Personal Life

Marino is married to Erica Oyama, a screenwriter best known for creating the comedy series Burning Love. The couple has two children: a son named Riley Ken’ichi Marino and a daughter named Ruby Marino. Despite his comedic roles, Marino maintains a relatively private family life.

Breakthrough Role: The State

Ken Marino began his professional acting career with a brief role in the MTV series You Wrote It, You Watch It. However, he rose to fame with the sketch comedy series The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995. The show became a cult hit and established Marino as a talented comedic performer. His versatility and charisma helped him escape being typecast, unlike many of his co-stars who remained associated with the show's comic tone.

Television Career

Following the success of The State, Marino expanded his television presence. He appeared in a variety of guest and recurring roles in shows such as Men Behaving Badly, First Years, Dawson’s Creek, Charmed, and Rock Me Baby. He is perhaps best known for prominent roles in comedy series like Party Down, Marry Me, Burning Love, and the Emmy-winning Childrens Hospital.

Film Appearances

Marino made his film debut in the 1997 science fiction movie Gattaca, playing a technician. In the 2000s, he appeared in various films across diverse genres. Notable credits include roles in Wanderlust and Role Models, which he also co-wrote with frequent collaborator David Wain.

Screenwriting and Directing

Beyond acting, Ken Marino has proven himself as a talented screenwriter and director. In 2007, he co-wrote the feature film Diggers, followed by The Ten and Wanderlust, both of which he developed in collaboration with David Wain. Marino expanded into digital media as well, both directing and acting in the acclaimed Yahoo! web series Burning Love. He also contributed to other web projects, such as Rock'n'Roller Coaster and Krogzilla.