Ari Hoptman (born February 22, 1967) is an American actor, author, and academic, specializing in Germanic etymology, as well as a Marx Brothers historian.
[2][3] His graduate work investigated the possible relationship between Verner's Law and certain stress patterns of Old Germanic poetry.
[4] Hoptman has appeared in dozens of theatre productions, plays and solo shows, mostly in comedic roles.
[5][6][7] Minnesota Public Radio called Hoptman a "great local actor",[8] and one reviewer said he takes a dry pleasure in unusual couplings in his humor.
[9][10] Portraying Ira Stone from Laughter on the 23rd Floor four different times, Hoptman has described the journalist as obnoxious, loud, rude, and late on arrival, but "a brilliant writer.