Where do you begin the task of trying to describe Johnny R? The elastic faces, the flopping limbs, the silly, googly eyes…he’s got you in stitches and he hasn’t even opened his mouth yet! And once that happens, you’re gone. At the end of the night, your face hurts – literally – from the constant laughter. He has earned the nickname, “The Rubber-Faced Comedian.”
Part old school (think Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye) intertwined with his own unique observations on everyday life, Johnny R has been cracking up audiences around the country for over 30 years. Born in raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Johnny cut his comedy teeth in some of the most hallowed clubs in New York City, including Catch a Rising Star, Caroline’s, Dangerfield’s and The Comic Strip. Before long, Johnny was opening all over the country for superstars including Jay Leno, Richard Belzer, Dennis Miller, Tommy Chong, Joan Rivers, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Ray Charles, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Mamas and the Papas, Pat Cooper and Henny Youngman.
Johnny has headlined across the country at The Bitter End in NYC, the Borgota Casino in Atlantic City, the Riviera and Sun Coast casinos in Las Vegas and at all the major comedy clubs, including Madison Square Garden. He has appeared on numerous television programs including NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Fox’s 30 Seconds to Fame, A & E Comedy on the Road and The Joan Lunden Show. He also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement – Performance Artist, for the acclaimed CPTV comedy special, Hot Summer Nights. He also hosted his own public-access talk and variety show, The Johnny R Show