Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Jimmy Pardo

Jimmy Pardo (born July 28, 1966) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster renowned for his rapid-fire wit and exceptional crowd work skills. Born in , , Pardo began his comedy career in the late , honing his craft at local venues before gaining national recognition through television appearances. He is best known as the host of the long-running, award-winning Never Not Funny, which he launched in 2006 and continues to produce, releasing multiple episodes weekly alongside co-host and producer Matt Belknap, featuring conversations with prominent figures in , entertainment, and music. Pardo's stand-up career includes multiple high-profile television spots, such as performances on , , and , where his improvisational style earned him acclaim as "the fastest mind in comedy." From 2010 to mid-2015, he served as the warm-up comedian and cast member for Conan O'Brien's TBS late-night program , contributing to the show's energetic atmosphere and occasionally appearing on-air. Additionally, Pardo has released three critically praised comedy albums—Uno (2001), Pompous Clown (2007), and (2013)—which received accolades, including 's selection of Sprezzatura as one of the top five stand-up albums of 2013. Beyond stand-up and podcasting, Pardo has ventured into and hosting, with roles in series like Comedy Bang! Bang! and films, while also emceeing live events and comedy specials; he concluded his annual Pardcast-a-thon charity telethon in 2024 after 15 years raising over $1.5 million for . His multifaceted career, spanning over three decades, has established him as a staple in the comedy community, often collaborating with peers at venues like the in .

Early life

Childhood and family

James Ronald Pardo, Jr., was born on July 28, 1966, in , Illinois. He spent the first eight years of his life on the city's South Side before his family relocated to the south suburbs of . Pardo attended Oak Forest High School, graduating in 1984. In 1986, he briefly attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in . Pardo's upbringing was marked by a sports-oriented environment typical of , where he attempted to participate in activities like soccer despite not excelling athletically, using these experiences to fit in with peers. His parents were enthusiastic comedy enthusiasts who frequently watched Starring and admired performers such as , incorporating humor into family life as a central form of entertainment. They allowed young Pardo to stay up for shows like and , providing early exposure to the vibrant Chicago comedy scene through television. Due to his shorter stature, Pardo learned to employ humor as a mechanism against bullies during his childhood, a strategy that honed his quick wit and later influenced his comedic approach. This familial emphasis on , combined with the protective role of , laid the foundational influences for his lifelong engagement with humor.

Entry into comedy

Jimmy Pardo began performing in in late 1988, starting with open microphone nights at local venues such as The Roxy, The Last Laugh, and The Comedy Cottage. He honed his skills in the city's vibrant comedy scene, including appearances at theater, where he developed his act through consistent performances. During this period, Pardo drew influences from Chicago's tight-knit community of comedians, interacting with contemporaries like John Roy as he navigated the local club circuit. Encouraged by family from his youth to pursue creative outlets, Pardo relocated to in the early to commit to full-time. Upon arriving, he initially lived in North Hollywood for two years before moving to Valley Village for three years, immersing himself in the West Coast landscape. In these early Los Angeles gigs, Pardo refined his signature style, characterized by quick wit and adept crowd work, which he had begun cultivating during his Chicago open mics.

Career

Stand-up beginnings

After relocating to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s from Chicago, where he had honed his craft at open mics since 1988, Jimmy Pardo quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the local stand-up scene. He became a regular performer at key venues such as and the original , building a reputation through consistent gigs that showcased his rapid crowd work and improvisational prowess. Known as "the fastest mind in ," Pardo's style emphasized quick-witted interactions, turning audience responses into extended dialogues rather than relying solely on prepared material. During the 1990s and 2000s, Pardo solidified his status as a top club comic, earning acclaim for his ability to command rooms with spontaneous humor. His breakthrough came with high-profile television appearances, including a half-hour special on in 2002, where he delivered observational bits on everyday absurdities like self-haircuts and hotel showers. He also competed briefly on the fourth season of NBC's in 2006, further highlighting his live performance skills to a national audience. These platforms amplified his growing presence in comedy clubs, where he continued to refine his act through nightly sets. Pardo released his debut comedy album, Uno, in 2001, capturing his early observational humor focused on personal anecdotes and social observations, followed by Pompous Clown in 2007, which leaned heavily into crowd work recordings. These works, along with his 2013 album , topped comedy charts and appeared on critics' year-end best-of lists, underscoring his evolution as a performer who blended structured material with unscripted flair. Throughout this period, he toured nationally, performing at clubs across the and maintaining an emphasis on audience engagement in his live shows, a hallmark that persists in his ongoing road work.

