Stavros Halkias

{{Infobox comedian

|image = Stavros Halkias 2021.png

|alt =

|caption = Halkias in 2021

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|2|11}}{{cite tweet |last=Friedland |first=Adam |user=AdamFriedland |number=1227285995671912449 |date=February 11, 2020 |title=Happy birthday to my gorgeous and infinitely talented friend Stavros. Love you baby. https://t.co/OnmGXMOp0n |language=en |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211174413/https://twitter.com/AdamFriedland/status/1227285995671912449 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |url-status=live}}

|birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

|years_active = 2012–present

|medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|Podcast}}

|education = Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

|genre = {{hlist|Black comedy|blue humor|surreal humor|anti-humor|political satire}}

|subject =

|website = {{URL|https://stavvy.biz/}}

|alma_mater=University of Maryland, Baltimore County}}

Stavros Halkias (born February 11, 1989) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster. Active since the early 2010s, he is a nationally touring comic who came to prominence as a founding co-host of the podcast Cum Town.{{Cite web |last=B |first=Rishabh |date=2022-01-14 |title="Trumped me with death": Slime and stavvybaby have a hilarious back-and-forth on AustinShow's 'Love or Host' |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/trumped-death-slime-stavvybaby-hilarious-back-and-forth-austinshow-s-love-host |access-date=2022-05-09 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509124843/https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/trumped-death-slime-stavvybaby-hilarious-back-and-forth-austinshow-s-love-host |url-status=live }} As of 2024, he co-stars in the Netflix comedy series Tires.

Early life

Halkias was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland,{{cite news |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/things-to-do/stavros-halkias-lyric-baltimore-shows-comedian-EKMLQMIICJCCLMCVZVV57IIJGA/ |title=Stavros Halkias on his hometown shows, Baltimore's grit and those dang Ravens |date=October 13, 2023 |newspaper=The Baltimore Banner |first=Ben |last=Conarck |access-date=February 9, 2024 }} to Greek immigrant parents (a Macedonian mother and Athenian father) and attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, a public high school where he played football.{{Cite web|last=|date=October 1, 2008|title=More from Poly's Nick Halkias|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2008-10-more_from_polys_nick_halkias-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Baltimore Sun|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713192547/https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2008-10-more_from_polys_nick_halkias-story.html |archive-date=July 13, 2021 }} He attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, working for Marc Steiner's Center for Emerging Media as an intern.{{Cite web|title=Change We Cannot Quit On by Stavros Halkias|url=https://www.steinershow.org/marcs-blog/change-we-cannot-quit-stavros-halkias/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-06-28|website=SteinerShow.org|archive-date=May 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525080535/https://www.steinershow.org/marcs-blog/change-we-cannot-quit-stavros-halkias/}} He stated on the podcast Digression Sessions that he was a few credits short of graduating.{{Cite AV media |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uypiNHGKmd5EZoyDvKyDx |title=Ep. 62 - Stavros Halkias! |date=January 2013 |last=The Digression Sessions |type=podcast |language=en-US |publisher=Spotify |quote=Episode Description: ...And Mr. Halkias recently won Baltimore’s New Comedian of the year for 2012 contest at Magooby’s Joke House. Performing regularly in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia area, Stav is constantly on the grind, brah. He also produces and hosts monthly showcases at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and co-hosts the Super Comedy show every third Friday at Dionysus in Mount Vernon, Baltimore. |access-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325230741/https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uypiNHGKmd5EZoyDvKyDx |url-status=live }}

Career

Halkias began performing comedy while attending UMBC, at which he hosted a monthly comedy showcase.{{Cite web |last=Halkias |first=Stavros |title=A Tragic Mistake at One of Baltimore's Best High Schools |url=https://www.steinershow.org/marcs-blog/bloga-tragic-mistake-one-baltimores-best-public-high-schools/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810180433/https://www.steinershow.org/marcs-blog/bloga-tragic-mistake-one-baltimores-best-public-high-schools/ |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |website=Marc Steiner and the Center for Emerging Media |quote=CEM intern Stavros Halkias is an alumnus of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute... Halkias, Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar at UMBC & CEM Intern}}{{Cite web |title=Stavros Halkias {{!}} Comedians |url=https://thestandnyc.com/comedians/stavros-halkias |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713192549/https://thestandnyc.com/comedians/stavros-halkias |url-status=live }} During this period, he was active in the greater Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia area and, in 2012, was named Baltimore's New Comedian of the Year.

He later moved to New York City, where he has since made numerous radio and podcast guest appearances, notably being co-host of and has written and performed on Adult Swim, IFC, MSG Network's People Talking Sports and Other Stuff. He has appeared in the Comedy Central series Comedy Central Stand Up Featuring, Life Fails, and Sex Fails, and has acted in other internet shorts. He has also performed at venues like the New York Comedy Festival and has opened for acts including Wham City, Tom Papa, and Robert Kelly.{{Cite web |title=The Lincoln Lodge Presents: Stavros Halkias |url=https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3575609 |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=www.brownpapertickets.com |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713192548/https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3575609 |url-status=live }}

Halkias is known for the podcast Cum Town, which he co-hosted with Nick Mullen and Adam Friedland from 2016 until his departure in 2022.{{Cite Instagram|postid=CfPFYdpgFxc|user=stavvybaby2|title=We had a good run|date=June 26, 2022|author=Stavros Halkias}} Since 2019, he has co-hosted the basketball podcast Pod Don't Lie with Sam Morril.{{Cite web|title=Pod Don't Lie|url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/pod-dont-lie-887953|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Podchaser|language=en|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523104348/https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/pod-dont-lie-887953|url-status=live}} Prior to this podcast, he co-hosted White Chocolate NBA Pipecast with Friedland.{{Cite web|title=White Chocolate NBA Pipecast|url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/white-chocolate-nba-pipecast-583471|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Podchaser|language=en|archive-date=August 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813115039/https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/white-chocolate-nba-pipecast-583471|url-status=live}} He also hosted a Twitch series Stavvy Solves Your Problems from 2020 to 2021.{{Citation|title=stavvybaby - Twitch|url=https://www.twitch.tv/stavvybaby|access-date=2021-07-13|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505171253/https://www.twitch.tv/Stavvybaby|url-status=live}} In 2022 this series evolved into the podcast Stavvy's World.

