Drew Tarver

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Drew Tarver
Tarver in 2023
Born
Andrew Tarver

(1986-05-06) May 6, 1986[1]
Glennville, Georgia, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active2011–present
RelativesKatelyn Tarver (sister)

Andrew Tarver (born May 6, 1986)[1] is an American actor and comedian from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles.[2] He is best known for playing one of the leads for three seasons on the Emmy-nominated comedy series The Other Two, starring opposite Kate Hudson in the Netflix series Running Point, and for his appearances on comedy podcasts, including Comedy Bang! Bang! and Big Grande: The Teacher's Lounge.

Early life

Tarver was born in Glennville, Georgia. His graduating class had 20 people. His family owned a local candy factory. Tarver is the oldest of four children: he has two sisters, Amanda and actress and singer Katelyn Tarver; and a younger, "cooler" brother, Jake.[3][4]

Tarver moved to New York City when he was 18.[3] After taking improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York, he eventually moved to Los Angeles and began performing at the Los Angeles UCB Theater.

Career

Tarver has performed comedy with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles since 2010.[5] He is a member of the sketch and improv comedy group Big Grande (alongside comedians Jon Mackey, Ryan Rosenberg, and Dan Lippert) and plays Bill Cravy on their podcast, Big Grande: The Teacher's Lounge.[6][7] With Big Grande, Tarver co-wrote and starred in a 22-minute original comedy pilot for Funny or Die[8][9] and several episodes of The UCB Show. Tarver is also a regular guest on the podcast Comedy Bang! Bang!, where his popular characters include Heimlich maneuver inventor Henry Heimlich, 80s new wave singer Martin Sheffield-Lickley, and one half of the country music duo Memphis Kansas Breeze, opposite Carl Tart. The latter two characters originated on the UCB stage and were written by Tarver's frequent collaborators Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans.[10][11]

In 2014, Tarver played Todd, the gay best friend of lead Greta Gerwig on the pilot How I Met Your Dad, which was not picked up by CBS.[12]

He was an ensemble cast member on Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, in which he portrayed the role of Baxter Reynolds. The first three seasons streamed on Seeso from 2016 to 2017.[13] The fourth and final season aired on Pluto TV in 2019.[14]

Tarver was cast in the lead role of Cary Dubek in the 2019 Comedy Central series The Other Two.[15] He described it as his first series role that is not an exaggerated comedic character as seen in his previous work in improv and sketch comedy.[15] The show received positive critical reception and ran for three seasons, concluding in June of 2023.[16]

In 2025, Tarver starred opposite Kate Hudson in the Netflix streaming series Running Point. The series, about a family that owns the fictional NBA team the Los Angeles Waves, was co-created by Mindy Kaling and Ike Barinholtz.[17]

Personal life

Tarver came out as bisexual at age 26.[18][3]

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
2016Other PeopleCraig
DeanKip
2024The American Society of Magical NegroesJason
UnfrostedPop
Television shows
Year Title Role Notes
2012Animal PracticeToddEpisode: "Dr. Yamamazing"
2013NewsreadersCounselor #3Episode: "Gay Camp"
Big Time RushExecutive #2Episode: "Big Time Cartoon"
NTSF:SD:SUV::MarcusEpisode: "A Hard Drive to Swallow"
2014How I Met Your DadToddUnaired CBS/FOX pilot[19]
The McCarthysBenEpisode: "Love, McCarthys Style"
2015Filthy Preppy Teen$Homeless TeenEpisode: "Hangout"
2016Angel from HellOliverEpisode: "Angel Probation"
2016–17The UCB ShowVarious5 episodes
2016–19Bajillion Dollar Propertie$Baxter ReynoldsSeries regular; 34 episodes
2016Tween FestZayden Ostin StormSeries regular; 8 episodes
2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Donny GaryEpisode: "Scott Aukerman Wears a Tailored Black Suit"
2017GirlbossPsychicEpisode: "Thank You, San Francisco"
2018LA to VegasFarleyEpisode: "Two and a Half Pilots"
LoveAndrew CruikshankRecurring role, 2 episodes
2018–19Brooklyn Nine-NineOfficer Gary JenningsRecurring role, 2 episodes
2018SuperstoreLonnieEpisode: "Maternity Leave"
2019–23The Other TwoCary DubekLead role, 30 episodes
2019–21Bless the HartsRandy / Charles Lee (voice)Recurring role, 23 episodes
2019Astronomy ClubRobin HoodEpisode: "Lamp Room"
2020Three Busy DebrasJasonEpisode: "Debspringa"
Mapleworth MurdersBrent DavenportRecurring role, 3 episodes
Hoops(voice)Episode: "Zen"
2021Inside JobKevin (voice)Episode: "The Brettfast Club"
2022GhostsMicahEpisode: "Jay's Friends"
2023History of the World, Part IIAdolf Hitler / Private Tully2 episodes
2025–present Running Point Alexander "Sandy" Gordon Series regular, 20 episodes[20][21]

References

  1. "Drew Tarver and sister, Katelyn Tarver celebrate his 30th birthday". Instagram. 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  2. "'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff Casts Drew Tarver". 25 February 2014.
  3. Arthur, Kenneth (August 22, 2017). "On the Verge: Drew Tarver". Vulture. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  4. "Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver talk Comedy Central's The Other Two". Metro US. 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  5. "ATX Exclusive Interview with Bajillion Dollar Propertie$'s Drew Tarver". TalkNerdyWithUs. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  6. "Big Grande Teachers' Lounge podcast on Earwolf". www.earwolf.com.
  7. Bulnes, Rebecca (May 1, 2017). "Big Grande's The Teacher's Lounge mines pure gold from education's underbelly". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  8. "JON MACKEY". JON MACKEY.
  9. "Funny Or Die Test Tube: Big Grande". 23 April 2015 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. "'The Other Two': Drew Tarver on Cary's New Trajectory & What's Ahead". Collider. 31 May 2023.
  11. "Drew Tarver Promises He is Cooler Than His Characters". 24 February 2025.
  12. "Savannah-area native Drew Tarver getting a 'Bajillion Dollar' shot at fame".
  13. Greene, Steve (2017-06-01). "'Bajillion Dollar Propertie$' Review: Reality TV is No Match for This Real Estate Parody, Which Gets Better as It Gets Weirder". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  14. Ramos, Dino-Ray (July 15, 2019). "'Bajillion Dollar Propertie$' Lands At Pluto TV, Sets Season 4 Premiere Date". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  15. "Comedy Central's Drew Tarver Wants More 'Messy' Gay Characters". www.out.com. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  16. Porter, Rick (2021-09-24). "'The Other Two' Scores Season 3 Renewal at HBO Max". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  17. "'Running Point' Is a Fun Basketball Comedy With a Deep Bench". The New York Times. 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  18. Pesca, Mike (28 January 2019). "Stone Cold Weirdos". The Gist (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  19. Gillman, John (July 13, 2021). "How I Met Your Dad (2014 FOX Pilot)". Vimeo. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  20. White, Peter (2024-02-01). "Brenda Song, Scott MacArthur & Drew Tarver Join Mindy Kaling Basketball Series At Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  21. Hailu, Selome (2024-05-15). "Mindy Kaling's Netflix Comedy 'Running Point' Reveals First Look at Kate Hudson as a Basketball Team President". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-20.