Charlyne Yi is an actress who pursued a career in stand-up comedy after attending the University of California.So far, she has performed at The Steve Allen Theater, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, in the New York Comedy Festival and HBO's Comedy Arts Festival in Colorado. In 2007, Yi made her acting debut in the movie Knocked Up. The following year, she participated in Montreal's Just for Laughs Festi ...

Carol Leifer was born on July 27, 1956 in New York City to Anna Leifer, a psychologist, and Seymour Leifer, an optometrist. As a young girl growing up in Long Island, Leifer became enamored with the art of comedy through her father, who, although an eye doctor by trade, was a comedian by heart. Fascinated by how her father held court by telling jokes to their neighbors, Leifer decided to become a comedian. ...

Actress Betty White obtained her start in local Los Angeles television as the "telephone girl" pertaining to video emcee Al Jarvis. via early 1950 she was one of the stars of the casual, five-hour series Hollywood on Television. One from the options that come with this program was a husband and wife sketch titled "Life With Elizabeth," which when committed to film and syndicated nationally in 1953 became Wh ...

To suggest that Samantha Bee is a product of Canada would be an understatement. After growing up in Toronto, Bee went on to receive a degree from the University of Ottawa. She followed that up by studying science at McGill University in Montreal, and finally majored in theater at George Brown College in Toronto, where many historians, theologians and scientists believe that she first fell in love with her c ...

Comedian Katt Williams has been arrested after a man told Oakland police that the entertainer hit him over the head with a bottle. Authorities say the 41-year-old Williams was briefly taken into custody on suspicion of assault Wednesday night after the apparent victim said he was attacked aboard a tour bus that was parked outside a downtown hotel. Williams was released after investigators questioned him and ...

Blonde supporting and occasional lead actress Christine Taylor started appearing on television and in feature films in her early teens. Fans of the The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and its sequel will recognize her for playing Marsha. In The Craft (1996), Taylor was memorable for playing the snotty cheerleader who teased a young witch and ended up losing her hair in the shower. In The Wedding Singer (1998), she ...

The career of funny girl Mo'Nique began in her early twenties, when she took to the improv comedy stage on a dare from her brother. The impulsive decision met with success, and she began to pursue a career in standup comedy, eventually performing on such renowned shows as Def Comedy Jam, Showtime at the Apollo, and Snaps. Mo'Nique's big break came in 1999, when she landed her own sitcom, starring on UPN's T ...

Gloriously flamboyant American entertainer Bette Midler was born in Honolulu, HI, to the only Jewish family in the neighborhood. After dropping out of a drama class at the University of Hawaii, she took a tiny role in the 1966 film Hawaii, playing a seasick boat passenger (though it's hard to see her when viewing the film). Training for a dancing career in New York, Midler made the casting rounds for severa ...

Born September 18, 1970, Aisha N. Tyler began her comedy career at the Improv classes she would often sneak off to when bored with her regular high-school studies. But as passionate as she was with acting and comedy, she went on to study Political Science at Dartmouth College, though her attendance was irregular at best. While in college, Tyler continued to perform improv and sketch comedy, and even joined ...

Growing up with a famous parent can be both a good thing and bad thing for kids trying to break into entertainment. On one hand, you’ve got connections that regular folk just don’t have. Then, on the other hand, you’ve got to work that much harder to make a name for yourself beyond “that guy’s daughter.” This was the quandary faced by Abby Elliott. She was born in New York City to mom Paula and dad Chris ju ...