24 things to know about Bo Burnham's career that started with an accidental YouTube hit when he was 16 years old

Kim RenfroJun 11, 2021, 03:56 IST

Bo Burnham in a 2006 YouTube video, and his in newest Netflix special "Inside."YouTube and Netflix

Bo Burnham is more than a comedian - he's a writer-director-actor who first went viral in 2006.
Burnham's creative background began with being a theater then he transitioned to musical-comedy.
His career evolved through YouTube, MTV, Vine, his movie "Eighth Grade," and now Netflix's "Inside."

Robert "Bo" Burnham was born on August 21, 1990, and grew up in a suburb of Boston where he attended an all-boys private school and fell in love with theater.

Bo Burnham photographed in his bedroom in 2008 for the Boston Globe newspaper. Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

In 2006, Burnham wrote some parody songs and wanted to show them to his brother. So he uploaded a video of himself performing to YouTube.

"My Whole Family" went viral on YouTube and another video-aggregate site called Break.com, where the song reached more than 250,000 in a day.

Bo Burnham at 16 years old in his first-ever YouTube video, "My Whole Family," which was uploaded in 2006. Bo Burnham/YouTube

By 2008, Burnham had written his first album of comedy songs and was gaining traction in the comedy world.

The album cover for "Bo Fo Sho," a six-track EP and Burnham's first official artistic work. Bo Burnham/Amazon

After applying for college, Burnham got into Harvard, Brown, and New York University's experimental-theatre program. He initially accepted the NYU offer, but deferred so he could go on tour for his new album.

The album of Bo Burnham's 2009 self-titled release. Comedy Central Records

After applying for college, Burnham got into Harvard, Brown, and New York University's experimental-theatre program. He initially accepted the NYU offer, but deferred so he could go on tour for his new album.

In 2009, Burnham released a full-length, self-titled album that included the songs from his EP. He began doing major live appearances like "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

Bo Burnham performing on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on May 13, 2009. Dana Edelson/NBC Universal via Getty Images

In 2009, Burnham released a full-length, self-titled album that included the songs from his EP. He began doing major live appearances like "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

By 2010, he had filmed his first special and released the critically acclaimed album "Words, Words, Words."

Bo Burnham performs at the Pleasance as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010. Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images

In 2010, MTV ordered a pilot for a TV show by Burnham called "Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous" - a show about a teenager who decides to pursue fame instead of going to college.

Bo Burnham as the main character in "Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous." MTV

In 2010, MTV ordered a pilot for a TV show by Burnham called "Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous" - a show about a teenager who decides to pursue fame instead of going to college.

As Burnham worked on his TV show, he continued making comedy appearances, like the 2011 taping of "The Green Room."

"Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous" premiered on May 2, 2013. But by June, MTV had canceled the show.

Bo Burnham performing in 2013. Lauren Chelsea/Getty Images

Burnham had already been working on a new special called "what." In December 2013, the special was released on Netflix and for free on Burnham's YouTube channel.

Burnham also returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 10 performances of "what." It was around this time that he began experiencing panic attacks on stage.

In 2014 Burnham appeared on an episode of "Parks and Rec."

Nick Offerman and Bo Burnham on the set of "Parks and Recreation" in 2014. Colleen Hayes/NBC Universal via Getty Images

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Burnham was also active on Vine. To this day, some of his classic bits appear in "best of" compilations from the platform.

In 2015, the now 25-year-old Burnham started touring with yet another stand-up special titled "Make Happy."

Bo Burnham performing "Make Happy." KC Bailey/Netflix

"Make Happy" premiered on Netflix as a special to more critical acclaim than ever.

Bo Burnham singing to his audience at the end of "Make Happy." Netflix

Around the time of "Make Happy," Burnham began working on a new movie script about the anxiety he was experiencing.

Bo Burnham and his girlfriend, director Lorene Scafaria, in 2015. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Burnham decided to stop doing live comedy after "Make Happy." Instead, he focused on writing and directing other comedian's specials.

Chris Rock in "Tamborine." Netflix

Burnham also appeared in two movies in 2017: "The Big Sick" and "Rough Night."

