What Is Nick Swardson’s Net Worth?
Nick Swardson, a multifaceted American entertainer known for his work as an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $5 million. This financial standing reflects his diverse career spanning comedy albums, television specials, film roles, and production credits.
Early Career and Comedy Successes
Swardson’s journey to financial stability began with his early forays into the comedy scene. His 2007 comedy album, “Party,” marked a significant step in his career, showcasing his comedic style and building his audience base. This was followed by the 2009 release of his album and Comedy Central special, “Seriously, Who Farted?” which further solidified his presence in the comedy world.
In 2015, Swardson released another Comedy Central special, “Taste It,” which was well-received. This success led to Comedy Central giving him his own show, “Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time,” in 2010. The show allowed him to explore his comedic talents in a more extended format, contributing to his growing net worth.
Acting Roles and Film Appearances
Swardson’s acting career has significantly contributed to his $5 million net worth. His recurring role as Terry Bernadino on “Reno 911!” (2003–2009) provided consistent work and exposure. Throughout his career, he has amassed over 70 acting credits. Some of his notable film appearances include “Malibu’s Most Wanted” (2003), “Grandma’s Boy” (2006), “Blades of Glory” (2007), “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star” (2011), and “30 Minutes or Less” (2011). Each of these roles, no matter the size, contributed to his overall earnings and recognition in the entertainment industry.
His frequent collaborations with Adam Sandler on several films have also played a crucial role in Swardson’s financial success. Appearing in movies such as “Click,” “Bedtime Stories,” “Just Go with It,” and “Grown Ups 2” provided both income and increased visibility.
Writing and Production Ventures
Beyond acting, Swardson has also generated income through his writing and production work. He is credited as a writer on films like “Malibu’s Most Wanted,” “Grandma’s Boy,” and “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star,” as well as television shows like “Pretend Time,” “The Benchwarmers,” and “Gay Robot.” These writing credits not only added to his income but also allowed him creative control over his projects.
Swardson’s production credits include films such as “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry,” “The Ridiculous 6,” “The Do-Over,” and “Sandy Wexler.” Producing these films allowed him to earn additional income through production fees and potential profits. He created, wrote, produced, and starred in the Comedy Central series “Typical Rick” (2016–2017), further diversifying his income streams.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Nicholas Roger Swardson was born on October 9, 1976, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents, Pamela and Roger, divorced in 1989. His father, Roger, who passed away in 2003, was a journalist and editor. Nick has an older sister named Rachel and an older brother named John. He attended St. Paul Central High. Swardson’s early life was marked by challenges, including struggles with addiction. He has openly discussed his experiences with drug use, stating that he became addicted at the age of 15 and was expelled from high school four times. He attended court-ordered rehab at the age of 16. Despite these challenges, he graduated from high school in 1996.
Swardson began performing at open mic nights at Acme Comedy Co. in Minneapolis after highschool. His early performances at Acme Comedy Co. in Minneapolis were pivotal in launching his career. These early shows, which were unpaid or low-paying, provided him with invaluable experience and exposure. His success at these open mic nights led to him becoming the house M.C. at Acme Comedy Co.
Swardson’s success at Acme Comedy Co. led to him winning the club’s “Funniest Person in the Twin Cities” award. He also became a regular performer at Knuckleheads in the Mall of America. These early successes helped him gain recognition and build a following.
Transition to New York and Los Angeles
At the age of 20, Swardson was selected to perform at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. This opportunity provided him with national exposure and helped him make connections in the industry. Following this, he moved from Minnesota to New York City, then to Los Angeles, to pursue acting and comedy full-time. During his early years in Los Angeles, Swardson supplemented his income by appearing in commercials. Although the exact earnings from these commercials are not publicly available, they provided a steady income stream while he pursued larger roles.
Swardson appeared on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” in 1998, followed by a guest-starring role on “LateLine” in 1999. These appearances on national television helped increase his visibility and led to further opportunities.
