Nicholas Rocco Di Paolo (born January 31, 1962) is an American
stand-up comedian, writer, actor, radio personality and podcast host.
In July 2018, he launched his new audio and video podcast, The Nick Di
Paolo Show.Di Paolo was born in Danvers, Massachusetts to parents Nick
and Joan Di Paolo. In 1980, after graduating from high school, he
attended the University of Maine where he was a running back on the
university's football team and graduated in 1984 with a major in
marketing. He said: "I cheated my way through with a 2.3" grade point
average but picked this time as "the best years of my life". He joined
the fraternity Sigma Nu. His brother also attended the university and
did play-by-play commentary for the Maine Black Bears hockey team with
Gary Thorne.After graduating Di Paolo landed several jobs, including
office jobs in marketing and as a door-to-door salesman selling meat
and seafood. During this time, the stand-up comedy scene in the Boston
area had picked up and a friend encouraged Di Paolo to go on stage. Di
Paolo was a fan of stand-up and was influenced by watching comedians
appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, David Letterman on The
Mike Douglas Show, Jay Leno on The Merv Griffin Show, and Robert
Klein. He had wanted to have a go for several years but "didn't have
the guts" but his lack of enjoyment as a salesman "led me to the
stage". Di Paolo performed his first routine in the summer of 1986 at
an open mic night at Stitches club in Boston, traveling from a family
barbecue with "about 22 beers in me". He recalled his five-minute set
went "pretty well" and wanted to pursue it full time, but his salesman
job required a temporary relocation to Rhode Island. In the spring of
1987, he returned to Boston and started to make regular appearances at
local open mic nights.Di Paolo said it took years hone his stand-up
act. From 1987 to 1992, he worked clubs in the New England area,
including the Comedy Vault, the Comedy Connection, and Stitches. Two
years in, he did his first gigs in New York City which included a
regular spot at Catch a Rising Star. He described his act during this
early period as "a rapid fire approach, four or five punches attached
to every joke". Upon moving to New York City, Di Paolo's act became
more political from reading local newspapers and comparing views of
each publication. In his first year as a stand-up comic, he secured
Barry Katz as his manager and performed on over 300 nights. Di Paolo
went on to live in New York City with comedian Louis C.K. as his
roommate.
stand-up comedian, writer, actor, radio personality and podcast host.
In July 2018, he launched his new audio and video podcast, The Nick Di
Paolo Show.Di Paolo was born in Danvers, Massachusetts to parents Nick
and Joan Di Paolo. In 1980, after graduating from high school, he
attended the University of Maine where he was a running back on the
university's football team and graduated in 1984 with a major in
marketing. He said: "I cheated my way through with a 2.3" grade point
average but picked this time as "the best years of my life". He joined
the fraternity Sigma Nu. His brother also attended the university and
did play-by-play commentary for the Maine Black Bears hockey team with
Gary Thorne.After graduating Di Paolo landed several jobs, including
office jobs in marketing and as a door-to-door salesman selling meat
and seafood. During this time, the stand-up comedy scene in the Boston
area had picked up and a friend encouraged Di Paolo to go on stage. Di
Paolo was a fan of stand-up and was influenced by watching comedians
appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, David Letterman on The
Mike Douglas Show, Jay Leno on The Merv Griffin Show, and Robert
Klein. He had wanted to have a go for several years but "didn't have
the guts" but his lack of enjoyment as a salesman "led me to the
stage". Di Paolo performed his first routine in the summer of 1986 at
an open mic night at Stitches club in Boston, traveling from a family
barbecue with "about 22 beers in me". He recalled his five-minute set
went "pretty well" and wanted to pursue it full time, but his salesman
job required a temporary relocation to Rhode Island. In the spring of
1987, he returned to Boston and started to make regular appearances at
local open mic nights.Di Paolo said it took years hone his stand-up
act. From 1987 to 1992, he worked clubs in the New England area,
including the Comedy Vault, the Comedy Connection, and Stitches. Two
years in, he did his first gigs in New York City which included a
regular spot at Catch a Rising Star. He described his act during this
early period as "a rapid fire approach, four or five punches attached
to every joke". Upon moving to New York City, Di Paolo's act became
more political from reading local newspapers and comparing views of
each publication. In his first year as a stand-up comic, he secured
Barry Katz as his manager and performed on over 300 nights. Di Paolo
went on to live in New York City with comedian Louis C.K. as his
roommate.
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