Podcasting success

Jimmy Pardo launched the comedy podcast in April 2006 alongside co-host and producer Matt Belknap, recording initial episodes at Pardo's dining room table. As one of the earliest comedy podcasts, it emerged during the medium's nascent phase, predating many mainstream entries and helping pioneer long-form audio comedy content. The show quickly attracted high-profile guests, including multiple appearances by , as well as in episode 2606 and in various installments, fostering candid, unfiltered discussions that highlighted Pardo's stand-up background in facilitating dynamic interactions. The podcast's format centers on raucous, freewheeling conversations blending interviews, storytelling, and improvised games like the recurring "Letter Game," with Belknap providing sharp interjections to maintain energy. Originally airing daily episodes from its through mid-2015 to build a robust archive, it transitioned to a weekly release schedule thereafter, expanding to two episodes per week for premium subscribers while maintaining over 3,700 total installments by late 2025. Recognized for its longevity and humor, the show received a 2008 Rooftop Comedy Award for Best Comedy Podcast and has been described as award-winning in industry profiles. Pardo extended the podcast's reach through spin-offs such as Jimmy's Records and Tapes, a video series discussing music, and Playing Games With Jimmy Pardo, an audio format featuring pop culture trivia contests with call-in participants. Additionally, since 2009, he has hosted the annual Pardcast-a-thon, a 12-hour marathon edition of Never Not Funny benefiting Smile Train, which by 2024 had raised over $1.5 million through guest appearances and listener donations before concluding that year. In 2025, the podcast continued to demonstrate its enduring appeal with recent free-feed episodes, including episode 3707 featuring on October 8 and episode 3708 with on October 15, sustaining its reputation for fresh, engaging comedy amid evolving digital media landscapes.

Television and film work

Jimmy Pardo has made over 100 television appearances throughout his career, including multiple guest spots on , , and on . On Conan, Pardo served in various capacities from the show's early days, acting as the warm-up comedian, cast member, panel guest, field correspondent, sketch player, and even fill-in co-host. In 2002, Pardo starred in his own half-hour stand-up special, Comedy Central Presents: Jimmy Pardo, where he performed original material on topics such as personal grooming mishaps and everyday absurdities. He has also taken on minor acting roles in films and television, including featured parts in Road Hard (2015) as an emcee, Dreamgirls (2006), and Relative Strangers (2006), alongside appearances in comedy sketches on shows like Comedy Bang! Bang! and voice work in Bunnicula. Pardo additionally worked as the warm-up comedian for Conan O'Brien's programs, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. In 2015, Pardo signed an overall development deal with Conaco, Conan O'Brien's production company under Warner Bros. Television, to create scripted and unscripted programming. Pardo contributed to Team Coco's digital content through the web series Pardo Patrol (2011–2012), in which he conducted unconventional backstage interviews with celebrities such as Ken Jeong, Fred Armisen, and Dana Carvey, often in humorous, improvisational styles. He also hosted Write Now with Jimmy Pardo (2012), a Nerdist series that functioned as a live game show and roast, where Pardo incorporated real-time writing prompts from a team of writers to generate comedy material on stage.

