Jeff Grace

Jeff Grace built a multifaceted career spanning performance and production roles, gaining recognition as an actor, screenwriter, producer, and director long before issuing his debut stand-up comedy album. Raised in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, he completed his secondary education at Morristown-Beard High School in Morristown in 1992 and earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College in Colorado Springs in 1996. Upon finishing his studies, he relocated to Chicago for a position at an advertising agency, yet his growing interest in comedy prompted him to take the stage during his free time; this eventually led to performances with the Second City and ImprovOlympics ensembles. He also pursued stand-up routines, and one appearance at The Improv in Los Angeles secured him an opportunity to write for The Henry Rollins Show. That assignment prompted his permanent move to Los Angeles, where he established the Vacationeers, an improv troupe that produced online videos alongside live shows. A Vacationeers sketch titled “Google Maps” achieved viral status, accumulating more than 3.5 million views. The resulting visibility helped him obtain acting parts in series such as Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, iCarly, and Fresh Off the Boat. In 2009 he produced his first feature-length film, The Scenesters; his next producing credit, It’s a Disaster, appeared in 2012. Folk Hero & Funny Guy, the comedy-drama he wrote and directed, premiered in 2016 and featured Alex Karpovsky, Wyatt Russell, and Melanie Lynskey. Throughout his film and television commitments, Grace maintained an active stand-up schedule, culminating in the 2017 release of his debut comedy album, Live in Los Angeles.