| Joe Rogan | |
|---|---|
Joe Rogan performs at a comedy club after UFC 70 |
|
| Birth name | Joseph James Rogan[1] |
| Born | August 11, 1967 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, Presenter, Announcer, Podcaster |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Genres | Satire/political satire, blue comedy, observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Pseudoscience, Recreational drug use, self-deprecation, race relations, marriage, everyday life, parenting, current events, politics, religion |
| Influences | Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison |
| Spouse | Jessica Rogan (2009–present) 2 children, 1 step daughter |
| Notable works and roles | Joe Garrelli in NewsRadio Co-Host of The Man Show Host of Fear Factor Commentator for the UFC Author of the Book Space Monkey Host of The Joe Rogan Experience |
| Joe Rogan | |
|---|---|
| Style | 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo |
| Team | 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu |
| Rank | brown belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu black belt in Taekwondo |
Joseph James "Joe" Rogan (born August 11, 1967) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and martial artist. He is best known for his work on NewsRadio, his work as color commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, his hosting work on Fear Factor, and his popular internet podcast.
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Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey.[2] His paternal grandfather was Irish, and the remainder of his ancestry is Italian.[3]
During high school, Rogan became a practitioner of kenpo karate at age 14, then went to Taekwondo.[4] He eventually gained a 2nd dan black belt.[5] He went on to become a four-time state champion in Massachusetts, and In 1987, he was the USA Taekwondo U.S. Open lightweight champion.[6]
In 1996, Rogan began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlson Gracie at his school in Hollywood, California. After Gracie relocated to Chicago, Rogan later began training under Jean Jacques Machado, (a cousin of the Gracie family), eventually earning his brown belt under Machado.[7] In addition, Rogan holds a brown belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu under Eddie Bravo.[8][9]
Rogan also practices kickboxing.[10]
In 1994, Rogan co-starred on the Fox comedy Hardball as Frank Valente, the young, ego-centric star player on a fictional professional baseball team.[11] From 1995–1999, Rogan co-starred on the comedy NewsRadio. He portrayed Joe Garrelli, the electrician at WNYX, a news radio station in New York City.[12] In 2002, he appeared on the episode "A Beautiful Mind" of Just Shoot Me as Chris, Maya Gallo's boyfriend.[13] In 2011, Rogan played his first major character in a movie in the Kevin James movie Zookeeper.[14] He is slated to play himself in an upcoming action-comedy starring Kevin James called Here Comes the Boom, set to be released in the summer of 2012.[15]
Rogan began working for the UFC in 1997, making his debut interviewing fighters at UFC 12: Judgement Day in Dothan, Alabama, before eventually becoming a color commentator for the promotion.[16]
Rogan has toured as a stand-up comedian and recorded several albums and specials, including Shiny Happy Jihad and Joe Rogan: Talking Monkeys in Space.
In 2007 Rogan confronted comedian Carlos Mencia on stage, accusing him of joke thievery.[17] A video of the incident, created with Brian Redban, included evidence and supporting comments from other comedians, including George Lopez, Reverend Bob Levy, Bobby Lee and Ari Shaffir.[18]
Rogan worked on the TV series Fear Factor, as a host of the United States version of the show. He hosted from June 11, 2001 through September 12, 2006. Rogan returned as the host of Fear Factor in the rebooted edition of the show, which aired December 12, 2011 on NBC.
In 2003, Rogan and Doug Stanhope replaced Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla as co-hosts of The Man Show.[19] They continued through the end of the show's run in 2004.
In December 2009, Rogan began hosting a regular podcast with concurrent live Ustream availability.[20] Co-hosted by his friend and the show's producer Brian "Redban" Reichle, the podcast features an array of guests from the pursuits of comedy, acting and Mixed Martial Arts. Now known as The Joe Rogan Experience, the show is regularly found in the Apple iTunes top 10 most downloaded comedy, and was named one of iTunes "Best of 2010" audio podcasts in its first year.
In 2008, Rogan and his future wife, Jessica, had a baby girl.[21] The couple married in 2009. In 2010, Rogan announced the birth of a second baby. Rogan also has a step daughter with his wife Jessica.[22][23]
Although raised Roman Catholic,[24] Rogan stated in September 2010, during a guest appearance on the Alex Jones radio show, that he does not follow any organized religions because he feels it is all the work of man. Rogan also said that he is not completely opposed to the concept of a "higher power" such as a God; however, he views the concept of God as part of nature that exists in everything. Joe is also known for his Moon landing conspiracy theories.[25]
One of the recurring themes in his stand-up comedy and life is the use and support of cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT. Rogan supports the medical and recreational use of cannabis.[26] He has also starred in the marijuana documentary The Union: The Business Behind Getting High.[27] Rogan was featured in the 2010 History Channel documentary, Marijuana: A Chronic History, as an advocate of legalized medical use of marijuana. He is also the presenter of the 2010 documentary, DMT: The Spirit Molecule, released in October 2010.