Film and Television Success
Swardson made his big screen debut in 2000, playing Insane Bowie Fan in “Almost Famous.” In 2001, he appeared in “Pretty When You Cry” alongside Jamie Kennedy and got his own “Comedy Central Presents” special. These early film and television roles helped establish him as a comedic actor.
Swardson appeared in 17 episodes of “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment” in 2002, and he teamed up with Kennedy again for 2003’s “Malibu’s Most Wanted,” which he co-wrote and starred in. That year he also began playing Terry Bernadino on the Comedy Central series “Reno 911!,” and he went on to appear in 28 episodes of the show as well as the 2007 film “Reno 911!: Miami.” His role on “Reno 911!” was a significant boost to his career and helped him gain a wider audience.
Continued Film Career and Collaborations
In 2006, Swardson appeared in the films “Grandma’s Boy,” “Art School Confidential,” and “The Benchwarmers,” and he co-starred with Adam Sandler for the first time in “Click.” These roles further established him as a comedic actor in Hollywood.
Swardson has appeared in numerous Adam Sandler films, including “Bedtime Stories” (2008), “Just Go with It” (2011), and “Grown Ups 2” (2013), and from 2016 to 2017, he was part of the “Netflix Presents Here Comes The Funny Tour,” which included Sandler, Norm Macdonald, David Spade, Tim Meadows, and Rob Schneider. These collaborations with Sandler have been lucrative for Swardson, both financially and in terms of career exposure.
In 2007, Swardson co-starred with Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, and Amy Poehler in “Blades of Glory” and appeared in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” with Sandler and Kevin James. The following year, he appeared in “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” and “The House Bunny,” and he lent his voice to the animated Disney film “Bolt.” These roles in high-profile films have contributed to his net worth.
“Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time” and Later Projects
From 2010 to 2011, Nick starred on “Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time,” which he also wrote and executive produced. This show gave him greater creative control and increased his income as a writer, producer, and star.
He starred in, co-wrote, and co-produced 2011’s “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star,” and he also appeared in “30 Minutes or Less” and “Jack and Jill” that year. While “Bucky Larson” was not a critical success, it provided Swardson with opportunities to earn income as a writer, producer, and actor.
Swardson appeared in 2012’s “That’s My Boy” and 2013’s “A Haunted House,” and in 2014, he voiced Troy on the FX animated series “Chozen” and guest-starred on “Portlandia.” These various roles helped him maintain a steady income stream.
In 2015, he had an uncredited role in “Pixels,” appeared in “The Ridiculous 6,” guest-starred on “The Goldbergs,” and did voice acting in the films “Hotel Transylvania 2” and “Hell and Back.” From 2015 to 2019, Nick voiced Sensei Brantley in 10 episodes of the Disney XD/Disney Channel series “Star vs. the Forces of Evil,” and in 2016, he co-starred with Adam Sandler and David Spade in the Netflix film “The Do-Over.” These various roles contributed to his overall earnings.
Swardson reunited with Sandler again in 2017’s “Sandy Wexler,” and he teamed back up with Spade in 2020’s “The Wrong Missy.” Nick has also appeared in the films “Buddy Games” (2019), “Airplane Mode” (2019), and “Deported” (2020), and he voiced Scott on the Netflix series “Hoops” in 2020. His continued work in film and television has helped him maintain his net worth.
Personal Life and Recent Years
Nick is a fan of the Minnesota Vikings football team. In 2017, Swardson spoke about getting healthy. In the fall of 2019, Nick was hospitalized for nearly three weeks in Denver for alcohol poisoning and pneumonia. In a December 2019 interview with the “StarTribune,” he said of the experience, “My body just shut down. That’s when I realized, ‘Oh, you’re not a superhero.'” In a May 2020 “Screen Rant” interview, Swardson revealed that he hadn’t had alcohol in eight months.
Recognition and Awards
In 2016, Swardson and his “Hell and Back” co-stars received a Behind the Voice Actors Award nomination for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film. While he did not win, this nomination is a testament to his work.
Conclusion
Nick Swardson’s $5 million net worth is the result of his diverse career as an actor, comedian, writer, and producer. His early stand-up success led to television and film roles, which were further augmented by writing and production credits.