Jason Stuart
American actor and comedian (born 1969)
title: "Jason Stuart" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1959-births", "21st-century-american-jews", "american-gay-actors", "american-gay-comedians", "american-male-comedians", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-television-actors", "comedians-from-the-bronx", "gay-jews", "jewish-american-male-actors", "jewish-male-comedians", "jewish-american-comedians", "lgbtq-people-from-new-york-(state)", "living-people", "male-actors-from-the-bronx"] description: "American actor and comedian (born 1969)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Stuart" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American actor and comedian (born 1969) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Jason Stuart |
| image | Jason Stuart .jpg |
| caption | Jason Stuart - 2019 |
| birthname | Stuart Ted Greif |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States |
| occupation | {{flatlist |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Jason Stuart | image = Jason Stuart .jpg | caption = Jason Stuart - 2019 | birthname = Stuart Ted Greif | birth_date = | birth_place = The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States | occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actor
- comedian
- talk show host
- television personality}} | website = Jason Stuart (born January 13, 1969), also known by his real name Stuart Ted Greif, is an American actor and comedian. He first won notice on Star Search, where he lost to Martin Lawrence. He came out publicly in 1993 on the syndicated daytime talk show Geraldo, and has been called "the first openly gay stand-up comedian" by various media outlets (a title Stuart himself rejects).
Early life
Stuart Ted Greif on January 13, 1969, and raised in Los Angeles, California.
His father Leonard Greif was Jewish and born in Poland. Leonard was only 10 years old when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Leonard and his parents spent the war on the run, being hidden by Christian families. Jason's grandmother later learned that the rest of her family had been murdered.
Jason's father emigrated to the United States in 1949. Barely able to speak English, he got a job as a janitor. Jason's mother, Gloria, She was 17 years old when she married 22-year-old Leonard Greif. Leonard later got a job cutting ties from cloth in the New York City garment industry, and Gloria became a beautician.
The Greifs had three children: Steven, Stuart, and Karen. The family moved to the Fairfax neighborhood in central Los Angeles, California, when Jason was a year old. Jason Stuart describes his family as "not religious, but culturally Jewish." Jason Stuart says that his father and paternal grandparents suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome, leaving them constantly angry and afraid. Both parents, he says, had outsize egos and refused to let anyone interrupt or silence them. In Los Angeles, Leonard obtained a job with Castle Neckwear, and eventually rose to the position of vice president. He later became wealthy investing in real estate.
As a closeted gay youth, Jason Stuart says he felt alienated from his dysfunctional family. His father, he says, was more focused on making money than on showing his children love. However, his father's focus on putting one's best self forward in business left Jason with a desire to always be true to himself. His mother inspired him to be an artist, and he began performing at the local Jewish community center when he was eight years old. He began taking acting seriously in junior high.
Jason Stuart was heavily bullied throughout his childhood for his perceived homosexuality. He developed a quick wit and sense of humor because he was terrified and because it was an effective defensive mechanism, "so they could laugh with me rather than at me," he later said. Being funny was also a way to express his feelings, even if they were hidden by irony or sarcasm.
Although he was always making jokes growing up, Stuart says he was despondent. "When I was a kid, everyone thought I was jovial, funny. But I was one of those suicidal kids who went to sleep wishing I wouldn't wake up."
Stuart was chubby as a child, standing 5 ft tall and weighing 250 lb. He was attacked several times in junior high school after his peers assumed he was gay. The word "fag" was written on his locker, a girl punched him in the face (for which he was hospitalized), and another student beat him until he was unconscious.
As a child, Stuart was impressed by sarcastic and self-deprecating comedians such as Lucille Ball, Totie Fields, Paul Lynde, John Ritter, and Lily Tomlin. He also found actors Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman, and Barbra Streisand inspiring. Streisand appealed to him most. He saw her in the film Funny Girl, and her "sad on the inside, funny on the outside" character seemed to mirror his own life.
Stuart's parents divorced when he was 17, and he left home a year later. Both parents later remarried (his mother had 4 partners in total).
Career
Early acting career
Lacking any connections in the entertainment industry, Stuart called every agent listed in the Players Directory (a directory of talent and casting agents, published twice a year). He had a head shot taken, and sent the photograph to the producer of every television show he liked.
