Dutter, Barry 1974-

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DUTTER, Barry 1974-

PERSONAL: Born 1974, in NJ. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Politics: Democrat. Religion: Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Movies, exercise, the beach.

ADDRESSES: Home—601 North Rio Vista Blvd., #110, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301. Agent—c/o Author Mail, CCC Publications, 9725 Lurline Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311-4404. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Journalist, author, stand-up comic, and actor. Marvel Comics, former staff writer; Cracked (magazine) writer, then editor-in-chief and head writer, beginning 2000; freelance journalist. Performer of standup comedy routine, beginning 1996; bit actor in films.

WRITINGS:

Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned fromTelevision, illustrated by Rick Parker, Applause Books (New York, NY), 1992.

How to Be a Hollywood Superstar, illustrated by Rich Hoover, General Publishing Group (Santa Monica, CA), 1996.

The Shy Guy's Guide to Dating, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1998.

In a Perfect World, illustrated by Steve Kurth, CCC Publications (Chatsworth, CA), 2000.

Contributor to periodicals, including Comic Buyer's Guide, Comics Scene, Amazing Heroes, Weekly World News, Mad Magazine, Simpsons Comics, and Marvel Age. Contributed text to comic-book series "Spider-Man," "X-Men," "Nick Fury," "Captain America," "The Hulk," and "Ren and Stimpy," for Marvel. Also author of pocket-sized trivia books.

WORK IN PROGRESS: An erotic thriller; more dating books; a coming-of-age novel.

SIDELIGHTS: Barry Dutter, a fan of comic books from a very early age, began his career as a freelance journalist at the age of eighteen for publications in the comics industry, eventually earning a position at Marvel Comics. Writing stories for series featuring super heroes Spider-Man, the X-Men, Nick Fury, Captain America, and the Hulk was a high point in Dutter's career; it was also "the only job I ever wanted since I was nine years old," as Dutter explained on his Web site. Despite this, Dutter left Marvel in the mid-1990s to pursue more diverse assignments as a freelance writer. His first book, Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned from Television, is a cartoon compendium focusing on "what life would be like if everything we saw on TV was real." Dutter followed this in 1996 with How to Be a Hollywood Superstar, which, he explained on his Web site, "shows how everyone can be a Hollywood superstar, just by imitating the behavior of your favorite celebrity!"

Dutter is perhaps best known for his book The Shy Guy's Guide to Dating, which he described on his Web site as "the authoritative guide that will take shy guys everywhere—from the first date to home plate." In the book Dutter uses pop-culture references to inspire and guide shy guys and other readers through the process of meeting and dating women. In her online review of the book for City Link, Colleen Dougher-Telcik commented, "As far as I can tell, he watches way too much television." Dutter is also known for his work on Cracked magazine, where he served for a time as head writer as well as editor-in-chief.

After moving to Florida in 1996, Dutter expanded his comedic skills and began performing as a stand-up comic. He also worked as a film extra, proclaiming on his Web site, that he has "appeared in virtually every movie that's been filmed in South Florida from 1996 on," including Wild Things, There's Something about Mary, and Donnie Brasco. Nonetheless, he hopes "to continue writing self-help books, dishing out relationship advice even though I know nothing about relationships!"

Dutter told CA: "I hope my funny books will make people laugh and I hope my advice books will help people with their relationships."