Bob Marley
He turns thick Maine colloquialisms into a relentless storytelling engine.
1 special · 2007
Get an email when there's a new special. You'll need a Google account.
He talks in a rapid, breathless sprint, clutching the microphone close to his chest. He drops his R’s and leans into a heavy Maine cadence, pacing the stage with his shoulders hunched. When a bit requires exasperation, he throws his hands up and raises his pitch, acting out an argument with an invisible neighbor over driveway boundaries. He describes daily interactions with the bewildered tone of a man who cannot believe he lives where he lives, but would never leave.
Specials
-
The Maine native breaks down marriage mechanics and restaurant menus.
Comedy Central · 22 min
On stage
He tours constantly, filling theaters across New England. His stage stamina borders on athletic. In 2010, he performed for forty continuous hours in Portland, Maine, setting a world record for the longest standup performance.
You do not survive a marathon like that without knowing exactly where a punchline lives.
His bits escalate naturally from minor grievances to absurd family arguments. He will isolate a tiny detail about subzero temperatures or a trip to the hardware store and build a frantic story around it. He populates these routines with uncles and townies, doing voices that sound exactly like a guy complaining at a gas station. He leans hard on local phrases, which can sometimes play like an inside joke. But he builds the material solidly enough that the punchlines land even if you have never shoveled a driveway.
He grew up in Bangor, a detail that informs every syllable he speaks on stage. Outside of standup, people usually recognize him as Detective Greenly in the cult action movie The Boondock Saints.
Turning points
-
Named Variety 10 Comics to Watch
Marley earned a spot on Variety's '10 Comics to Watch' list following a widespread late-night circuit run across Letterman, Leno, Conan, and Craig Kilborn.
-
Guinness World Record for Longest Stand-Up
Marley performed a 40-hour continuous stand-up set at the Comedy Connection in Portland, Maine, setting a Guinness World Record and raising money for the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.
At a glance
Also on screen
- The Boondock Saints
- The Breaks
- Liar's Club
- The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
- –
- Back by Midnight
A clip to start with
Bob Marley - Grandma