Earthquake (comedian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earthquake |
|
---|---|
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, known professionally by his stage name Earthquake, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist and radio personality. He presently hosts a radio show entitled, Quakeshouse for SiriusXM and Kevin Hart's Laugh Out Loud Network. His first Netflix special entitled Chappelle's Home Team- Legendary: Earthquake was produced by Dave Chappelle and his Magic Lemonade production entity in February of 2022.
Earthquake performed a half-hour HBO special as part of the series One Night Stand, which first aired on August 26, 2005. His film credits include a small role in Kevin Smith's film Clerks II (2006), and a supporting role in the film, The Longshots (2008). His television appearances include a recurring role on CBS sitcom The Neighborhood (2018-2021) starring Cedric the Entertainer, cameos on South Side (2019), In the Cut (2017), and more. Earthquake's additional television credits include a recurring role as Chris' Uncle Mike, on Everybody Hates Chris. He voiced Root the Rooster in the 2006 CGI film, Barnyard and in the video game of the same title, and continued to do so on the TV series spinoff, Back at the Barnyard.
Early life
Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman was born on May 29, 1963, in Washington, D.C. His mother gave him the nickname “Earthquake”.
Earthquake grew up poor with his mother's sister and her husband in a tough southeast neighborhood, and they often didn't have anything to eat. Earthquake was a class clown, but had no real idea that he could make comedy a career. He later bemoaned the fact that no teacher or advisor had ever pointed him in the direction of performing.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force after he graduated from high school. Later he explained that he joined the military to get out of his mother's house.
Military career
Stroman enlisted in the Air Force on the day after his high school graduation. As stated by Stroman to Matt Ehlers of the Raleigh News & Observer “My mother argued with me, hollered at me, and I wasn't getting a check, so how hard could basic training be?”.
Early comedic career
In the early 1990s, Earthquake started off doing gigs in small clubs. By 1993 he co-owned Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta's vibrant Buckhead entertainment district. While there he continued to hone his skills as the much sought after house host and featured some of the greatest minds in stand-up. Later he opened a club of his own, Earthquake's Comedy Corner II in Dallas, Tx. and Atlanta, Ga., resepectively. In 1997, Earthquake got his national break when he was asked to join the Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam Tour.
Earthquake started his career in the Airforce in the talent show “Tops and Blues”. In 2002, Earthquake joined Latham Entertainment Presents Comedy Tour. In 2004, he signed a deal with ABC to create his own sitcom called “Earthquake,” which later fell through, although in 2005 he performed one of his most popular best shows “About *** Time”. In 2007, he appeared in All Star Def Comedy Jam, and in 2008 appeared in with TBS Comedy Festival Lollapalooza. In 2009, Earthquake starred in Shaquille O Neal’s All star Comedy Jam Special (comedy zone). In 2011, he made a guest appearance in TV One: Way Black When show.
WBLS
Earthquake started off in radio contributing every Tuesday and Thursday on The Steve Harvey Morning Show and has been known to fill-in as a personality while Steve Harvey was on vacation. In 2013, Quake joined 107.5 WBLS as a full-time radio personality weekdays from 3pm to 7pm with Déjà Vu. He left the station in February 2016.
Recognition
In April 2013, he appeared on ABC’s The View in a special segment of stand-up comedians showcased by the cast of The View as their personal favorites; Quake appeared on the show as the favorite of comedic great, Whoopi Goldberg. .....