In 2022, Halkias released his first comedy special, Live At The Lodge Room, on his YouTube channel, which reached 2 million views in three weeks.{{Cite web |last=Kleinschmidt |first=Matt |date=June 1, 2022 |title=Stavros Halkias' debut stand-up special, "Live At The Lodge Room" premieres June 5th |url=https://thelaughbutton.com/stavros-halkias-debut-stand-up-special-live-at-the-lodge-room-premieres-june-5th |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605005142/https://thelaughbutton.com/stavros-halkias-debut-stand-up-special-live-at-the-lodge-room-premieres-june-5th |archive-date=June 5, 2022 |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=The Laugh Button}} His second special, Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal, was released on Netflix in December 2023.{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Comedian Stavros Halkias Talks Riding "Weird Wave" Of Internet Fame To First Netflix Special 'Fat Rascal' & Becoming "CEO" Of His Own Small Media Empire |url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/stavros-halkias-fat-rascal-interview-steven-soderbergh-1235648995/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205233339/https://deadline.com/2023/12/stavros-halkias-fat-rascal-interview-steven-soderbergh-1235648995/ |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Deadline |language=en}}

Halkias has become well known for his crowd work, often engaging actively with the audience and riffing on their stories and anecdotes.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Inside the Debate of Stand-up Comedy Crowd-Work Clips |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/comedy-crowd-work-clip-debate-tiktok.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Vulture.com |language=en |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211094903/https://www.vulture.com/article/comedy-crowd-work-clip-debate-tiktok.html |url-status=live }} Many of his stand-up clips on his YouTube channel feature this practice.{{YouTube|h=StavvyBaby}} He released a half-hour crowd-work-only comedy special, Four Nights In NYC.{{Cite web |last1=Alter |first1=Rebecca |last2=Clark |first2=Anne Victoria |last3=Fox |first3=Jesse David |last4=Frank |first4=Jason P. |last5=Kroeger |first5=Jake |last6=Pandya |first6=Hershal |last7=VanArendonk |first7=Kathryn |date=2023-10-02 |title=The Comedians You Should and Will Know in 2023 |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-new-comedians-2023.html |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Vulture |language=en}}

In 2024, Halkias co-starred in the Netflix series Tires.{{Cite web |last=Sledge |first=Philip |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Shane Gillis's Tires: Premiere Date and Other Things We Know About the Netflix Sitcom |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/shane-gillis-tires-premiere-date-other-things-we-know |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=Cinema Blend}} The same year he also appeared in the talk show John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA.{{Cite web |last=Schimkowitz |first=Matt |date=April 30, 2024 |title=Here’s who John Mulaney means by Everybody’s In L.A. |url=https://www.avclub.com/here-s-what-john-mulaney-means-by-everybody-s-in-l-a-1851444582 |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=AV Club}} He also starred in the independent comedy film Let's Start a Cult, a film he co-wrote with director Ben Kitnick.{{cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=September 27, 2024 |title=Stavros Halkias In ‘Let’s Start A Cult’: First Trailer For Comedy Also Featuring CM Punk |url=https://deadline.com/video/stavros-halkias-lets-start-cult-comedy-movie-cm-punk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928020727/https://deadline.com/video/stavros-halkias-lets-start-cult-comedy-movie-cm-punk/ |archive-date=September 28, 2024 |accessdate=September 28, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Personal life

Halkias is a Baltimore Ravens{{Cite web |last=Unger |first=Mike |date=9 October 2023 |title=Stavros Halkias is Much More Humble and Serene Than His Ravens Superfan Alter Ego |url=https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/comedian-stavros-halkias-baltimore-greektown-native/ |access-date=23 November 2023 |website=Baltimore Magazine |language=en-US}} and Olympiacos"Episode 192 - Phased". Cum Town. 30 January 2020 fan.

Halkias has been noted as a body-positive activist.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-09 |title=11 Body-Positive Men Redefining Male Beauty |url=https://www.out.com/lifestyle/2016/12/09/11-body-positive-men-redefining-male-beauty#slide-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706142037/https://www.out.com/lifestyle/2016/12/09/11-body-positive-men-redefining-male-beauty#slide-10 |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Out.com |language=en}} Halkias' involvement with Cum Town has occasionally caused controversy, with criticism levied at the podcast's association with the dirtbag left.{{Cite magazine |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |date=2021-07-23 |title=The Post-Dirtbag Left |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/02/the-post-dirtbag-left |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711145517/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/02/the-post-dirtbag-left |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-30 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=North |first=Anna |date=2017-10-24 |title=Listen to what socialist women are saying about misogyny on the left |url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/24/16503462/dsa-women-cumtown-chapo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112145348/https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/24/16503462/dsa-women-cumtown-chapo |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Vox |language=en}}