Category Archives: Comedians K – N

Kevin Hart

Emmy & Grammy nominated Kevin Hart was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he launched his career as a comedian during an amateur night at a local comedy club. Over the years Hart has become Hollywood’s box office powerhouse, opening ten films at number one at the box office with $4.23 billion revenue at the global box office.  Hart is the Founder of three companies where he is actively building an eco-system and incubator for extraordinary growth and creativity. 

Kevin-Hart
  • Hart is the Chairman of his digital network, the Laugh Out Loud Network.  LOL serves as a platform for emerging comedians and is home to two premium series which both feature Kevin – “What the Fit?” and “Cold as Balls.” 
  • Hart is the CEO of HartBeat Productions.  HBP is a multi-platform production company creating unique content for worldwide audiences. Both Kevin and HartBeat have a first-look production deal with Netflix, together the two companies will produce feature films and Kevin will star in four of those films. 
  • Hart is the Founder and CEO of HartBeat Ventures.  HBV is Kevin’s VC, and its mission is to invest in disruptive companies, specifically companies that can help elevate underserved communities by providing a platform for everybody to thrive.  HBV has invested in over 30 companies since its launch in 2019.

Hart continues to develop, star, and produce feature films and television via HartBeat and Laugh Out Loud.  Hart can currently be seen starring in the HartBeat produced dramatic limited series True Story for Netflix which has been watched by over 60 million users worldwide. 

In 2021 Hart starred and produced via HartBeat the feature film Fatherhood.   The movie has been watched by more than 91 million accounts globally making it one of the most successful original dramatic movies on Netflix.  On the small screen, Hart starred in and produced Motor Trend’s “Kevin Hart’s Muscle Car Crew”, and “Celebrity Game Face” for E!  Additionally, Hart can be seen on two original programs on Peacock: his first ever talk show “Hart to Heart” and the ‘Olympic Highlight” show which he stars opposite Snoop Dog.  Both shows have received critical acclaim and praise for both Hart and LOL. 

Hart recently wrapped production on two films, Lionsgate’s science-fiction-action-comedy, Borderlands, which he stars opposite Cate Blanchett. Along with Netflix’s Me Time which pairs Kevin and Mark Wahlberg for the first time.  Later in 2022 Hart can be seen in Sony’s action-comedy, The Man from Toronto, starring alongside Woody Harrelson and Kaley Cuoco. 

In 2020 Hart released his seventh hour long stand-up special, “Zero Fu**ks Given,” which quickly became Netflix’s biggest stand-up special of 2020 and earned him a Grammy nomination for “Best Comedy Album”.  Hart also starred in and produced “Die Hart,” the first production of its kind, created through his digital network, Laugh Out Loud, and Executive Produced through HartBeat Productions.  In 2021 Kevin was nominated for an Emmy award for “Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.”

In December 2019, Hart’s Emmy nominated Docu-series, “Don’t F**k This Up,” was released on Netflix. The intimate six-part series follows Hart’s life over the previous year, giving viewers an inside look to the events that shaped his life. Hart’s other recent box-office credits include Jumanji: The Next Level, The Secret Life of Pets 2, and The Upside. In 2018, Hart co-wrote, produced, and starred in Universal’s Night School, all under Hartbeat Productions. In 2017, Hart starred in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, his highest grossing movie to date. Hart’s previous credits include Central IntelligenceThe Secret Life of Pets, and the Ride Along films. 

Hart’s last global live standup comedy tour was “The Irresponsible Tour,” which was also released as an original Netflix standup special in April 2019. Additionally, his 2017 standup tour, “What Now,” grossed over $100 million worldwide and culminated in a performance to a sold-out crowd at Philadelphia’s NFL stadium. 

Kevin is a New York Times Best Selling author twice over.  His new book, Markus Makes a Movie debuted at number six on the coveted list and remained on the list for three weeks.  Hart’s memoir, I Can’t Make This Up, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Sellers List and remained on the Top 10 Nonfiction Hardcover Bestsellers List for ten weeks straight. Hart’s first Audible original, “The Decision,” was nominated for an Audie award for “Best Original Audiobook in 2021.”   

