Oct. 28, 2019

Contact Rick Kyte at 608-796-3704 or rlkyte@viterbo.edu

POPULAR COMEDIAN AND ACTOR ERIK STOLHANSKE TO DISCUSS OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND PERSEVERANCE AT VITERBO NOV. 8

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Erik Stolhanske, a popular Hollywood comedian, actor, writer, and producer will share his poignant and often humorous story of overcoming obstacles and perseverance as part of the Viterbo University D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership’s fall lecture series at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 in the School of Nursing Building Collins Auditorium room 196.

Stolhanske was born without a fibula. He overcame his disability to achieve a very successful career and even surprised many of his fans with his appearance in the popular exercise program P90X. He is now sharing his story with audiences across the country.

Perhaps best known for his role as Rabbit in the hit comedy Super Troopers, Stolhanske has also performed in The Onion Movie, The Sweetest Thing, and Watching the Detectives. On television, he can be seen on the HBO critically acclaimed series Curb Your Enthusiasm and Six Feet Under as well as the Comedy Central special Broken Lizard Stands Up.

After graduating from Colgate University in 1991, Stolhanske and friends moved to New York City and changed the name of their sketch comedy group to “Broken Lizard.” Stolhanske has written, produced, and starred in all of Broken Lizards’ films, including Puddle Cruiser, Super Troopers, Club Dread, Beerfest, and their latest release, The Slammin’ Salmon.

“His ability to connect with and draw in students was undeniable,” wrote Martha Engstrom of Indiana University of Stolhanske’s appearance at her school. “Erik’s presentation was motivational and inspirational, but it was more than that. He managed to affect people on a personal level and softly challenge their preconceived notions about what it means to be a person with a disability. It was exactly the outcome we sought after, and Erik delivered.”

The presentation is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary, but seating is limited. For a full schedule of D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership events, visit www.viterbo.edu/ethics.

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