This Comedian’s First Performance was at Summer Camp

Hey, Camp Kids!

You know who used to be a summer camper just like yourselves? Funny man Seth Rogen! This very successful comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and voice artist got his start performing stand-up comedy at Camp Miriam, a beautiful 20-acre waterfront site in Canada on the Gabriola Island—close to Vancouver.

Passionate about making others laugh, Seth didn’t stop after summer camp. At the young age of 16, he took second place in the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest of 1998. “As soon as I realized you could be funny as a job, that was the job I wanted,” Seth has said about himself.  

Also in 1998, he a landed a small role alongside James Franco in the short-lived cult classic Freaks and Geeks. Though Seth still lived with his family in Canada when he got the part, they relocated together to live in Los Angeles. Seth paid the bills for his family after his father lost his job and his mother quit hers. He was already receiving the largest wages in the family.

Though Freaks and Geeks lasted only one season, it gave Seth the opportunity to meet James Franco as well as the writer of the show, Judd Apatow. With some guidance from Judd (who became a very close-knit friend of Seth’s) as well as his own hard work and determination, Seth has ventured into the realm of super stardom thanks to his film career.

Seth always thought he’d be more successful as a screenwriter than a Hollywood actor, but the actor most-likely underestimated his own charisma. In any case, he seems to have found his niche in writing, directing, producing, and acting in his own movies.

Aside from his live-action comedies, he has done voice work for a number of cartoon films such as Horton Hears a Who!, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Paul.

Despite his success, Seth is one actor who stays humble and remembers his beginnings. “Obviously, I can’t stress how important Judd’s been to my career,” he’s said about his friend. Seth may have started out on a small scale telling jokes at summer camp, but look at where it took him!

Where will summer camp take you? Till next time, Camp Folks! And thanks for reading.