} Netflix released Bargatze's next stand-up special, The Greatest Average American, in 2021. It was filmed outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood and was nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.{{cite web |first1=Garrett|last1=Martin| website= Paste |url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/nate-bargatze/nate-bargatze-stand-up-review/ |title=Nate Bargatze's The Greatest Average American Is Destined to Be a Pandemic-Era Time Capsule |date=19 March 2021 }} Also in 2021, Bargatze was featured in an article in The Atlantic that called him "The Nicest Man in Stand-Up".{{Cite magazine |last=Alberta |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Alberta |date=2021-09-08 |title=The Nicest Man in Stand-Up (The Xanax of Stand-Up) |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/10/nate-bargatze-nicest-stand-up/619812/ |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917104340/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/10/nate-bargatze-nicest-stand-up/619812/ |archive-date=2021-09-17 |access-date= 2024-08-18 |magazine=The Atlantic |language=en}}{{cbignore}} In 2022, he voiced the character Grady in the Portal spinoff game Aperture Desk Job.{{cite web |last1=Livingston |first1=Christopher |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Weaponize toilets in Valve's hilarious short game Aperture Desk Job |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/weaponize-toilets-in-valves-hilarious-short-game-aperture-desk-job |accessdate=February 25, 2024 |website=PC Gamer}}

Bargatze's stand-up special Hello World, filmed at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona, was released in January 2023 on Amazon Prime Video.{{cite web |url= https://www.vulture.com/article/nate-bargatze-hello-world-special-trailer-amazon.html| title=Nate Bargatze Will Greet the World in New Amazon Stand-up Special| website=Vulture.com | date=18 January 2023| accessdate=}} It set a record for Amazon’s most-streamed original comedy special, receiving 2.9 million viewers in its first 28 days. On April 15, 2023, Bargatze drew 19,365 attendees to a performance at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, breaking the venue's all-time attendance record.{{cite news |last=Baird |first=Brittney |date=April 17, 2023 |title=Nate Bargatze breaks attendance record at Bridgestone Arena |url=https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nate-bargatze-breaks-attendance-record-at-bridgestone-arena/ |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=WKRN |location=Nashville}} Bargatze stated that after his show he took a chair from the arena to his house to prevent anyone from breaking his record.{{Cite web |last=Organ |first=Mike |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze breaks Morgan Wallen's Nashville arena record, steals chair to keep it that way |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/columnist/mike-organ/2023/09/12/comedian-nate-bargatze-stole-chair-from-bridgestone-area-brandt-snedeker-sned-friends-kerry-tour/70786391007/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}

