Patton Oswalt was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and grew up in a military family, which meant frequent relocations during his childhood. His early exposure to comedy came from listening to his father’s collection of Jonathan Winters records, sparking an interest in stand-up. Oswalt attended the College of William and Mary, where in between his freshman and sophomore years, he sought work that aligned with his writing ambitions. It was during this period that he tried his hand at stand-up comedy, quickly falling in love with the craft despite its initial challenges. In 1989, Oswalt began working open mics in the Washington, D.C. area, where he crossed paths with upcoming comedians like Dave Chappelle. One of his early jokes, which played with the pronunciation of the word "of," earned him praise from fellow comedians. By immersing himself fully in the stand-up scene, he gained experience but faced personal sacrifices, including the end of his engagement due to the strains on his relationship caused by the non-paying gigs. In 1992, Oswalt moved to San Francisco, seeking to thrive within its vibrant comedy scene. There, he connected with comedians such as Dana Gould, Marc Maron, and Brian Posehn, and became part of the "alternative" comedy movement, which encouraged breaking away from conventional standards. Despite the scene's creative vitality, the stand-up comedy business was contracting, prompting Oswalt to relocate to Los Angeles in 1995, a city still infused with opportunities for comedians. His dedication paid off, and by 1996 Patton Oswalt began headlining comedy clubs. Recognition followed with his inclusion in Variety's "10 Comedians to Watch" in 1999 and being named the "It Comedian" by Entertainment Weekly in 2002. Oswalt’s first Comedy Central Presents special in 1999 left him dissatisfied due to network alterations, leading him to assert creative control in his 2005 one-hour special, "No Reason to Complain." Oswalt's career further expanded when he married writer Michelle McNamara in 2005. The previous year, he released his first comedy CD, "Feelin’ Kinda Patton," based on a performance at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia. He continued to explore unique venues for his comedy, contributing to "The Comedians of Comedy" tour alongside Brian Posehn, Zach Galifianakis, and Maria Bamford. The tour was chronicled in documentaries, adapted for both Netflix and Comedy Central. Parallel to his stand-up career, Patton Oswalt found success on television and film, notably portraying Spense on the sitcom "The King of Queens" for nine years. Despite the association, Oswalt maintained a clear distinction between his TV persona and his stand-up identity. He lent his voice to the main character in Pixar's "Ratatouille," a role that leveraged his comedic background through creative promotional efforts. Oswalt remained dedicated to stand-up, viewing his film and TV roles as secondary. In 2007, he released his second CD, "Werewolves and Lollipops," recorded at the Cap City Comedy Club in Austin, Texas, and the package included a DVD of a set performed at the 40 Watt Club. His following projects solidified his standing in the comedy world, including the 2009 special and CD titled "My Weakness is Strong."