167: Barry Crimmins

Former Air America radio writer and correspondent (2003-2006), social justice activist, internationally renowned political satirist and author of the acclaimed seven stories press book 'Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal' helped bring the Boston comedy scene into the modern age when he founded two of Boston's most fabled clubs: The Ding Ho and Stitches. Such acts as Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Kevin Meaney, Jimmy Tingle and many, many others cut their comedic teeth in the rooms Crimmins started at shows he produced. As the years went on, he became an activist of sorts, travelling to Nicaragua to perform political satire about the U.S. government and the Contras. The brilliant, multi-talented Barry Crimmins is also an actor, known for The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion (1986) When Stand Up Stood Out (2003), and Call Me Lucky (2015) which documents in detail his traumatic early childhood experiences of being raped my a next door neighbor in the basement of his own home. Crimmin's satirical writing and comedy routines have focused through the years on the need for political and social change. Crimmins received the "Peace Leadership Award" in 1991 from Boston Mobilization for Survival. The award was presented by Noam Chomsky. Additionally, he was honored by Community Works with the "Artist for Social Change Award" for his years of activism. In 1994, Howard Zinn presented Barry Crimmins along with Maya Angelou "The Courage of Conscience Award" from Wellesley College and the Life Experience School at the Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Barry's friend Howard Zinn did the presenting that day. His work as an activist, journalist and performer has taken him everywhere from the American campaign trail to war zones in Central America to Camp Casey on the perimeter of the George W. Bush compound in Craw-Ford, Texas. On June 4, 2016, Barry shot an hour special in Lawrence, Kansas for Louis C.K.'s Pig Newton Productions. Barry is a true American comedy legend who never rests on his laurels, instead building each performance on a lifetime of remarkable experiences and a comic mind that has made him into the one-of-a-kind comic you really need to see. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.