Bargatze hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time on October 28, 2023, and for a second time on October 5, 2024.{{cite news | url= https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/17/entertainment/nate-bargatze-foo-fighters-snl| website= CNN.com | date= October 17, 2023| title= Nate Bargatze to make 'SNL' hosting debut with musical guest Foo Fighters| first= Alli | last= Rosenbloom| accessdate= October 29, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Izzo |first=Christina |date=2024-10-06 |title=The Best 'SNL' Sketch of Last Season Returned Last Night |url=https://parade.com/tv/nate-bargatze-new-washingtons-dream-sketch-snl |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Parade |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Vaillancourt |first=William |date=2024-10-06 |title='SNL': Nate Bargatze's George Washington Dreams of Making English as Difficult as Possible |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/snl-nate-bargatzes-george-washington-dreams-making-english-difficult-possible-1235127220/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} In those appearances, he attracted attention for his portrayal of George Washington in sketches that mock the American language and system of measurements.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-06 |title=Nate Bargatze returns as George Washington in part 2 of 'SNL' fan favorite 'Washington's Dream' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/nate-bargatze-george-washington-dream-snl-rcna174171 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |last3= |first3= |date=October 6, 2024 |title=Nate Bargatze returns as George Washington in 'Saturday Night Live' sketch, Coldplay performs - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/06/arts/nate-bargatze-snl-coldplay/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=LeDonne |first=Rob |date=2024-10-06 |title=Saturday Night Live: Nate Bargatze anchors strong sophomore episode |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/oct/06/saturday-night-live-nate-bargatze-hosts |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Also in 2024, he performed at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jerry-seinfeld-netflix-is-a-joke-festival-star-studded-hollywood-bowl-show-1235888505/|title= Jerry Seinfeld Kicks Off Netflix is a Joke Festival With Star-Studded Hollywood Bowl Show|website= The Hollywood Reporter|date= 2 May 2024|accessdate= May 25, 2024}} Bargatze said hosting SNL led to a "giant, giant leap" in his career.{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=2024-07-29 |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze on Breaking Arena Records, Going Viral From 'SNL' & Staying Non-Political: 'You Don't Need Me to Add to That' |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/events/comedian-nate-bargatze-on-breaking-arena-records-saturday-night-live-and-staying-non-political-1235742263/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} He was the highest-grossing comic in 2024 according to Pollstar. He topped Billboard{{'}}s Boxscore ranking of the highest-grossing comedy tours, with $82.2 million gross income from 1.1 million tickets sold across his 148 shows, setting a new record for largest one-year gross by a comedy performer in Boxscore history.{{Cite web |last=Frankenberg |first=Eric |date=2024-12-18 |title=Top 10 Highest-Grossing Comedy Tours of 2024 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-comedy-tours-2024 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} Bargatze returned to Netflix to release his next special, titled Your Friend, Nate Bargatze, which premiered on Christmas Eve 2024.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2024-10-09 |title=Nate Bargatze Returns To Netflix With Two Stand-Up Specials |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/nate-bargatze-netflix-two-stand-up-specials-1236110346/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

In March 2025, Bargatze stated that he would make his first feature acting role in The Breadwinner, a film he co-wrote with Dan Lagana. He announced the film's release date as March 13, 2026.{{Cite web |last=Minton |first=Jazz Tangcay,Abigail Lee,Matt |date=2025-04-01 |title=‘The Breadwinner’ With Nate Bargatze Sets March 2026 Release – Film News in Brief |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/film-news-in-brief-march-31-2025-1236352692/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Bargatze has named Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, Brian Regan, Bob Newhart, and Bill Cosby as being some of his comedic influences.{{cite web|url= https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/why-family-man-nate-bargatze-keeps-his-comedy-clean.html|title= WHY FAMILY MAN NATE BARGATZE KEEPS HIS COMEDY CLEAN|website= MovieGuide|date= 14 June 2023|accessdate= May 25, 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2019/10/14/netflix-special-transforms-comedian-nate-bargatzes-career/|title= Netflix special transforms comedian Nate Bargatze's career|website= Orlando Sentinel|date= 14 October 2019|accessdate= May 25, 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/talking-to-nate-bargatze-about-standup-and-developing-an-nbc-sitcom-with-jimmy-fallon.html|title= Talking to Nate Bargatze About Standup and Developing an NBC Sitcom with Jimmy Fallon|website= Vulture|date= 18 February 2014|accessdate= May 25, 2024}}

Bargatze married Laura Blair on October 13, 2006.{{cite web | last=Gleason | first=Holly | title=Everyman Comic Nate Bargatze Celebrates 20 Years in Comedy | website=Variety | date=2022-07-20 | url=https://variety.com/2022/legit/features/everyman-comic-nate-bargatze-1235319057/ | access-date=2023-01-09}}{{cite web | url=https://hollywoodmask.com/p/nate-bargatze-wife.html | title=Inside Nate Bargatze's Life with Wife Laura and Daughter | date=26 April 2023 }} She is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. They met in their 20s when both were working at an Applebee's on Thompson Lane, Nashville. They have a daughter and live in Nashville.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CRE1KcXIemI/ | title=Nate Bargatze on Instagram: "Happy 9th Birthday, Harper! We love you very much." }}

