Ron Shock
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Born Name:
Howard Ronald Shock
Born Date: October 19, 1942
Born Place: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Died Date: May 17, 2012
Died Place: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupations: Comedian
Brief Biography: Howard Ronald "Ron" Shock was known for his slow Southwestern drawl and blending long-form storytelling with traditional humor, Shock called his style "comedy from a life fully lived." Before finding success on stage at age 40, he lived a remarkably colorful, unconventional life that included stints as a priest-in-training, a corporate executive, and a convicted bank burglar.
Early Life and Unconventional Youth:
Shock was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised across West Texas and Oklahoma.
Rebellion: Incapable of dealing with strict family dynamics, Shock ran away from home at age 15.
Early Crimes: He ended up in New Orleans, where he supported himself through car theft and burglary.
Eclectic Paths: Before his major criminal run, he briefly spent time in a seminary training to be a priest and served in the military as a demolition expert.
Prison Sentence: Shock was ultimately caught and served time for his role as a jewel and bank thief in a maximum-security penitentiary. He also held three electronics patents.
The Corporate Detour:
Following his release from prison, Shock radically shifted directions:
Business Success: He climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming the vice president of a Fortune 500 publishing company and later owning a computer software company in Houston.
The Epiphany: Approaching age 40, he grew deeply bored with corporate life. During a theater class, television actor Hayden Rorke heard Shock tell a story about evangelist Oral Roberts and strongly urged him to try comedy. Shock visited a comedy workshop a week later, immediately sold his business, and dedicated himself to comedy full-time.
Comedy Career and "Texas Outlaw Comics":
Shock's authentic life experiences and deliberate, slow pacing quickly set him apart:
The Outlaws: In Houston during the 1980s, Shock became a founding member of the Texas Outlaw Comics. This legendary, boundary-pushing collective included the iconic Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, and Carl LaBove.
The Carson Break: His major mainstream breakthrough occurred when he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Shock holds the distinction of being the last new comic introduced by Johnny Carson before the host's retirement.
Media and Touring: Shock became a relentless touring headliner, working up to 40 weeks a year. He made frequent appearances on Comic Strip Live, An Evening at the Improv, and starred in his own 1993 Showtime special, Bad Gig Blues. His comedy heavily pulled from bizarre, real-life news clippings and personal traveling experiences.
Born Date: October 19, 1942
Born Place: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Died Date: May 17, 2012
Died Place: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupations: Comedian
Brief Biography: Howard Ronald "Ron" Shock was known for his slow Southwestern drawl and blending long-form storytelling with traditional humor, Shock called his style "comedy from a life fully lived." Before finding success on stage at age 40, he lived a remarkably colorful, unconventional life that included stints as a priest-in-training, a corporate executive, and a convicted bank burglar.
Early Life and Unconventional Youth:
Shock was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised across West Texas and Oklahoma.
Rebellion: Incapable of dealing with strict family dynamics, Shock ran away from home at age 15.
Early Crimes: He ended up in New Orleans, where he supported himself through car theft and burglary.
Eclectic Paths: Before his major criminal run, he briefly spent time in a seminary training to be a priest and served in the military as a demolition expert.
Prison Sentence: Shock was ultimately caught and served time for his role as a jewel and bank thief in a maximum-security penitentiary. He also held three electronics patents.
The Corporate Detour:
Following his release from prison, Shock radically shifted directions:
Business Success: He climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming the vice president of a Fortune 500 publishing company and later owning a computer software company in Houston.
The Epiphany: Approaching age 40, he grew deeply bored with corporate life. During a theater class, television actor Hayden Rorke heard Shock tell a story about evangelist Oral Roberts and strongly urged him to try comedy. Shock visited a comedy workshop a week later, immediately sold his business, and dedicated himself to comedy full-time.
Comedy Career and "Texas Outlaw Comics":
Shock's authentic life experiences and deliberate, slow pacing quickly set him apart:
The Outlaws: In Houston during the 1980s, Shock became a founding member of the Texas Outlaw Comics. This legendary, boundary-pushing collective included the iconic Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, and Carl LaBove.
The Carson Break: His major mainstream breakthrough occurred when he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Shock holds the distinction of being the last new comic introduced by Johnny Carson before the host's retirement.
Media and Touring: Shock became a relentless touring headliner, working up to 40 weeks a year. He made frequent appearances on Comic Strip Live, An Evening at the Improv, and starred in his own 1993 Showtime special, Bad Gig Blues. His comedy heavily pulled from bizarre, real-life news clippings and personal traveling experiences.