Jessica Kirson
Born (1969-11-14) November 14, 1969
South Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
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Last updated: 19 September 2023

Jessica Kirson (born November 14, 1969[1]) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and producer. Kirson is known for performing regularly at comedy venues in New York City — some of which include Gotham Comedy Club, Laugh Factory, Caroline's, and the Improv.

Early life

Kirson was born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey, and is of Austrian and Polish-Jewish descent.[2] Her mother is a therapist who treated clients in Kirson's childhood home, which she has said has had a profound impact on her and her comedy.[3][4]

Kirson graduated from Columbia High School in 1987. She described herself as a 'major class clown' who loved to make people laugh.[5] Kirson is the stepsister of both actor Zach Braff and writer Joshua Braff, whose father married her mother when she was an adolescent.[6] With the intention of becoming a therapist, Kirson graduated from the University of Maryland in family studies and from New York University with a Masters of Social Work.[7]

Career

Kirson made her career debut in the film School Dance. Her one-hour special Talking to Myself debuted on Comedy Central and was executive produced by Bill Burr.[8] Other projects include her series The Call Girls with longtime friend and comedian Rachel Feinstein.[9] In 2016, Kirson acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film The Comedian.[10] Kirson was an executive producer and appeared in the documentary Hysterical which follows a group of female comedians, on and off stage.[11]

Kirson has performed on The Tonight Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, and Kevin Can Wait. Kirson also hosts her own podcast, Disgusting Hawk.[12] Kirson is also a contributor on The Howard Stern Show, where she produces and stars in prank calls for the program.

Comedic style

In her comedy, Kirson often narrates personal experiences of sobriety,[13] her Jewish upbringing, and her identity as a lesbian, utilizing "gallows humor" and "biting, often crass asides."[14] She sometimes performs inner monologues during her sets while facing away from the audience: "A lot of the jokes, when I turn around, I've said before, but I only do it at certain times, when a joke doesn't work or I get uncomfortable or something happens in the audience...  That's my way of saving it in the moment."[15] Commenting on her approach to comedy, Kirson said:

I don’t like being labeled as a type of comedian. I do all kinds of comedy. I’m just trying to be very real and honest and truthful. I try to entertain people as best as I can, because I feel like right now most people don’t like to think a lot. So, I go on and try to have it so that they don’t analyze and think a lot. I love doing characters, and I love putting out a message of tolerance that teaches people not to be mean, and to be more kind.[16]

She has cited Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett among her comedic influences.[16]

Personal life

Kirson has four children.[17] She has been open about her struggle with food addiction[6] as well as substance abuse throughout her life.[18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2014 School Dance Officer P'eniss
2016 The Comedian Herself Also associate producer
2020 The King of Staten Island Female Pharmacy Owner
2020 The Binge Karyn Friedlander

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2011 Bubble Guppies Voice roles (various) 2 episodes
2015 The Jim Gaffigan Show Pam Episode: "Super Great Daddy Day"
2016 Kevin Can Wait Megan Episode: "Hallow-We-Ain't-Home"
2018 Dollar Store Therapist Jessica Episode: "Self-Pleasure"
2018–2019 Crashing Herself 3 episodes
2020 Ramy Homeless Woman Episode: "Little Omar"

References

  1. ↑ "Jessica Kirson Biography". Dead Frog Stand-Up Comedy Database. Todd Jackson. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ Jessica Kirson's Full Comedy Central Special (Presented by Bill Burr) Pt. 1/7. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023 – via YouTube.
  3. ↑ Rule, Doug (October 12, 2022). "Jessica Kirson's Therapy-Enhanced Comedy". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ Dahms, Sara (March 28, 2020). "Jessica Kirson Talks About Her Many Sides: Serious, Silly & Spiritual". The Interrobang. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ "You've Seen Her on TV, but Hometown Comedian Jessica Kirson is Funnier in Person". South Orange, NJ Patch. November 4, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Maler, Dennis (September 8, 2021). "JESSICA KIRSON OF "HYSTERICAL" ON PRANK CALLS, FOOD TRAUMA, AND HER CELEBRITY BROTHER". DigBoston. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kharakh, Ben (May 22, 2006). "Jessica Kirson, Comedian". Gothamist. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  8. ↑ Jessica Kirson's Full Comedy Central Special (Presented by Bill Burr) | Pt. 1/7, retrieved February 14, 2023
  9. ↑ The Call Girls by Jessica Kirson & Rachel Feinstein, September 24, 2021, retrieved February 14, 2023
  10. ↑ Jessica Kirson Stand-Up, retrieved February 14, 2023
  11. ↑ "Video Comedian Jessica Kirson on examining the lives of female comics in new documentary". ABC News. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Disgusting Hawk with Jessica Kirson on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  13. ↑ Glassman, Marvin (August 16, 2016). "Jewish comic shares her life onstage". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ Kahn, Gabe (July 1, 2020). "'We can laugh at ourselves'". New Jersey Jewish News. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  15. ↑ Crowley, James (December 6, 2019). "Jessica Kirson on Her New Comedy Central Special, Coaching Audiences and Backhanded Compliments". Newsweek. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Odyssey, Dave (February 1, 2014). "Jessica Kirson, the Woman of Many Faces". OutSmart Magazine. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  17. ↑ Condran, Ed (March 4, 2021). "Jessica Kirson – from the streets of New York to the Spokane stage". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
  18. ↑ "For Comedian Jessica Kirson, Staying Sober Is No Laughing Matter". MyRecovery.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023.
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