Chris Distefano

{{Infobox comedian

| name = Chris Distefano

| image = ChrisDistefano-HeadshotOld (cropped).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Distefano in a 2014 headshot

| pseudonym = Chrissy D

| birth_name = Christopher Paul Anthony Distefano

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|8|26}}

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|podcast|television}}

| nationality =

| active = 2009–present

| genre = Observational comedy

| subject =

| domesticpartner = Jasmine Canuelas (2015–present)

| children = 3

| notable_work = Guy Code
Girl Code
Hey Babe!
History Hyenas
Chris Distefano Presents: Chrissy Chaos

| signature =

| website = {{URL|chrisdcomedy.com|Official website}}

| footnotes =

|alma_mater=St. Joseph's College (BA)
New York Institute of Technology (DPT)

}}

Christopher Paul Anthony Distefano (born August 26, 1984){{Citation|title=Birthday BABES! {{!}} Sal Vulcano & Chris Distefano Present: Hey Babe! {{!}} EP 39|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmDFzdmjNAs|language=en|access-date=2022-02-15}} is an American comedian. Primarily a stand-up comedian, he began his career in entertainment on MTV and MTV2's shows Guy Code and Girl Code. His first hour-long standup special, Chris Distefano: Size 38 Waist, was released in 2019 by Comedy Central. His second special, Speshy Weshy, premiered on Netflix in May 2022. Distefano co-hosts Hey Babe! podcast with Sal Vulcano from Impractical Jokers and hosts a podcast, Chrissy Chaos.

Early life

Distefano, who is of mostly German descent[https://www.keithandthegirl.com/guest/396/chris-distefano Ancestry: Chris, who has long identified himself as a proud Italian-American, recently found out that his family lineage is mostly German], Keith and The Girl, 20 February 2019 (he has some Italian and Irish ancestry),[https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Chris-Distefano-a-doctor-with-a-sense-of-humor-12754076.php "I am as white as toilet paper (Italian, Irish and German)"], Chron, March 14, 2018 grew up in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens and attended Archbishop Molloy High School in the Briarwood area of Queens .{{Citation|title=Chris Distefano - Gentrification (Stand up Comedy)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIHyNUSgeoM|language=en|access-date=2019-09-18}}{{Cite web|title=Chris Distefano on Instagram: "Me and my life partner @yannispappas have a WILD podcast called the @historyhyenas ! Take a listen. Take a peek. Why not?! We are doing…"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-PVjgAZ45/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/chrisdcomedy/2305347511184891449 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2020-05-09}}{{cbignore}} He went to St. Joseph's College where he played basketball and studied psychology; he graduated in 2006. Distefano was recruited to play for St. Joseph's College Brooklyn's D-III basketball team in 2002. He was the team's lead scorer, and was inducted into the college's Hall of Fame in 2018.{{cite web |date=11 January 2018 |title=Bears Athletic Hall of Fame to Induct Chris Distefano '06 on Alumni and Family Day |url=https://www.sjcbears.com/general/2017-18/releases/20180111mrz9p8}}

Distefano earned a doctorate in physical therapy from New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan, New York in 2010.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/nyitmagazine/docs/nyitmag_winter2017_2-17-17/33|title = NYIT Magazine Winter 2017| date=21 February 2017 }} He was a pediatric physical therapist until 2013 when he began pursuing his career in comedy full-time.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottking/2019/01/16/chris-distefanos-comedy-central-deal-could-be-a-game-changer/|title=Chris DiStefano's Comedy Central deal could be a game changer|last=King|first=Scott|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2020-02-02}}

Career

File:02 05 2022 BeaconTheatre ChrisDistefanoElevatorShot.jpg's famous elevator before performing a sold-out show on February 5, 2022]]

Distefano began performing stand-up in August 2009. He hosted the 2010 Fencing Masters on the SNY network and Elite 8 of the 2011 and 2012 March Madness comedy competitions at the comedy club Carolines on Broadway. He headlined Carolines Breakout Artist Series and was selected as a finalist in the 2011 NY Comedy Festival. He also performed standup at venues including New York Comedy Club, Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, and the Laugh Lounge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fairfieldcomedyclub.com/events/chris-distefano-mtvs-guy-code-2018-01-27|title=Chris DiStefano (MTV's Guy Code) - January 27th 9:00PM|website=Fairfield Comedy Club|access-date=2020-02-02}}

