Terry Tuff

Terry Tuff began his comedy career in 1987 and soon after he began to make a name for himself in the business. He quickly rose to the top of the comedy chain and started working clubs such as the Laugh Factory, Comedy Store and the Improv. In 1992 he signed with APA, the Agency for Performing Artist. In 1994, Terry signed a Television Development Deal with the late great Brandon Tartikoff, unfortunately while the show was being developed, Brandon died which put the brakes on Terry’s show. Terry has been featured at the Montreal Comedy Festival, HBO and Show Time. In 2004 he was featured on The Rickey Smiley Sketch Show that was broadcast on BET, where his original characters such as the cantankerous old black man, Mr. Willie was brought to life. The sketches that featured Terry were some of the highest rated sketches on the show. Terry performed or was a writer for every sketch on the show.

Terry Tuff is a very versatile entertainer and this versatility allowed him to take his talents to radio. Radio allowed Terry’s creative genius to be on full display as he created some of the hottest radio characters on the planet. He also hosted a national sports show on XM satellite radio called the House of Sports. Terry currently performs his Mr. Willie character on Quakes House, an afternoon radio show on WBLS in New York hosted by nationally known comedian EarthQuake. Terry is also a writer and show contributor to Quakes House. Terry is an exceptional writer and has written for some of the biggest names in the comedy business.

Terry’s true passion is the comedy stage. He loves the purity of stand-up comedy. Terry has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the entertainment business, D.L. Hughley, Steve Harvey, Kevin James, Ray Romano, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Smokey Robinson and Dianna Ross as well as many others.

Throughout all of his work, Terry Tuff has retained his belief that comedians should stay true to their own points of view. He offered the following advice in an interview, when asked what younger comedians should know: "If you lack the courage of your convictions, become a car salesman, an insurance salesman or perhaps yoga teacher." At the same time, Terry doesn't want to simply turn his performances into a tool for his own ends. "My job is to pay attention to detail, watch what’s going on in this world then deliver a report to the people via my comedy. But never forgetting that at the end of the day, my job is to make people laugh. Terry’s loves laughter and the challenge of being able to go on stage armed with nothing but his mind, a mic and a stool…now that’s comedy.