John Roy

A city dweller all his life, John grew up in Chicago's ethnically diverse Rogers Park neighbourhood, the son of an ex Jesuit who worked for Chicago's urban Loyola University, and a psychotherapist. Growing up white and Catholic in a neighbourhood full of African Americans, Orthodox Jews, Nigerians, Mexicans, Indians, Pakistanis, and every ethnic and religious group imaginable gave John a unique perspective on getting along in a crowded world. John's life saving heart surgery and altruistic parents gave him an appreciation of the importance of comedy as a means to social change. Chicago's rich cultural heritage, economic differences, and fast paced lifestyle contributed to his observations on how we get by in a changing world.

John began his professional career at the famous Zanies Comedy Club on Wells St. in Chicago's OldTown. He went on to tour the country's best clubs, including the Laugh Stop in Houston, and the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, where John earned a regular spot in 2002. In 2003, he appeared on the CBS television show, Star Search, and was its first champion, earning 100,000 dollars and a development deal with CBS.

A move to Los Angeles traded one city for another, and John began to soak in the new cultures, lifestyles, and history of his new home and examine them in his comedy. In 2003, John performed at the NACA Central convention and was the most requested act in any category. In 2004, John appeared in the prestigious US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, as a square on Hollywood Squares, and on HBO. John has appeared several times on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom radio program, available in over 200 markets. In 2005, John appeared in DVD series called Live at the Laugh Factory, available in stores nationwide, alongside such acclaimed comedians as Butch Bradley, Bob Marley, Tom Papa, and Tony Rock. John is a regular performer at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, and the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles and the Hollywood Improv.

John appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend in the 2005-2006 season, and a November 2005 episode of CBS's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. In 2006, John contributed an essay to CollegeHumor.com that was collected in their nationally released book. John appeared in several episodes of NBC's Last Comic Standing where he advanced to the semifinals of the reality show competition. In 2007, John made an unprecedented four appearances in two months on the nationally syndicated TV show, Comics Unleashed. His CD, "1246 W. Arthur," was released, featuring John headlining at his home club of Zanies in Chicago. He also performed his second appearance on Craig Ferguson, and was approved for NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.