His first acting gig was as an extra on the comedy series One Day at a Time in 1977. He played a student, and had to exit through a door. He was so nervous that not only did he slam the wrong door, but he slammed the door so hard that its molding fell off.
Stuart supported himself by taking a wide range of odd jobs. He also took acting classes and studied under such prestigious teachers as Nina Foch, Harvey Lembeck, Roy London, Allan Miller, and Lawrence Parke. His first credited role on television came on the syndicated series The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts in 1980.
Stuart struggled to find work, however. Casting directors told him that he came across too gay and that no one would hire him. His agents did not know what parts they should have him audition for.
Early stand-up career
With acting gigs not forthcoming, Stuart's agent suggested in the early 1980s that he try stand-up comedy instead. He began touring in 1985.
Numerous comedy club gigs followed, and soon Stuart was headlining at mainstream venues. By 1987, Stuart was considered a major comedy star. That year, he appeared on the nationally syndicated talent show Star Search. Judges voted him superior to three other comedians, but Stuart lost in the fourth showdown to Martin Lawrence.
Post-coming out
Stuart came out publicly in the spring of 1993. His comedy act consisted of him acting heterosexual, even though he dressed outrageously or androgynously. He grew increasingly unhappy with his act, feeling he was lying to his audiences about who he was. Stuart realized he needed to come out while leading a class on self-esteem for young performers. After being heckled one day for coming off too effeminate, he told the heckler "I'm not gonna let you make me feel bad for being myself." When the teacher thanked him after the class for saying that, he realized he needed to come out professionally.
He first came out in early 1993 to an audience at The Laff Stop in Houston, Texas. Shortly thereafter, Geraldo Rivera invited him to appear in a segment on "Unconventional Comedians" on his nationally syndicated talk show Geraldo. Stuart not only came out of the closet during the show, but kissed Rivera on the air. Coming out made Stuart one of earliest openly gay comedians to be performing nationally, and according to journalist Connor Keaney he was widely said to be the first openly gay stand-up comedian. Stuart himself says such claims are inaccurate.
Stuart has described being an openly gay comedian in the 1990s as fraught with difficulties. He feared that coming out would cost him his day-job, and he was constantly aware that homophobes might physically attack him on stage or as he left the club. He worried that doing pre-show publicity would draw attention from those who might do him harm. Four times, he was picketed by members of the virulently homophobic Westboro Baptist Church. Bookers and other comedians would make fun of his sexuality, or openly harass him to get him to quit. Hosts would introduce him to audiences in crass or offensive ways.
In June 1994, Stuart performed his act on Broadway at the Town Hall theatre in OUTrageous Comedy '94, a benefit for the Gay Games hosted by Sandra Bernhard. He continued to do small roles on television, appearing on The John Larroquette Show, Murder, She Wrote, and seaQuest DSV, among others, but many casting directors openly refused to hire a gay man (and told him so to his face).
Stuart performed for more than 100,000 people at the Millennium March on Washington in 2000. He appeared on the groundbreaking comedy Will & Grace in 2000, and reprised his role in 2002.
In 2002, Stuart had what was described as a semi-regular role playing a gay therapist on the Damon Wayans comedy My Wife and Kids.
Stuart wrote, produced, and starred in his first film, 10 Attitudes in 2004. 2008 saw him guesting on Everybody Hates Chris, and in 2009 he appeared on the television series The Closer,
By 2010, Stuart was one of the most in-demand character actors in the United States, and was a favorite of casting directors who wanted a gay or sexually ambiguous performance.
Refocus on dramatic acting
After spending two decades primarily as a stand-up comedian, Stuart decided to refocus his career on acting in 2012. That same year, he had a guest shot on the TV series Sleepy Hollow, and toured the country with a new stand-up show, I'm Only Gay on the Weekends. The show found a permanent home for a year at the Purple Room, a Palm Springs supper club and jazz venue.
Stuart found his most prominent role to date in the 2016 dramatic period film The Birth of a Nation. a white, racist plantation owner and rapist. He was deeply disturbed by the racism and violence in the screenplay, leading him to only read it through once. To prepare for the film, Stuart read books on slavery in the Antebellum South and worked for a week perfecting his scenes with actor friends. Stuart told San Diego Jewish World that the role was life-changing, and he rededicated himself to being honest and truthful in his performances. Stuart says it is his favorite role.
