Danielle Perez (comedian)

Danielle Perez is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. She participated in CBS's 2020 Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase and has credits on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, MTV's Decoded, NBC's StandUp, and A Little Late with Lilly Singh.[1]

Early life

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Perez grew up in Los Angeles, California. She attended San Francisco State University.[2]

Career

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Perez appeared on the game show The Price Is Right in 2015 where she won a treadmill. She appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! soon after, and Kimmel gave her a trip on a Royal Caribbean Cruise.[3][4]

Perez has performed comedy at a number of festivals and venues, including SF Sketchfest, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, and the Brooklyn Comedy Festival. She has opened for many popular comedians, including Maria Bamford, Laurie Kilmartin, and Guy Branum. She participated in CBS's Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase in 2020 in Los Angeles, a showcase designed to spotlight historically underrepresented voices in comedy.[5] She has credits on season 11 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV's Decoded, NBC's StandUp, and A Little Late with Lilly Singh.[1][5] She has also filmed sketches for BuzzFeed and voiced characters for Comedy Central.[6]

Perez advocates for accessibility and inclusivity in comedy.[7]

She founded Thigh Gap Comedy with fellow comics Madison Shepard and Danielle Radford. They put on live comedy shows around Los Angeles, including one called GENTRIFICATION in the Highland Park neighborhood.[7]

In 2022, it was announced that Perez would star in the comedy film Plan B, alongside Jon Heder, Tom Berenger, and Shannon Elizabeth.[8] Perez voiced Charlotte Webber / Sun-Spider in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.[9]

Personal life

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When Perez was 20 years old, she was hit by a trolley in San Francisco while crossing the street. Her lower legs were amputated and she began using a wheelchair.[2] She is openly queer.[10] She has canvassed for the Democratic Socialists of America.[11][12]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Take Back the Night The Grilled Cheese Maker
2021 Just Swipe Donna
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Charlotte Webber / Sun-Spider Voice
2023 Dicks: The Musical Danielle the Stooper
TBA Plan B Dr. Britt Chapman

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Quinta vs. Everything Lady in Wheelchair Episode: "Quinta vs. Humanity"
2018 Fagabonds Danielle Episode #1.5
2021 Special Kit 2 episodes
2021 Diary of a Future President Tina Episode: "Quid Pro Quo"
2021 Curb Your Enthusiasm Network Exec #2 2 episodes
2022 Russian Doll Librarian Episode: "Brain Drain"
2023 With Love Zari Episode: "Lily's Double Quinceañera"
2023 Hamster & Gretel Additional voices 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "Victoria's Truth Fashion Show (Featuring REAL Women)". Youtube. December 11, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Angley, Natalie (March 23, 2018). "An accident took her feet but standup comedy helps her heal". CNN. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Kimmel Had a Nice Surprise for the 'Price Is Right' Contestant in a Wheelchair". Time. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  4. ^ MacMillen, Hayley. "This Woman in a Wheelchair Just Won A Treadmill on National TV". refinery29.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Thorne, Will (January 6, 2020). "CBS Sets 2020 Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase Cast". Variety.
  6. ^ Dorwart, Laura (July 26, 2019). "'An Embarrassment of Riches': Comedian Danielle Perez On Access, Representation And Women In LA's Comedy Scene". Forbes.
  7. ^ a b Matthew, Zoie (August 22, 2018). "Meet 13 Powerful Women Who Are Making L.A. a Better Place". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "Jamie Lee & Jon Heder Topline Comedy 'Plan B' for Joke Zero and Future Proof Films". July 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Smart, Jack. "Brian Tyree Henry Jokes He's Jealous of His 'Spider-Verse' Character's 'Amazingly Built' Body (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  10. ^ "They're the future of Hollywood diversity. Coronavirus has their careers on hold". Los Angeles Times. April 13, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  11. ^ @DSA_LosAngeles (November 2, 2022). "THIS SATURDAY! Join us for a GOTV canvass and comedy show for @drrivas2022! We'll knock on doors in the afternoon, then come together to watch @robhaze, @DivaDelux, @sandyhonig, @BRANDONWARDELL, @ambercrollo, @Kat_Toledo, John Early, and more!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ @DSA_LosAngeles (November 24, 2023). "Join us in Eagle Rock on Tuesday for an awesome night of comedy and solidarity to help elect @YsabelJuradoLA to Los Angeles City Council and kick that sinvergüenza, Kevin DeLeon, out of office!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.