In 2012, Distefano joined the cast MTV's Guy Code, which was in its second season. In 2013, he joined the cast of Girl Code.{{Cite web|url=https://gothamcomedyclub.com/event.cfm?id=468953&cart|title=Chris Distefano|website=gothamcomedyclub.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-02}} He appeared in episodes of other MTV shows including Guy Court, Guy Code vs. Girl Code, Off the Bat, and The Challenge. He was a frequent guest on the Opie with Jim Norton show during that time. Distefano performed on the Late Show with David Letterman in June 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmTxwcS8rA| title=Chris DiStefano on David Letterman 20 June, 2013 Full Interview | website=YouTube }} In 2014, his first half-hour special was released as part of Comedy Central's The Half Hour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/06/chris-distefano-on-the-insane-workload-of-a-comedian-and-his-comedy-central-half-hour.html|title=Chris Distefano on the Insane Workload of a Comedian and His Comedy Central Half Hour|last=Soren|first=Emma|date=2014-06-02|website=Vulture|language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-02}}

After appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers,{{cite web |title=Chris Distefano Stand-Up Performance - Late Night with Seth Meyers | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjMPssnAWI4}} Distefano began his first national U.S. tour in September 2015 with Monster Energy Outbreak Presents. He co-starred in the 2015 IFC series Benders with Andrew Schulz.{{Cite web|url=https://thelaughbutton.com/news/enjoy-the-new-teaser-from-ifcs-upcoming-hockey-comedy-benders-starring-chris-distefano-and-andrew-schulz/|title=Enjoy the new teaser from IFC's upcoming hockey comedy "Benders" starring Chris Distefano and Andrew Schulz|website=The Laugh Button|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-02}} He was one of two announcers on Season 2 of Netflix's Ultimate Beastmaster, which debuted on the streaming service on December 15, 2017.

Distefano was in seven television pilots which did not get picked up, including a CBS-produced show based on his own life called Distefano. He co-starred in the web series Bay Ridge Boys alongside fellow comic Yannis Pappas, with whom he co-hosted the weekly history podcast History Hyenas, which was launched in February 2018. Distefano regularly performs and tours globally. In January 2019, his first hour standup special Chris Distefano: Size 38 Waist premiered on Comedy Central, which included a personal welcome on stage by Chazz Palminteri. The special was part of a deal he made with Comedy Central in December 2018, which included the series Stupid Questions with Chris Distefano, and at least two series in development.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/chris-distefano-overall-deal-comedy-central-1202514804/|title=Chris Distefano Inks Overall Deal With Comedy Central|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2018-12-06|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-02-02}} That also included his weekly podcast Stand-Up with Chris Distefano, launched in April 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://press.cc.com/press-release/2019/04/03/press-stand-up-podcast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202180134/https://press.cc.com/press-release/2019/04/03/press-stand-up-podcast|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2020|title=COMEDY CENTRAL ADDS TWO NEW ENTRIES TO GLOBAL PODCAST...|website=Comedy Central Press|access-date=2020-02-02}}

In February 2022, Distefano sold out his first performance at Beacon Theatre in Manhattan.{{cite web |title=Chris Distefano at Beacon Theatre |date=5 February 2022 |url=https://www.2124broadwaytheatre.com/events/chris-distefano/#.YqifsZDMJGp}} He then sold out his first two shows at the Gramercy Theatre a month later, during the shows he recorded his second special, Speshy Weshy.{{cite web |title=Comedian Chris Distefano Releases Self-Produced Netflix Special |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Comedian-Chris-Distefano-Releases-Self-Produced-Netflix-Special-20220503}}

Distefano, an avid sports fan, has hosted episodes of shows including MLB's Off The Bat and MSG's The Brackets. He was invited by the New York Mets to throw the first game pitch in 2021,{{cite web |title=Chrissy First Pitch| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQp2dCH-Zm4}} and he set off the Vegas Golden Knights' pre-game siren alongside friend and fellow comedian Andrew Santino in March 2022. In early April, Distefano was featured on The Pat McAfee Show, hosted by Pat McAfee.{{cite web |title=Chris Distefano on Visiting Indianapolis - Pat McAfee Podcast | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mi8qT3K9ZE}}

