Ian Lara: Bio, Comedy Style, and Where to Watch

Who is Ian Lara?

Ian Lara is a Dominican-American stand-up comedian from Queens, New York. He started comedy right after college, deciding it was preferable to law school, and has since become one of the most recognized rising comics out of New York City. His material draws on themes of growing up with immigrant parents, navigating questions of racial identity, and life with a born-again Christian father.

He first broke out when his Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring set went viral with over 10 million streams, followed by appearances on NBC’s Bring the Funny (Season 1) and his late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — where he has now performed five times. He was a 2021 Just for Laughs New Face. He was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch in 2023. He has been featured in The New Yorker. His second Comedy Central set also surpassed 10 million views. He debuted his Comedy Central half-hour special Growing Shame in February 2022, followed by his first HBO special Ian Lara: Romantic Comedy in November 2022 (streaming on Max). He selected by Freeform as a Black & Freeform Honoree. He was named one of “10 Lesser-Known Great Black Comedians” by Screenrant. His most recent stand-up special, Material Boy, is his most personal and polished work to date. He is a Comedy Cellar regular and appeared frequently on Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar.

Ian Lara’s Comedy Style

Lara is a fast, precise comedian with an easy Queens swagger that never gets in the way of the writing. His Dominican-American background and the immigrant-parent material gives his stand-up a specificity that reads as universal — the New Yorker feature and the Variety Comics to Watch recognition both reflect a comedian who has earned mainstream critical attention through genuine craft. Five Tonight Show appearances is a meaningful metric in stand-up.

Where to Find Ian Lara

Romantic Comedy is on Max. Material Boy is available now. Find tour dates at ianlaralive.com.

Ian Lara has performed at the Comedy Cellar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Check the current lineup and upcoming shows at comedycellar.com.

Catch Comedy Cellar shows live from New York on Mint Comedy at watch.mintcomedy.com.