Bo Burnham and "SNL" star Aidy Bryant in "The Big Sick." Amazon

Burnham also finished writing and directing his first feature film, "Eighth Grade," which premiered at Sundance in 2018.

Burnham on the set of "Eighth Grade" with the movie's star, Elsie Fisher. A24

During the press tour for "Eighth Grade," Burnham made it clear that he was more interested in continuing to write, direct, and act than he was in doing more live comedy shows.

Bo Burnham in 2018. Dia Dipasupil/Getty

During the press tour for "Eighth Grade," Burnham made it clear that he was more interested in continuing to write, direct, and act than he was in doing more live comedy shows.

In 2019, filming was completed for the Oscar-winning movie "Promising Young Woman."

Bo Burnham as Ryan in "Promising Young Woman." Focus Features

Burnham was planning on returning to live comedy at the start of 2020. But then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and instead he started working on "Inside."

Burnham watching his own YouTube video in "Inside." Netflix

So what's next for Bo Burnham? He's playing former NBA star Larry Bird in an upcoming TV show, working on a "Sesame Street" movie, and has already written a second movie.

Former NBA star Larry Bird. Mark Duncan/AP

So what's next for Bo Burnham? He's playing former NBA star Larry Bird in an upcoming TV show, working on a "Sesame Street" movie, and has already written a second movie.

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24 things to know about Bo Burnham's career that started with an accidental YouTube hit when he was 16 years old

Robert "Bo" Burnham was born on August 21, 1990, and grew up in a suburb of Boston where he attended an all-boys private school and fell in love with theater.

In 2006, Burnham wrote some parody songs and wanted to show them to his brother. So he uploaded a video of himself performing to YouTube.

"My Whole Family" went viral on YouTube and another video-aggregate site called Break.com, where the song reached more than 250,000 in a day.

By 2008, Burnham had written his first album of comedy songs and was gaining traction in the comedy world.

After applying for college, Burnham got into Harvard, Brown, and New York University's experimental-theatre program. He initially accepted the NYU offer, but deferred so he could go on tour for his new album.

In 2009, Burnham released a full-length, self-titled album that included the songs from his EP. He began doing major live appearances like "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

By 2010, he had filmed his first special and released the critically acclaimed album "Words, Words, Words."

In 2010, MTV ordered a pilot for a TV show by Burnham called "Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous" - a show about a teenager who decides to pursue fame instead of going to college.

As Burnham worked on his TV show, he continued making comedy appearances, like the 2011 taping of "The Green Room."

"Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous" premiered on May 2, 2013. But by June, MTV had canceled the show.

Burnham had already been working on a new special called "what." In December 2013, the special was released on Netflix and for free on Burnham's YouTube channel.

Burnham also returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 10 performances of "what." It was around this time that he began experiencing panic attacks on stage.

In 2014 Burnham appeared on an episode of "Parks and Rec."

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Burnham was also active on Vine. To this day, some of his classic bits appear in "best of" compilations from the platform.

In 2015, the now 25-year-old Burnham started touring with yet another stand-up special titled "Make Happy."

"Make Happy" premiered on Netflix as a special to more critical acclaim than ever.

Around the time of "Make Happy," Burnham began working on a new movie script about the anxiety he was experiencing.

Burnham decided to stop doing live comedy after "Make Happy." Instead, he focused on writing and directing other comedian's specials.

Burnham also appeared in two movies in 2017: "The Big Sick" and "Rough Night."

Burnham also finished writing and directing his first feature film, "Eighth Grade," which premiered at Sundance in 2018.

During the press tour for "Eighth Grade," Burnham made it clear that he was more interested in continuing to write, direct, and act than he was in doing more live comedy shows.

In 2019, filming was completed for the Oscar-winning movie "Promising Young Woman."

Burnham was planning on returning to live comedy at the start of 2020. But then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and instead he started working on "Inside."

So what's next for Bo Burnham? He's playing former NBA star Larry Bird in an upcoming TV show, working on a "Sesame Street" movie, and has already written a second movie.