In the audio space, Hart can be heard bi-weekly on his radio talk show, “Straight from the Hart,” which airs on Sirius XM’s Laugh Out Loud Radio (channel 96).  In 2019, “Straight from The Hart” became available on Pandora and now ranks as the #1 podcast across all genres. Hart can also be heard on his weekly Sirius podcast, “Comedy Gold Minds.”

Kevin’s brand partnerships include Fabletics Men, Chase J.P Morgan, Hydrow, Brüush, Tommy John and Therabody. 

Mike Epps

MIKE EPPS is generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers for being not only one of the funniest comic actors in town, but also for his burgeoning dramatic talent.

Mike-Epps

Mike recently starred in and produced the Netflix comedy “The UpShaws.” The show is based on his life of growing up in Indiana and taken from his 2018 Harper Collins autobiography Unsuccessful Thug. The book is written by Mike about his life and childhood; growing up in poverty and how comedy saved his life.

He was recently seen in the Amazon feature “Troup Zero” starring opposite Viola Davis, Allison Janney, and Jim Gaffigan; and in the A24 film “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” which both premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

Mike Epps

In 2019, his fifth stand up special “Just One Mike” premiered on Netflix. Last fall, he was seen opposite Eddie Murphy in the comedy “Dolemite is my Name” which was nominated for Golden Globe, Broadcast Film Critic Awards and a NAACP Image Award.

Mike was seen in the HBO-Emmy Winning biopic “Bessie ” based on Bessie Smith, played by Queen Latifah. The film chronicles how Smith overcame her tempestuous personal life to become one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and ’30s, earning the nickname Empress of the Blues. Mike plays Richard Morgan, a bootlegger and romantic interest to Bessie Smith. The film also won a Critics Choice Award for “best mini- series/ movie” as well as a Primetime Emmy for “ Television Movie or Limited Series.”

Mike Epps

Mike was seen in three seasons of the Starz series “Survivor’s Remorse” produced LeBron James and Mike O’Malley which he won a 2016 NAACP Image award for “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” for his portrayal as Uncle Julius. In 2011, he was awarded an NAACP Image Award for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in the Sony Pictures film, “Jumping the Broom.” He continued to receive critical praise for his dramatic turn in 2012 with “Sparkle,” opposite Whitney Houston and Jordan Sparks.

In 2016 he further pursued his dramatic side with two important roles: starring opposite Forest Whitaker and Anthony Mackie in the Lionsgate thriller, “Repentance,” being released through Lionsgate/Codeblack Entertainment., followed by the independent Nina Simone biopic, “Nina,” starring Zoe Saldana. In “Nina,” he plays the legendary Richard Pryor, who opened for the singer in the early 60’s.

He has recently entered the tech space with the first interactive game ‘button’ made by Amazon for the Alexa called “Sounds Fun with Mike Epps” The amazon button features Mike making hilarious sound effects with his voice. The sound effects included in “Sounds Fun” will range from the obvious to the absurd, such as a “lawn mower” or “helicopter” to “Donald Trump getting a haircut.” Every day a new and different sound will be released, making each game a unique experience for the players. Epps will also serve as the game’s judge, providing a comedic mix of friendly encouragement and snarky banter.

He is also currently on a national stand up tour and in 2015 his “Mike Epps; Don’t Take it Personal” was seen on Netflixs. In 2009, Mike headlined his hugely successful stand-up special, “Mike Epps: Underrated and Never Faded,” and in 2011 introduced the world to new comedic talent with, “Mike Epps Presents…,” both which aired on Showtime. He also released his first comedy rap album called “Funny Bidness: Da Album.” The album featured Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock, and Slim Thug to name a few. That year also marked the release of his comedy DVD “Funny Bidness.” With his undying love for hip-hop, Mike hosted the BET Hip-Hop Awards from 2009-2012.

Mike Epps

Since 2000, Epps steadily climbed his way up the stand-up comedy ranks when he was recognized by a national audience for appearing on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam (which, years later, he would go on to host).