Recent projects and tours

Since 2021, Jimmy Pardo has continued hosting the Never Not Funny podcast, releasing regular episodes featuring conversations with comedians and entertainers, including a July 2024 installment with guest Chris Grace and an October 2025 episode with . The associated annual Pardcast-a-thon charity event, benefiting , culminated in its 2024 edition on May 25, which ran for over nine hours from 3 p.m. to midnight PT and included 25 guest segments with performers such as and , marking the fundraiser's final iteration after raising more than $1.5 million across 15 years. In 2025, Pardo launched the Still Talking tour, a series of live stand-up performances across the , with dates including a July 10 show at Levity Live in , opened by Matt Donaher and Oliver Pardo, and an appearance at Zanies Comedy Club in . Merchandise for the tour, such as shirts and posters, became available through Pardo's official store, with promotional sales tied to holidays like July 4. Pardo made a live studio appearance on on October 15, 2025, where he discussed his comedy routines, band t-shirt collection, and aspects of his ongoing tour. He also hosted panel events through his Pop Cultured at the in throughout 2024, including a September 14 installment featuring comedians answering pop culture trivia for comedic prizes. Additionally, Pardo maintained collaborations with O'Brien's Team Coco, appearing on the podcast in 2023 to reflect on his warmup role and podcast synergies.

Personal life

Marriage and children

Jimmy Pardo married comedian and writer Danielle Koenig in 2004 after meeting during his early years establishing himself in , where the couple later relocated together to the city from its outskirts. The couple has one son, Oliver Pardo, born in 2008. Pardo and Koenig emphasize work-life balance in their household, with Pardo often consulting his wife on creative ideas while maintaining a clear separation between family time and his professional commitments in . Pardo has shared lighthearted family anecdotes, such as meticulously organizing his extensive collection of concert T-shirts in by band name, a that reflects the structured yet playful dynamic at home. He describes everyday interactions filled with humor that highlight the couple's shared comedic sensibilities. The family resides in , where Pardo prioritizes privacy, keeping his personal life distinct from the entertainment industry's social circles.

Connections to entertainment industry

Jimmy Pardo's marriage to Danielle Koenig, a writer and actress, connects him to the entertainment industry through her father, the renowned actor , best known for portraying in the franchise. This familial tie provides Pardo with indirect access to the legacy of and , as Koenig's career spans decades in productions. Family events have occasionally highlighted these links. Professionally, these connections manifest in overlaps like appearing as a guest on Pardo's podcast Never Not Funny, fostering intergenerational discussions within the comedy and acting worlds. Pardo maintains a degree of privacy around his while selectively leveraging these ties for charitable causes and guest opportunities, exemplified by Koenig's participation in the annual Pardcast-a-Thon fundraiser for , which has featured industry veterans and raised significant funds over the years. His broader social circle in the entertainment scene includes long-term friendships with fellow comedians such as , whose collaborations and mutual appearances on podcasts like Never Not Funny reflect the interconnected nature of the local comedy community, enhanced by shared experiences in the industry hub.

