Joey Diaz

Joey Diaz
Birth name José Antonio Diaz
Born (1963-02-19) February 19, 1963[1]
Havana, Cuba
Medium Stand-up comedy, television, podcast, film
Nationality Cuban-American
Notable works and roles My Name is Earl
The Longest Yard
Taxi

José Antonio "CoCo" Diaz is a Cuban-American stand up comedian. He is an actor known for his recurring role as Joey on the TV series My Name is Earl, as well as in movies such as The Longest Yard and Taxi.

Early life

Diaz grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, a small dense neighborhood, directly across the Hudson river from Manhattan. His early childhood was affluent: his mother owned and operated a bar while running a successful numbers operation. Diaz's was three when his father died and fifteen when his mother died. He was taken in by a series of North Bergen families, including two police officers named Robert Bender and Carmine Balzano. Frequent run-ins with the law, including his involvement in fights, kept him moving among a total of four families. Diaz says a total of twenty Italian and Irish families attempted to assist him, such as local funeral home owner Anthony Vanieri. Diaz explains that their sense of humor greatly influenced his own career,[2] which had its earliest beginnings as a student in North Bergen High School.[3]

Career

In 1985, Diaz left North Bergen, N.J. for good along with the glimmering NYC skyline and headed west to The Mile High State. His acceptance at the University of Colorado at Boulder and his academic life were interrupted by a short stint in prison. After his early release, Joey sold Subarus and signed-up for local open mic audiences. During 'The 20 year experience.' of his long comedy career, Diaz bounced from town to town, including Seattle, where he continued performing, crafting and perfecting his unique style of story-telling and visceral comedy.

In 1996, Diaz moved to Los Angeles and accepted an offer from a CBS talent scout to work on a television pilot. Although the series was not purchased, the visibility gave his career a much needed boost, securing appearances on Law & Order and in films including Spider-Man 2[2] and the 2004 film Taxi.[3]

Diaz's most prolific role came in the 2005 Adam Sandler film The Longest Yard[2][3] where he played a prison convict.

Joey the Candy Bar Criminal was also a part he played in four 2007 episodes of My Name is Earl. That same year he also appeared as "Joey Karate", doing humorous promotions for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in California, clips of which can be found on YouTube.[3] His subsequent roles include the 2009 TV movie The Dog Who Saved Christmas, and 2011 appearances in "Scarlet Ribbons", an episode of The Mentalist and the film Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.[2]

In 2013, he had a role in the movie Grudge Match seen alongside Robert De Niro as his coach.

Diaz and Felicia Michaels formerly co-hosted a weekly podcast named Beauty and Da Beast.[4]

In Season 2 Episode 12 of Maron, Diaz guest starred as a semi-fictionalized version of himself.

As of 2011, Diaz was working on a documentary chronicling his life in North Bergen, and how he was influenced by the various people who took care of him following his parents' death, to whom the film is made in tribute.[2]

The Church of What's Happening Now

As of September 2012, Diaz hosts a bi-weekly morning video podcast called "The Church Of What's Happening Now". With Lee Syatt "The Flying Jew". [5]

Friendship with Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan wittingly played a large part in the success of Diaz and saw the raw genius. The two befriended around the time Rogan worked on Fear Factor. In 2010, Diaz appeared with Joe Rogan on The Alex Jones Show.[6] But Diaz's popularity really skyrocketed sometime after his explosive series of interviews on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Charity work

Diaz has performed his standup in his hometown of North Bergen for charity. On November 4, 2007, he appeared there to help raise money for North Bergen High School basketball team uniforms.[3]

Personal life

Diaz lives in Los Angeles with his wife Terrie and daughter Mercy.

Film and television appearances

Stand Up Comedy Albums

Writer

Self

References

  1. ↑ "#152 - The Church Of lucifer". Libsyn. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 LaMarca, Stephen. "From North Bergen to prison to Hollywood". The Union City Reporter. November 6, 2011. Page 4
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hague, Jim. "NB comedian lands role on 'My Name is Earl'". The Union City Reporter. September 23, 2007. Page 6
  4. ↑ Beauty and Da Beast Podcast. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Church Of What's Happening Now with Joey Diaz". Libsyn. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  6. ↑ "1 of 4 Joey 'Coco' Diaz & Joe Rogan Alex Jones Show Uncut". YouTube. November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM4xHjQVKg8

External links

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