From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Bruce Vilanch (born November 23, 1948) is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winner known to industry professionals in Hollywood and New York as "the fat guy who writes everyone's jokes." He is likely best known for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as both a celebrity participant and head writer for the show. He also performed off-Broadway in his one-man show Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous in 2000. Since 2000, Vilanch has been the head writer for the Oscars, after being an Oscar program co-writer for the previous 10 years. He is a featured writer for the Tonys, Grammys and Emmys. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bruce Vilanch, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

• 2025Whale 52 — Kaufman
• 2024I Brake for Caterpillars — Walter Precup
• 2024Surge of Power: Where There's Smoke — Janus / Sirius
• House Husbands — Franklin Court
• 2022Making the Yuletide Gay: A Very Special Paul Lynde Christmas — Writer
• 2018Limelight — Garrett Raynes
• 2018Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting — Chef
• 2012Scrooge & Marley — Fezziwig
• 2012Silent but Deadly — Uncle Bruce
• The Eric Andre Show — Arnold Schwarzenegger
• 2011Going Down in La-La Land — Missy
• 2011Sister Mary — Farmer Jake
• 2011Walk a Mile in My Pradas — Bruce Vilanch
• 2010Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On — Writer
• 2010Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay! — Uncle Max
• 2009Spring Breakdown — Celebrity Judge
• 2008Tru Loved — Uncle Daniel
• 2008You Don't Mess with the Zohan — Bruce Vilanch
• 2007Naked Boys Singing! — Writer
• Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World — Bruce Bandersnatch (voice)
• 10 Ways
• 2006Fucking with the Stars — Judge
• Gameshow Marathon
• 2006Queer Duck: The Movie — Bruce Vilanch (voice)
• The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
• 2001Circuit — Theater Stage Manager
• The Proud Family — Tristan the Magician (voice)
• 1999Jackie's Back! — Bruce Vilanch
• 1997Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas — Writer
• 1997Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life — Writer
• 1994Comic Relief VI — Writer
• 1993A Tribute to Sam Kinison — Production Consultant
• 1993For Our Children — Writer
• The Nanny — Bruce Vilanch
• World Music Awards — Writer
• 1992Love Can Be Murder — Bernie
• Rachel Gunn, R.N. — Mr. Martino
• 1991Fourth Story — Flower Salesman
• 1989It Nearly Wasn't Christmas — Philpot
• 1989The Ice Capades with Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano — Writer
• The Simpsons — Bruce Vilanch (voice)
• 1988The Drifter — Cook
• 1987Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville — Writer
• 1987Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus — Writer
• 1986The Morning After — Bartender
• 1984Bette Midler: Art or Bust — Writer
• 1984The Ice Pirates — Wendon
• 1983Breathless — Man with Purse
• 1983Gayracula — Writer
• Bosom Buddies
• 1980Divine Madness — Writer
• 1980John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body — Writer
• 1978The Star Wars Holiday Special — Writer
• 1977Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back — Writer
• 1977The Barry Manilow Special — Writer
• 1976Charo — Writer
• 1976The Bette Midler Show — Writer
• 1976The Paul Lynde Halloween Special — Writer
• 1975Mahogany — Dress Manufacturer
• Saturday Night Live — Writer
• Tony Awards — Writer
• The Oscars — Writer

Appearances as themselves (39)

• 2024Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution — Self
• 2024Studio One Forever — Self
• 2024The World According to Allee Willis — Self
• 2023A Disturbance in the Force: How the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened — Self
• 2023Body Electric — Self
• 2023Commitment to Life — Self
• Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror — Self
• 2022TMZ Investigates | What Really Happened to Richard Simmons — Self
• 2021Live at Mister Kelly's — Self
• The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood — Self - Special Guest
• 2020Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness — Self
• 2020Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp — Self
• 2018The Advocate Celebrates 50 Years: A Long Road to Freedom — Self
• 2017The Fabulous Allan Carr — Self
• 2014And the Oscar Goes To... — Self - Interviewee
• 2014I Am Divine — Self
• Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero — Himself (voice)
• 2011Vito — Self
• 2010Pride: The Gay & Lesbian Comedy Slam — Himself - Host
• 2010The Adonis Factor — Himself - Writer / Actor
• 2009Annul Victory — Self
• RuPaul's Drag Race — Self - Guest Judge, Self - Special Guest
• Sex: The Revolution — Self
• 2008Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon — Self
• 2006Gotta Get Off This Merry-Go-Round: 'Valley of the Dolls' — Self
• 2006More Dangerous: The Making of Michael Lucas' 'Dangerous Liaisons' — Self
• 2006The Divine Ms. Susann — Self
• Celebrity Fit Club — Self - Contestant
• 2005Dangerous Liaisons — Self - Non-sexual Role (uncredited)
• 2005The Aristocrats — Self
• 2005The Divine Bette Midler — Self
• 200110 Attitudes — Self
• 2001Call Me Claus — Himself
• 1999Eloise And Her Rawther Enormous Life — Self
• 1999Get Bruce! — Self
• GayVN Awards — Self - Host
• Hollywood Squares — Self - Panelist
• 1998Inside the Golden Statue — Self
• Amsel: Illustrator of the Lost Art — Himself - Interviewee