Jimmy Shubert has built an impressive resume as an actor, both in film and on television. As a comedian, he is one of the busiest comedians working today—and has added to his schedule the 2021 ED Awards! After becoming a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” he elevated himself to a spot on Comedy Central as the closing act on Dave Atell’s Comedy Underground.
From headlining A-list comedy clubs, casinos and theaters across the country, Shubert’s new comedy special “Zero Tolerance” is a theatrical presentation of Shubert’s stand-up persona of a blue-collar working-man’s man. He combines the outlook of a modern-day Archie Bunker with an utterly real-world sensibility to create signature pieces of comedy. Shubert loves playing the part of a pop culture iconoclast.
It was Jimmy’s performance as the lollipop-sucking strip-club bouncer “Vic Junior” in Columbia Pictures’ “Go,” directed by Doug Liman, that jumpstarted his film career. He then starred in a short film, “Velocity Rules,” for producer Brett Ratner and director Patty Jenkins (“Monster” & “Wonder Woman ”). He has since landed roles in numerous films such as Jerry Bruckheimer’s “Coyote Ugly,” “One Hour Photo,” “The Italian Job” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
In television, Shubert is also known for his recurring role on “King of Queens” for five years and several appearances on “Entourage.” Jimmy has a wide range as an actor and has played everything from a prison guard in a hostage crisis to a murder victim on “Monk.” He’s worked with such marquee names as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Katie Holmes, Kevin James, James Caan and the late Robin Williams. On the small screen, He recently did a guest star on IFC’s “Maron,” ABC’s “Back in the Game” with James Caan, and on the CBS comedy “2 Broke Girls.”
A Philly native, growing up as the son of a Philadelphia Detective wasn’t easy for Jimmy. “It was like having Lieutenant Colombo as a roommate; most of my childhood was an interrogation scene from Law & Order,” Shubert says. Jimmy and his band of six brothers were always getting into trouble, and being the middle child, Jimmy learned at an early age that a sense of humor could get him through any situation.
Jimmy started performing right out of high school in comedy clubs around the Philly area. He later moved to Los Angeles and started working at the Comedy Store. It was at the Comedy Store where he later met Sam Kinison, and after taking him offstage on a Motorcycle at the Comedy Store’s Main room in front of a packed house, they became fast friends . Kinison liked Shubert’s cockeyed chutzpah and included him as one of the original “Outlaws of Comedy” which he toured with for five years, playing major casinos in Las Vegas and other venues like the Universal Amphitheater.
Jimmy’s comedy routine is usually performed with an observational point of view, in comedic short-story form, and typically focuses on poking fun at pop culture. As AllMusic.com put it, “His confidence and lucid delivery enhances his humor, making even his most perverse moments hilarious.”
