Earthquake (comedian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Earthquake
Earthquake in 2020
Birth name	Nathaniel Stroman
Born	Washington, D.C., United States
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Nationality	American
Years active	1980s – present
Genres	Observational comedy, improvisational comedy, black comedy
Subject(s)	African-American culture, racism, race relations, relationships
Spouse	Robin Goings ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2005)​
Children	3
Notable works and roles	Uncle Mike on Everybody Hates Chris Karl in The Longshots Root in Barnyard & Back at the Barnyard

Nathaniel Stroman, better known as Earthquake, is a popular American stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, and radio host. He is known for his funny observations about everyday life.

Earthquake hosts his own radio show called Quakeshouse on SiriusXM and Kevin Hart's Laugh Out Loud Network. In 2022, he released his first Netflix comedy special, Chappelle's Home Team- Legendary: Earthquake. This special was produced by famous comedian Dave Chappelle.

Earthquake has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He had a small part in the movie Clerks II (2006) and a bigger role in The Longshots (2008). On TV, he was a regular on the CBS show The Neighborhood from 2018 to 2021. He also had a recurring role as Uncle Mike on the show Everybody Hates Chris.

You might also recognize his voice! He voiced Root the Rooster in the 2006 animated movie Barnyard and its TV series Back at the Barnyard. He even returned to voice Uncle Mike in the new show Everybody Still Hates Chris.

Early Life and Start in Comedy

Nathaniel Stroman, who later became "Earthquake," was born on May 29, 1963, in Washington, D.C.. His mother gave him the nickname "Earthquake."

Growing up, Earthquake was known as the class clown. However, he didn't realize he could turn his humor into a career. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force. He later shared that he joined the military to gain independence.

Joining the Air Force

Stroman joined the Air Force right after graduating from high school. He once joked about his decision, saying, "My mother argued with me, hollered at me, and I wasn't getting a check, so how hard could basic training be?"

First Steps in Comedy

In the early 1990s, Earthquake began performing at small comedy clubs. By 1993, he was a co-owner of Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta. There, he sharpened his skills as a host and featured many talented comedians. He later opened his own clubs, Earthquake's Comedy Corner II, in Dallas and Atlanta.

His big break came in 1997 when he joined the Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam Tour. This tour helped him become known across the country.

In 2002, Earthquake joined the Latham Entertainment Presents Comedy Tour. He also signed a deal with ABC in 2004 to create his own TV show, though it didn't happen. In 2005, he performed one of his most popular shows, "About *** Time." He continued to appear in comedy specials like All Star Def Comedy Jam in 2007 and the TBS Comedy Festival Lollapalooza in 2008. In 2009, he starred in Shaquille O'Neal’s All Star Comedy Jam Special.

Radio Career

Earthquake also made a name for himself in radio. He regularly contributed to The Steve Harvey Morning Show on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He would even fill in as a host when Steve Harvey was away.

In 2013, Earthquake became a full-time radio personality at 107.5 WBLS. He hosted a show with Déjà Vu on weekdays from 3 PM to 7 PM. He left the station in February 2016.

Public Recognition

In April 2013, Earthquake appeared on ABC’s The View. He was featured in a special segment where the show's hosts showcased their favorite stand-up comedians. Famous comedian Whoopi Goldberg chose Earthquake as her personal favorite.