Joe Torry

Joe Torry is an American comedian, actor, and screenwriter.

Torry is the older brother of comedian Guy Torry who is known for creating Phat Tuesdays a weekly stand-up comedy show launched in 1995 for African American comedians that was held at The Comedy Store in Hollywood, the live comedy show later became the focus for a 2022 Amazon television series of the same name.

Joe Torry, and five siblings, were brought up in St. Louis, Missouri. Torry is a self-described military brat who discovered at an early age he was funny when doing classroom show and tell presentations. He later found that his future was in the world of comedy.

Growing up Sammy Davis Jr. was an idol of his and he attempted to learn comedy from such entertainers as Abbott and Costello and Dick Van Dyke.

Torry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism and communications at Lincoln University, plus a human letters honorary doctorate for his years in show business.

Before later becoming host of Def Comedy Jam, Torry made a name for himself in stand-up comedy, film and television, appearing in such projects as Dangerous Minds, House Party, Tales from the Hood, John Singleton' s Poetic Justice, NYPD Blue and ER.