References

  1. [1]
    Jimmy Pardo - IMDb
    How old is Jimmy Pardo? 58 years old · When was Jimmy Pardo born? July 28, 1966 · Where was Jimmy Pardo born? Chicago, Illinois, USA · How tall is Jimmy Pardo? 5 ...
  2. [2]
    Jimmy Pardo Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes
    Jimmy Pardo ; Highest Rated: Not Available ; Lowest Rated: Not Available ; Birthday: Jul 28, 1966 ; Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA ...
  3. [3]
    On The Couch with Jimmy Pardo - IMPOSE Magazine
    From his start as a record store manager in whom Bob Odenkirk saw budding talent, to cutting his teeth at Chicago venues like The Roxy in the late '80s, Jimmy ...Missing: career | Show results with:career<|control11|><|separator|>
  4. [4]
    Never Not Funny – The Jimmy Pardo Podcast.
    The award-winning comedy podcast that started it all. Since 2006, the legendary Jimmy Pardo and his producer/co-host Matt Belknap have been sitting down with ...Listen Free · Join Platinum · Login · Store
  5. [5]
    Never Not Funny: The Jimmy Pardo Podcast
    Eavesdrop on freewheeling conversations between comedian and TV personality Jimmy Pardo and his sometimes famous, always funny friends. Unscripted.
  6. [6]
    About – JimmyPardo.com
    Jimmy Pardo, called “The fastest mind in comedy,” is a seasoned stand-up comedian and host of the award-winning podcast Never Not Funny.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  7. [7]
    Jimmy Pardo | Team Coco
    The Pardo Patrol: Ken JeongConan's warm up comedian Jimmy Pardo interviews "Hangover" star Ken Jeong in his own unique way. Andy's Sidekick Returns 04/13/11Andy ...
  8. [8]
    Jimmy Pardo | Stand-Up Comedy Database - Dead-Frog
    Biography. A seasoned veteran of comedy clubs and late night television, Jimmy Pardo has appeared on such shows as “The Tonight Show”, "Conan", "The Late Late ...
  9. [9]
    Jimmy Pardo at Oxnard Levity Live
    His three comedy albums, UNO, Pompous Clown & Sprezzatura, have all topped the comedy album chart and many critic's best of lists. He can be seen entertaining ...Missing: highlights | Show results with:highlights
  10. [10]
    Jimmy Pardo - Earwolf
    Jimmy Pardo, called “The fastest mind in comedy,” is a seasoned stand-up comedian and host of the award-winning podcast Never Not Funny.<|control11|><|separator|>
  11. [11]
    Jimmy Pardo - NNDB
    Jimmy Pardo. AKA James Ronald Pardo, Jr. Born: 28-Jul-1966. Birthplace: Chicago, IL. Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Comic.
  12. [12]
    20 Questions Tuesday : 323 - Jimmy Pardo
    Jun 23, 2015 · I was born at an Air Force base outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the family moved to Montgomery, Al when I was about 18 months old.
  13. [13]
    Just For Laughs: Comedian Jimmy Pardo Discusses His Unique ...
    Sep 21, 2011 · He was an ordinary kid from the south suburbs of Chicago who learned to use humor as a powerful form of self defense! It was that very sense of ...
  14. [14]
    Meet Jimmy Pardo: Never Not Having Fun | LAist
    Nov 23, 2009 · Pardo had performed on most of the standard late night programs, had a Comedy Central special, was a favorite guest on popular morning radio ...
  15. [15]
    Pardo never not funny | The Gazette
    Oct 28, 2016 · ... Pardo, 50, said from Los Angeles, where the Chicago native has lived for nearly 23 years. 'I went from still being a nobody to Cedar Rapids ...
  16. [16]
    Jimmy Pardo on CONAN, Largo, and Never Not Funny - YouTube
    May 6, 2025 · Jimmy Pardo is a stand-up comedian, actor, and host of the podcast Never Not Funny. Jimmy grew up in Chicago, where he performed at Second ...Missing: career highlights
  17. [17]
    "Comedy Central Presents" Jimmy Pardo (TV Episode 2002) - IMDb
    Rating 6.1/10 (30) Jimmy Pardo explains the dangers of cutting your own hair in this Comedy Central original stand-up special.Missing: 2000 | Show results with:2000
  18. [18]
    S6 E11: Jimmy Pardo - Comedy Central Presents - Paramount Plus
    Jun 30, 2002 · Jimmy Pardo elaborates on the dangers of cutting your own hair, describes the difference between hotel showers and home showers, ...Missing: 2000 | Show results with:2000
