Jimmy Pardo

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Born Name:  James Ronald Pardo, Jr.

Born Date:  July 28, 1966

Born Place:  Chicago, Illinois

Died Date: 

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Occupations:  Stand-up comedian, actor, podcasting pioneer

Brief Biography:  Jimmy Pardo is widely celebrated as the "fastest mind in comedy", he is best known for his improvisational crowd work, his role as the warm-up comic for TBS's Conan, and his award-winning weekly podcast, Never Not Funny.

Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Pardo developed a deep passion for comedy and radio at an early age. After graduating from Oak Forest High School in 1984, he moved to Pasadena, California, in 1986 to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. However, after a year, he returned to the Chicago area to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. Pardo credits fellow comedian Bob Odenkirk (whom he met while working at a suburban Chicago record store) with encouraging him to try stand-up. He hit the stage for his first open mic in October 1988. By July 1989, he quit his full-time day job at MCA Records to become a full-time touring stand-up.

Stand-Up Style and Television Success:
Known as a "crowd whisperer", Pardo relies heavily on quick-witted, stream-of-consciousness improvisation rather than sticking to a rigid set of written jokes. He built a reputation as a masterful club performer. His unique brand of conversational stand-up is showcased on his highly-rated comedy albums, including Uno, Pompous Clown, and Sprezzatura. Pardo has made over 100 television appearances. In 2009, he became the in-studio warm-up act for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and later continued that role on TBS's Conan. He also became a regular on the show as a panel guest, sketch player, and host of web segments like "The Pardo Patrol". Over the years, his TV credits include hosting the Science Channel's game show Race to Escape, AMC's Movies at Our House, and making appearances on Comedy Bang! Bang!.

Podcasting Pioneer:
In 2006, long before podcasting was an industry standard, Pardo co-founded the wildly popular weekly comedy podcast Never Not Funny with producer Matt Belknap. Known for its conversational, laid-back yet hilarious format, the show has been named a top comedy podcast by publications like Entertainment Weekly, GQ, and The A.V. Club. Pardo frequently hosts celebrity guests such as Conan O'Brien, Zach Galifianakis, and Jon Hamm. Never Not Funny is also celebrated for hosting the Pardcast-a-Thon, an annual 12-hour marathon charity event to benefit the Smile Train organization.