In January 2019, Stuart's streaming independent comedy series Smothered premiered. Co-created and co-written with co-star Mitch Hara, A second season of Smothered began airing on Amazon Prime in the fall of 2022. Stuart also starred as the title character in the 2019 short film Hank, and had a small role in the 2019 independent fantasy anthology film Immortal.
Stuart published his autobiography, Shut Up, I'm Talking: Coming Out in Hollywood and Making It to the Middle, in late 2019. The title of the book came from a phrase his mother repeatedly said while he was growing up.
As of March 2021, Jason Stuart had more than 150 acting credits. That year, he appeared in an episode of the streaming legal drama Goliath, That month, he released his second comedy album, I'm the Daddy and I Have Candy.
Labor activism
Jason Stuart is a member of the performers' union SAG-AFTRA. He co-founded the union's first committee for LGBT people.
In his role as LGBT Committee co-chair, Stuart was the moderator of the first Transgender Actor Panel at the Outfest LGBTQ-oriented film festival in Los Angeles in 2015. Panelists included Alexandra Billings, D'Lo, and Mya Taylor.
In June 2019, Stuart and other members of the SAG-AFTRA LGBT Committee marched as a contingent at the NYC Pride March.
Personal life
Stuart was raised Jewish, but says his family was more observant of tradition than it was religious. As an adult, he identifies as a secular Jew.
Stuart says he relies on his memories of family for a good deal of his comedy act.
Stuart was single as of 2019. He told an interviewer that year: "I've been a complete failure in every relationship so there's nowhere to go but up!"
Filmography
::data[format=table]
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes | Year | Television series | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Lost Empire | Gay Dude | |||||
| 1987 | Emanon | Newsstand Man | |||||
| Cross My Heart | Waiter | ||||||
| P.A.N.I.C in Griffith Park | Dean | ||||||
| 1990 | Kindergarten Cop | Male Hairstylist | |||||
| Eternity | James Harris News Team | ||||||
| Road Lawyers and Other Briefs | Man / Woman / Flight Attendant (segment "Hairline") | ||||||
| 1995 | Doin' It Right | Brother | |||||
| Cyber Bandits | Street vendor | ||||||
| 1997 | Vegas Vacation | Buffet Guy | |||||
| 1998 | Southern Man | Joseph Ogle | |||||
| 1999 | Sam and Mike | Man at party | (Short) | ||||
| Lost & Found | Jewelry Store Manager | ||||||
| 2000 | Get Your Stuff | Jason | |||||
| Flamingo Dreams | Porn Director | ||||||
| 2001 | Long Road to Paradise | The Waiter | (Short) | ||||
| 10 Attitudes | Josh Stevens | ||||||
| 2002 | Dawg | Photographer | |||||
| Role of a Lifetime | Phillip | ||||||
| 2004 | Space | Businessman | (Short) | ||||
| A Day Without a Mexican | Restaurant Manager | ||||||
| What Adam Knows | Bradshaw | (Short) | |||||
| 2005 | Gone Postal | Carl | (Short) | ||||
| Ghosts Never Sleep | Barry Speer | ||||||
| 2006 | Coffee Date | Clayton | |||||
| Puff, Puff, Pass | Chet | ||||||
| 2007 | Ping Pong Playa | Doctor | |||||
| Angels with Dirty Spaces | Bob Kamen | (Short) | |||||
| 2008 | The Candlelight Murders | David Wid | |||||
| Friends & Lovers: The Ski Trip 2 | Richard | ||||||
| San Saba | Dylan Clay | ||||||
| Twisted Faith | Father Reilly | (Short) | |||||
| 2009 | The Chronicles of Holly-Weird | Leo | (Short) | ||||
| The Pit and the Pendulum | Dimitri Divay | ||||||
| Wild About Harry | Randolph | ||||||
| My Lil Homo: Campers Unite | Lil Jason Stuart | (Video short) | |||||
| Family of Four | Nurse Nathan | (Direct-to-video) | |||||
| Split Second | Officer Leonard | ||||||
| 2010 | Drop Dead Gorgeous | Tim Honda | (Direct To Video) | ||||
| Gay Baby | Darryl | (Short) | |||||
| 2011 | Part-Time Pool Guys | Owner | (Short) | ||||
| Finding Mr. Wright | Phillip | ||||||
| Walk a Mile in My Pradas | Dr. Feist | ||||||
| Monkey Man | Demetrius Delmonico | ||||||
| The Stand-In | Brian | (Short) | |||||
| 2012 | Posey | Mark | (Short) | ||||
| Stigma | Counselor Fred | (Short) | |||||
| K-11 | Prison Laundry Trustee | ||||||
| BearCity 2: The Proposal | Scott-O | ||||||