Personal life

Distefano dated comedian Carly Aquilino from 2010 to 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2385964/girl-code-carly-aquilino-chris-distefano-sleeping/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118063934/http://www.mtv.com/news/2385964/girl-code-carly-aquilino-chris-distefano-sleeping/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 18, 2015|title=Chris Distefano Celebrates Moving in with 'GIRL CODE' Girlfriend Carly Aquilino by Passing Out on Her D|last=Donnelly|first=Matthew Scott|date=2013-09-17|work=MTV News|access-date=2020-01-16}} Distefano has three children with Jasmin Canuelas, whom he has been dating since 2015.Jim Norton and Sam Roberts, July 9, 2019, SiriusXM{{cite web |title=The TRUTH about our BREAK UP with Jazzy Method - Chris Distefano is Chrissy Chaos - EP 100 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_G4XaTTl80 |website=youtube.com}} They live on Staten Island.{{cite web |last1=Barbuti |first1=Angela |title=NYC comic Chris Distefano jokes woke culture in Netflix special |url=https://nypost.com/2022/04/30/nyc-comic-chris-distefano-jokes-woke-culture-in-netflix-special/ |website=New York Post |date=30 April 2022}}

Filmography

File:Chris Distefano Edit James Tamim.jpeg in 2023]]

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" style="width:3em;" \| Year ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" \| Title ! scope="col" style="width:10em;" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
rowspan="2"\| 2012–15 \|Guy Code \|rowspan="8"\| Himself \| From season 2 on
Girl Code \|
rowspan="5"\| 2013 \|Guy Code Honors \| TV special from 2013 Comic-Con
Ain't That America \| Co-host alongside Lil Duval.
Charlemagne & Friends \|VMA pre-party on MTV
Guy Court \|
The Bracket \| Co-host alongside Yannis Pappas
2014 \| Off The Bat From The MLB Fan Cave \| Co-host alongside Melanie Iglesias
2015 \|Benders \| Anthony Pucello \| 8 episodes
rowspan="2"\| 2017 \|Ultimate Beastmaster \| Himself \| Co-host alongside Tiki Barber (season 2)
Distefano \|Chris \|Unaired CBS pilot
2021 \|Backyard Bar Wars \|rowspan="2"\|Himself \|rowspan="2"\|Host
2023 \|Super Maximum Retro Show

class="wikitable sortable"

scope="col" style="width:3em;" | Year

! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Title

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan="2"| 2012–15

|Guy Code

|rowspan="8"| Himself

| From season 2 on

Girl Code

rowspan="5"| 2013

|Guy Code Honors

| TV special from 2013 Comic-Con

Ain't That America

| Co-host alongside Lil Duval.

Charlemagne & Friends

|VMA pre-party on MTV

Guy Court

The Bracket

| Co-host alongside Yannis Pappas

2014

| Off The Bat From The MLB Fan Cave

| Co-host alongside Melanie Iglesias

2015

|Benders

| Anthony Pucello

| 8 episodes

rowspan="2"| 2017

|Ultimate Beastmaster

| Himself

| Co-host alongside Tiki Barber (season 2)

Distefano

|Chris

|Unaired CBS pilot

2021

|Backyard Bar Wars

|rowspan="2"|Himself

|rowspan="2"|Host

2023

|Super Maximum Retro Show

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" style="width:3em;" \| Year ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" \| Title ! scope="col" style="width:10em;" \| Role
2019 \|Ode to Joy \|Staten Island Meathead

class="wikitable sortable"

scope="col" style="width:3em;" | Year

! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Title

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Role

2019

|Ode to Joy

|Staten Island Meathead

Discography

Comedy specials

Size 38 Waist (2019)
Speshy Weshy (2022)

Podcasts

History Hyenas with Yannis Pappas (2018–2021, 2024-present)
Stand-Up with Chris Distefano (2019){{Cite web|title=COMEDY CENTRAL ADDS TWO NEW ENTRIES TO GLOBAL PODCAST...|url=https://press.cc.com/press-release/2019/04/03/press-stand-up-podcast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202180134/https://press.cc.com/press-release/2019/04/03/press-stand-up-podcast|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2020|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Comedy Central Press}}
Hey Babe! with Sal Vulcano (2020–present)
Chrissy Chaos (2021–present)
Teach Me Daddy with Matteo Lane (2024)