Paul Dinello

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Paul Dinello (born November 28, 1962) is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and an alumnus of Chicago-based The Second City, Improv Institute, and Annoyance Theatre. He is best known for his role on Comedy Central's Strangers with Candy as Geoffrey Jellineck, the closeted gay art teacher at Flatpoint High, who carries on a not-so-secret relationship with his colleague Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert). Dinello dated the show's star Amy Sedaris for eight years after they met at Second City.

In 2003 Dinello co-authored the novel Wigfield with Sedaris and Colbert, which they promoted by creating a traveling play.

Most recently, Dinello has made guest appearances on Colbert's show The Colbert Report as Tad, the building manager. The character is often berated by Colbert, who forces him to do dangerous things. Dinello has made at least five appearances on The Colbert Report, including a tumbling act with Colbert and their Strangers costar Sedaris in July 2006.

Dinello was also a writer, producer and director for the Strangers with Candy film, which was released in July 2006. In January 2009, Participant Media announced it would produce Dinello's next film, Mr. Burnout (about a burned out teacher seeking to rekindle his love of teaching).