Vegas Unfiltered Local Favorties

Comedian Jason Stuart Is Cut From His Own Unique Cloth

SamNovak

Official Verified Account

Editor

Comedian Jason Stuart Is Cut From His Own Unique Cloth

Trailblazing 'out' entertainer comes to Westgate Comedy Cabaret for three nights only...

Don't be fooled by the oh-so-serious facial expression. This guy is funny as Hell. He's also out, proud, and taking no shit. It's Jason Stuart, the daring comedian/actor/director who once planted his lips on talk show host Geraldo Rivera. Now, just in time for Las Vegas Pride Month, Mr. Stuart is headlining at Westgate Comedy Cabaret. At the age of 54, Jason has racked up dozens of influential roles, along with numerous accolades. Just this year he was recognized as "Best LGBT Comedian" by the Official Best of Los Angeles Awards. He's also listed as #8 in the 2022 actor list of OUT Magazine's "Out 100". Here is a portion of that write-up:

"Comedian and actor Jason Stuart is a pioneer in the industry, having come out almost 30 years ago, when very few comics were open about their sexualities. Over the course of his career, Stuart has developed a cutting-edge comedic style, which includes being brutally honest about his life as a single, Jewish gay man living in Hollywood." - excerpt from OUT 100

VEGAS 411 reached out to Mr. Stuart for an interview through his publicist. The line of questioning was deliberately erratic....some silly moments, others touched with gravity. As any follower of the Star Search alumnus would expect, Stuart was bold, witty, and wonderfully candid.

You were born as Stuart Ted Greif, but are better known in show business as "Jason Stuart". That's a very rugged name, evoking images of a Rock Hudson/Paul Newman leading man. When did you start using that moniker, and was that your intention when you selected it?

It all happened when I got my first guest-star on a TV show. It was a nighttime comedy soap opera called The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts. I was so excited I could barely breathe. When they showed my name in the credits it read Stuart Grief! I was mortified that they spelled it wrong. All the kids used to say "Good grief, it’s Greif!" and bully me.

I remembered the lunch I had at Schwab’s drugstore a few months before. Oscar winner Shelley Winters was sitting with cable TV show host Skip E. Lowe and a fledgling actress named Sally Kirkland (who would later become an Oscar nominee). As they discussed this newcomer named Meryl Streep, Shelley asked, “Who are you?”. “Stuart Ted Greif", I told her, and she responded, “A stupid name for a cute kid“. That was the first time anyone said I was cute. So when I saw my name misspelled in the credits, I remembered that chance meeting with Shelley Winters, and changed my name the next day to "Jason Stuart".

Martin Lawrence famously competed against you on Star Seach in 1987. Flash forward to 2023, and you're up against your old nemesis on Celebrity Death Match. Who's going down? Martin Lawrence was a sweet guy, and very nice to me. Everyone on Star Search always seemed so happy when they lost, other than just clapping and having a fake smile. The producers and many comedians dared me to to not react that way. I chose to stamp my foot and walk off. Years later, fans edited my and Martin‘s performance and then put it on YouTube. Martin’s fans ripped me to shreds. It started out not too bad then got completely out of hand. I don’t want anybody to go down. I want all talent to come to the top. So I guess I’m very similar to what the show was like in the 80s. Full circle, baby!

[embed]https://youtu.be/y_T3PcKo4Iw?si=plWr45fqQxBQAEKK[/embed]

Barbra Streisand, Paul Lynde, and Lucille Ball are among your early inspirations. Imagine you're throwing a dinner party and they're all attending. Who's bringing the Jell-O mold, which one has to set the table, and who will be too tipsy to drive home? Well for sure, Paul Lynde is too tipsy to drive home and too angry to let anybody give him a ride. Barbra will be driven by her driver. I spend the evening talking about "the work” without crying about how she changed my life as a loner gay kid. Lucy was known to be a mentor. I’m sure she’ll have some jewels for me to savor. I’d love to have Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Viola Davis. I love Viola’s quote “My dreams had to be bigger than my fears."

After coming out as gay on his talk show, you famously kissed Geraldo Rivera. Knowing what a wackadoodle he'd later become on FOX NEWS, do you look back on that moment with regret or as an advance payback? He left FOX, so that's a good sign. Coming out on that show really changed the trajectory of my career and life. If I had not done that, I don’t know whether I would still be here today. It meant the world that his producers wanted to do a show that comedians are unconventional...and me coming out. FYI, I kissed him on the cheek after the show, just to set the record straight. He was quite handsome.

You appeared on the first season of CHARMED opposite Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, and Holly Marie Combs. Dozens of characters were killed on that show every week. Who was the REAL witch on set, and did your character "Martin" bite the dust, too? No, I was the "Larry Tate” (Bewitched) of the show (and) the manager of QUAKE. It was a really fun job and the first time on a set where I watched all the girls/stars talk on their cell phones rather than each other. None was a diva. All nice, sorry! Lol.

Screenshot from "The Birth of a Nation" (2016)

So-called "gay cinema" has evolved from tragic AIDS dramas and campy comedies to mainstream romantic fare like "BROS" and "LOVE, SIMON". What's next?Well hopefully another juicy role for me. After working on The Birth Of A Nation playing a white, heterosexual Christian plantation owner, I have been spoiled. My hope is that the idea of playing a straight or gay character if you are out will go away 100%. And the bias will melt away.Don't get me wrong...it is so much better than it was in 1993. But we still have work to do. As the national co-chair of the SAG-AFTRA LGBTQ committee, I hope to be a part of making that come true.

[embed]https://youtu.be/IFqaos9LkYM?si=f_nonTLYgvDM-Hg8[/embed]

Comedians often become actors, and actors always want to direct. Since you're a comedian and actor, what's Jason Stuart's first film as director? Well, I tried the Amazon series THE MENTOR and the short LIKE FATHER. And of course, (I) co-produced, co-wrote, and co-starred with Mitch Hara for two seasons of SMOTHERED. We were involved in every aspect of the series. Not sure I want to direct more...it depends on what comes my way. I'm looking to work with the great Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Jane Champion, and Ron Howard. If you know them, give them a call.

Varla Jean Merman at Westgate Comedy Cabaret

Your appearance at Westgate Comedy Cabaret will be preceded by a three-night stint featuring drag star Varla Jean Merman. Which of you has a lengthier list of dressing room demands in their rider?Well, no green M&Ms for sure. Don't want to see any wigs, glitter, or fake boobs left anywhere! Hopefully, she did not steal any of the soft drinks. I hear she has a big purse!

Jason Stuart will appear at Westgate Comedy Cabaret from October 17th through 19th. Showtime is 8 pm. Tickets start at $24.99 (plus taxes/fees) and can be ordered here. The show is for adults only.