Fancy Ray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fancy Ray McCloney
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McCloney in 2018
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Ray McCloney
Claims to be "ageless" or 29 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Occupation | Stand-up comedian, advertising pitchman and producer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Fancy Ray McCloney is a famous stand-up comedian and advertising star from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is known for his very flashy and confident comedy style. People have described him as a mix of famous performers like Little Richard and Muhammad Ali.
Fancy Ray is also well-known for making and starring in funny, low-budget TV ads for local businesses. He even appeared in a Taco Bell ad during the 2016 Super Bowl! He almost always stays in character, acting like a super confident and boastful person. He often says his famous catchphrase: "I'm the best-lookin’ man in comedy."
In 2020, he released a comedy album called The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy. The writer Diablo Cody said Fancy Ray is a "unique" and "loud character" who is very important to the Twin Cities area.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Ray McCloney grew up in north Minneapolis. He was the youngest of four boys. He went to different high schools, including Central, Marshall-University, and West, where he graduated. When he was in second grade, Ray even did a ventriloquist act with Billy Graham's traveling show!
His special nickname, "Fancy," came from his grandfather, William M.L. "Fancy" Wade. His grandfather was a very well-dressed man and an athlete. He also introduced Ray to the music and style of Little Richard, who became a big influence on Fancy Ray.
Comedy Career
Fancy Ray's comedy journey started in 1984. He won a lip-sync contest at the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. He pretended to be Little Richard, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and James Brown. This win led him to appear on a national TV show called Puttin' on the Hits.
He began doing stand-up comedy in 1989. He performed in his local area and even opened shows for famous comedians like Richard Pryor and Chris Rock. Fancy Ray's comedy style is known for being playfully arrogant and vain. People have said he's like a mix of Little Richard and Ethel Merman! He also calls himself "The Human Chocolate Orchid." Sometimes, people joke that he's "famous for being famous," and he even makes fun of this himself.
His Talk Show: Get Down With It
Also in 1989, Fancy Ray started his own talk show called Get Down With It. It aired on a local cable TV channel in Minneapolis. This show made him even more famous in the Twin Cities. He interviewed many well-known people, including Whoopi Goldberg, Al Green, Bo Diddley, and Gloria Steinem.
While the show was mostly funny, it also covered serious topics. Fancy Ray interviewed people with different views during the Los Angeles riots. He also spoke with civil rights activist Spike Moss. A newspaper reviewer said that even though Fancy Ray was known for promoting himself, he was a very good interviewer. He was "sensitive, prepared and interested in what other people have to say."
Starring in TV Ads
Fancy Ray runs his own advertising company called Chocolate Orchid Productions. He writes, produces, edits, and stars in TV commercials for local businesses. You can see his ads in the Twin Cities and other cities like San Jose, Phoenix, and Memphis. He also appeared in a Taco Bell ad during the 2016 Super Bowl, which highlighted his fame as a "local legend."
Running for Governor
In 1998, Fancy Ray even ran for governor of Minnesota! He ran as a third-party candidate, saying that since the whole election was a joke, why not have a professional comedian run? Besides the humor, he also wanted to speak up for issues important to Black people and those who were struggling. His running mate was his own mother, Toni McCloney. He received 919 votes in the election, which was won by Jesse Ventura.
His Comedy Album
On March 27, 2020, Fancy Ray released his comedy album, The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy. It was released by Stand Up! Records. The album features funny moments from his 30-year comedy career. The mayors of both Minneapolis and St. Paul officially declared that day "Fancy Ray McCloney Day" to honor him! Fancy Ray was also chosen to be the grand marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Minneapolis, but the parade was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other Appearances
Fancy Ray has appeared on many national TV shows. These include The Tonight Show, America's Got Talent, Last Comic Standing, and Entertainment Tonight. He moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to try for a Hollywood career but came back to the Twin Cities in 2008.
He also appeared in a comedy movie in 2008 called The Junkyard Willie Movie: Lost In Transit. Fancy Ray also sang on a song called "Parrots" by the band Hymie's Basement in 2003. He starred in a funny video for the band Sleeping in the Aviary's 2010 album. This video was like a playful tribute to late-night TV ads.
In 2019, he was featured in a segment of Twin Cities PBS' show Minnesota Original. You can even see his face on a mural painted on a building at 2933 E. Lake St. in Minneapolis!
Fancy Ray is also an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. This means he can perform weddings, and he has officiated many of them.
Discography
- The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy (Stand Up! Records, 2020)
- Fancy Ray’s 20th Anniversary of Comedy (DVD, 2009)
Personal Life
Fancy Ray McCloney has a son named Trevon.
He often says he is "ageless" and has claimed to be between 24 and 29 years old for many years!
