Quick Wiki
- Full Name Jessica Kirson
- Occupation Comedian, Podcaster, Actor, Producer
- Nationality American
- Birthplace South Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
- Birth Date Nov 14, 1969
- Age 54 Years, 7 Months
- Sexual Orientation Lesbian but opts out to market herself as a "lesbian comedian." "I was always mainstream. I did that because that's what I had to do to get where I am. I have friends who are the most amazing comics, but no one knows who they are because they only do 99%
Jessica Kirson | Biography
Host of Podcasts 'Disgusting Hawk,' 'Relatively Sane'Kirson produced the documentary Hysterical, which debuted on the FX network on 2 April 2021. The film highlights a group of vigorous female comedians who talk about how they broke into the industry that overlooked female comedians in preference of cis white male colleagues and became an inspiration to their generation and gender.
Jessica Kirson is a famous stand-up comedian and the producer of the documentary Hysterical (2021).
Who is Jessica Kirson?
Jessica Kirson is an actor and producer who has worked in the films such as The King of Staten Island (2020), School Dance (2014), and The Comedian (2016).
Kirson is also a stand-up comedian who has published a few stand-up albums such as My Cookie’s Gone in 2007, Talking to Myself in 2013, and Unheard, an improv comedy digital album in 2013.
As a comedian, Kirson has received the ‘Outstanding Standup Comedy’ award at the 11th annual Nightlife Awards in New York City in 2013 and a ‘Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Award’ for ‘Stand-up Comic/Female’ in 2006.
Kitson also hosts a few podcast series, namely Disgusting Hawk and Relatively Sane, and has a defunct Youtube series, The Jessy K Show.
Early Life and Education
Kirson Braff was born on 14 November 1969 in South Orange, New Jersey. She remembers herself as a goofy child who had the natural ability to make people laugh by making hilarious expressions.
Growing up, Kirson admired Borscht Belt comedians, who routinely appeared in Borscht Belt resorts. Eventually, she went to the “Village Voice” in New York City with an ambition to become one and enrolled in their classes. That is how her path to becoming a comedian began.
Kirson had previously attended NYU graduate school with an aspiration to become a social worker, but along the way, she took a different career path.
Additionally, Kirson is the step-sister of famous brothers Zach Braff, Joshua Braff, Shoshanna Braff, and Adam J. Braff.
Career as Comedian
Kirson has worked in the entertainment industry as a comedian, actor, producer, and podcaster. She has made a slew of humorous characters and videos throughout her career, with millions of views on social media.
Stand-up Comedy
Kirson’s stand-up debut encompassed her performance at NYC’s Carolines on Broadway after completing a six-week stand-up comedy class. The event was completely sold out.
From streets to big stages, Kirson would then go on to earn comedic experiences. She has made appearances at the Spokane Comedy Club, Bridgeport’s Stress Factory Comedy Club, Comedy Cellar in New York City, and Ridgefield Playhouse (a two-show joint performance with Christine O’Leary, 2021).
Kirson has also published her stand-up albums, namely, My Cookie’s Gone (2007) and Talking to Myself (2013) and Unheard, a sketch comedy digital album released in 2013.
Getting Into The Business
CTPost interviewed Kirson on 22 February 2021, where Kirson shared why she got into the comedy business.
“I was always the class clown and very funny. My grandmother told me I should be a comedian and I listened to her and took a class, and I started doing stand-up. I really loved it, she said. “I found the power of humor at a very young age. When I was around friends and made them laugh, people wanted to be around me.”
Movies and TV shows
Kirson wrote the TV special, The Montreal Experience, in 2013 and was the associate producer of the comedy, drama, and romance film, The Comedian in 2016. In addition, she was one of the producers for the documentary Hysterical, released in 2021.
In 2011, Kirson’s voice was featured in the TV series Bubble Guppies. Her voice appeared in two of its episodes, namely, ‘Haunted House Party’ and ‘Gup, Gup and Away!’. Additionally, she was a part of the 2013 short movie Archie Black and played the character of Officer P’eniss in the 2014 film School Dance.
Kirson has also fulfilled the guest TV roles such as Pan on The Jim Gaffigan Show in 2015, Megan on Kevin Can Wait in 2016, Jessica on Dollar Store Therapist in 2018, and Jessica on Crashing from 2018 to 2019.
In 2020, Jessica Kirson played the character of Homeless Woman in the romance comedy-drama series Ramy in 2020, followed by the role of a female pharmacy owner in the comedy-drama film The King of Staten Island in the same year. She also starred as Karyn Friedlander in the comedy film The Binge in 2020.
‘Hysterical’
Kirson produced the documentary Hysterical, which debuted on the FX network on 2 April 2021. The film highlights a group of vigorous female comedians who talk about how they broke into the industry that overlooked female comedians in preference of cis white male colleagues and became an inspiration to their generation and gender.
“There are so many funny women out there,” Kirson shared with Spokesman in 2021. “Female comics are so powerful. The movie explores why female comics became comics.”
In addition, Kirson shares that Hysterical also connects on how the MeToo movement ensured the solidarity of female comedians.
“We’ve definitely come together a lot more since the whole movement started, exchanged stories. I didn’t even realize things were inappropriate until I started talking to some of my friends. I’m like, ‘Ohmygod, that guy used to slap me in the ass—I’m so used to it that I didn’t even realize,’ which is really sad. It’s the start and it’s the beginning and it’s going in the right direction,” Kirson told Deadline.
Podcast
Kirson hosts a few podcasts, such as Disgusting Hawk—released in 2021 and produced by GaS Digital—and Relatively Sane. She has interviewed comedians such as Bill Burr and Jim Gaffigan, and Rosie O’Donnell in the latter podcast.
In Disgusting Hawk, Kirson introduces a cast of bizarre characters. Kirson’s roster of characters varies from entertaining to unsettling to plain bizarre, from a spoiled adolescent, Mandy, to conspiracy theorist clown, Puzzles. The weekly podcast series also features guided meditations, celebrity interviews, and comic bits with Kirson.
In addition, her other podcast, Relatively Sane Podcast, has interviews with guest celebrities and Jessica’s favorite repeating characters.
Awards and Recognitions
Kirson has received several awards for her comedic deeds, including the ‘Outstanding Standup Comedy’ recognition at the 11th annual Nightlife Awards in New York City in 2013 and a ‘Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Award’ for ‘Stand-up Comic/Female’ in 2006.
Wife
Kirson married her partner Danielle Sweeney in September 2014, and they had four kids together. Zoe is their oldest daughter, followed by Bella and a set of twin daughters.
Feud
Kirson openly manifested her feud with Bethenny Frankel, an American TV personality, on Twitter in March 2021, calling her a ‘total b***h.’ The feud became public when Kirson responded to Frankel’s post on the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. The post mocked Markle’s wealth and chastised her for not enduring two years as a member of the British institution.
“For months you never said hello and you ordered me around like a dog. One day I walked off set because I had enough of your s***. Have a great day!,” Kirson took the feud to Twitter.
Did You Know?
Kirson’s father died after a battle with cancer in April 2020.
