A Late Start
Marty Ross started his stand-up comedy career late in life, so he may have to take a nap before the fight. He waited until he was almost eligible for Social Security before taking to the stand-up stage so “I could fully experience the misery of getting old” he says. Marty Ross shares this misery with audiences of all ages. Young people enjoy the fact that though he looks like their grandfathers, even though he certainly doesn’t act like their grandfathers. And old-timers? Well, they can just relate, period.
Marty’s Mission
According to Marty,
“The truth is everyone ages, but no one tells you what you’re in for when you’re freakin’ old”
So that’s Marty’s mission. Whether it’s sex, drugs, Medicare or dating, this senior has plenty to say about what it’s like to be older in America. When told that the Social Security Administration is running out of money, Ross’ response is
“That won’t work for me. How am I supposed to afford my weed?”
Married & Divorced
Marty Ross was born, raised and first married in New York City. He moved to Peoria, Illinois to get his start in the clothing business. Next, he was promoted and moved to St Louis and then Chicago. He finally settled in Los Angeles where he married again and again, and divorced a few more times.
Comedy Full Time
Marty always had the performing bug. In the late 60’s he worked by day and took the stage at night in blackout comedy sketches. By the 1970’s, he took his comedy to the radio. He dabbled with open mics in the 80’s and 90’s while still holding a day job. However, when he turned 65 his life underwent a huge transformation. He realized at his age he was now un-hirable in the clothing industry, so he joined the stand-up comedy circuit full time. Marty found Barb and Steve North and joined their workshop to get his career on track. Just six years later, he became a seasoned comedian with a full-blown stand-up comedy career.
Wrinkled Rebel
Marty is now single, older, still very much alive and delighting audiences all over the west coast. Last year he recorded a pilot for Vin Di Bona Productions, and he just launched his first comedy CD, “Wrinkled Rebel: Going Down Fighting, But First, A Nap.” The condo retirement communities also embrace his work.
“Old people come up to me after every performance and tell me that they’re so happy someone is talking about things they are living every day. And I can’t believe how many young fans I have” says Ross. “They tell me they can relate too because I’m just a wrinkled old teenager.”
