Bill Burr

Comedian Bill Burr parlayed his abrasive, occasionally controversial stand-up act into a string of popular comedy specials for television as well as steady work as a guest player in films and on television, including "Breaking Bad" (AMC, 2008-2013), "Date Night" (2010) and "The Heat" (2013). The Boston native and Emerson College graduate began performing stand-up in the early 1990s and developed a following for his raw observations on racial and social issues, which led to guest roles on television. Burr rose to widespread fame with appearances on "Chappelle's Show" (Comedy Central, 2003-2006) and regular appearances on shock DJs Opie and Anthony's XM Radio programs. By the late 2000s, he had several stand-up TV showcases to his name, as well as a growing second career as a character actor, most notably as a hired gun with a knack for playing characters on "Breaking Bad." Burr's success as both a comic and actor signaled a rapid rise to mainstream stardom.