Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) Roy Wood Jr.
Jan 21, 2026
Roy Wood Jr. is a talented comedian and author of *The Man of Many Fathers*. In a heartfelt conversation, he shares how losing his father at 16 shaped his parenting approach with his son, Henry. Roy discusses his experience headlining the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and reflects on the lessons learned from mentor figures in his life. He also talks about the comedy community's role in supporting new talent, the evolution of joke boundaries post-Columbine, and his journey from the South’s comedy scene to national prominence.
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Piecing Together A Lost Father
- Roy Wood Jr. lost his father at 16 and had to piece together who his dad was from others' memories.
- That search intensified after he became a father and wanted to avoid passing on unwanted traits.
Comedy Creates Surrogate Mentors
- Stand-up created a village of men who unconsciously taught him fathering lessons.
- Those backstage lessons shaped how Roy learned to be a man separate from his absent dad.
Road Work Makes Comics Mature
- Road comics gain maturity by seeing every possible career outcome and its potholes.
- That exposure makes them more cautious and resilient than comics who stay in one market.
