Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Beehner.

Hi Johnny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved to be in the spotlight. I think it – actually, I KNOW it came from being the middle child of seven. I used to always tell my mom I didn’t get enough attention and that we have too many kids in the family. So I was naturally drawn to getting laughs in school and doing speech, plays, improv, whatever I could. In 1999, I lived with my oldest brother in NYC for the summer. He’s an actor and had recently dabbled in stand-up. I was so enamored with the concept of stand-up comedy and just had to try it myself. So I did. I performed at a bringer show in June of 1999 and was hooked immediately.

I began producing my own shows all over campus at Marquette University, where I went to college. After graduating, I got a day job and began pursuing a career in stand-up. Five years later, I went full-time into stand-up comedy. I got a lot of lucky breaks, opening for Jim Gaffigan on some theater shows, getting some local notoriety, and then in 2015 I got to perform on the Late Show with David Letterman. I was the last stand-up to make their television debut on that program. I have just been writing and performing ever since.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve definitely had my ups and downs, but I do make it a point to stay optimistic. With any career, especially one in entertainment, you’re gonna see people get in the game later than you and skyrocket past you. I’ve been fortunate to not get hung up on that. I never saw it as a competition. I don’t know if I just worked with too many bitter comics when I was starting out or if I just got lucky when God was handing out attitudes, but I always try to remember: If I’m doing comedy, I’m winning at life. There’s that saying, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and, boy, is it true! I always just assumed it applied to comics and nobody else.

Getting in with pretty much every room I have ever worked has been a struggle. I sort of think all the struggles that go with a career in comedy are just the work-parts of your job. The performing is the reward! Proof of that is the fact that, multiple times, I have worked a whole weekend at a club and then started my drive home before realizing I forgot to collect my pay!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a nationally touring stand-up comedian. I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to make a living and support my family through comedy. It almost doesn’t seem fair, I feel like I’m getting away with something. I think that comes through in my shows. I generally don’t put others down in my act. It’s usually myself that’s the butt of the joke—either myself, or relatable aspects of my relationship with my wife and kids.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
My style changed a lot while I was figuring out who I was onstage through the years. I used to be very absurdist. My voice today is still silly, but more relatable. I still find myself thinking of very odd, out-of-nowhere material, but it doesn’t see as much light of day as it used to.

Contact Info:

• Website: johnnybeehner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnycomic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnnycomic
• Twitter: x.com/johnnycomic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/beehnercomedy
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/johnnybeehner
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnnycomic