Hispanic Stand-Up Comedians that Deserve Their Due
Felipe Esparza is a Mexican-American comedian from Sinaloa. Heralded for his witty, self-deprecating style, Esparza has also made notable appearances on The Eric Andre Show and won Last Comic Standing in 2010. With a slew of specials scattered across Showtime and Netflix—oftentimes performed with a bilingual flair—and a well-earned reputation for finding the levity in weighty topics, Esparza has the goods.
Cuban American Joey Diaz is a brash, unapologetic character. As an actor he’s appeared in such films as The Longest Yard, Spider-Man 2, and Analyze That. He’s also had notable appearances on the stand-up series, This Is Not Happening. With a career that’s spanned 30 years, Diaz is a true fixture of the comedy scene and one of the most indelible Hispanic stand-up comedians.
Despite not being as well known in the states, Carlos Ballarta is one of the most established Mexican comedians of recent years. Having toured extensively from Mexico to the U.S. and across the pond to Europe, Ballarta was also the first headliner to perform his act in Spanish at the “Just for Laughs” comedy festival (in the show’s 41-year history). Ballarta is truly a Mexican comedian you should keep an eye on (if you aren’t already).
As far as Hispanic comedians go, Julio Torres’s impact may not be as readily apparent as our previous entries. However, fans of comedy have definitely taken note of Torres, even if they aren’t fully aware of it. A former writer for Saturday Night Live (he wrote the “Papyrus” sketch starring Ryan Gosling), Torres also played a crucial role in the under-seen, under-appreciated Los Espookys. Yes, Torres also has an HBO special (My Favorite Shapes), but Los Espookys is where he truly shines as both a writer and a performer.