  19. [19]
    Last Comic Standing season 4 - Wikipedia
    On May 30, 2006, competitive reality show Last Comic Standing began airing its fourth season on NBC with a two-hour special and a new host, Anthony Clark.Auditions · Last Comic Downloaded · Season 4 Results · Episode guide
  20. [20]
    Jimmy Pardo Tickets, Comedy Shows & 2025 Tour Dates
    Find Jimmy Pardo tickets and tour dates 2025. Shop tickets for all Jimmy Pardo comedy shows on the current Jimmy Pardo tour. Buy tickets today!
  21. [21]
    History | Never Not Funny
    Known as a podcasting pioneer for being one of the first, Jimmy Pardo is also a seasoned veteran of comedy clubs and late night television having appeared on ...
  22. [22]
    How The Once Struggling Podcast 'Never Not Funny' Raised ... - LAist
    May 2, 2019 · Pardo got in early on podcasting, launching Never Not Funny in 2006. But for a long time, no one listened. "I kind of felt like I was screaming ...
  23. [23]
    Never Not Funny Database: NNFDb
    All Guests ; Colton Dunn · 2701 ; Conan O'Brien · 608, 811, PCAT 12, PCAT 14, PCAT 18, PCAT 19 ; Constance Zimmer · 23W, PCAT 19, 25K ; Cooper Barnes · 32M.
  24. [24]
    Never Not Funny - Podpedia, the podcast encyclopedia
    Feb 1, 2018 · Never Not Funny began when Matt Belknap interviewed Pardo on the podcast for his popular alternative comedy forum A Special Thing. The two had ...
  25. [25]
    Never Not Funny: The Jimmy Pardo Podcast - ART19
    Eavesdrop on freewheeling conversations between comedian and TV personality Jimmy Pardo and his sometimes famous, always funny friends.
  26. [26]
    Never Not Funny - Wikipedia
    Never Not Funny is a podcast hosted by American comedian Jimmy Pardo, since spring 2006, currently releasing two episodes a week. He and producer/co-host ...
  27. [27]
    About Us - Pardcast-A-Thon!
    Since 2009, Never Not Funny: The Jimmy Pardo Podcast has presented Pardcast-A-Thon, and raised over $1.5 million for Smile Train! Smile Train is a charity ...
  28. [28]
    After 15 Years, Pardcast-A-Thon Hangs Up the Mic - Smile Train
    Jun 28, 2024 · After 15 years and more than $1.5 million raised, Jimmy came into 2024 knowing this Pardcast-A-Thon would be his last.
  29. [29]
    3707 Cristela Alonzo | Never Not Funny
    Oct 8, 2025 · 3707 - Cristela Alonzo ... Playing your song with Cristela Alonzo. COMMENTS : View Previous Comments. Comment.
  30. [30]
    3708 Frankie Quiones - Never Not Funny
    Oct 15, 2025 · 3708 - Frankie Quiñones. 9 Views. 0 Comments. 0 Likes. Share with. Facebook Twitter. Going crazy with Frankie Quiñones. COMMENTS : View Previous ...
  31. [31]
    Jimmy Pardo at Hollywood Improv
    Jimmy has made over one hundred television appearances, including seminal shows like The Tonight Show, Conan, and The Late Late Show.
  32. [32]
    Bio – JimmyPardo.com
    A seasoned veteran of comedy clubs and late night television, Jimmy Pardo has appeared on such shows as The Tonight Show, Conan, The Late Late Show and his own ...
  33. [33]
    JIMMY PARDO - Resume | Omnipop Talent Group
    FILM. Road Hard. Featured. dir Adam Carolla & Kevin Hench. Dreamgirls. Featured. dir. Bill Condon. Relative Strangers. Featured. dir. Greg Gilenna.
  34. [34]
    Jimmy Pardo - TV Guide
    Birth Name:Jimmy Pardo. Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States. Profession Actor, Writer. writer. 1 Credit. Comedy Central Presents. Actor. 14 Credits.
  35. [35]
    Comedian Jimmy Pardo Inks Overall Deal With Conan O'Brien's ...
    May 1, 2015 · Pardo's affiliation with the late-night host deepens with a pact to develop scripted and unscripted programming for O'Brien's Conaco.
  36. [36]
    The Pardo Patrol - Team Coco
    Pardo Patrol: Justin VerlanderMLB Superstar Detroit Tiger Pitcher Justin Verlander matches up with Jimmy Pardo for the battle of the century!
  37. [37]
    Write Now with Jimmy Pardo (TV Series 2012) - IMDb
    Tired of using his quick wit and crowd work skills to get laughs, Jimmy Pardo has hired a team of writers to park themselves on stage and pen material for him ...Missing: prompts | Show results with:prompts
