Jason Stuart A Comedic Trailblazer

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SoCal audiences have known comedian Jason Stuart for a long time. Popping up at gay events, emceeing Prides, performing stand-up at comedy clubs for gay and straight nights, making jokes on red carpets, stealing the spotlight at house parties, and flirting with boys at the bar is just a normal week for Jason. His comedy is just a part of his wildly colorful career. As an actor, he has over 265 film and TV credits to his name, from playing that funny character that always gets the zingers, to serious and even (gasp!) straight parts in films like The Birth of A Nation, to David E. Kelly’s Goliath (starring Billy Bob Thornton). You never know where his signature expressions will pop up next, he is just as home acting for a major studio as he is supporting an LGBTQ web series. You only need to meet Jason once, and his voice, his mannerisms, and his punchlines are engrained in your mind; there is no missing his sass and style. His co-star celebrity list reads like an Entertainment Weekly’s Who’s Who with names that include George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, J.K. Simmons, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Angela Lansbury, Damon Wayans, Jai Rodriguez, and on and on…always holding his own.

As a gay man, he does not shy away from using his dating life, flailing hands, and lilting voice as part of his routine. The comedy in his “gay” presentation should not be taken for granted, Jason is a trailblazer for the community who, this Pride season, celebrates the 30th anniversary of his coming out publicly on the Geraldo Show declaring to the nation: “I’m gay, deal with it!” Long before even Ellen came out, there was Jason, setting the stage for entertainers to come out publicly, even at the risk of limiting his blossoming career. Our current boom in LGBTQ entertainers coming out and having a safer place and more opportunities are because of performers like Jason Stuart. Why did he do it?

I came out because I was extremely depressed and felt like I couldn’t find my voice as a comedian and move to the next level in my standup work. As a character actor in showbiz, people could only see me one way, and that was as a gay man that had no power. There were very few roles for me. I was always considered “unique” and told to be patient and wait for that special role to appear. It never did. Then I came out as a standup comedian, and I was able to tell my truth like I’ve never done before which made me successful and funnier. As a character actor, I was able to play both gay and straight roles with the confidence that I had never had before. All this made me very deeply grateful. It has not always been easy, but it’s been incredibly gratifying.

I always knew I was gay but could not put a name to it. I was very attracted to the boys in school. I remember looking up the word “homosexual” in the World Book Encyclopedia 1971, the kids call it the internet today. It said, “mentally ill.” I slammed that book shut. That caused me to have 10 years of therapy. It took me a long time to merge the idea of having sex and a loving partner together in the same person. I just didn’t see it anywhere in books, movies, TV, or even on stage as a kid…or in life for that matter. I just had to learn by doing.

Making people laugh was always a part of Jason’s life, it was just who he was.

I was always a funny kid. Both my parents are funny. Like most comedians, it was my way in. Lucille Ball was a considerable influence on me as a child, as well as all her TV shows. When she was pregnant on the show, I saw her have trouble getting in and out of chairs, and the audience would laugh. I thought, I can do that! I stole that idea when