About Erik Griffin
A towering, charismatic force of comedy, Erik Griffin is the multi-talented stand-up comic and actor most recognisable as the mustachioed Montez Walker on hit Comedy Central series WORKAHOLICS.
Distinguished as a nationally touring comedian who headlines comedy clubs and colleges nearly every weekend, Erik Griffin first gained national exposure in the States through Comedy Central’s LIVE AT GOTHAM, NBC’s LAST COMIC DRIVING, Showtime’s COMICS WITHOUT BORDERS, nationally syndicated COMICS UNLEASHED and performing on the ALMA Award nominated PAYASO COMEDY SLAM on Showtime and Comedy Central networks. In May 2013, Erik Griffin released his debut comedy album, Technical Foul: Volume One.
As well as his live comedy, Erik Griffin is a regular face on TV screens across the globe, recently staring as a series regular in Showtime’s dark-comedy series I’M DYING UP HERE. Based on the book by former L.A. Times writer William Knoedelseder, the fictionalized series is set in the celebrated yet infamous L.A. stand-up comedy scene of the ’70s, under executive producer Jim Carrey. But it’s on stage where Erik Griffin’s personality really captivates. Instantly likeable but not without attitude, comedian Erik Griffin’s authentic charm and impressive audience rapport is not to be missed.
WATCH ERIK GRIFFIN: AMERIKAN WARRIOR
A smart, buoyant, and accomplished hour from the charismatic and instantly likeable Erik Griffin. With his “tell it like it is” attitude, infectious laugh and charm, enjoy Erik’s ability to poke fun at the haters and the bigots, whilst expertly treading the line on things we’re apparently not supposed to joke about.
Reviews and Awards
Eric Griffin was a semi-finalist in the 2005 International Seattle Comedy Competition.
‘Hilarious observations about life, love and self evaluation, he brings together all ages and ethnic backgrounds, which makes for an uproariously good time’
LaughFactory
‘Diffuses and confuses the tension in the room…a voice of reason. Even with that cartoonish face to accompany his friendly stage presence’
TheComicsComic.com
‘Delivering the kind of high-energy set he’s famous for – accompanied, of course, by non-stop laughs’
The Laugh Button
Erik Griffin Tickets
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Biography
Growing up in LA, Erik Griffin started his career in comedy later in life after making the decision in 2003 to quit his day job and pursue comedy full-time. Working at a school in a variety of roles, from office admin to coaching the basketball team, Erik admitted to Submerge Magazine: “I wasn’t happy…I didn’t want to wake up 50 and say I didn’t follow my dreams”. Erik reflects that coming to back comedy later in life, after an initial stinit taking part in open mic nights in his early 20’s, was beneficial. Speaking to Time Out he explains: “It wasn’t hard at all because I was more mature. I was more able to understand that [comedy] was about cultivating relationships, about persistence and consistency. And you just don’t know that when you’re young and your insecurity is kicking. You have all this doubt and fear. When you’re older, you’re able to let that stuff go …I had a real job! I know what it is like to be out here in these streets, trying to make ends meet. I also understand how hard it is to make it in this business. There’s a little bit of luck involved—being in the right place at the right time, getting the right audition and impressing people a certain way. I just appreciate what it is …I always wanted to be a comic, and part of that, for me, was that I wanted to be on the road. It’s a lonely existence, but it is what it is…All the open mics and horrible gigs you have to do to get yourself to a good place. And it never ends because you’re always looking for more. You have to be okay with that long journey. It’s not always fun.”
In those early years though, there were certainly some highlights along the road. It was winning the Northern Lights Competition, making it to the semi-finals in the International Seattle Comedy Competition, and finishing in second place at the Rocky Mountain Laugh-Off that gave Erik Griffin the confidence (and fan base) he needed to realise he was on the right track. And In 2008 at the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival, he received overwhelming reviews. Erik Griffin was also featured at the 2008 NACA National Conference, the 2007 East Regional and 2006 NACA West Regional Showcases.
After years of honing his craft, in the live arena, in 2011 Erik Griffin beat off stiff competition to land the role as Montez Walker on Comedy Central’s hit TV Series Workaholics. Within a couple of years he had also released his debut comedy album with independent label Side One Dummy Records. In that album, Erik Griffin riffs on his “racial ambiguity”. From a typically American multi-cultural background (his father is of European descent, while his mother is Caribbean) he spoke to The Good Men Project about how it shaped his world view and subsequently, his comic perspective:
“[My mother] came from another country and became a US citizen, and for me to hear the struggles she went through affected me. She hoped I wouldn’t go through the same struggles. So she took me around the world. When I was 7 years old I went to London, Paris, Rome, and Germany, so I was very worldly as a kid. When I experienced some racism growing up, it really didn’t affect me as much as it would have affected her growing up…When people ask me, “What Are You?” They don’t know what I am. People just want to know so badly. It’s so important for people to define you, and to be able to put you into a box in order to understand you. It’s something that I deal with all the time, so I talk about it.”
In 2013, Erik Griffin was asked to record a special for one of Comedy Central’s legendary The Half Hour series. His first hour-long comedy special, THE UGLY TRUTH, also aired on Showtime in 2017. With other previous television credits include a recurring role on the Starz! comedy BLUNT TALK with Patrick Stewart, Netflix’s ONE DAY AT A TIME, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and Nickelodeon’s HARVEY BREAKS, Erik Griffin has also made it onto the big screen in movies such as MIKE & DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES and FIRST GIRL I LOVED. He also hosts his own popular podcast – Riffin With The Griffin. With so many strings to his bow, Vulture.com asked whether doing other types of comedy work informs his stand-up, or if he sees them as totally separate creative processes:
“I think they go hand-in-hand. I think they enhance each other. I mean, standup is a form of acting anyway. The audience is your scene partner, and you’re still having that same sort of conversation. But, you have to do everything nowadays, because it’s not like the comedy clubs are giving everybody work. They’re basically putting it out of business in some cases, because you have to be on TV to get into the comedy clubs. That’s completely reversed. I mean, it used to be, you build up your name and you build up a fan base in the comedy clubs, then you got introduced to TV. So now, you have to do other things. You have to do commercials, you’ve got to do podcasting, you’ve got to do acting, you’ve got to try to find other avenues so you can get out there and do stand up, if that’s your passion.”
Get More Erik Griffin
Want more of Erik Griffin? You’re in luck – his full stand-up comedy special is available to watch on NextUp – a digital comedy club where you can stream instantly over 120 comedy specials from some of the exciting names in comedy. Oh, and there’s a 7 day free trial.