Ron Ervin
High-decibel Midwestern comedy built on sprawling, sweaty character work.
1 special · 2023
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Ron Ervin operates at a loud, exasperated pitch. He relies on wide-stance act-outs and sudden shifts in volume. When he tells a story about a mundane interaction on an East Coast street or a Chicago bus, he populates it with exaggerated personas, snapping into a caricature of a Harlem pedestrian or casting a Wrigleyville bartender as a Depression-era tobacco farmer. He builds momentum by letting the voices take over the premise, pausing just long enough to react to his own creations.
Specials
On stage
He is a Cincinnati native hustling the New York club circuit after a stint in Chicago. He occupies that wide middle tier of working comics who can bridge the gap between a noisy Midwest bar gig and a quiet alternative room. He brings the kind of heavy-footed, theatrical energy that bookers use to wake up a tired late-night crowd.
The material frequently pits his Appalachian background against his daily life. He talks about losing a hundred pounds not as a triumph, but as a doomed attempt to outrun his hillbilly DNA. He mines regional diets for jokes, contrasting the novelty of deep dish pizza with the bleak, four-times-a-week reality of eating Cincinnati chili.
When a premise starts to thin out, he simply cranks the volume and physically acts his way out of the corner.
Before moving out east, he spent time working as a recurring background actor on Chicago Med. That television experience shows up in his physical control on stage. He knows exactly how to angle his posture to sell a reaction.
Turning points
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Release of Viral Norwood Video
Ervin created the viral sketch video 'Don't Talk S*** About Norwood,' drawing attention across the Midwest comedy scene.
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Debut Special Prodigal Son
Ervin filmed his debut special Prodigal Son in his hometown of Cincinnati, which was subsequently released on Tubi and YouTube.
At a glance
- Breakout
- Prodigal Son
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Wikipedia
Podcasts
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Adult Films With Collin & Ron - A Podcast About Movies · co-host
Comedians Collin A. Bullock and Ron Ervin discuss cinema, directors, and film culture.
Also on screen
- Chicago Fire
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- Chicago Med