12 Things To Know About Bo Burnham

    The man. The myth. The internet sensation.

    Vannessa Jackson
    by Vannessa Jackson

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Bo Burnham's Netflix special Inside really struck a chord with fans online.

    Since its release, many people have praised the comedian for his hilarious and at times poignant take on the last year.

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    Others were left wondering who Bo is and how they managed to miss his incredible work for so long.

    Whether you've been a fan for years or are just now joining the Bo Burnham stan train, here are a few things you need to know about the funny man.

    1. He got his start on YouTube at just age 15.

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    He posted his first video on the site in December 2006. "I definitely didn't put it up there as like, 'This is my ticket out of this town!'" He told the AV Club in a 2009 interview. "I had written these songs, and I wanted to show them to my brother who's in college. And at the time, YouTube was nothing; no one knew what it was. It was just like another outlet, and I didn't think of it as a career move."

    2. Inside is his fourth comedy special.

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    He also released Words, Words, Words on Comedy Central, and the specials What and Make Happy on Netflix.

    3. He starred in his own MTV show.

    Bo playing acoustic guitar
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    He starred in the show Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous, a show about a kid who pursues fame instead of going to college. Art imitating life. 

    4. He wrote and directed the critically acclaimed movie Eighth Grade.

    5. He's been in a relationship with Hustlers director Lorene Scafaria since 2013.

    Bo and Lorene on the Independent Spirit Awards red carpet
    Amy Sussman / Getty Images

    6. He's also a published poet.

    Bo outside wearing a puffy jacket with a hood
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    He published a collection of poems titled Egghead: Or, You Can’t Survive on Ideas Alone.

    7. He didn't go to college so that he could pursue a comedy career.

    8. His struggles with anxiety and panic attacks caused him to quit stand-up comedy for five years.

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    During the song "Hands Up (Eyes on Me)" in his latest special, Bo revealed that he took an indefinite hiatus away from stand-up because of "severe panic attacks while onstage."

    9. He had a cameo in a 2014 episode of Parks and Recreation.

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    Because of course he did.

    10. His first major TV appearance was on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in 2009.

    Bo playing piano
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    Justin Bieber, is that you? 

    11. He directed Chris Rock's Tamborine Netflix special.

    Chris Rock onstage speaks into the microphone
    Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

    "Chris had seen Jerrod Carmichael’s special 8 that I directed last year, and he just really flipped for it," Bo told Vulture about how their collaboration came to be. "He asked Jerrod who directed it and it was me, so then I met with him. I went to see one of his live shows and just briefly talked to him about the possibilities of what this special could be like and look like. We seemed to vibe pretty quickly."

    12. Soon he'll be playing former NBA star Larry Bird in an upcoming TV show.

    Larry Bird, the Celtics' No. 33, on the basketball court against the Los Angeles Lakers
    Bob Riha Jr. / Getty Images

    Now you know everything you need to know and so much more about your new favorite comedian. You're welcome.

    NBC