Esther Povitsky

Esther Povitsky, born on March 2, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She spent her early life in Skokie, Illinois, and pursued her higher education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before shifting her focus to comedy and acting. Povitsky honed her craft at prominent comedy institutions including iO Chicago, The Second City, and The Groundlings, establishing a foundation in improvisational and sketch comedy. She is a known figure in the Los Angeles stand-up comedy circuit, frequently performing at venues such as The Comedy Store, The Ice House, and The Improv. Her early career saw her in recurring roles like Maya on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” from 2016 to 2019, and she made guest appearances on popular TV shows including “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Love,” and “Parks and Recreation.” In 2015, Povitsky was a semifinalist on the ninth season of “Last Comic Standing,” where her performances garnered recognition.

A significant milestone in Povitsky’s career was the creation of “Alone Together.” She wrote, starred in, and produced the short film by the same name in 2015, which was later adapted into a Freeform pilot produced by The Lonely Island. The series was picked up in December 2016 and renewed for a second season in October 2017 before concluding in 2019. In addition to her television work, Povitsky has maintained a presence in the podcasting world. She hosted “Little Esther’s Piecast” and, along with Brody Stevens, co-hosted “Brode & Esther.” She also hosted “Weird Adults with Little Esther” and currently co-hosts “Glowing Up with Esther and Caroline,” a beauty and lifestyle podcast, as well as “Trash Tuesday.”

In 2020, Povitsky released her debut comedy special, “Hot for My Name,” on Comedy Central, further cementing her standing as a comedian. More recently, she co-wrote and starred in the feature film “Drugstore June,” released in 2024. Her work reflects a consistent progression from early stand-up and television appearances to co-creating and executive producing her own series and special. She has also declined an MTV reality show offer in 2012, indicating a thoughtful approach to her career trajectory.