American Stand-up Comedian & Actor

Bill Bellamy | Biography

First gained the spotlight appearing on HBO’s 'Def Comedy Jam'

• By Anuska
• Update : November 18, 2021

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Bill Bellamy first gained the spotlight when he appeared on HBO’s Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam. There, he was credited for creating or coining the phrase “booty call.”

Who is Bill Bellamy?

Bill Bellamy is a famous American stand-up comedian, actor, and television personality. Bellamy began his professional journey as a comedian while he was a student at Rutgers University. Initially, he began improving his comedic skills by performing at small comedy clubs. After some success, he moved on to join clubs like The Improv, The Comic Strip, and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. 

For many years, Bellamy was also a regular on MTV as a VJ and presenter of various MTV shows. He also appeared in notable movies like Fled, The Brothers, How to Be a Player, Love Jones, Getting Played, and Any Given Sunday.

Age 

Bill Bellamy was born William Bellamy in Newark, New Jersey, USA, on 7 April 1965. Bellamy is 56 years old as of 2021. 

Movies and TV Shows 

After his success from the HBO comedy program, Bellamy started working with shows with MTV, where he worked as a VJs. He was one of the first video journalists to appear on the network. Bellamy hosted several of the MTVs programs like MTV Jams and MTV Beach House. 

In 1996, Bellamy began his journey with his own series, The Billy Bellamy Show. He then appeared in many movies such as Love Jones, Love Stinks, How To Be a Player, The Brothers, and Any Given Sunday. 

In May 2012, Bellamy did his second comedy special, Crazy Sexy Dirty. This comedy special was also one of the highest-rated given its time. 

In the 2010s, Bellamy appeared in the TV series White Collar and made several appearances on Meet The Browns on TBS. Likewise, he was also a guest star on ABC’s Castle and USA Network’s Royal Pains. 

Subsequently, in February 2013, Bellamy returned to stand-up comedy and made his third comedy special, Ladies Night Out. The following year, he did a nationwide tour for Ladies Night Out and featured other comedians, including Ali Siddiq J. Reid and D’Lai. 

Additionally, Bellamy was also a host during four seasons of the comedy competition show, Who’s Got Jokes? along with two seasons of NBC’s Emmy Nominated, Last Comic Standing. 

Most recently, the actor appeared in shows like The Comedy Kitchen Podcast, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, The Walker Girl, Bootstraps, and SWAT.

Booty Call

In 1992, Bellamy earned a spot on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. During the show, he coined the phrase “booty call,” which is popular to this date. This later became the name for his first comedy special, Booty Call, and was one of Showtime’s top-rated specials. 

Over the years, he has expressed regrets about not claiming legal ownership over the term. In an interview, he mentioned that during the time; he was focused more on the joke and did not realize how the phrase would be so popular. He mentioned jokingly that if he had trademarked the term, he would be as rich as Elon Musk by now. 

In addition, Booty Call, the movie was created in 1997 starring Tommy Davidson, Jamie Foxx, Tamala Jones, and Vivica A. Fox. 

Wife & Children

Bill Bellamy and his wife Kristen Bellamy tied the knot on 16 June 2001. The couple has two children together. Their first child, a daughter, Bailey Bellamy, was born in 2003. Likewise, their second child, a son, Baron Bellamy, was born on 5 July 2006. 

Kristen is an actress who has made appearances in shows like Dinner at Tiffani’s (2014), The Fix (2019), and movies like The Bounce Back (2016). The pair also appeared in the fourth season of Black Love, which is aired on OWN. 

Net Worth 

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bellamy has a net worth of $8 million as of 2021. His primary source of earning is through his decades-long career as a stand-up comedian and actor. 

Height 

According to IMDb, Bellamy is 6 feet and 2 inches tall or (1.88 meters) tall.