Jimmy Shubert

Born in Philadelphia, James Francis Shubert developed an early interest in performance, first becoming a professional magician at age 15. He attended Archbishop Ryan High School and Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, focusing on drama. This early theatrical training provided a foundation for his future career in entertainment. Shubert began performing stand-up comedy shortly after high school, leading him to relocate to Los Angeles. There, he worked at The Comedy Store, living in a house owned by Mitzi Shore alongside other developing comedians. His early career also involved writing jokes for established comedians such as Yakov Smirnoff, Jimmy Walker, and Louie Anderson.

Shubert’s career gained significant momentum after he befriended Sam Kinison in 1984. He subsequently toured with Kinison’s “Outlaws of Comedy” for five years, performing in major casinos and large venues, including the Universal Amphitheater before audiences of up to 6,500 people. This period provided extensive exposure and experience on large stages. In 1997, a performance at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal led to a holding deal with Brandon Tartikoff at 20th Century Fox for a pilot sitcom. In television, Shubert is recognized for a recurring role on “King of Queens” for five years and multiple appearances on “Entourage.” His film credits include “Go” (1999), “Coyote Ugly” (2000), “One Hour Photo” (2002), “The Italian Job” (2003), and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (2005), working with notable figures such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Charlize Theron.

As a comedian, Shubert has recorded numerous achievements. He was a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2014 and performed on “Comedy Central Presents” and “Comedy Underground with Dave Attell.” He has released four comedy albums produced by Grammy-winner Dan Schlissel, including “Animal Instincts” (2001), “Pandemonium” (2005), “Alive & Kickin'” (2009), and “Zero Tolerance” (2019/2020), with “Zero Tolerance” reaching No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart. Shubert has toured extensively, performing across the United States, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, and Korea. He also performed for troops in the Middle East and Afghanistan as part of the “America Supports You” program for the Defense Department and Armed Forces Entertainment.