Michael Colyar was raised in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project in Chicago, Illinois, and later relocated to the Morgan Park area. Colyar attended Morgan Park High School, graduating in 1975. Shortly after high school, Colyar attended Olive-Harvey Junior College and later Chicago State University. While in college, Colyar began performing on the streets of Chicago to develop his craft in comedy. Under the tutelage of local street performers, Colyar quickly took to street performing and began to earn a good living performing on the streets of Chicago to care for himself and his child. Although the street performance was going well, the harsh Chicago winters prevented him from working. As Colyar states, “No one is stopping to listen to street performers in the windy city’s coldest month.”
From the Windy City to Sunny California
Colyar knew he needed to be somewhere where the weather was sunny year-round. He packed his bags and, through everything he could fit into his car, headed west to Hollywood. Colyar knew moving to Hollywood was necessary to realize his dreams. As work was slow initially, Colyar found himself on Venice Beach, California, street performing, where he drew large crowds daily. Colyar was a staple on Venice Beach, where he performed five shows a day every weekend for nine years straight, earning him the title “King of Venice Beach.” As his comedy caught on, Colyar began making a six-figure income performing a couple of hours daily on the boardwalk. Then, he was sure he had made the right decision to travel west, and the Hollywood offers started pouring in.
How “Star Search” Was His Big Break Into Hollywood
Colyar has made a name for himself on and off the screen and has become a household name. An appearance on the nationally televised popular show “Star Search” was the big break he needed. He won the grand prize for comedy, and he shared half of his winnings with the unhoused people of Venice Beach. Colyar later gained national attention with his captivating performances on Def Comedy Jam and Comic View. Colyar’s style of comedy blends life lessons and personal stories to combat stereotypes and help others recover and overcome their challenges. He often shares his story of addictions with laughter; Colyar says it’s essential to learn to laugh at ourselves.
Michael Colyar Hilarious Ride from Blackish to Norbit
Colyar’s ability to make audiences laugh has helped him garner many roles in Hollywood, from television to major motion pictures. Colyar is best known for his roles in Blackish and the memorable Mr. Whitaker on the hit television show Martin. He landed roles in films such as House Party III, Norbit, and The Princess & The Frog. As the original host of BET Live From LA, Colyar built a successful television and film career, working alongside stars like Eddie Murphy, filmmaker John Singleton, comedian Bernie Mac, and Oprah Winfrey.
Colyar is the author of the book, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House, I Knocked on the Door, and a Brother Answered,” which chronicles his experiences in the entertainment industry. His latest book, “Little Bobby White,” is about two kids, one who does everything right and the other who doesn’t. The essence of the story is that good things happen to people who do good.
Michael Colyar His Passion for Helping the Unhoused
Colyar not only gave half of his Star Search earnings to help the unhoused, but he also purchased ten breakfast plates daily to give to unhoused individuals on Venice Beach. Colyar continues to help unhoused individuals. Annually, he puts together approximately 2000 large gift bags of essentials such as socks, gift cards, and more to pass out during the winter.
Today, Colyar is a renowned comedian, actor, voiceover artist, author, radio personality, and motivational speaker. His weekly show, “The Michael Colyar Morning Show, features special guests and celebrities to talk about current events and challenging issues sprinkled with a bit of laughter.
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