| 2013 | Glitter and Ribs | Taylor Swift's boyfriend | (Short) | ||||
| Big Gay Love | Dan#2 | ||||||
| Goodbye World | Apartment Manager | ||||||
| 2014 | The Spy Who Came to Brunch | Operations Director ("G") | (Short) | ||||
| Paper Hearts | Lenny | (Short) | |||||
| Secrets & Toys | Lord Of Leather | (Short) | |||||
| Love Is Strange | Officiant | ||||||
| 2015 | Tangerine | Joey the Doorman | |||||
| Hush Up Sweet Charlotte | Mr. Wills | ||||||
| Suburban Memoir | Mr. H | (Short) | |||||
| Baby Steps | Dr. Schwartz | ||||||
| 2016 | Dirty | Manny Brown | |||||
| The Birth of a Nation | Joseph Randall | ||||||
| Gone: VR 360 | Francis | ||||||
| 2017 | Viva Diva | Steven | (Short) | ||||
| The Heart of a Woman | Giles Finch | (Short) | |||||
| The Guest House | Ray | ||||||
| Open | Weeper | ||||||
| Like Father | Lenny | (Short) | |||||
| 2018 | The Line | Carl | (Short) | ||||
| Face Off | Lucky | (Short) | |||||
| Jinn | Victor Chase | ||||||
| 2019 | American Bistro | Sheldon Crassus | |||||
| The Infiltrators | Agent Jensen | ||||||
| The Fare | The Dispatcher | ||||||
| Abducted | Detective Walter | ||||||
| Hank | Hank | (Short) | |||||
| Myra | Baurb Sampson | ||||||
| 1980 | The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts | Smith | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1984 | Out of Control | Dog butler | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1985 | Michael Nesmith in Television Parts | Young Taylor | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1986 | Can You Feel Me Dancing? | DeeJay | (TV movie) | ||||
| 1987 | Roses Are for the Rich | D.J. | Mini Series, 1 episodes | ||||
| 1988 | Superior Court | Murray Decater | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1989 | CBS Summer Playhouse | (unknown) | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1990-1992 | Sunset Beat | Marty | TV series, 2 episodes | ||||
| 1991 | N.Y. Mounted | Vincent | (TV movie) | ||||
| 1993 | This Just In | Hairdresser | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| The John Larroquette Show | Chris | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Murder, She Wrote | Motel Manager | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 1994 | SeaQuest 2032 | Motivational Speaker | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1996 | Don't Quit Your Day Job | Stand-Up Performances No. 20 | (Video Game) | ||||
| L.A. Firefighters | Janitor | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 1997 | Murder One | Barry Pruitt | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 1998 | Charmed | Martin | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| The Drew Carey Show | Chip | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Gia | Booker No. 2 | (TV movie) | |||||
| 2000 | Norm | Dennis | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| Providence | Stage Manager | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2000-2001 | The Huntress | Barry (2000)/ 911 Operator No. 2 (2001) | TV series, 2 episodes | ||||
| 2000-2002 | Will & Grace | Stuart | TV series, 2 episodes | ||||
| 2001 | Me & My Needs | Karaoke Guy | (Pilot) | ||||
| Three Sisters | Secretary | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2002 | My Wife and Kids | Dr. Steven Michael Thomas | TV series, 4 episodes | ||||
| 2003 | The Sausage Factory | Doctor | (Pilot) | ||||
| Strong Medicine | Talk Show Host | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2004 | House | Adam Brown | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 2005 | Fat Actress | McG's Assistant | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 2006 | George Lopez | Sales Manager | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 2007 | The DL Chronicles | Sassy Customer | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| Mind of Mencia | Gay Advocate | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Orlando's Bed and Breakfast | Lenny Greenbaum-Brooks | (Pilot) | |||||
| 2008 | Everybody Hates Chris | Lonnie | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 2009 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Event Manager | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| The Closer | Greg Lewis | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Keep Dreaming | Mark | (Pilot) | |||||
