159: George Wallace

GEORGE WALLACE is an award-winning stand-up comic and renowned Vegas headliner, having also established a successful T.V. and film career that has spanned four decades. One of his first jobs in the entertainment field was working as a writer for legendary comedian Redd Foxx and on the big screen, he made the most out of supporting roles in such films as “Things are Tough All Over,” “Punchline” (starring Tom Hanks and Sally Field), “A Rage in Harlem,” with Gregory Hines and Forest Whitaker, and the Coen Brothers film “The Ladykillers” as well as appearances on such T.V. shows as “Seinfeld” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” In 1995, he won the American Comedy Award for Best Male stand-up performer- the same year he appeared as the mayor of Gotham City in “Batman Forever.” Additionally, he was features in his own HBO “One Night Stand.” In 2004, Wallace appeared as the headlining star of his own show at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas for a 30 day run. Sin city showed its admiration by extending Wallace’s contract indefinitely and nicknaming him “The new Mr. Vegas.” Wallace was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 “Soul Train/ Centric Comedy All-Start Awards;” and won Best Stand-Up Comedian at the prestigious American Comedy Awards after four consecutive nominations. His first book, “Laff It Off!” (Chaite Press), now in its third printing, was published in 2014 and is a tome of life’s wisdom, humor, and insight from a lifetime of his observations.