Philip Soltanec, also known publicly as Emo Philips, is an American actor, stand-up comedian, writer, and producer. His stand-up comedy persona makes use of paraprosdokians spoken in a wandering falsetto tone of voice.
Emo Philips is the ex-husband of Judy Tenuta.
Philips is widely known for his unique look and on-stage antics, appearing as a fidgety, possibly mentally disturbed, nervous but highly intelligent individual with an obsession for coleslaw.
He has recorded three comedy albums. His album E=mo², recorded live at Caroline’s in Manhattan, New York City, won the 1985 New Music Award for the best comedy album. It was later re-released along with his Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre album on a single CD.
Aside from Philips’s long career as a standup comic, he has been featured in acting roles on television series such as Miami Vice and The Weird Al Show. In 2006, he appeared on British television, as a guest on the panel game 8 Out of 10 Cats.
He has experienced a considerable resurgence in popularity since then and has been a featured performer at many national comedy tours over the last several years, appearing at the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas, and appearing frequently on 24/7 Comedy.
“Weird Al” Yankovic and Philips toured together throughout the US in 2018, in Yankovic’s Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. and again in the 2022 iteration.