DeRay Davis
Fast-talking, exasperated storytelling with the swagger of a Chicago hustler.
4 specials · 2002–2022
Start with How to Act Black, the breakout (2017 · 66 min · Netflix)
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Davis does not stand still. He stalks the stage, leans his weight on the mic stand, and delivers punchlines with his whole chest. He builds his bits around a core of exasperation, playing a guy who is just trying to get through the day while everyone around him acts crazy. He is a fast talker who slips into distinct voices, snapping from a smooth conversational cadence into a loud, frantic act-out before the room realizes the joke has shifted gears. When a punchline lands hard, he lets a quiet grin slip; when a crowd needs waking up, he barks the setup and points into the front rows.
Specials
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Snoop Dogg's F*cn Around Comedy Special with Snoop Dogg, Katt Williams & 4 more
Snoop Dogg hosts a smoky late-night variety show with his friends.
Netflix · 67 min
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A veteran Chicago comic targets Hollywood's narrow view of Black identity.
Netflix · 66 min
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Dating politics and neighborhood survival tactics from a Chicago native.
Comedy Central · 21 min
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Premium Blend: Wanda Sykes (S6E7) with Wanda Sykes, Martha Kelly & 2 more
A 2002 showcase of future stars anchored by an ascendant Wanda Sykes.
Comedy Central · 25 min
On stage
He occupies a specific space in the comedy ecosystem. He learned to survive in the bruising, high-volume rooms of early-2000s comedy clubs, then adapted seamlessly to the quick-hit pace of Wild ‘N Out. He is a reliable theater headliner who has worked in the industry for two decades without softening his approach.
His jokes run on the tension between his South Side Chicago roots and his comfortable Hollywood life. In specials like How to Act Black, he is funniest when talking about the weirdness of having money but still needing to project an edge. He leans on standard relationship arguments, but he plays both sides of the fight so aggressively that you forget you have heard the premise before.
Before the long list of acting credits, he carved out a piece of hip-hop history by voicing the Bernie Mac interludes on Kanye West’s first two albums.
Turning points
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Early 2000s
Comedy Central Laugh Riots Victory
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Davis won the Comedy Central Laugh Riots Competition, securing a coveted spot on the Cedric the Entertainer Tour.
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Early 2000s
Breakthrough at Laffapalooza Festival
Davis achieved a pivotal early career breakthrough performing stand-up at the Laffapalooza Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Netflix Release of How to Act Black
Davis premiered his first hour-long Netflix stand-up special in November 2017, generating massive streaming viewership.
At a glance
- Born
- , Chicago, Illinois
- On stage
- since 1998
- Style
- observational, storytelling, political
- Breakout
- How to Act Black
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Cedric the Entertainer
Both share roots in high-energy urban stand-up comedy and have toured and collaborated together on major stand-up bills.
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Mike EppsBoth comedians rose through mainstream urban comedy circuits and successfully balanced streetwise stand-up personas with prolific film and television acting careers.
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Corey Holcomb
Both are Chicago-bred stand-up comedians recognized for their unapologetic, street-smart delivery and authentic urban storytelling.
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Deon ColeBoth are prominent Chicago comics who transitioned from comedy club mainstays to major television and film acting roles.
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Tommy DavidsonBoth comedians share an animated performance style with roots in sketch television and hip-hop-adjacent stand-up circuits.
Also on screen
- Barbershop
- 2005–2007
- Reno 911!
- 2005–2022
- Wild 'n Out
- Semi-Pro
- 21 Jump Street
A clip to start with
DeRay Davis⎢Stuff Men Can't Do For One Another Anymore⎢Five Minute Funnies⎢LOL StandUp!