Anthony Jeselnik Net Worth WikiBio

Anthony Jeselnik aka The Dark Prince of Comedy has earned a reputation as one of the most controversial comics. His dark, ironic comic style is not for everyone. Anthony Jeselnik’s fans like his razor-sharp wit and dark humor.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Jeselnik’s background and career trajectory, the controversies he has weathered, and what we know about his personal life off-stage.

Anthony Jeselnik Biography

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Anthony Jeselnik was born on 22nd December 1978, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Anthony Jeselniki s 45 years old as of 2023. He developed an interest in comedy from a young age, eventually enrolling at Tulane University in New Orleans. After graduating, Jeselnik returned to Pittsburgh where he began hitting the local comedy circuit while working a day job to get by.

His big break came in 2005 when he was named the “Funniest Person in Pittsburgh” at the local comedy festival. This accolade earned him attention within the industry, and he was invited to perform at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival as well as on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.

Over the next few years, Jeselnik began making appearances on various roasts, including the Roasts of Bob Saget and Donald Trump. His merciless jokes delivered in a deadpan style proved popular and increased his profile significantly.

Career Heights with Comedy Central

In 2009, things began taking off for Jeselnik when he was hired as a writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He also began regularly appearing on the Comedy Central Roasts, delivering some of the most caustic barbs aimed at the likes of Joan Rivers, David Hasselhoff and Charlie Sheen. Many of his controversial jokes had to be cut from these televised events for being too offensive.

It was clear that Comedy Central took a liking to the young comedian and they eventually offered him his show called The Jeselnik Offensive which premiered in 2013. True to form, his brand of dark, taboo humour delivered in a calm, almost sociopathic manner, garnered mixed reviews. While some found his comedy brilliant, others baulked at some of his more questionable jokes covering topics like cancer, religion, race and sexual assault. The television show ran for a span of two seasons before it was ultimately discontinued.

Post TV Career

While The Jeselnik Offensive didn’t last, it significantly raised the comedian’s public profile. He began regularly touring standup shows across the country. In 2013, he released his first comedy special Caligula, exploring some of his darker material which Comedy Central wouldn’t allow on television.

He has gone on to release several other successful standup specials including:

• Thoughts and Prayers (2015)
• Fire in the Maternity Ward (2019)

In 2018, he starred in a 10-episode series called Good Talk with Anthony Jeselnik in which he engages with various guests over drinks before sitting down for an interview segment. More recently in 2021, he launched a weekly podcast called The Jeselnik and Rosenthal Vanity Project which he hosts alongside veteran comedy writer Gregg Rosenthal.

On the publishing front, Jeselnik has also written two books compiling some of his favourite standup bits and other written material:

• Shakespeare for Squirrels: A Novel (2017)
• I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats (2021)

Controversies

Jeselnik has courted controversy throughout his career and regularly pushed boundaries with his comedy. As mentioned, many of his roast jokes over the years never made it to air due to standards and practices. The Jeselnik Offensive faced a lot of criticism from viewers for covering topics like cancer, drunk driving and shrimp harvesting techniques in third-world countries.

In 2013, he stirred significant outrage over a joke he told in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy. Less than a day after the attacks, he tweeted: “There are some lines that just shouldn’t be crossed today. Especially the finish line.” Many considered the joke tasteless and too soon, forcing Jeselnik to temporarily shut down his account.

Jeselnik has never backed down when challenged over his brand of dark humour, remaining unapologetic with his response centred around the art form itself: “Comedy is there to offend. That’s its job, to say things that no one else will say. As long as it makes people laugh, and makes people think, I’m accomplishing my job.”

Personal Life

While perfectly open about his comedy and opinions, Jeselnik tends to remain fairly private when it comes to his personal and dating life. In 2015, he purchased a $2.18 million home in the Hollywood Hills. Before this real estate purchase, little is known about the comedian’s living situation or relationship history.

For a long time, rumours have swirled about Jeselnik’s sexuality as he rarely if ever comments on relationships with women. However, these rumours remain unconfirmed and it’s quite possible that Jeselnik simply prefers keeping that aspect of his life out of the public conversation.

Fans remain fiercely curious and some have speculated about his close friendship with fellow comic Kumail Nanjiani but there is no evidence to suggest they are more than friends. After breaking out thanks to the Comedy Central Roast circuit in the late 2000s, Anthony Jeselnik has forged a successful career pushing the boundaries of comedy and satire.

Social Media Accounts:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

In conclusion, we can say that his dark, subversive style is certainly not for everyone but he has also built a loyal fanbase around his brilliant writing. While no stranger to controversy, the comedian has remained committed to his art form and continues cranking out provocative material whether it be stand-up shows, podcasts or TV series.

Jeselnik seems comfortable existing in the spotlight when it comes to his work yet also values his privacy. And at 40 years old, we can expect plenty more envelope-pushing jokes and insight into his unique worldview for years to come.

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