Erik Stolhanske
- Actor, Writer, Producer
Biography
Erik Stolhanske is an American actor, writer, and producer, and a member of the Broken Lizard comedy group. He is best known as “Officer Rabbit” from the cult-classic comedy Super Troopers and Super Troopers 2.
As one of the five principal members of the famed sketch comedy troupe, he has starred in all of the Broken Lizard films, which include Beerfest, The Slammin’ Salmon, Club Dread, and Puddle Cruiser – in addition to making cameo appearances in The Sweetest Thing and The Onion Movie. On television, he can be seen on the HBO critically acclaimed series Curb Your Enthusiasm and Six Feet Under, as well as the Comedy Central special Broken Lizard Stands Up.
Erik attended Colgate University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
After leaving Colgate, he moved to New York City where he attended the William Esper Studio and received formal training in acting and theater arts. He then spent a year training with Wynn Handman, a director and acting teacher responsible for shaping the careers of Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Richard Gere, and other stars at the influential American Place Theater in Manhattan. While in New York, Stolhanske and fellow college friends Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, and Paul Soter formed the American comedy troupe Broken Lizard.
Erik has written, produced, and starred in all the Broken Lizard comedies, including the upcoming Super Troopers 3. Together, they collaborated on the screenwriting, acting, and productions of all their films.
Erik has worked alongside a number of Hollywood luminaries, including Academy Award-recognized actors Cloris Leachman, Monique, and Michael Clarke Duncan, and other icons of the screen such as Brian Cox, Rob Lowe, and Bill Paxton.
He is amongst Hollywood’s top comedic actors, known to have worked with Jim Gaffigan, Will Forte, and Johnny Knoxville.
Stolhanske has co-written various screenplays, including one with former NFL star Jared Allen.
Besides writing, acting, and producing, Stolhanske travels the country as a public speaker delivering keynote speeches to corporations, colleges, and veterans’ groups, and volunteers his time to work with the Disabled Veterans of America whenever possible. Born without a fibula, Stolhanske overcame his disability to become one of Hollywood’s most popular comedians and has surprised many of his fans with his appearance in the popular exercise program P90X. He is now telling his poignant, yet humorous story of overcoming adversity and persevering, even when the odds are stacked against you.