Robby Klein
John Crist
Occupation: Stand-up Comedian
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
I'm an introvert. A lot of people think that because I do stand-up comedy, or I make videos, or am successful in whatever kind of way you want to describe it, that I always want to be the center of attention or the life of the party. But I think most comics would tell you the exact opposite. Usually, we’re the ones sitting in the back of the class, quiet, just roasting or commenting on what’s going on with the people who are the center of attention, but I never wanted to be part of it.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I had the opportunity to be on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and as a stand-up comedian, that's kind of our Super Bowl. The Tonight Show precedes Jimmy Fallon, back to the Jay Leno days, and before that, Johnny Carson. Everybody's goal as a comedian, for as long as I've known, was to get on The Tonight Show. It was everything I could have possibly imagined. Jimmy and his whole crew were so kind and complimentary. It was a process of going back and forth between the comedy club and filming your set — months of tightening up the material. We worked very, very hard on it, and it was very, very rewarding.
A quote you live by:
One of my favorite quotes is from Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. He’s been in prison for years for a crime he didn’t commit. One night, after digging a tunnel out of his cell to freedom, he’s sitting against the wall and says, “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Then he gets up and starts his journey to freedom. That line is inspiring for anyone. It’s about choosing to really live instead of just existing. That idea has inspired me many, many times.