Soldier of Fortune Magazine The Journal of Professional Adventurers
Comedian, Game Show Host Is a Retired Marine
NOV. 1, 2021 | BY DAVID VERGUN, DOD NEWS
Rob Riggle is known for his work as a comedian. He currently co-hosts the miniature golf game show “Holey Moley,” but is best known for being on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Daily Show.”
He was also a Marine.
In 1992, Riggle was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. He served as a public affairs officer in New York City and Los Angeles; he also had deployments to Liberia, Kosovo, Albania and Afghanistan.
On Jan. 1, 2013, he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Among his awards were two Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Combat Action Ribbon, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Over the years, Riggle went overseas a number of times to entertain troops in USO shows.
In a May 31, 2013, interview with ABC News Angel Canales, Riggle offered this advice to military veterans: “Seek out mentors, people who are doing what you want to do. You have to decide what you want and have a goal. Don’t worry about how you’re going to do it. Just trust that you’ll get there. There’s no better citizen than a veteran. There’s so much waiting for you outside, and it’s not something to be intimidated by or scared by, it is something to be embraced. Decide what you want, and go get it.”
Riggle was born April 21, 1970, in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved to Overland Park, Kansas, when he was two. He attended Shawnee Mission South High School, where he was involved in the school’s radio and TV stations. He was voted the most humorous in high school and graduated in 1988.
He then attended the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1992 with a B.A. in Theater and Film.
Riggle’s career has included:
- Appearing as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” from 2004 to 2005.
- Acting in the 2006 movie “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.”
- Appearing as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” from 2006 to 2008.
- Acting in 2009 “The Hangover;” 2010 “Furry Vengeance;” 2011 “Larry Crowne;” 2015 “Absolutely Anything;” and, 2018 “Night School.”
- Playing Gil Thorpe on the television sitcom “Modern Family” from 2013 to 2019.
- Appearing in 2014 “Dumb and Dumber To.”