During a performance at LA’s Comedy Store, Epps caught the attention of Ice Cube. This led to the first of three feature films they would do together: the cult hits “Next Friday,” “Friday after Next,” and “All About the Benjamins.” Other features include the Hangover franchise, “Girls Trip” “Faster,” “Hancock,” “Lottery Ticket,” “Next Day Air,” “Roll Bounce,” “The Fighting Temptations”, the Resident Evil franchise, “Bait”, “How High,” “Dr.Dolittle 2”, “Talk to Me”, and “Guess Who?”

Epps has been seen in over 40 cities and 3 continents live doing standup.

Luenell

Luenell at the Comedy House

Luenell is a force of nature. This talented comedienne, actress and singer, was born in Tollette, Arkansas, a town whose population barely registers with the U.S. census. At the tender age of 10, she caught the acting bug after seeing the plays South Pacific and Ain’t S’posed to Die a Natural Death. She enrolled in theatre classes at the grade school level and continued to study through college and cut her teeth at the Oakland Ensemble Theatre.

Continue reading Luenell

Leonard Ouzts

Leonard Ouzts, who hails from Chesapeake, VA, has enjoyed success with “Unprotected Sets” his on Epix comedy special offers a sarcastic off-the-cuff and versatile style of comedy that gives his audience non-stop entertainment. 

He has performed stand-up on CONAN, ADAM DEVINE’S HOUSE PARTY, and AXS’ GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE. He can also be seen in multiple episodes of TruTV’s COMEDY KNOCKOUT, MTV’s JOKING OFF, upcoming episodes of the MTV series WILD N OUT.

Leonard was selected as a NEW FACE at the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and was most recently named by RollingStone.com as a Top Ten Comic To Watch.

Reginald “Bruh-Man” Ballard

as seen on martin bruh man

Reginald Ballard is an American character actor and comedian from Galveston, Texas, who is probably best known as “Bruh-man from the fifth flo'” (he would often hold up four fingers when saying this) in the Fox sitcom Martin.

After graduation from Ball High School, where he was an all district linebacker, Ballard earned a full football scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where he was also a theatre major. Just before his senior year, Ballard transferred to the University of Missouri, where he continued to play football, while continuing to act, appearing in a university production of A Soldier’s Story in the role of C.J. Memphis.

bruh man

Spurning overtures from pro-football, Ballard headed to Hollywood to pursue his acting career. His film debut was in 1989’s Lock Up. He has appeared in many different television shows, such as Veronica Mars (the episode “Return of the Kane”), The Bernie Mac Show, The Parkers, Sister, Sister, Just Jordan, and the short-lived show, Crumbs. He co-starred in the independent film Big Ain’t Bad as Butch.

Currently, Ballard is performing stand up comedy and making movies in Hollywood.

John Morgan

John Morgan, the Ragin Cajun was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. The cultural, political and economic diversity of that city laid the groundwork for his development as a performer. John is one of nine children and after high school he attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana Lafayette) where he earned degrees in English, Political Science, and Interpersonal Communications. It was during his college career that John discovered he had the gift of comedy.

The “Ragin Cajun” gives parents a “talk” about how to raise children with manners. He thinks we are afraid to bust an ass! The stories will have you busting a gut with laughter! John dares to talk boldly about real issues. Whether he is speaking about children or relationships, his comedy comes from life experience with his wife and kids. Although his material may push some limits, it is never derogatory to any race, sex or creed. He finishes with a heartfelt patriotic theme making his show perfect for Armed Services Week.

Salute to Armed Forces

John has worked steadily at comedy clubs, corporate events, and musical arenas. He has made national television appearances on MTV, Showtime, and Night Watch with Charlie Rose. He has been the opening act for Jerry Seinfeld, Kathleen Madigan and numerous musical artists.

John Morgan seen on Showtime-Just-For-Laughs-MTV

John’s confident demeanor and honest approach to life is refreshingly original.

When not at home playing such roles as husband, papa, handyman, Spiderman, or Power Ranger, John travels the country doing comedy.