Gabriel Michael
Nationally touring comedian Sam Miller never lost his sense of humor, even through the dark days of addiction and homelessness.
“I remember being scared as a kid and a young adult, and the first time I got high I felt better, and then getting high became the thing that caused the fear,” Miller reflected. “Living outside, going to jail—the only other thing that made me feel good during this time was laughter. When I got sober, laughter stayed such a part of who I am.”
Miller has a truly unique story. A 6'6" former addict and ex-jail guard turned comedian, his raw and riotously funny take on recovery, parenting, and personal transformation has earned him a growing national following. His debut comedy special, Round Trip, hit number one on the iTunes Comedy Chart, and he recently signed a three-album deal with Grammy-winning Stand Up! Records.
Clean and sober for more than 15 years, Miller now shares his love of laughter with audiences across the country, inviting comedy club goers to get in on the fun.
“For a guy like me, laughter is more than just my career,” he said. “Laughter is survival. I spent a lot of time locked up and on the streets, and I really didn’t have anything going for me, but I could still crack jokes. I lost everything else, but I never lost that, and I’m very grateful for that now. Comedy feels natural to me.”
Advice from fellow Olympia, Washington comedian Gabriel Rutledge inspired Miller to be authentic in his humor.
“He had great advice—the best way to make people laugh is to talk about the things that make you laugh and invite other people along, and that’s what I’ve done,” Miller said. “This is the stuff that me and my friends laugh about.”
For Miller, laughter is an invitation to connect. While he goes into every show with the intention of being as funny as he can be, he is acutely attuned to the crowd, building trust that eventually leads to a very special interaction that lingers in the memories of the comedian and audience members alike.
“Comedy is all about energy, so I’ll put out that energy, and when people get these laughs, the energy comes back, and as the energy goes back and forth, it gets bigger and bigger,” he described. “It’s like a journey, and by the end of the show, we’re in this amazing place. With trust, it allows me to say even more wild stuff because they know I’m coming at it from a place of honesty. Every show I do is pretty much a good show.”
Somehow, in the midst of his success, Miller has found a way to balance touring his comedy act around the country with being a loving husband and parent of two children, ages 11 and 14.
“They love that I do comedy,” he admitted. “My kids like that they have the dad with the weird job.” While he’s on the road 14 days a month, on average, Miller is fully present for his family when he’s at home. “My wife and I, we communicate really well. I pull my weight when I am home, and I try to be an involved father and do the best I can,” he shared. “It’s not easy, because my wife didn’t marry a comedian; it's something I fell into, but we’re doing really well. I love her more now than ever.”
As Miller makes his way to Charleston in May, he looks forward to getting to know the city and its locals, one joke at a time.
“Honestly, I just want people to have a good time. People don’t come to a comedy show to get outsmarted,” he laughed. “You might learn something, but I guarantee you won’t be outsmarted at a Sam Miller show. Comedy is a thing I’m really good at, and I get excited to work with whatever crowd I have in front of me to make it a very good time.”
Catch Sam Miller performing on May 16–17 at Wit’s End Comedy Club and Lounge in North Charleston.