Ben Roy

Ben Roy (born June 18, 1979) is an American comedian and musician originally from Winthrop, Maine, who now lives in Denver, Colorado. Heavily tattooed, and known for his "spittle-flecked rants" on stage, Roy has been compared to Bill Hicks and Lewis Black. Roy is a member of The Grawlix, a trio of Denver comedians who produce a monthly live comedy show and web series. He stars on the TruTV show Those Who Can't. He is also a singer who has fronted several Denver-area punk rock bands.

Career

Comedian

Roy started in the world of standup comedy when he entered a Comedy Works new talent night in early 2004. A Comedy Works manager snuck him into a professional competition a few months later, where he placed second to comedian Josh Blue, who would go on to national fame as winner of Last Comic Standing. He has been selected to perform at the Boston Comedy Festival, the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival, and the MTV Comedy Showcase. He's also been featured on HBO's Funny as Hell series; in the John Wenzel Book Mock Stars: Indie Comedy and the Dangerously Funny (alongside comedy greats like Patton Oswalt and Fred Armisen); His second standup album, No Enlightenment in Sobriety, was released April 15, 2014.

The Grawlix

Early on in his comedy career, Roy met fellow Denver comedians Andrew Orvedahl and Adam Cayton-Holland. After performing together for a few years, the trio officially formed The Grawlix. The troupe performs a monthly show at The Bug Theatre in Denver, consisting of standup sets from each of the principals, a variety of national guest comedians, and screenings of their web series "The Grawlix", produced by The Nix brothers.

Those Who Can't The Grawlix also teamed with The Nix brothers to produce a pilot for Amazon in June 2012 called Those Who Can't, about three inept Denver high school teachers. before fronting hardcore band Thousand Year Suffering. including Denver punk bands 29th Street Disciples and The Fire Drills. Roy now fronts the band SPELLS that formed in 2012 with guitarist Chuck Coffey, bassist Don Bersell, and drummer Rob Burleson. The foursome play high-energy, melodic punk The group is known for their nontraditional approach to both their tour schedule and releases—in 2013, they issued a 45, multiple digital downloads, and a cassette with previously unreleased tracks. Ben started his musical career as the original singer of the 90s band Dishwalla.

Personal life

Roy was married to photographer Crystal Allen for 19 years. The pair met in Maine and moved to Denver in 2002. They have one son, Milo, born in 2005. Roy has been vocal about his struggle with alcoholism and has been sober since 2010.

Discography

Pet Your Friends (1995) I Got Demons (2012) No Enlightenment in Sobriety (2014) Ooze Your Delusions (2018) Take the Sandwich (2021)