William Bellamy (born April 7, 1965) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Bellamy first gained national notoriety on HBO's Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam, where he is credited for creating or coining the phrase "booty call", described as a late night call to a potential paramour with the intention of meeting strictly for sex.

Early life and family

Bellamy was born in Newark, New Jersey. Bellamy is a cousin of basketball player Shaquille O'Neal.

He attended Seton Hall Preparatory School in nearby South Orange, New Jersey (now located in West Orange). He majored in economics at Rutgers University.

Career

For many years, Bellamy was a staple on MTV, a VJ and the host of several MTV programs including MTV Jams and MTV Beach House. He went on to star in a number of movies, including Fled, Love Jones, The Brothers, How to Be a Player, Getting Played and Any Given Sunday. He also appeared on two episodes of the TV show Kenan & Kel. Additionally, he voiced Skeeter on the Nickelodeon television show Cousin Skeeter.

In 2002, Bellamy had a co-starring role in the Fox Network television show Fastlane alongside Peter Facinelli and Tiffani Thiessen. He also appeared frequently as a "roundtable" guest on the late night E! talk show Chelsea Lately. Bellamy hosted seasons 5 and 6 of NBC's Last Comic Standing reality show (2007 and 2008). In 2014, he had a recurring role as Councilman Powell on the TV Land original series Hot in Cleveland. He voiced Marcus Hill, a playable character in the 2005 updated version of the NARC video game.

In 2016, Bellamy played FBI Agent Sanders, the partner of Dolph Lundgren's character, in Kindergarten Cop 2.

Bellamy hosted Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes? on TV One. He was also an executive producer for it. In 2020, he starred in the Netflix miniseries Self Made.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Joey BreakerAce Man
Who's the Man?K.K.
1996FledRay
1997Love JonesHollywood
Austin Powers' Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swingers ClubThe Swingers ClubTV movie
How to Be a PlayerDrayton Jackson
1999Love StinksLarry Garnett
Any Given SundayJimmy Sanderson
2001The BrothersBrian Palmer
2002Three Big Words-Short
Buying the CowJonesy
2005NeverwasMartin Sands
The Real Mario GreyDr. GettyShort
2006Getting PlayedMark SellersTV movie
2010Lottery TicketGiovanni Watson
2012NoobzBrian Bankrupt Simmons
201310 Rules for Sleeping AroundDwayne
2016Kindergarten Cop 2Sanders
The Bounce BackTerry Jackson
2019Twenty to OneNarratorTV movie
2020A Dark FoeRocco
2021A Rich ChristmasMarshall RichTV movie
2023House PartyPops
Back on the StripTyriq 'Da Face' Cox
2025#WorstChristmaseverLarry Vann

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989The Play on OneAntique DealerEpisode: "Heartland"
1991–1995It's Showtime at the ApolloHimselfRecurring guest
1992Def Comedy JamHimselfEpisodes: "Episode #1.4" & "#2.6"
1993MTV Beach HouseHimself/HostMain host: Season 1
1996BaywatchHimselfEpisode: "Beachblast"
1997Soul Train Lady of Soul AwardsHimself/co-hostMain co-host
1998Figure It OutCousin Skeeter (voice)Episode: "Bags Groceries Dad Buys in Record Time"
1998–2001Cousin SkeeterSkeeterMain cast
1999Kenan & KelHimselfGuest cast: Seasons 3-4
2000The Jamie Foxx ShowAndreEpisode: "Partner fo' Life"
2001Hollywood SquaresHimself/PanelistRecurring panelist
2001–2002Men, Women & DogsJeremiahMain cast
2002–2003FastlaneDeaqon "Deaq" HayesMain cast
2004Half & HalfJames LewisEpisode: "The Big Birth-Date Episode"
2005I Love the '90s: Part DeuxHimselfEpisode: "1996"
2006Def Comedy JamHimselfEpisode: "Episode #7.8"
CaerdyddMr. HowardEpisode: "Episode #1.1"
2006–2009Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?Himself/hostMain host
2007Thank God You're HereHimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.7"
2007–2008Last Comic StandingHimself/HostMain host: Seasons 5–6
October RoadStratton LorbRecurring cast
2010CastleMickey ReedEpisode: "The Late Shaft"
Royal PainsAristotleEpisode: "The Hankover"
Meet the BrownsAnthonyRecurring vast: Season 4
2012Celebrity Ghost StoriesHimselfEpisode: "Bill Bellamy/Dawn Wells/Jack Blades/Mary Lambert"
BlackBoxTV PresentsHeadshotEpisode: "AEZP: Execution Style"
2012-13Mr. Box OfficeMarcus JacksonMain cast
2013Centric Comedy All-StarsHimself/hostMain host
Who Gets the Last Laugh?HimselfEpisode: "Kunal Nayyar/Bill Bellamy/Jeff Dye"
Big Morning Buzz LiveHimself/panelistEpisode: "Natalie Dormer/Capital Cities"
Rachael RayHimself/guest co-hostEpisodes: "Episode #8.6" & "#8.42"
White CollarDelmon WellsEpisode: "Empire City"
2014Hot in ClevelandCouncilman Jim PowellRecurring cast: Season 5
2015Live at GothamHimself/HostEpisode: "Bill Bellamy"
Murder in the FirstPA AnnouncerEpisode: "Bruja Blanca"
2015–2017Dinner at Tiffani'sHimselfRecurring guest
2016–2018Unsung HollywoodHimselfEpisodes: "Bill Bellamy" & "Rickey Smiley"
201790's HouseHimselfEpisode: "The One with All the Pick-up Lines"
2017–2020Funny You Should AskHimselfRecurring guest
2018InsecureKev'ynRecurring cast: Season 3
2020This Is Stand-UpHimselfEpisodes: "Episode #1.1" & "#1.2"
Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel GlennHimselfEpisode: "Who Is Paris Jackson?"
S.W.A.T.Jackie ShawEpisode: "Knockout"
Self MadeSweetnessRecurring cast
2021Dark HumorHimselfEpisode: "Comedy & Hip-Hop: We've Got Bars"
Celebrity Family FeudHimself/Celebrity PlayerEpisode: "Vivica A. Fox vs. Bill Bellamy and MLB Alums vs. MLB Wives"
Dark Side of the 90sHimselfEpisode: "Hip Hop: The East vs. West Media War"
The Wendy Williams ShowHimself/Guest Co-HostEpisodes: "Episode #14.22" & "#14.23"
The TalkHimself/Guest Co-HostRecurring Guest Co-Host: Season 11
2022Phat Tuesdays: The Era Of Hip Hop ComedyHimselfMain guest
Urban Eats and TreatsHimselfEpisode: "Bill Bellamy"
The NeighborhoodLorenzoEpisode: "Welcome to the Man Code"
2023Celebration of Black Cinema & TelevisionHimself/hostMain host
Bel-AirJulius BanksEpisode: "Let the Best Man Win"

Comedy Specials

YearTitle
1994Bill Bellamy: Booty Call
2005Bill Bellamy: Back to My Roots
2012Bill Bellamy: Crazy Sexy Dirty
2013Bill Bellamy's Ladies Night Out Comedy Tour
2022Bill Bellamy: I Want My Life Back

Music Videos

YearArtistTitle
1995Da Brat"Give It 2 You"
2Pac"Temptations"
1997Foxy Brown"Big Bad Mamma"

Video Games

YearTitleRole
2005NarcMarcus Hill (voice)
2006L.A. RushLidell Ray (voice)

External links