Jeff Ross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Ross
Ross in May 2016
Pseudonym	Roastmaster General
Birth name	Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz
Born	(1965-09-13) September 13, 1965 (age 59)
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Alma mater	Boston University (B.S.)
Years active	1989–present
Genres	Observational comedy, insult comedy, black comedy, satire
Subject(s)	American events and culture, Jewish culture, self-deprecation, current events
Notable works and roles	Comedy Central Roasts Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie The Burn with Jeff Ross

Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz (born September 13, 1965), known professionally as Jeff Ross, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and producer. He is famous for his insult comedy, which has earned him the nickname "Roastmaster General."

A comedy roast is an event where a celebrity is honored by having friends and other comedians tell jokes about them. Ross has appeared in many roasts on the New York Friars Club and on the TV series Comedy Central Roast. The Chicago Tribune once called him "the new millennium Don Rickles," another famous insult comic.

Early Life and Education

Ross grew up in New Jersey. He lived in Newark, New Jersey, and later moved to the towns of Union and Springfield. He has a younger sister named Robyn.

Sadly, Ross faced difficult times as a teenager. His mother passed away when he was 14, and his father passed away when Ross was 19 and in college.

Ross went to Boston University, where he studied broadcasting and film. He also worked at the university's student radio station, WTBU. He graduated in 1987.

Career in Comedy

Becoming the Roastmaster General

Ross started doing stand-up comedy in 1989. By 1995, he was performing at famous comedy clubs in New York City. That year, he was invited to his first celebrity roast for the actor Steven Seagal.

He became a regular at the roasts held by the New York Friars Club, a private club for comedians. His funny and sharp jokes earned him the title "Roastmaster General." In 1999, a joke he told at the roast of Jerry Stiller helped make his career take off.

When Comedy Central started making its own roasts in 2003, Ross became a star roaster. He is known for wearing funny and sometimes surprising costumes. For example, when he roasted Charlie Sheen, he dressed as a world leader. When he roasted Rob Lowe, he dressed like the musician Prince.

Famous Roasts

Ross has been a part of many roasts for famous people. Some of the celebrities he has roasted include:

Supporting the Troops

Ross at Joint Base Andrews in May 2016

Ross has traveled with the USO to perform for American soldiers. He has done stand-up comedy at military bases in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2005, he made a documentary movie called Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie. The film showed his experiences on a comedy tour in Iraq. It won an award for Best Film at a comedy festival in Montreal, Canada.

Television Shows and Book

Ross has created and hosted several of his own TV shows.

• The Burn with Jeff Ross was a comedy show that aired on Comedy Central from 2012 to 2013.
• Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle started in 2016. In the show, comedians compete by roasting each other.
• Historical Roasts began on Netflix in 2019. In this series, Ross hosts roasts for historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, played by actors.

In 2009, Ross wrote a book called I Only Roast the Ones I Love: Busting Balls Without Burning Bridges. In the book, he shares stories from his career and gives tips on how to write roast jokes.

Acting and Other Work

Besides comedy, Ross is also an actor. He has appeared in movies like Celtic Pride, Stuck on You, and Along Came Polly. He has also acted in TV shows, including Six Feet Under and CSI.

He has also done voice work for cartoons. He was the voice of a beagle named Buddy in the animated show Where My Dogs At?. He also voiced himself in an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, where he attended a roast for Batman.

Ross has appeared on other TV shows as himself. In 2008, he competed on the show Dancing with the Stars. He and his partner Edyta Śliwińska were the first couple to be eliminated.

Personal Life

Ross has said that his childhood in New Jersey helped him develop his quick wit. He learned to use humor as a way to handle tough situations. He said in an interview, "I had to quickly learn not just to take a joke but to give it back."

Filmography

Film

Television