Brad Williams (comedian)

Brad Williams (born January 13, 1984) is an American stand-up comedian and actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows. He was born with achondroplasia.

Brad Williams
Williams in 2007
Born (1984-01-13) January 13, 1984 (age 40)
Orange, California, U.S.
Alma materSunny Hills High School
Years active2003–present
GenresObservational comedy
Subject(s)Everyday life, sex, identity politics, current events, pop culture
Spouse
Jasmine Williams
(m. 2017)
Children1
Websitebradwilliamscomedy.com

Early years

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Williams was born with achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism. His condition plays a large part in both his stand-up comedy and his television roles. He attended Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, California, and the University of Southern California. He withdrew from the university to pursue his acting and comedy career.

Comedy career

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Williams got his start at age 19 by attending a Carlos Mencia live comedy show. While he was in the crowd, Mencia made jokes about dwarves. The people sitting close to Williams were afraid to laugh and appear insensitive. Mencia noticed this, then noticed Williams and asked him to join him on stage. Williams cracked a few jokes and impressed Mencia. Mencia then asked Williams to try stand-up and be his opening act on the road. Williams has been Mencia's opening act for multiple tours, opening up shows on both the Mind of Mencia tour and the popular Punisher Tour.[1]

In 2022, Williams was hired as the lead comic of the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show Mad Apple.[2]

Television appearances

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Williams appeared on Mind of Mencia, playing several roles, including playing a dwarf whore ("whorf"), the leader of an all dwarf basketball team, joining Mencia at a Renaissance faire, and giving a speech about his hatred of podiums.[3] For St. Patrick's Day 2008, Brad, dressed as a leprechaun, made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. For Halloween 2008, Brad dressed up as Child's Play character Chucky for a skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Stand-up releases

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In April 2011, Williams released his first full-length comedy album called Coming Up Short.

On April 14, 2014, Williams started hosting the About Last Night podcast with comedian/actor Adam Ray.[4]

Williams had his first one-hour comedy special, Brad Williams: Fun Size, on May 8, 2015, on Showtime. His second one-hour comedy special, Brad Williams: Daddy Issues, aired on May 20, 2016, on Showtime.

Williams was a frequent guest and "friend of the show" to The Kevin and Bean Show, broadcast weekday mornings on KROQ 106.7FM, Los Angeles, California. He appeared on Kevin and Bean's "April Foolishness" comedy show in 2012, 2013 and 2015 alongside such comedians as Bob Saget, Jay Mohr, Jim Jeffries, Bill Burr, and Eddie Izzard.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Williams has been confused with Jason "Wee Man" Acuña from Jackass because of their similar appearance.[5]

Williams has also been confused with professional wrestler Dylan "Hornswoggle" Postl.

In 2014, Williams made comments on the podcast Getting Doug with High during which he admitted to and described committing rape by deception. The episode was subsequently taken down, although clips of the episode reappeared on YouTube in 2019, prompting social media discussion about consent and widespread criticism of Williams’ actions.[6][7] On January 14, 2020, Williams tweeted an apology on Twitter where he stated that the story was fabricated and intended as a joke.[8]

In 2017, Williams married taekwondo instructor Jasmine Gong.[9] In January 2020, the couple had a daughter, who also is an achondroplastic dwarf.[10][11]

Discography

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Year Title Notes
2011 Coming Up Short Debut full-length album
2013 Hi Ho
2015 Fun Size Also comedy special
2016 Daddy Issues Also comedy special

