For Comedian Sarge Florida is the promised land. It’s his utopia and his playground.
Where else can you make thousands of people laugh that live within a mile or two of your comedic sandbox?
Sarge is more than a comedian; he is a comic legend who could make a cadaver roar with laughter. If you have a pile of parking tickets and your wife wants a divorce; spend an hour with Sarge and you’ll forget your troubles.
You might, however, see your laugh lines increase but it’s well worth the facial invasion.
That’s because Sarge is a force of nature whose humor is familiar yet hysterically funny. He lives in South Florida and performs locally in and around Broward and Palm Beach County.
In his own words he knows the boundaries he wants to keep. “Nobody is more powerful or popular between Copans Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard than me,” he quips.
He’s right. Sarge is a comedic institution. Someone who has name recognition like Kleenex or Xerox. But it is a talent he was groomed for early in life. Legend has it that Sarge went to see Don Rickles in the Catskills with his parents when he was young. He was dazzled.
“When I was six years old I saw people screaming with laughter while watching Don Rickles on stage. I had no idea what he was talking about, but people seemed to love him. I said to myself, ‘I want to do that.’”
So, that is exactly what he did.
But not without setbacks amid life’s more harsh realities. Adopted at birth by a Jewish couple in Long Island, Sarge was raised to believe he was white. His adoptive parents told him so, but the outside world told him otherwise.
He made up stories about his heritage, but despite his light brown freckled skin, Sarge did well in a private boarding school and college.
He later went to work in television production (and a few other stellar careers) but ended up homeless in NYC.
A friend took him to rehab in Delray and the rest is history. A history that may not be in grade school textbooks, but in Sarge lore. He took a comedy class in Manhattan, went to open mic nights at comedy clubs and began to build a following.
After performing in the New York Alumni Show at the Beverly Hills Hotel in front of comedy legends, Sarge was discovered. His goal for flying out to California (and performing for free) was to meet comedy legend Garry Marshall.
To Sarge, Marshall was on par with Moses when he parted the Red Sea. So, he got up and slung comedy around as if it were flaming cheese in a Greek restaurant. He got a standing ovation and stepped off the stage hoping to meet Marshall. But much to his surprise someone else grabbed him and said, “You are so funny, I have never met anyone who could follow me until tonight.”
Turns out, it was Shecky Greene. “I looked at this man who kissed me and asked who he was. At that time Shecky was the king of Vegas, the Wayne Newton of comedy. I was flattered but he was not Garry Marshall.”
Sarge was deflated – but not defeated. He didn’t meet Mar-shall that night, but he got his address. “I didn’t mail him a letter because I figured his assistant would open it. That’s why I sent a note by FedEx.”
Within days he got a call from an unknown number. “I didn’t know who it was, but luckily it turned out to be Garry Marshall. He flew me out to California and put me in a movie, took me under his wing and became my mentor.”
Marshall taught Sarge that he didn’t need notes or a script, that he was funny just being himself. “Garry kept saying, ‘I’ve never met a happy comedian before. Most of them are miserable, drunk unhappy people, but you seem happy.”
Marshall was one astute man (and a genius of stage and screen) because he opened the floodgates for Sarge to shine his golden hues on audiences near and far.
He was the opening act for Natalie Cole at the Hyannis Melody tent and Donna Summer at Radio City Music Hall (which seats 9000). He was also the opening act for The Beach Boys, the Four Tops, The Temptations, Taylor Dayne, Paul Anka, the Pointer Sisters and he toured with Donna Summer.
It was a whirlwind of performances and travel. For 25 years he went all over the world on land, air and sea. He was in Alaska for nine summers and cruise ships from Vancouver to Seattle. “Then I would board a plane to Hawaii and Phoenix.”
To some that might look like a successful career, but to Sarge it became a logistical domestic nightmare. “When you’re always away your whole family – and your life – just happens without you.”
That’s why Sarge has recalibrated his life and his goals. He started out wanting to be famous and have a TV show, but for now he is grateful to have his family, friends and work nearby.
“I have a nice wife, a home with a swimming pool and a terrific son. I would rather be the king of Boca than a prince from Dubai to Omaha.”
So that is exactly what he is doing, with much gratitude.
“For me to be a big star on Federal Highway and sell out a lot of shows is wonderful. I don’t have an agent; I run my own business.”
Things seem to be going very well for this authentic funnyman. His show at Kings Point on January 2nd is sold out – all 1,285 seats. He will also be at the Wick Theatre for eight shows (including Christmas day and two shows on New Years’ Eve) from December 24th to January 1st. His opening act will be Jerry Seinfeld’s comedic opener Mark Schiff.
Not only is Sarge an accomplished comedian, but his heart is as large as his following. He does shows for charities and organizations and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Florida Guardian ad Litem.
He also values being a good person who cares about others. “I love being able to share my good fortune with my friends and many times, it’s just introducing people.”
Though Sarge says show business is 99% luck. We beg to differ. His comedic timing, his stories and his delivery is a gift from the heavens – it’s true comic genius.
To book Sarge call (561) 901-5199
email: sarge@iamsarge.com
www.iamsarge.com
