Nathan James Barnatt (born February 2, 1981) is an American actor, comedian, dancer, YouTuber, stuntman and filmmaker.[2] He is best known for his famous comical characters Keith Apicary and "Dad".[2][3]

Nathan Barnatt
Barnatt in 2022
Born
Nathan James Barnatt

(1981-02-02) February 2, 1981 (age 43)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • dancer
  • filmmaker
  • stuntman
  • YouTuber
Height6 ft (183 cm)
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2006–present
Genres
  • Dancing
  • physical comedy
  • boxing
Subscribers467,000[1]
Total views117,775,800[1]

Last updated: January 15, 2024
Websitenathanbarnatt.com

Personal life

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Nathan Barnatt was born on February 2, 1981.[4] Barnatt graduated from Medway High School.[5] Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Barnatt worked as a gravedigger for two years.[2]

Career

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Barnatt at the Anaheim Comic Con in 2010

Barnatt appeared on Comedy Central's The Gong Show with Dave Attell in 2008, on Comedy Central's Ghosts/Aliens pilot in 2009, and on This Show Will Get You High in 2010. In 2012, Barnatt developed a show with Adult Swim based on his Keith Apicary character called Youth Large. The Youth Large pilot was written by Barnatt, his brother Seth, and Paul Cummings (who is also the director). However, Adult Swim passed on the pilot but it was released online in August 2014. Since then, Barnatt has sold shows to television networks Nickelodeon, Amazon, Comedy Central, Fox and Viceland.

Barnatt is a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Hollywood California. He is also an amateur dancer, as displayed in his videos including a Kimberly Cole audition session.[2]

His popularity in the Kimberly Cole audition video has led him to appear in the music video for Kimberly Cole's "U Make Me Wanna" in his Keith Apicary character.[6] Barnatt also appeared in character in a music video for "Let It Roll" by Flo Rida[7] and "Paradise" by Laidback Luke.[8] He appears in character in the music video for "Freestyle" by country music group Lady Antebellum.[9]

In 2012, Barnatt was featured on the front cover of LA Weekly magazine, covering his success on YouTube.[10] In 2013, Barnatt provided voice work on the Animation Domination show High School USA! as one of the main characters, Lamort Blackstein.

In 2015, Barnatt played a police officer in the music video for "Sugar" by Robin Schulz.

In June 2016, Barnatt appeared as a guest on the Let's Play webseries Game Grumps.[11] In November 2016, Barnatt appeared in an episode of James & Mike Mondays,[12] alongside James Rolfe, whom he worked with on Rolfe's 2014 film Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie. On December 20, 2016, he again appeared as his character Keith Apicary in a Christmas episode of the Angry Video Game Nerd episode where he dresses up as Will Ferrell's character from Elf in order to secure Santa's gifts, and he and the Nerd play a variety of games with different Sega Genesis accessories while destroying the set in a slapstick fashion.[citation needed] He also appears in a short film by James Rolfe called "Flying Fuckernauts vs. the Astro Bastards" as one of two Fuckernauts, alongside Rolfe.[citation needed]

In July 2018, Barnatt played a fast-talking salesman trying to sell a faceless customer a copy of a fictional game called Finger GunZ. However, the customer is repeatedly drawn to the gameplay of Sonic Mania Plus. Deliberately edited to look and sound like a 1990s commercial, the customer talks about all the features of Sonic Mania Plus and its low price while Barnatt repeatedly tries to sell Finger GunZ with comments taking direct jabs at the games industry.[13]

In 2019, Barnatt created a YouTube channel called Dad,[3] featuring the web series Dad Feels following a character named Dad. Though it is often called an alternate reality game (ARG),[14] Barnatt disowns the term.[15] The series has concluded its first season consisting three acts in December 2020.[16] The series was a surprising success for Barnatt, who was experiencing financial struggles severe enough that he prepared to live in his van.[17]

In August 2019, Barnatt appeared as a guest on an episode of Rental Reviews in which they reviewed the 1971 film Duel, and appeared again in September 2019, this time reviewing the 1982 film First Blood both as himself and Keith Apicary.[2]