Bargatze's second cousin Ronnie Bargatze was a three-sport athlete who later became a basketball coach at Vanderbilt University in the 1970s and was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2018. As a result, Bargatze has been a lifelong fan of the Vanderbilt Commodores.{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Simon |date=2020-05-20 |title=Q&A: Comedian Nate Bargatze talks lifelong Vanderbilt fandom, favorite Commodore moments - The Vanderbilt Hustler |url=https://vanderbilthustler.com/2020/05/20/qa-comedian-nate-bargatze-talks-lifelong-vanderbilt-fandom-favorite-commodore-moments/ |access-date=2025-04-01}}{{Cite web |last=Organ |first=Mike |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze breaks Morgan Wallen's Nashville arena record, steals chair to keep it that way |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/columnist/mike-organ/2023/09/12/comedian-nate-bargatze-stole-chair-from-bridgestone-area-brandt-snedeker-sned-friends-kerry-tour/70786391007/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}

Bargatze drank heavily while starting out as a comedian, and said he "got very close" to sabotaging his career due to alcoholism. He stated that he stopped drinking alcohol in 2018, recalling that: "I wasn’t able to drink like a regular person. I knew, 'Alright, well, if I want to go to the level I want to go to, I have to get this out of my life or I’m not going to be able to get to that level'."

An avid golfer, Bargatze participated in the pro-am of the Simmons Bank Open in 2023, and is friends with professional golfer and fellow Nashville resident Brandt Snedeker. Bargatze also competed in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2023, where he was listed as a 7 handicap.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=Pebble Beach Pro-Am celebrity handicaps: The stars playing in 2023 |url=https://golf.com/news/pebble-beach-pro-am-celebrity-handicaps-2023/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Golf |language=en-US}}

Bargatze avoids discussing politics.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Tracy |date=2021-03-17 |title=Comedian Nate Bargatze Is “Not Smart Enough” to Tell You What to Think |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/nate-bargatze-netflix-comedy-special-interview |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}} When asked in a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter if he had been tempted to do so, he said: "Yeah. As you’re coming up, you’re seeing other people [have success sharing their opinions.] ... And you’d see guys pop up and they’d go that route and they’d get pretty popular doing that, and you’re like, 'Should I be saying something? I’m not saying anything.' But I’d remind myself that that thought is about me, it’s not about [the audience,] and I should stay in my lane."

In 2024, Bargatze contributed $1.15 million to the development of an indoor athletic facility at Donelson Christian Academy, his alma mater. The school subsequently named the facility in honor of him. Bargatze stated in 2025 that he wants to build a theme park in Nashville, dubbed Nateland, similar to Opryland USA, which he worked at as a teenager prior to its closure in 1997.{{Cite web |last=Organ |first=Mike |title=Nate Bargatze isn't joking about building 'Nateland' in Nashville |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/01/17/nate-bargatze-nashville-comedian-nateland-dca-basketball-gym/77600088007/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Marchese |first=David |date=2025-04-19 |title='The Interview': Nate Bargatze Doesn't Mind if You Think He's an Idiot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/magazine/nate-bargatze-interview.html |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

• Yelled At By a Clown (Aspecialthing Records, 2012)
• Full Time Magic (Comedy Central, 2015)
• The Tennessee Kid (Netflix, 2019)
• The Greatest Average American (Netflix, 2021)
• Hello World (Amazon Prime Video, 2023)
• Your Friend, Nate Bargatze (Netflix, 2024)

• Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind (Grand Central Publishing, 2025){{Cite web | url=https://www.today.com/popculture/books/nate-bargatze-book-big-dumb-eyes-rcna174016 | title=EXCLUSIVE: Nate Bargatze gives us a peek at his first book, 'Big Dumb Eyes' | website=today.com | date=2024-10-05 | access-date=2025-06-03}}

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Category:1979 births

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:American male comedians

Category:American stand-up comedians

Category:American people of Romansh descent

Category:American people of Swiss descent

Category:Comedians from Nashville, Tennessee

Category:Living people

Category:People from Old Hickory, Tennessee