Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Matt Friend (impressionist)

4 snips
Oct 1, 2025
Matt Friend, a talented stand-up comedian and impressionist known for his viral performances, shares captivating insights into his career. He discusses roasting Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, revealing the delicate balance of humor in political spaces. Matt also dives into the neurodivergent aspects of mimicry and whether his impressions define him as a performer. With entertaining stories of red carpet encounters and a transformative experience overcoming food allergies, he opens up about finding authenticity in his comedic voice.
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ANECDOTE

From TikTok Videos To TV Breaks

  • Matt Friend described building his platform during COVID by posting impressions and doing stand-up from his phone.
  • That content led to TV appearances and opportunities like Kimmel and Today.
ANECDOTE

Roasting At The Correspondents Dinner

  • Matt recounted performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner and doing impressions in the middle of the room.
  • He noted the surreal experience of being 40 feet from Biden and cutting to Scarlett Johansson laughing.
INSIGHT

Mimicry As A Compulsion

  • Matt said impressions started for him at age four and feel compulsive rather than a deliberate craft.
  • He questions if his mimicry is tied to a deeper compulsion or identity beyond performance.
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