Tag Archives: American stand-up comedian

Jerry Seinfeld: Stand Up For Stand-Up

Jerome Seinfeld was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 29, 1954. Parents Kalman, a commercial sign maker, and Betty moved the family, which included a daughter, Carolyn, to suburban Massapequa, Long Island, when he was very young. The apple did not fall very far from the tree, as his father was known to have a terrific sense of humor. He attended Oswego College in upstate New York, but transferred to Queens College in New York. While a student, his interest in stand-up comedy was born and he performed in several college productions. After graduation, in 1976, he went directly … Continue reading →

Chris Rock:Brooklyn’s Own Stand-Up Prince

Although he was born in Andrews, South Carolina, Chris Rock grew up in the Bedford- Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. He entered the world on February 7, 1965, the eldest of seven children. His father, Julius Rock, was a truck driver by profession who died in 1989. He was a strict disciplinarian who demanded respect and unquestioned obedience from all of his offspring. His teen years were rough, and much of his comedy is rooted in these difficult years. His strict parents, meaning well and concerned about the quality of the neighborhood schools, and him bussed to an almost … Continue reading →

Steve Martin: Understatement Runs Amuck!

Stephen Glenn Martin was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco Texas to real-estate salesman and aspiring actor, Glenn Vernon Martin and Mary Lee Stewart, a housewife. The family was of English, Irish and Scottish descent, and Steve grew up in Garden Grove, California. His talents for magic, juggling and playing the banjo were developed and honed at Disneyland, where as a teenager, he worked in the Magic Shop. After high school, he teamed up with classmate, Kathy Westmoreland, and the duo performed a musical comedy routine at local coffee houses and at the Bird Cage Theater in Knott’s Berry … Continue reading →