In June 2021, Barnatt appeared on season 16 of America's Got Talent as his character Keith Apicary where he received four "yes" votes from the judges for his dance routine.[18] On the semi-final live show broadcast August 25, 2021, Apicary did not make it through to the next round.[citation needed]

In May 2022 and April 2023, Barnatt participated in the Creator Clash boxing events as his "Dad" character. In the 2022 event, he won his match against Matt Watson by TKO in 22 seconds. At the 2023 event, he defeated Starkilla after Starkilla forfeited between the first and second rounds. In his winning speech, Barnatt called out WWE and stated he still has the paperwork provided by them.[19]

Boxing record

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2 fights 2 wins 0 losses
By decision 2 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Win 2–0 Starkilla TKO 1 (5), 2:00 April 15, 2023 Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Matt Watson TKO 1 (5), 0:22 May 14, 2022 Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida, U.S.

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Scream Queens Nerdy Stripper / Mime 2 episodes
2011 Happy Endings Roger Episode: "Mein Coming Out"
Auction Hunters Ms. Pac-Man expert Episode: "Labor of Love"
Community Basketball player Episode: "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux"
2012 Animation Domination High-Def Keith Apicary Episode: "Obama Fire Sale" (voice)
2013 Axe Cop Episode: "Ask Axe Cop: President" (voice)
Youth Large Pilot
2013–2015 High School USA! Lamort Blackstein Main cast (voice)
2014–2017 Kirby Buckets Gil Recurring
2015 Documentary Now! Sign Spinner Episode: "The Eye Doesn't Lie"
2016 Party Over Here Various Episode: "Suffragettes"
Time Traveling Bong Clyde Episode: "Chapter 2: The Middle"
Swedish Dicks Bob Episode: "Episode 4"
2016–2019 Adam Ruins Everything Various 5 episodes
2017 Making History Cameraman Episode: "The Godfriender"
Lucifer Buster Episode: "My Brother's Keeper"
2018 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Boss Episode: "Time's Up for the Gang"
New Warriors Tased Man TV Pilot
2019 Now Apocalypse Worm 3 episodes
2019–present Just Roll With It Bonesy 2 episodes
2020 Stumptown Randy Huffernan Episode: "At All Costs: The Conrad Costas Chronicles"
2021 America's Got Talent Himself (Keith Apicary) Contestant
Short film
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Neutral Tom Weaver Also director, writer, editor and co-producer.
2021 Milford Jace Also director, writer, and editor.
Internet
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Angry Video Game Nerd Keith Apicary Episode: "Sega Activator Interactor Menacer"
2019 "Dad" Dad Also creator, director
Music videos
Year Title Role Notes
2011 "Que Veux-tu (Madeon Remix)" Himself Yelle
2011 "Pop Culture"[20] Himself Madeon
2012 "U Make Me Wanna" Keith Apicary Kimberly Cole
2012 "Let It Roll (Keith Apicary video)"[7] Keith Apicary Flo Rida
2015 "Sugar" Officer Finkleman Robin Schulz ft. Francesco Yates
2016 "Ici & Maintenant"[21] Yelle
2017 "Summer" Barista Marshmello
2017 "Paradise" Keith Apicary Laidback Luke
2021 "Bedroom Eyes" Dad The Knocks ft. Studio Killers
2023 "Voices" Extra KSI ft. Oliver Tree
2024 "Dance 'Til You Stop" Interrupting Guy Ninja Sex Party ft. Tom Cardy

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Character Year
Talking Classics Compact Disc on the Internet[22] Keith Apicary 2011
Music[23] Dad 2019
More Music[24] 2021

