Rachel Feinstein (comedian)

This article is about the American stand-up comedian. For the visual artist of the same name, see Rachel Feinstein (artist).
Rachel Feinstein
Feinstein performing at the Eastville Comedy Club in New York City on December 26, 2014
Born (1980-11-03) November 3, 1980 (age 44)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
MediumStand-up, film, television
Genres
Spouse
Peter Brennan
​
(m. 2018)​
Children1
Websiterachel-feinstein.com

Rachel Feinstein (/ˈfaɪnstaɪn/; born November 3, 1980) is an American actress and stand-up comedian. Feinstein was a finalist on season 7 of Last Comic Standing (2010). In 2011, she released her first comedy album, Thug Tears. Her first comedy special, Only Whores Wear Purple, was released in 2016 on Comedy Central, and her second special, Big Guy, was released on Netflix in 2024.

Early life

Feinstein was born in Washington, D.C.[4] and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland.[5] Her father, Howard Feinstein,[6] was a civil rights lawyer and a blues musician and her mother, Karen, was a social worker.[7] Her father is of Russian and Polish Jewish ancestry,[8] whereas her mother was raised a Methodist,[9] converting to Judaism upon marrying her father.[10] Feinstein's mother was raised in the Mojave Desert region of California, and met Feinstein's father while the two were studying at the University of California, Santa Barbara.[9]

Feinstein has said that she was a poor student and "barely graduated" high school.[11] She moved to New York City at age 17 with her then-boyfriend, a musician.[12] After breaking up with her boyfriend, Feinstein "did some theater first. Then I started doing open mics. The first time I went out was at a bar that was doing a comedy night and I bombed wildly. I just kept trying to go up and do those bringer shows where you have to bring like five people just to get on stage. I didn’t know many people in New York, so I would just try to make friends with people and bother them into coming to shows."[12]

Career

Feinstein was a finalist on season 7 of Last Comic Standing (2010).[13] She played a comedian performing as herself in the feature film Her Composition (2015), directed by Stephan Littger.[14] In 2011, she released Thug Tears, her first comedy album, through Comedy Central Records.[1]

In 2013, she was featured on the video game Grand Theft Auto V, providing the voice of Michelle Makes.[15] Feinstein released her first comedy special, Only Whores Wear Purple, in 2016.[12]

She subsequently appeared on the HBO series Crashing (2017–2019),[16] and in the comedy series Inside Amy Schumer (2013–2022), and Life & Beth (2022).[17] Feinstein was also featured on an episode of The Standups (2018).[17] She has performed sets on Conan, The Tonight Show and The Late Late Show.

Personal life

In September 2018, Feinstein married Peter Brennan, a Battalion Chief of the New York City Fire Department.[18] Best friend and fellow comedian Amy Schumer was her maid of honor.[19] On February 20, 2020, on the Dudley & Bob with Matt Afternoon Show (93.7 KLBJ-FM), Feinstein stated she was 7 months pregnant. She later gave birth to a daughter.[20]

Discography

  • Thug Tears (2011)[21]
  • Only Whores Wear Purple (2016)

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008 Turbocharge: The Unauthorized Story of The Cars Joshua; Jeep Girl
2010 Circus Maximus Octavia [17]
2011 Stags Escort
2013 Peace After Marriage Sasha
2014 Top Five Publicist
2015 Trainwreck Nurse Rachel
2015 3rd Street Blackout Melanie [17]
2015 Her Composition Rachel [17]
2018 I Feel Pretty Soulcycle Woman
2021 Hysterical Herself Documentary film [17]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Samurai Love God Various 3 episodes
2009–2010 The Venture Bros. Barbara Qantas 2 episodes
2010 Last Comic Standing Herself Contestant [17]
2014 Teachers Lounge School Nurse 1 episodes
2013–2022 Inside Amy Schumer Various 7 episodes
2014 Stuck on A 1 episode
2014 Friends of the People Phyllis 1 episode
2015 Red Oaks Jean Blum 1 episode
2017 Odd Mom Out Kara 1 episode [17]
2017–2019 Crashing Herself 6 episodes
2018 The Standups Herself [17]
2018–2020 Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks [17]
2019 Historical Roasts Anne Frank 1 episode [17]
2022 Life & Beth Liz 2 episodes
2022 Would I Lie to You? USA Herself 1 episode [17]

Comedy specials

Year Title Notes Ref.
2016 Only Whores Wear Purple Released via Comedy Central [22]
2024 Big Guy Released via Netflix [23]

Video games

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Grand Theft Auto V Michelle Makes Voice role

References

  1. ^ a b "Rachel Feinstein Biography". Dead-Frog Comedy Database. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  2. ^ "Rachel Feinstein Biography". Tixel. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  3. ^ "Buffalo's newest comedy club, Helium, to open Thursday". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Closed access icon
  4. ^ Feinstein, Rachel (August 25, 2024). "SWORD FIGHT # 13 RACHEL FEINSTEIN". Sword Fight (Interview). Interviewed by Jim Norton, Nikki Norton. Event occurs at 32:39. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Greenberg, Rudi (June 28, 2012). "On the Spot: Rachel Feinstein". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Closed access icon
  6. ^ Rake, Jamie Lee (March 22, 2023). "Rachel Feinstein's Funny Storytelling". Shepherd Express. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Rachel Feinstein Bio". Cap City Comedy. Archived from the original on October 31, 2011.
  8. ^ Kreischer, Bert (December 7, 2022). "Bertcast # 549 - Rachel Feinstein & ME". Bertcast. Event occurs at 33:20. Retrieved July 12, 2023 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b Santino, Andrew (December 30, 2022). "Rachel Feinstein". Whiskey Ginger Podcast. Event occurs at 17:50 approx. Retrieved July 12, 2023 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Comic Rachel Feinstein draws on her Jewish roots". CBC Manitoba. November 16, 2012. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014.
  11. ^ Tabachnick, Toby (November 7, 2013). "'Last Comic Standing's' Rachel Feinstein, appears here". Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c Kozell, Isaac (April 22, 2016). "How Rachel Feinstein Went From Bombing Without Realizing It to a Comedy Central Hour". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Al Madrigal, Kevin Meaney, Keith Robinson, Rachel Feinstein and More!". The Stand NYC. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.
  14. ^ "Rachel Feinstein". Broadway Comedy Club. 17 September 2022. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023.
  15. ^ "Rachel Feinstein Biography". The Improv. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  16. ^ "Rachel Feinstein (HBO, Crashing, John Oliver) at Club 337". KADN-TV. May 18, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Rachel Feinstein". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Haas, Mariah (September 17, 2018). "Comedian Rachel Feinstein talks marrying FDNY captain, why she chose Amy Schumer to be her maid of honor". Fox News. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  19. ^ "Exclusive: Comedian Rachel Feinstein on How Amy Schumer (Her Maid of Honor!) Is Helping Her Plan Her Wedding". Martha Stewart Weddings. September 6, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Boylan, Deb (April 21, 2023). "Rachel Feinstein at SteelStacks: juggling comedy, motherhood". Lehigh Valley Press. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  21. ^ "Comedy Central Records Releases Rachel Feinstein's Thug Tears". Comedy Central. November 14, 2011. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016.
  22. ^ "Rachel Feinstein tells us about the problems with wearing purple". The Laugh Button. April 19, 2016. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023.
  23. ^ "Rachel Feinstein: Big Guy". Netflix. May 22, 2024.
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