In Workaholics, the Comedy Central sitcom hit about three roommates/co-workers at a California telemarketing firm, actor Adam DeVine plays an immature, self-absorbed, funny 20-something without any direction. In real life, the former Omahan and Millard South grad, now living in L.A., seems much more motivated and mature than his character, though heโs definitely still after the laughs. Humor has gotten him through some tough times, as well as helped him with โthe ladies.โ
Just before entering middle school in 1995, DeVine was hit by a cement truck at Harrison and 144th streets, suffering severe injuries. โ[Recovery] was toughโฆBut I found out that if I was funny, girls would push me in my wheelchair to my next class. BOSS MOVES,โ he jokes.
Later, while attending high school at MSHS (โGo Patriots!โ), DeVine struggled with rejection in sports. โI wasnโt crazy-athletic. I tried out for the basketball team every year [and didnโt make it.] By senior year, the coach told me not to bother. I found out early girls werenโt gonna like me for my athletic prowess, so I had to be funny,โ he says.
So DeVine threw himself into school activities like drama and student council, which allowed him to express his humorous side. As his performance and comedy skills grew, so did his ambitions. His drama teacher, Robin Baker, was instrumental in convincing DeVineโs parents to let him follow his dream to move to California to pursue an entertainment career. โShe didnโt blink an eye and told my mom that it was a great idea and that she thought I had the chops to make it,โ he remembers. โAnd sheโs always encouraged me to write my own stuff and create my own content. Big ups, Mrs. Baker!โbr
โI found out early girls werenโt gonna like me for my athletic prowess, so I had to be funny."
brOne of DeVineโs big breaks was a national TV commercial for Taco Bell. โI came back to Omaha while it was airing, and I thought I was a superstar,โ he says, laughing. More recently, he landed a small supporting role in the box-office hit Pitch Perfect, which garnered him a new league of female fans. (DeVine has to be happy about that.)
Landing Workaholics, however, which has been picked up for two more seasons, has definitely been his biggest role to date. And DeVine feels very lucky for it.
โThe creative freedom I have on Workaholics is amazing,โ he says. โI want to keep writing my own stuff, and Iโve been told itโs really hard to have this kind of freedom.โ
DeVine, who comes back to Nebraska regularly to see friends and family (and occasionally catch a Husker game and grab a Runza, he says), is currently at work on a stand-up comedy/sketch hybrid show called House Party, also for Comedy Central. He and fellow Workaholics actors have written a movie as well, for which comedic actor Seth Rogen has signed on as a producer. โI couldnโt be more psyched. Seth is a great guy to learn from because heโs about my age, and heโs been through it all.โ
When asked if thereโs any downside to a booming career and fame, he answers, โFinding time to have a life and not working all the timeโฆItโs good to stop, kiss my girlfriend, and call my mom every once in a while.
โOh, and fake friendsโฆYa know, the people who would never be friends with me in a million years are suddenly like โBro! What are you doing tonight?โโ to which he typically responds, โNothing with you, dudeโฆI wonโt fit in with your crewโฆI donโt have a fedora or a bedazzled shirt.โ
Per usual, DeVine goes for the laugh.