Check Out Tony Markoch’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Markoch.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
When I was about 13, I started doing theatre. I continued through high school, discovering my love for acting in both theatre and film. Before I started college, I worked as an extra in some TV shows and met a guy who loved my sense of humor. He took me to a comedy club in Georgia and sent me on stage as a comic. I did comedy on and off for years after that. At 21, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease (incurable) after I had lost the ability to walk. Through many years of thorough treatment, I finally started to feel like myself again, jumping back into comedy, acting, and tech theatre and having a whole new sense of life experiences. I started talking openly about my struggles with physical and mental health on stage and finally found my voice. A few years passed, and now I’ve started my comedy system for shows and a new podcast in August where I can talk to other performers about life.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggles outside of the health stuff were coming up with material and learning how to perform not only as a dramatic actor but as a comedian. It took me around five years to find what makes me funny and write.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I often discuss very serious things in my comedy and relate humorously. I don’t necessarily write jokes; I write stories about my life and make light of my struggles to help others in similar situations find a way to get through theirs. I am most proud of the community around me, a group of great people who build each other up through tough things and want each other to improve in our craft.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
A joke I often tell is that I have terrible medical luck. In terms of good luck, I have had good luck in my career, from where I started in Georgia at a random film set to the connections I’ve made being so willing to teach and help me grow. From my diagnosis of Lyme Disease (chronic-incurable), Epilepsy, a near-stroke at 25, to a recent pain disorder that disabled my left hand and arm and a whole host of other medical issues that all seemed to bring me to where I am today. A real journey to get to where I love who I am, an advocate for disability accessibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: pineapplecomedy.com
• Instagram: @toby.markovich @pineapplecomedyclub
• Facebook: Tony Markoch

Image Credits
Patricia Roseman Photography (headshot) Ron Foreman, NCSU University Theatre (theatre shots)