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Comedian Jim Labriola got his start working in New York's Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club. Soon after, he took his act on the road to tour the U.S. and landed an opening gig for Tim Allen during a 1989 comedy show in Long Island. The friendship between the pair led to a bit part in Allen's 1994 hit movie The Santa Clause and a regular role on Home Improvement that same year. Though he originally signed on for a guest appearance, Labriola soon began appearing regularly as Tim's slacker buddy Benny Baroni. After the sitcom wrapped, Labriola went back to his comedy roots, appearing in several stand-up shows, and began speaking at business meetings and motivational seminars. In 2008, he hosted and headlined his own comedy show, "Night of a 1,000 Guidos."