PERSON OF INTEREST

PEOPLE

Eddie Carmona

Parademic by day, comedian by night, and both roles just as rewarding for one Mount Dora man. roles just as rewarding for one Mount Dora man.

INTERVIEWER: ROXANNE BROWN ≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

VITAL STATS

• 35 years old. • Works as a paramedic for

Orlando Health. • Served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic with the 82nd

Airborne from 2006-2010. • Improv comedian at Sak

Comedy Lab in Orlando.

• Has two children, Odin, 9 and • Works as a paramedic for Zoe, 7, and two dogs.

Orlando Health. • Is passionate about social • Served in the U.S. Army as a justice and health care reform.

combat medic with the 82nd

Airborne from 2006-2010. • Improv comedian at Sak

Comedy Lab in Orlando.

Greatest career accomplishment: With

EMS, I delivered two babies, and one time, EMS, I delivered two babies, and one time, I had to make-up a freestyle rap to convince I had to make-up a freestyle rap to convince a patient to be transported to Florida a patient to be transported to Florida Hospital Winter Garden when it rst opened. Hospital Winter Garden when it rst opened. Additionally, I saved a young girl in a bad Additionally, I saved a young girl in a bad auto accident, who later came by the station auto accident, who later came by the station to thank me. I was out on a call, so she never to thank me. I was out on a call, so she never actually met me, but the gesture was nice. actually met me, but the gesture was nice.

When did you realize your knack for

making people laugh? making people laugh? I grew up in a

military family, so I ended up moving a lot, military family, so I ended up moving a lot, which made it hard to make any long lasting which made it hard to make any long lasting friendships. I also had a speech impairment, friendships. I also had a speech impairment, which made it hard to make friends, talk which made it hard to make friends, talk to girls, make school presentations, plus to girls, make school presentations, plus that made me an easy target for bullies. that made me an easy target for bullies.

I started being a smart aleck, which led I started being a smart aleck, which led me to making people laugh in a di erent me to making people laugh in a di erent way. I gured if they are going to laugh at way. I gured if they are going to laugh at me anyways, I could control the reason me anyways, I could control the reason behind it. I then became this awkward behind it. I then became this awkward person with this super dry sense of person with this super dry sense of humor that extended itself to the person humor that extended itself to the person you see today. you see today.

How did you get involved with the Sak Comedy Lab? I always the Sak Comedy Lab?

wanted to get into comedy, I just never knew how. Corey, a bartender from Serendipity, told me that he used to perform at Sak and suggested I take their level 1 Improv class. I did it, then performed and loved it, so I ended up taking all of their improv and avanced improv classes, in addition to their stand up class which helps new comedians get ready for open mics.

wanted to get into comedy, I just never knew how. Corey, a bartender from Serendipity, told me that he used to perform at Sak and suggested I take their level 1 Improv class. I did it, then performed and loved it, so I ended up taking all of their improv and avanced improv classes, in addition to their stand up class which helps new comedians get ready for open mics. you are going to do something, do it with 100% commitment. Don’t hold yourself back because you are afraid of what people are going to think. Even if you make a fool of yourself, people are going to forget about it and move on. organizations that helped me these past few years. that guy.

Guilty pleasure?

Watching anime and Watching anime and regular cartoons. regular cartoons.

Best advice to your younger self? If

you are going to do something, do it with 100% commitment. Don’t hold yourself back because you are afraid of what people are going to think. Even if you make a fool of yourself, people are going to forget about it and move on.

One thing on your bucket list?

Giving back to the people, friends, and organizations that helped me these past few years.

Three words to describe you? I’m

that guy.

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