Biography
Comedian Josh McDermitt was a member of the Los Angeles improvisational performing scene before earning his big break as alleged scientist Eugene Porter on "The Walking Dead" (AMC, 2010- ). Born Joshua Matthew Michael McDermitt in Phoenix, Arizona on June 4, 1978, McDermitt began his show business career in his early teens as a regular guest on a local radio program. Upon hearing the station play a particular pop-country song, McDermitt called the disc jockeys to poke fun at the tune while waiting for his school bus. The DJs found his banter amusing, and asked him to call in again on the following day. McDermitt used a variety of voices and personas to portray different characters before eventually revealing to the DJs that he was only 14 years of age. The station management was impressed with his talent, and gave McDermitt a crash course in the radio business. After earning his own early morning program, McDermitt graduated to performing stand-up at clubs throughout Arizona and later Las Vegas. He eventually relocated to Los Angeles, where he joined the improvisational troupe Robert Downey Jr Jr, and filmed several short comedy films with its members. In 2006, he was a contestant on the fourth season of "Last Comic Standing" (NBC 2003- ) and reached the semi-final rounds before his elimination. McDermitt worked on the Los Angeles stand-up circuit while also making appearances in various pilots before landing his first series regular job on the sitcom "Retired at 35" (TV Land 2011-12). When the program ran its course, McDermitt booked his most high-profile role to date: as the awkwardly coiffured Eugene Porter on "The Walking Dead." Initially a recurring role in the show's fourth season, Eugene claimed to be a government scientist with classified information about a means to end the zombie plague. For the show's fifth season, McDermitt was elevated from recurring player to series regular.
