Dan Oconnor

Background

About Dan Oconnor

Dan has performed, directed and taught improvisation around the world for over 30 years. He is the Founder of the critically acclaimed Los Angeles based Impro Theatre and co-founder of BATS Improv in San Francisco. He co-created, executive produced (with Kelsey Grammer), and starred in 2 seasons of the NBC/PAX improv comedy television show “World Cup Comedy”. He was the consulting producer for two seasons of the syndicated late night show Quick Witz which featured Wayne Brady, Steve Carrell and Nia Vardalos. He directed the critically acclaimed hybrid sit-coms “Sons and Daughters” for ABC, and “Campus Ladies” for the Oxygen Network. He was a writer and the improv director for “The Wayne Brady Show” on ABC. He was a writer for the CBS sitcom Payne with John Larroquette and for the Disney series the Weekenders. Dan has worked as a consultant and trainer for numerous companies including Deloitte, KPMG Peat-Marwick, DOW, Ernst and Young, PriceWaterhouse, Andersen Consulting, McKesson, Pacific Bell, Roche, Bank of America, Cadence, The McCombs School of Business at UT, Remax, Tax Executives Institute, MGM Mirage, TORK/SCA Tissue, Clarke Mosquito Control, Stanford Health and 5 different Cirque du Soleil productions. He co-created "The Living Story Board" for Dreamworks and Disney Animation, which is a unique, real-time writing and improvisation method of improvisers and animators working together to explore narrative for Dreamworks and Disney animated features. Dan has taught at DUKE, Pepperdine, UCLA Extension and the Writing-by-the-Sea program at UCSB. He was an adjunct professor for USC’s BFA program and has also taught in the MBA Program for the University of Texas McCoombs School of Business. Television acting credits include Seinfeld, Campus Ladies, Malcolm In the Middle, VEGAS, Raising Hope, JAG, Law and Order: Los Angeles, The Tonight Show (over 50 episodes), The Rudy Show, The Newz, Raising Hope, NCIS, Quick Witz and the Middle. He has appeared in over 100 commercials. He trained at the American Conservatory Theatre and is a graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Dan has co-authored two books with Jeff Katzman about using improvisation to lead a more happy and engaged life published by North Atlantic Books and distributed by Penguin Random House Life UnScripted-Using Improv Principles to Get Unstuck, Boost Confidence, and Transform Your Life Ensemble! Using the Power of Improv To Forge Connections in a Lonely World.