Matt Rife
Matthew Steven Rife (born September 10, 1995) is an American comedian and actor. Rife is best known for his self-produced comedy specials Only Fans (2021), Matthew Steven Rife (2023) and Walking Red Flag (2023), as well as his recurring role on the sketch improv comedy and rap show, Wild 'n Out. Early life
Matt Rife was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in North Lewisburg. He also lived in New Albany and Mount Vernon. Rife first took an interest in comedy at 14 years old, when a teacher said that there would be a talent show at his high school. After a friend encouraged him, he did the show—and started performing professionally a year later at 15. He has four siblings: three older stepsisters and one younger half-sister. His father, Michael Eric Gutzke, died by suicide when Rife was 17 months old. Career
As a comedian, Rife is best known for his self-produced comedy specials: Only Fans (2021), Matthew Steven Rife (2023) and Walking Red Flag (2023), as well as his appearance on Bring the Funny in 2019, where he advanced to the Semi-Final Showcase but was eliminated in week 8. As an actor, he is known for his guest roles on the sketch comedy and improv game show series Wild 'n Out, as Brandon Bliss on the comedy television series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and as Logan on the sitcom television series Fresh Off the Boat. In 2017, he was a host on the short-lived reboot of Total Request Live and appeared on MTV's The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars. Rife is also a paranormal investigator featured on the YouTube channel "Overnight". In December 2022, Rife signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA). In April 2023, he released a self-titled special Matthew Steven Rife  on Valentine's Day. He then released another special in June 2023 titled Walking Red Flag, focusing on crowd-work. Rife states that he created an entire special surrounding the topic of audience "red flags" in order to stop audiences from interrupting his future sets with the bit. Influences
Rife has said his two biggest influences in comedy are Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais. He went on to say about them, "They're both prolific comedians and writers and performers. And I would say they're top three of all time. Both of their senses of humor and opinions and views on things are completely in line with how I think about things. And I think their style of comedy is definitely something I emulate, unintentionally." He has also gone on and said Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Jim Varney, David Spade, and Robin Williams are people he grew up on. Personal life
Rife currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Rife briefly dated English actress Kate Beckinsale in 2017 and 2018. Rife mentioned in his comedy special Only Fans (2021) that he had clinical depression and an anxiety disorder. Filmography

Film

Television

Stand-Up

References

External links

1995 births
Living people
21st-century American comedians
21st-century American male actors
American male comedians
American male film actors
American male television actors
American stand-up comedians
American TikTokers
The Challenge (TV series) contestants
Comedians from Ohio
Male actors from Columbus, Ohio
People from Columbus, Ohio