  38. [38]
    Comedian Jimmy Pardo Hosts Nerdist Game Show About Comedy ...
    Oct 31, 2012 · Pardo is the leading man in Write Now, a new series on Nerdist that is one part game show, one part roast, and one part standup comedy.Missing: prompts | Show results with:prompts
  39. [39]
    Never Not Funny: The Jimmy Pardo Podcast | iHeart
    Eavesdrop on freewheeling conversations between comedian and TV personality Jimmy Pardo and his sometimes famous, always funny friends. Unscripted. Unedited.
  40. [40]
    Pardcast-A-Thon!
    $$1.5 mil raised since 2009! – Thank You! For our most recent event in 2024: 25 guests, 9+ hours and countless laughs later, Pardcast-A-Thon 2024 concluded ...
  41. [41]
    Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt… - Never Not Funny: The Jimmy ...
    In case you missed Pardcast-A-Thon 2024 on Saturday, here are four of the 25 guest segments from the show featuring Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, ...
  42. [42]
    https://jimmypardo.bigcartel.com/products
  43. [43]
    Post by @jimmypardo.com - Bluesky
    Jan 30, 2025 · 1st Tour Dates of my STILL TALKING 2025 tour are here! Hitting cities for just one night! More to come! ZANIES in Rosemont, IL www.etix.com/ticket/p/369
  44. [44]
    Products | JIMMY PARDO
    2025 STILL TALKING TOUR SHIRT - BLUE. $30.00. TOUR POSTER - STILL TALKING 2025. $15.00 - $20.00. POSTER - TOUR DATES 2025. $15.00 - $20.00.
  45. [45]
    Jimmy Pardo: Band T-Shirt Collector & Comedy Legend!
    Jimmy Pardo: Band T-Shirt Collector & Comedy Legend! Oct 15, 2025 | 8:00 PM ... Comedian Jimmy Pardo from the hit Never Not Funny Podcast joins The Bob & ...
  46. [46]
    The Bob & Tom Show, October 15, 2025 - YouTube
    Oct 15, 2025 · One of our favorites, Comedian Jimmy Pardo is joining us live in studio today. We are no longer feeding some music to YouTube because of ...
  47. [47]
    Pop Cultured with Jimmy Pardo - Upright Citizens Brigade
    Sep 14, 2024 · Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. All sales are final. The show starts at the time listed. If you are not at the ...Missing: August | Show results with:August
  48. [48]
    "Jimmy Pardo" on Inside Conan | Team Coco
    Godfather Jimmy Pardo of the Never Not Funny Podcast joins Conan writers Mike Sweeney and Jessie Gaskell to talk about how he initially refused the job.
  49. [49]
    Jimmy Pardo Talks Fake Radio, Comedy Charity and Conan O'Brien
    May 24, 2024 · This weekend marks the twelfth edition of the comedy fundraiser, promising to add to the $1.5 million and counting he's raised for the charity.
  50. [50]
    Danielle Koenig - The Mental Illness Happy Hour
    Jul 8, 2011 · Those of you that know my friend Jimmy Pardo, Danielle has been married to Jimmy for - how long has it been? D: Seven years. P: Seven years ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
  51. [51]
    Pardo never not funny
    ### Summary of Jimmy Pardo's Personal Life, Marriage, Children, Family, Residence, Anecdotes, Work-Life Balance
  52. [52]
    Jimmy Pardo isn't Don Pardo's grandson, whether you want him to ...
    Dec 6, 2016 · JP: It's kind of a roundabout thing. My wife, Danielle Koenig, her father is Walter Koenig, from the original Star Trek movies and series.
  53. [53]
    Jimmy Pardo - Biography - IMDb
    Jimmy Pardo is a stand-up comedian, whose quick wit has made him one of the top club comics in the country. Known primarily for his amazing crowd work, ...
  54. [54]
    List of Guests - Never Not Notes
    This is a searchable database of all episodes of Never Not Funny. Transcripts are phonetic so try multiple spellings. Garon/Garen; Gilmour/Gilmore; U2/you too; ...
  55. [55]
    Smile Train Partners With "Never Not Funny" and Jimmy Pardo to ...
    ... Walter Koenig from "Star Trek" and other surprise guests. To date, the Pardcast-a-thons have raised over $55,000 for Smile Train. "Smile Train greatly ...
  56. [56]
    2121 – Acting Happy with Todd Glass - Never Not Notes
    Jan 10, 2018 · Jimmy tells Matt that he's been a great friend and he couldn't ask for more. Paul Gilmartin, Mike Schmidt, and Jimmy's cousin and father have ...