Giuseppe Andrews on AllMovie

From his first infomercial appearance as a young boy hungry for hot dogs to his directorial debut with the outrageous pseudo-reality comedy Trailer Town, eternally unpredictable actor-turned-director Giuseppe Andrews has constantly surprised audiences, regardless of which side of the camera he happens to be on. Andrews's debut feature resembles something of a cross between Gummo and Pink Flamingos, making it obvious to anyone who has seen the film that there are few boundaries Andrews is not willing to completely obliterate. He had a nomadic childhood, residing in a van with his father, sleeping in supermarket parking lots while his dad gulped experimental pills for hospital surveys -- but a simple newspaper ad seeking an older man to get his hair cut in an infomercial offered a catalyst for the unassuming youngster's first foray into film. When the producer asked the elder Andrews if he knew of a young boy who could ask for hot dogs while his father was getting his hair cut, young Andrews landed the role with ease, acquiring an agent in the process.

After making his feature debut in the 1989 comedy Getting It Right, Andrews continued on with appearances in such efforts as 12:01, Prehysteria 2, and White Dwarf, also landing a role in the widely released 1995 drama Unstrung Heroes, providing his most high-profile role to date. All of that would change when Andrews was cast in director Roland Emmerich's 1996 sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day. The following year's roles in efforts such as Pleasantville and American History X found his resumé expanding and his recognition factor rising. Though Andrews would eventually climb the credits to land a substantial role in director Adam Rifkin's 1999 retro-comedy Detroit Rock City, the film was widely panned by critics and died a quick death at the box office. A starring role in the 1999 made-for-television feature Student Affairs preceded a recurring role in the short-lived weekly series Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, and in 2002 Andrews cracked up audiences as "Party Cop" deputy Winston in the horror hit Cabin Fever. Positive word of mouth from Cabin Fever director Eli Roth helped to get Andrews' early films seen, and in the summer of 2004, Troma DVD released his debut feature Trailer Town, and the sound of dry heaving filled living rooms nationwide. With roles in Tweek City, 2001 Maniacs, and The Black Dahlia set to follow soon after, audiences could rest assured that Andrews wasn't going to completely abandon his acting career for that of a director just yet.