Singles

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Title Character Year Album
"Most Annoying Song Ever" Murt Ambroseo 2009 Non-album single
"Neo Geo" (Retro 2600 Remix)
(Featuring FantomenK)
Keith Apicary 2010 Talking Classics Compact Disc on the Internet
"Classic Gaming Wiz" (Blue Hedgehog Remix)
"Sonic the Hedgesong"
"Virtual Boy Song"
(Featuring FantomenK)
2011
"Skittles Song"
(Featuring Graham Mackie)
Trale Lewous Non-album single
"Brental-Loss"
(Featuring FantomenK and Brentalfloss)
Keith Apicary Talking Classics Compact Disc on the Internet
"Dreamcast 2 Song" (Chemical Plant Zone Remix)
"T.M.N.T.S.O.N.G."
(Featuring FantomenK)
2012
"Oh Girl" Roy Mance Non-album singles
"Keith of Rage" Keith Apicary 2013
"Koopa Bounce" 2014 Talking Classics Compact Disc on the Internet
"Can't Go Home"
(featuring Andrew W.K., Mick Foley, and Shadrew)
2015 Non-album singles
"Keith Apicary vs. the Social Outcasts" 2016
"Say Gah"
(featuring FantomenK)
2018
"Sinkin in Lincoln"
"Dad Feels Great" Dad
"Most Hated Song Ever" 2019
"Dad Feels Good" (Boosted Mix)
(featuring Danny Brown and Jankins)
Dad
"Summer"
(featuring Ironmouse and Duzzled)
2021
"Matt Watson Diss-appointment Track"
(featuring Matt's friends)
2022
"Obliterate"
(featuring Corey Graves and MatPat)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About Nathan". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e Alimurung, Gendy (June 27, 2012). "Nathan Barnatt Never Grew Up". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Dad". YouTube.
  4. ^ Barnatt, Nathan (February 2, 2023). "It's my birthday". YouTube. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Former Medway resident may be part of Super Bowl ad tomorrow". Milford Daily News. February 4, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  6. ^ YouTube Archived July 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Trent (June 21, 2012). "Flo Rida Enlists YouTube Nerd Keith Apicary for 'Let It Roll' Video". PopCrush. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Laidback Luke - Paradise ft Bright Lights". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Lady Antebellum Release Free-Spirited Video for 'Freestyle'". Taste of Country. October 29, 2014.
  10. ^ Alimurung, Gendy (July 10, 2012). "Nathan Barnatt Made a Video About Being on the Cover of L.A. Weekly". LA Weekly.
  11. ^ GameGrumps (June 4, 2016). "WWF WrestleMania - Grumpcade (Ft. Nathan Barnatt)". Archived from the original on December 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Cinemassacre (November 7, 2016). "WWF Super WrestleMania (Sega Genesis) James & Mike Mondays". Archived from the original on December 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Sonic the Hedgehog (July 16, 2018). "Sonic Mania Plus Infomercial". Archived from the original on December 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ September 16, Grant; Am, 2020 at 9:21 (September 12, 2020). "Beyond the Secret Society: It's Influencers All the Way Down". ARGNet: Alternate Reality Gaming Network. Retrieved February 3, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Nathan Barnatt Talks Dad Secrets and Life as Other People [Ep. 82]". The Create Unknown. March 11, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "Andan's Run - Act III Finale". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  17. ^ Foster, Jamie (March 13, 2021). "The Man You've Seen But Never Heard Of". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  18. ^ Tinwala, Yasmin (June 1, 2021). "'America's Got Talent': Who is Keith Apicary? Actor Nathan Barnatt's alter ego 'killed it' with his dance". meaww.
  19. ^ Bradley, Kevin (April 2023). "Creator Clash 2: Results, Highlights". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  20. ^ Goodman, William (August 31, 2011). "Epic Madeon song mix "Pop Culture" gets a dance". CBS News. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  21. ^ Rodriguez, Krystal (December 23, 2016). "YELLE's New "Ici & Maintenant (Here & Now)" Video is About Seizing the Moment". Vice. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  22. ^ Apicary, Keith (May 10, 2011). "Talking Classics Compact Disc On the Internet". Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Bandcamp.
  23. ^ Feels, Dad (2019). "Music". Spotify.
  24. ^ Feels, Dad (2021). "More Music". Spotify.
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