| 2010 | The Pink House | Judge | (Pilot) | ||||
| Friends & Lovers | Richard | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Warren the Ape | Ira | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2011 | America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back | Detective Hudson | TV series documentary, 1 episode | ||||
| Paul Cruz: Latin Actor (A Mockuseries) | Samuel | TV series, 3 episodes | |||||
| Entourage | Doc Hock (uncredited) | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2012 | Fumbling Thru the Pieces | Tommy | TV series, 2 episodes | ||||
| The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Hotel Manager | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Home Invasion | Maurice Lapeer | (TV movie) | |||||
| Bitter Bartender | Rodney Silverstein | TV series, 4 episodes | |||||
| 2013 | A Dog's Life | Rich Dog (voice role) | (TV movie) | ||||
| 2014 | Mentor | Jason | TV series 6 episodes | ||||
| Futurestates | Ronald Kopstein | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2014-2015 | Just Us Guys | Principal O'Dell | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| 2015 | Sleepy Hollow (TV series) | Curator | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| Real Rob | Billy the sauna guy | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Adam Astra Casting | Jason Stuart | (Pilot) | |||||
| 2017 | Odd Man Out: The Series | Mr. Corker | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| The Mephisto Box | Anton | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level | Father | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Love (TV series) | Dr. Powell | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2018 | The Strivers | Frank Kaufer | (Pilot) | ||||
| Hilton Head Island | Raymond | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| Swedish Dicks | Oscar Bustamente | TV series, 1 episode | |||||
| 2020 | Smothered (TV series) | Ralph | TV series, 7 episode | ||||
| 2021 | *Goliath * | Charles | TV series, 1 episode | ||||
| :: |
References
;Notes
;Citations
References
- Christon, Lawrence. (October 10, 1994). "For Jason Stuart, His Sexual Orientation's a Full-Time Job". Los Angeles Times.
- Stuart, Jason. (2019). "Shut Up, I'm Talking!: Coming Out in Hollywood and Making It to the Middle". CCB Publishing.
- Miller, Gerri. (August 21, 2019). "Actor Jason Stuart Writes About Growing Up Gay, Jewish, and Funny in New Memoir". Jewish Journal.
- Keaney, Connor. (February 12, 2020). "The Triumph of Jason Stuart".
- Pfefferman, Naomi. (October 14, 2016). "Stand-up comedian turns slave owner in 'Birth of a Nation'". Jewish Journal.
- Stuart, Jason. (August 15, 2022). "Jason Stuart: When You Come From a Family That's Very Dysfunctional". Invocation.
- Trieger, Eva. (August 4, 2019). "Jewish gay comedian Jason Stuart speaks out". San Diego Jewish World.
- (February 29, 2012). "Leonard Greif obituary". Los Angeles Times.
- Pena, Xochitl. (November 16, 2016). "'Always Sunny' comedian to perform at Palm Springs' Purple Room". Palm Springs Desert.
- (June 17, 1994). "The Games Begin: Things to Do With a Gay Flavor". The New York Times.
- Robinson, Charlotte. (July 25, 2015). "Jason Stuart Talks Being An Out Actor and LGBT Equality".
- Gdula, Steve. (November 6, 2001). "Funny That Way". The Advocate.
- Bowling, Suzanna. (June 22, 2019). "Jason Stuart Living His Life Openly With Pride". Times Square Chronicles.
- Catsoulis, Jeannette. (February 14, 2007). "Coffee, Tea or an Affair With a Guy?". The New York Times.
- Chang, Justin. (January 25, 2016). "Sundance Film Review: 'The Birth of a Nation'". Variety.
- Tomeo, Marissa. (April 10, 2022). "Jason Stuart Wins Best Actor in a Comedy Series at the Indie Series Awards". Broadway World.
- (March 14, 2021). "Jason Stuart releases comedy album 'I'm the Daddy and I Have Candy'".
- Stuart, Jason. (January 6, 2016). "Showing Up and Full of Gratitude".
- (16 September 2011). "Gay Horror Films: The Pit & The Pendulum".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::