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Restaurant Himself 1 episode
2005–07 Mind of Mencia Various roles 21 episodes
2008 Live at Gotham Himself June 13, 2008
2008 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Leprechaun March 17, 2008
2009 Jimmy Kimmel Live! New Jersey Net / Mini Cowboy December 4, 2009 / April 14, 2009
2010–12 Pit Boss Himself 12 episodes
2011 Video Game Reunion Little Nemo April 12, 2011
2012 A Guy Walks Into a Bar Jason Episode: "Magic Apples"
2012 The Naughty Show Himself January 17, 2012 / February 7, 2012
2012–15 The Playboy Morning Show Himself 7 episodes
2012–17 Laugh Factory Himself Episodes: "Brad Williams: Sex Video Game" / "My Urinal"
2013–14 Legit Himself 3 episodes: "Bag Lady", "Intervention", "Sober"
2013 Making Yogurt with Brady Matthews Himself
2013 Dom Irrera Live Himself
2013 Sam & Cat Hector Episode: "#MotorcycleMystery"
2014 Legit Brad Episode: "Honesty"
2014 Comedy Underground with Dave Attell Himself April 19, 2014
2015 Kamikaze Comedy Himself Episode: "The One Where the Guys Comedy Bomb the Hood"
2015 Brad Williams: Fun Size Himself Debut comedy special
2015 Absolutely Jason Stuart Himself Episodes: "Brad Williams" / "Brad Williams II"
2015 Why? With Hannibal Buress Himself Episode: "Get the F Out of Here"
2015 Best in Sex: 2015 AVN Awards 1st Comedy Segment Actor TV special
2015–16 Deadbeat Tyson 7 episodes
2016 Court Ordered Corbin TV series short / Episode: "Pilot"
2016 Brad Williams: Daddy Issues Himself Comedy special
2017 Return of the Mac Steve Episode: "Celebrity Tantrum"
2017 What's Your F@#King Deal?! Himself Episode: "Brad Williams, Nick Vatterott and Godfrey"
2017 The Nasty Show Volume II Hosted by Brad Williams Himself TV movie / Host
2018 This Is Not Happening Himself Episode: "Famous" / Writer (1 episode)
2018 The Degenerates Himself Netflix series; Episode: "Brad Williams"
2018-19 Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks Himself 2 episodes
2020 Robot Chicken Harry Lime / Teenage Boy Voice role; Episode: "Buster Olive in: The Monkey Got Closer Overnight"
2024 Starfish Himself Comedy special

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 El matador Little Actor #5
2006 Life is Short Gary Short film
2010 Rageous Himself TV movie
2011 Team Apparition Little Person Ghost
2011 Geezas Little Carlos
2011 Balls to the Wall Trevor
2011 Hollywood Sex Wars Onch
2012 Hercules Saves Christmas Elf Joseph
2015 Road Hard Himself
2016 Mascots Ron "The Worm" Trippman
2016 Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story Himself TV movie documentary
2017 Little Evil Gozamel
2017 Poop Talk Himself Documentary

References

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  1. ^ Caldwell, Suzanna (October 1, 2010). "Size does matter for comedian Brad Williams, smaller is better". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Lerman, Ali (May 25, 2022). "Brad Williams brings comedy to (gigantic) center stage of Cirque du Soleil's 'Mad Apple'". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ "Carlos Mencia Comedy Is HARDER When You Lose the Fat". TMZ. December 27, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  4. ^ "About Last Night by Brad Williams & Adam Ray". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "TMZ's Small Mistake — Big Trouble". TMZ. July 5, 2007.
  6. ^ "Carlos Mencia's Rape Plot — According to 'Degenerate' Brad Williams". Medium. December 24, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "Brad Williams RAPED A Girl!? Getting Doug With High DELETED CLIP". YouTube. October 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Williams, Brad [@funnybrad] (January 14, 2020). "I owe you all an apology" (Tweet). Retrieved January 15, 2020 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Gurian, Jeffrey (April 9, 2018). "Brad Williams in NYC, Cipha Sounds Hip Hop Improv, Women of a Certain Age and More". The Interrobang. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Williams, Brad [@funnybrad] (January 13, 2020). "And then...life mattered. She's here! Mom and baby are both doing great. We are already proud parents!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 15, 2020 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Mokeira Obiero, Gladys (August 4, 2020). "Comedian Brad Williams wife: Quick facts and photos". Tuko.co.ke.
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