Tom Papa
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Born Name:
Thomas Papa Jr.
Born Date: November 10, 1968
Born Place: Passaic, New Jersey
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Comedian, actor, producer, writer, TV/radio host
Brief Biography: Tom Papa is known for his clean, observational style and relatable humor centering on the human condition, marriage, and family life. With a career spanning over three decades, he has built a massive following through his frequent late-night appearances, multiple Netflix stand-up specials, and a unique passion for baking sourdough bread.
Stand-Up Career & The Seinfeld Break:
Early Days: Papa began his comedy journey doing open mics in New York City in 1993.
The Big Break: Legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld hand-picked Papa to serve as an opening act on his comedy tours.
Comedy Specials: He has recorded numerous highly-rated comedy specials. His 2011 special Tom Papa: Live in New York City was directed by Rob Zombie. He has released multiple acclaimed Netflix specials, including You're Doing Great! (2020) and Home Free (2024).
Late Night Presence: He is a familiar face on late-night TV, logging multiple appearances on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Film and Television:
Acting Roles: He starred alongside Matt Damon in the Steven Soderbergh film The Informant! (2009) and later appeared in Soderbergh's HBO film Behind the Candelabra (2013). He also voiced the title character in the animated feature The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009).
Writing Credits: Papa co-wrote the screenplay for the animated hit Bee Movie (2007) with Jerry Seinfeld.
Hosting Duties: Seinfeld tapped him to host the NBC reality-comedy series The Marriage Ref (2010–2011). He also combined his love for food and comedy by hosting Baked on the Food Network.
Radio, Podcasts, and Books:
SiriusXM Shows: He is a prominent voice on satellite radio, hosting the show Come to Papa. Alongside Fortune Feimster, he also hosts the daily morning show What a Joke with Papa and Fortune on SiriusXM's Netflix Is A Joke Radio channel.
Podcast: He hosts the popular podcast Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, where he interviews guests over a loaf of bread he bakes himself.
Author: Papa has published books focusing on life's absurdities, including Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas (2018) and You're Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive (2020).
Born Date: November 10, 1968
Born Place: Passaic, New Jersey
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Comedian, actor, producer, writer, TV/radio host
Brief Biography: Tom Papa is known for his clean, observational style and relatable humor centering on the human condition, marriage, and family life. With a career spanning over three decades, he has built a massive following through his frequent late-night appearances, multiple Netflix stand-up specials, and a unique passion for baking sourdough bread.
Stand-Up Career & The Seinfeld Break:
Early Days: Papa began his comedy journey doing open mics in New York City in 1993.
The Big Break: Legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld hand-picked Papa to serve as an opening act on his comedy tours.
Comedy Specials: He has recorded numerous highly-rated comedy specials. His 2011 special Tom Papa: Live in New York City was directed by Rob Zombie. He has released multiple acclaimed Netflix specials, including You're Doing Great! (2020) and Home Free (2024).
Late Night Presence: He is a familiar face on late-night TV, logging multiple appearances on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Film and Television:
Acting Roles: He starred alongside Matt Damon in the Steven Soderbergh film The Informant! (2009) and later appeared in Soderbergh's HBO film Behind the Candelabra (2013). He also voiced the title character in the animated feature The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009).
Writing Credits: Papa co-wrote the screenplay for the animated hit Bee Movie (2007) with Jerry Seinfeld.
Hosting Duties: Seinfeld tapped him to host the NBC reality-comedy series The Marriage Ref (2010–2011). He also combined his love for food and comedy by hosting Baked on the Food Network.
Radio, Podcasts, and Books:
SiriusXM Shows: He is a prominent voice on satellite radio, hosting the show Come to Papa. Alongside Fortune Feimster, he also hosts the daily morning show What a Joke with Papa and Fortune on SiriusXM's Netflix Is A Joke Radio channel.
Podcast: He hosts the popular podcast Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, where he interviews guests over a loaf of bread he bakes himself.
Author: Papa has published books focusing on life's absurdities, including Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas (2018) and You're Doing Great!: And Other Reasons To Stay Alive (2020).