Nick Swardson was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. During high school, he became involved with an improv group, although he initially did not consider stand-up comedy seriously. This was during the post-comedy boom years when many comics focused on life experiences that seemed distant to Swardson, such as marriage and adult responsibilities. As a teenager, Swardson struggled with substance abuse and was expelled from school four times. After attending rehab, he quit drugs but continued to drink regularly. After high school, Swardson planned to continue with his improv team, but when the group disbanded, he sought another creative outlet. He turned to a local open mic night in Minneapolis, where his first stand-up performance went well, sparking his passion for comedy. Swardson found the immediate response from stand-up particularly appealing, enjoying how quickly his ideas could be transformed into entertainment. His big break came when he appeared in commercials for Barq's Root Beer, which provided him with the financial cushion needed to take his stand-up act on the road. Despite this stability, Swardson often found himself sleeping in his car while traveling from gig to gig. Over time, he developed a preference for performing in theaters rather than comedy clubs, as theaters allowed him to reach larger audiences in one show and offered more personal time for leisure. Swardson has achieved significant milestones in his comedy career. Among them are two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials, the first aired in 2001, reportedly making him the youngest comic to earn this distinction at the time. His talents extend beyond stand-up; he is well-known for his portrayal of the flamboyant roller-skating prostitute Terry in the improvised sitcom "Reno 911." Despite the success of such roles, Swardson has tried to diversify his performances, working on projects like the animated show "Gay Robot" while steering away from similar characters. In April 2009, he recorded his first hour-long stand-up special in Austin, Texas, which Comedy Central later released as "Nick Swardson: Seriously, Who Farted?" As an added feature, a bonus track on the special's CD included a mock advertisement for an album by his "Reno 911!" character, Terry. More recently, Swardson completed writing and starring in the film "Born To Be a Star," produced by his friend and fellow comedian Adam Sandler. The film was slated for release in late 2010, marking another chapter in Swardson's expanding creative career.