Category Archives: Comedians F by First Name

Finis Henderson

finis-ii-46Finis Henderson was born in Chicago to a family of entertainers. His father was a song and dance man and Vice-President of Sammy Davis Jr. Enterprises and Sammy Davis was Finis’ Godfather. Finis’ uncle Bill Henderson is a Grammy nominated jazz singer and character actor in dozens of movies and television shows.

In the 1980’s Finis moved to Los Angeles to embark on a solo career and was guided by his cousin Al McKay the rhythm guitarist from one of the hottest bands at the time, Earth, Wind and Fire. Finis was signed to Motown by Suzanne de Passé who signed the Jackson 5 and the Commodores. Al McKay produced Finis’ self-titled album and Stevie Wonder wrote one of the songs on that album.

“Skip to My Lou” one of the songs on that album became a R&B/funk hit, is still played on radio stations today worldwide particularly in Japan where it has a cult following. In 2013 Universal Music which bought Motown released a digitally remastered CD version of “Finis”.

00000027-version-2While working to develop a music career, Finis earned a living performing his impressions in comedy clubs across the country including the Laugh Factory, Improvs and Stardome. The legendary Mitzi Shore who founded the famous Comedy Store gave Finis a platform to perform on and where he made lasting relationships in the comedy world. Richard Pryor and Robin Williams performed improvisations with Finis there. Pryor was so enamored with Finis that Richard invited him to be the opening act for his movie “Live on the Sunset Strip”. Subsequently Finis opened for many of the top names in comedy including Rodney Dangerfield, Alan King and Robert Klein. Finis currently opens for Jay Leno at the Mirage in Las Vegas when their schedules permit.

In 2013, after performing a musical concert at the $1 billion Red Rock casino in Las Vegas’ toniest community of Summerlin, Finis headlined for a week at the Laugh Factory in the Tropicana on the Las Vegas Strip.

image001Today Finis concentrates his work in three markets (1) cruise lines, (2) casinos and (3) corporate. Finis is one of the most prolific headliners on Royal Caribbean and has also worked for other cruise lines including Holland America and Princess. After making many appearances in Atlantic City, Finis was the recurring headliner at Gold Strike in Tunica before it was sold. Finis also performs at private high roller parties at casinos in Las Vegas and throughout the country, which are really more akin to corporate events. “There is a real overlap now between casinos and corporate particularly as Las Vegas has become more dependent on conventions and trade shows and less on gambling. In the past few years, aside from my public work with Jay Leno at the Mirage, all of my performances in Las Vegas have been either private high roller or corporate events; actually that has been true of Reno too where my last two Reno shows were for a health care company and a building supplies trade group”, Finis concluded.

Finis Henderson has been the leading choice of the world’s largest companies including many in the Fortune 500 to entertain their clients and employees. “I told Finis he has tremendous Wall Street appeal as his corporate client list includes every industry sector in the S&P 500”, said Ken Frankel a former hedge fund manager whose firm is Finis’ current manager.

Faizon Love

Faizon LoveFaizon Love portrayed the role of Kali Hawk in the comedy Couples Retreat alongside Vince Vaughn. He has also appeared in such films as Friday as Big Worm, Elf, and The Replacements.  He began performing stand up comedy when he was 15 and made his acting debut Off-Broadway four years later.

Love played the role of Wendell on the sitcom The Parent ‘Hood with Robert Townsend.

Many gamers may know Love on the role of Sean “Sweet” Johnson, simply known as Sweet, in the Rockstar North game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Fredo Davis

Fredo DavisFredo Davis has been engaging audiences and showcasing his talent to rave reviews. His unique comic style is definitely one of kind, and with it Fredo Davis has triumphed and established himself after numerous spots at the biggest entertainment venues. Fredo rips the stage with his explosive energy and merciless antics on today’s current events.

Off the camera, Fredo Davis creative expressions extended into writing, producing and directing and entrepreneurship in which Starvision Media was developed. Based in Atlanta, Starvision Media has produced several DVDs that are very popular on the streets: Skitz 1, Skitz 2 and Three The Comedy Way and Dat Boi Funny feat. Lil Duval. Davis used his skills to produce clever, yet edgy comedy shows to captivate any audience. All of these can be seen on YouTube, Vimeo & FunnyOrDie. His new production (TheDavisInc.) is a Stand up Comedy DVD “Drunk Genius” starring himself.

Fredo “FDSTMP” Davis is no amateur to the stage as he has won several competitions. FDSTMP placed 1st in the 2000 Def Comedy Jam competition; 1999 he placed 2nd and on his return in 2000 FDSTMP cashed in, taking the top prize. FDSTMP also placed 1st in the WB 36! Late Night Laugh Off.

Davis is a Virginia native, establishing his comedy identity in Atlanta with guest appearances on television shows such as the infamous BET Comicview; and in films such as Fighting Temptations, Trapped, Cheeks, and Chosen. He has remained highly visible in the entertainment arena by appearing in videos with celebrities such as Ludacris, Jazza Pha, I-20, Ceelo Green, Franchise Boyz, and T.I..

Ashima Franklin

Ashima Franklin

Ashima Franklin did stand-up comedy while pregnant, up until the night before her infant son’s birth, and started styling herself “The O.B.: Original Baby Momma.”

Frequently Franklin, nicknamed “Skinni Fyne,” takes the stage persona of a vengeful, inescapable Baby Momma who makes her Baby Daddy’s life a living hell, like a folk hero for unmarried mothers. In real life, Franklin says she has good relations with comic Karlous Miller, with whom she has a young son, and they even write Baby Momma jokes together.

An uninhibited dynamo willing to ask her audience any question, no matter how personal, Franklin caught a big break last fall and is currently opening for Katt Williams on the popular comic’s tour. You can see her in Williams’ DVD Kattpacalypse and the movie Slice: The Horrocomedy,

Facebook
Twitter

Instagram

Finesse Mitchell


Finesse Mitchell is a comedian, actor, author and emcee.

Now starring on the Disney Channel’s #1 hit show A.N.T. Farm as Chyna’s Dad a.k.a Officer Darryl Parks… Finesse has not slowed down one bit. From BET’s “Comic View” to “The Tyra Banks Show” from “Comedy Central Presents…” to the “Today Show”, Finesse Mitchell got his first big break when he was asked to be a feature player on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and was promoted to cast member in 2005. Long before becoming a regular on SNL, this author, actor and former insurance salesman made an impact in the world of stand-up comedy, with sold-out live performances all over the country and abroad.

Finesse Mitchell

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Finesse graduated from the University of Miami. A former member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. student-athlete who was a walk-on for the Hurricanes football team.

Finesse is also a writer for ESSENCE Magazine. His monthly column, “Oh, Brother!”, offers up hip, hilarious and honest relationship advice to over 1 million ESSENCE readers.

In 2007, Finesse authored his first book, “Your Girlfriends Only Know So Much”, (Simon Spotlight), giving no-holds barred dating advice to women needing real answers to the same old, baffling relationship questions.

The funny man can also be seen in the movies “Who’s Your Caddy?,” “The Comebacks” and “Mad Money.”