“Ain’t no place like home.”
It was as simple as that when comedian Lavell Crawford gave his reasoning for returning to St. Louis to record his full-length comedy special back in 2010.
“I want to rep for our city and let them know that even though you’re doing big things, the city must still be in your heart.”
Since then he’s gone on to capture a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for his role in the hit AMC network show “Breaking Bad.” Appearing in film, television and staying on the road, the L.A.-based Crawford has been busy continuing the St. Louis comedy legacy pioneered by Redd Foxx and Dick Gregory and reignited by Cedric The Entertainer.
Yet his regular visits to the city – including a one-night engagement that broke box office records at The Lumiere Theatre – show that home is always where his heart is.
And next weekend he will stand on his biggest headlining stage as the main attraction for the Mother’s Day Comedy Jam on Friday May 9.
“When I come home they don’t treat me like a celebrity,” he said, “they treat me like I’m that ‘good ole’ cousin.”
Next weekend will be his second consecutive Mother’s Day gig in St. Louis. As a featured performer he was the highlight of a comedy/R&B showcase last year at Scottrade Center that starred Keith Sweat. This time Crawford will be bringing a variety of comedy talent who are either established or rising stars in their own right – including Sheryl Underwood, Tony Roberts, Luenell, Michael Blackson and Lil Duval.
A 1986 graduate of Pattonville High School, Crawford has come a long way since his first stint at stand-up in a Belleville, Illinois comedy club.
He started out as the funny friend and family member who would make folks laugh on the regular, but when he saw a cousin’s boyfriend – a working comedian – Crawford decided he could make a career out of comedy.
The North County native began doing open mic nights on a dare.
“I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go on and try stand up,” Crawford said. “I called the Funny Bone about three months straight. Finally, one night I called and they said, ‘You’re on the list tonight.’ And I said, ‘What am I gonna do?’”
A joke about his mother’s car catching fire on Christmas instantly won him over with the notoriously vicious crowd.
“I kept it real and it paid off,” Crawford said. “I’ve been blessed I haven’t looked back.”
He’s gone on to sell out comedy venues across the nation and appear in films and on television.
After breaking onto the national scene in “Def Comedy Jam” and BET’s “Comicview,” Crawford cut his teeth on numerous television shows including “The Jamie Foxx Show” and “Showtime at the Apollo.” He came in second place for NBC’s hit comic search “Last Comic Standing.”
Even though he didn’t win, he’s arguably the show’s most successful alum.
He was a regular on the E! late night talk show “Chelsea Lately” before striking gold as the no-nonsense bodyguard for “Breaking Bad.”
The show received both critical and commercial acclaim during its run, but Crawford never dreamed he’d have been blessed to be recognized by the industry with a Screen Actors Guild Award. Nor did he anticipate the residuals that would come because of the prestige attached to the statue.
It’s been like getting a key to Hollywood,” Crawford said. “I’ve been on ‘The Crazy Ones’ withRobin Williams, ‘The Jimmy Kimmel Show.’ They were fans, and they were like, ‘Your character was so great on the show.’ It opened up doors.”
He’s currently to preparing to work on a film entitled “Evil Nature” that stars Dan Fogler and Gary Busey, and he recently signed a three-record deal with Warner Brothers to make comedy albums.
In the meantime he’s continuing to put on for our city in the comedy realm – just like he’s been doing for the past 20-plus years – and it will be business as usual next Friday.
“Support your boy,” Crawford said. “It’s gonna be a good show.”
The Mother’s Day Comedy Jam starring Lavell Crawford will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at The Chaifetz Arena. Tickets are available at the Chaifetz Arena box office, at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
