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At Home with a Mic
Chris D’ Elia is a comic and an actor, in that order WRITTEN BY JULIA MARTIN
Chris D’ Elia, the stand-up comedian, actor and writer, spent his first 12 years of life inMontclair, attending Northeast School and playing in Yantacaw Brook Park near his Greenview Way home.
Since moving to L. A. in 2008 with his family— TV director father Bill, interiordesigner mother Ellie and brother Matt, now a filmmaker and actor— he’ s honed his stand-up skills on national tours, specials and talk-show appearances. He’ s also landed prime sitcom roles on NBC’ s Whitney and Undateable, and a supporting role on the new ABC drama The Good Doctor.
On Saturday, Oct. 13, D’ Elia returns to his home turf for a stop on his“ Follow the Leader” national standup tour at The Wellmont Theater. We talked to him about his Montclair childhood, his career, and the moment he knew he was going tobeacomedian.
YOU CALL YOURSELF A“ COMEDIAN WHO ACTS.” DOES THAT MEAN THAT BEING A COMEDIAN IS WHERE YOUR HEARTIS? Ireally love it all, but to me, comedy is the pinnacle. It’ s the most“ me.” I can do“ me” and sell tickets as“ me.” It’ s the coolest. I’ ve always felt like I was a comedian.
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A STUDENT? I was always the cut-up, always getting into trouble— for jokes, talking out of turn, stuff like that. Nothing real bad.
WHEN DID YOU START THINKING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO COMEDY? My dad tells the story about watching Jerry Lewis on TV with me. Lewis was doing something silly and Ilooked at my dad and said,“ That guy on TV, is that his job?” My dad said,“ Yeah.”“ He makes money doing that?” I asked.“ Yeah, quite a lot of money,” my dad replied.“ Huh,” I said. That’ s when my dad thinks I made up my mind to be a comedian. But I can’ t remember ever thinking about anything else than that.
HOW WOULDYOU DESCRIBE YOURCOMEDY? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ROUTINE? I guess I’ d call my comedy style aggressive and animated. The first bit that went viral for me and put me in theaters was abit Idoabout drunk girls. It still goes viral every now and then. That bit always has a special place for me.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP INMONTCLAIR? DOYOU KEEP INTOUCH WITH ANYONE FROM THE OLD NEIGHBOR- HOOD? Ijust remember it being generally fun, and Imiss it. Montclair was agreat place togrow up. Ikeep intouch with one ofmyfriends who lived next door to me on Greenview Way. Idon’ t personally keep intouch with anyone else, but my mom still talks to everyone’ smom, so Iknow what everyone’ s doing. She has lifelong friends from Montclair.
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MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2018
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