Felipe Esparza Bio

Felipe Esparza was inspired to pursue comedy after discovering how humor could be a powerful tool for storytelling and connection. His early struggles and experiences growing up in the projects of Boyle Heights (East L.A.) shaped much of his comedic voice. As a teenager, his childhood friend played an old Bill Cosby album, “To My Brother Russell, Whom I Slept With”, which kicked off his love of funny storytelling. After that, it was Eddie Murphy who he connected with the most, through Eddie’s stories of growing up poor with his brothers.

He describes his style as raw, self-deprecating, and observational, drawing influences from Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy and his own life experiences.

He develops material by pulling from real-life events, jotting down funny observations, and testing them in small club performances before refining them for larger audiences.

He often engages with hecklers using quick wit and improvisation, sometimes turning the moment into an unexpected highlight of the show.

• He once worked as a security guard, is a dedicated vegan despite joking about it on stage, and is an avid Los Angeles Dodgers fan.
• Felipe started comedy before the internet existed, and found a book to help him structure his comedy writing. He often credits his writing technique to a book by Gene Perret (a former Tonight Show writer) called “Comedy Writing Step By Step”
• Felipe’s favorite movie is “Amadeus” and favorite author is Charles Bukowski.
• Felipe was born in Mexico, but came to the U.S. when he was 5 years old. He became a full U.S. citizen in 2024.
• Felipe is involved with several animal rescue organizations in Los Angeles, including Standup for Pits (a pitbull type dog advocacy organization run by fellow comedian, Rebecca Corry). He also has rescued several rabbits through a local organization called “Save Somebunny Rescue”. Felipe also continues to give back to Homeboy Industries, an organization started by Father Greg Boyle. Father Greg also is credited with saving Felipe’s life as a young man, keeping him out of gang activity and sending him to rehab. During rehab, Felipe discovered that he could actually pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian and took steps afterward to achieve that goal.

Overcoming substance abuse and breaking into the mainstream comedy scene were major challenges. Winning Last Comic Standing in 2010 helped elevate his career.

One of his most memorable roles was in Gentefied, where he portrayed a character with a deep connection to his own upbringing. Additionally, his role in the independent feature, “7th and Union” alongside Mexican actor, Omar Chaparro (in Omar’s first English-speaking film), allowed him to act in a dramatic film for the first time, albeit in a comic relief role.

He prepares by practicing sets at local clubs, refining jokes based on audience reactions, and ensuring he maintains high energy on stage.

“Keep getting on stage, learn from every performance, and never be afraid to fail—it’s part of the process.”

Winning Last Comic Standing was a turning point, but he also takes great pride in his stand-up specials, particularly in his bilingual Netflix special, Bad Decisions.

He credits his wife, Lesa O’Daniel Esparza, for helping him stay organized and focused while balancing tour schedules. She runs the day-to-day business and he focuses on the comedy.

• He believes comedy is evolving, with more diverse voices emerging, and sees social media as both an opportunity and a challenge for stand-up.
• Felipe has avoided going down the currently trendy path of “crowd work” clips, and instead, focuses on solid material throughout his sets. He keeps crowd work limited to live shows, primarily.

Yes, like all comedians, he has had tough crowds. He handles it by adjusting his set in real time and finding ways to engage the audience. Felipe believes “bombing” is important for growth.

The instant feedback from the crowd and the energy of a live audience make each show a unique experience.

Felipe loves to travel and meet new fans, so he mostly focuses on the excitement of performing in new cities and maintains a disciplined schedule to avoid burnout.

Felipe loves to travel and meet new fans, so he mostly focuses on the excitement of performing in new cities and maintains a disciplined schedule to avoid burnout.

He frequently explores themes of family, cultural identity, his past struggles with addiction and recovery, and everyday absurdities.

Growing up in an immigrant family in Boyle Heights, he draws on his personal experiences, blending humor with social commentary. He truly turns his painful times in his life into material for his comedy.

He enjoys watching baseball, staying active, and spending time with his wife and pets.

• Yes, he has worked with comedians like Gabriel Iglesias, George Lopez, Paul Rodriguez and actors in shows like Superstore and Gentefied. For his first arena show, Felipe put together a lineup of his favorite young comedians for “The Good, Bad and The Ugly” show at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, TX in 2024. The lineup included Chris Estrada and Frankie Quinones (from Hulu’s “This Fool”), Rene Vaca, Ken Flores, Ralph Barbosa as well as the world famous DJ, Deorro.

Felipe has also worked regularly with comedian Eric Andre as co-host of The Eric Andre Show’s last two seasons on Adult Swim.

Making people laugh, especially those who relate to his experiences, is the most fulfilling part of his work.

He is currently on his At My Leisure tour and continues to work on new stand-up material for future specials.

He stays connected through social media, his What’s Up Fool? podcast, and meeting fans after shows.

He also has a podcast called History for Foos, which he does with his friend and fellow comedian, Butch Escobar. Each week, they discuss a historical subject from the perspective of two guys who barely finished high school, but who can find the humor in our ugly history.

He wants people to leave feeling uplifted, connected, and reminded that laughter can come from life’s toughest moments.

His material has matured as he’s grown personally and professionally, allowing him to blend humor with deeper storytelling.