Cameron Esposito Explained

Cameron Esposito
Birth Name:Cameron Anne Young Anastasia Esposito
Birth Date:October 17, 1981
Birth Place:Western Springs, Illinois, U.S.
Alma Mater:Boston College
Years Active:2007–present
Spouse:
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    Cameron Anne Young Anastasia Esposito (born October 17, 1981) is an American actress, comedian, and podcaster known for her show Take My Wife, as well as her stand-up comedy and her podcast, Queery. Esposito substantially focuses on topics surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, feminism, social justice, and the challenges faced by members of marginalized communities.[1] [2] Originally from Western Springs, Illinois, Esposito lives in Los Angeles.

    Early life

    Born to Italian-American parents Brenda and Nick, Cameron Esposito was raised in Western Springs, Illinois.[3] [4] [5] She is the middle of three daughters, having an older sister and a younger sister.[6] In high school, Esposito swam breaststroke on the swim team,[7] was a member of a community service group called The Marians Society,[8] and was a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program.[9] She graduated from Benet Academy in 2000.[10] [11]

    Esposito studied theology and English at Boston College, intending to become a social worker in Chicago.[12] While in Boston, she played rugby[13] and performed in the school's improv troupe, My Mother's Fleabag.[14] Esposito graduated from Boston College in 2004.[15]

    After returning to Illinois, Esposito took a semester of social work courses at the University of Chicago before deciding to pursue a different career.[12]

    Career

    Early stand-up career

    Esposito began her stand-up career in Chicago, performing in various local venues, including as a regular at The Lincoln Lodge from 2007 to 2011.[16] She has appeared at comedy festivals including SXSW, the Moontower, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and SF Sketchfest. To supplement her income, she worked in special education, as a law clerk, and as a nanny.[17]

    2013–present

    In 2013, Esposito made her television debut on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Fellow guest Jay Leno expressed admiration for Esposito, calling her "the future of comedy".[18] She has appeared on Conan[19] and on Last Call with Carson Daly. She voiced "Carroll the Cloud Person" on an episode of Cartoon Network's animated show Adventure Time. Entertainment website Consequence of Sound named Esposito its comedian of the year for 2014.[20]

    In the fall of 2014, Esposito created a series of videos with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures titled "Ask a Lesbian",[21] in which she answers a variety of questions sent into BuzzFeed staff about lesbianism. The videos also featured then-partner River Butcher.[22] In addition to touring regularly, Esposito was a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately with Chelsea Handler and used to write a regular blog on The A.V. Club.[23]

    Esposito's comedy album Same Sex Symbol was released in December 2014 by Kill Rock Stars. She appeared on Comedy Central's Drunk History as a storyteller on October 20, 2015. Esposito co-hosted the stand-up comedy podcast Put Your Hands Together with River Butcher, which was recorded weekly in front of a live audience at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles from 2013 until July 2019.[24] [25]

    Esposito is known for her lesbian content creation,[26] especially hers and Butcher's television show Take My Wife, which streamed on Seeso until the service was discontinued in November 2017.[27] In March 2018, Take My Wife was picked up by iTunes.[28] The show was acquired by Starz in April 2018.[29]

    Esposito's podcast Queery is an interview-style podcast focusing on contemporary queer luminaries and their life experiences.[30] Queery guests have included River Butcher, Lena Waithe, Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Evan Rachel Wood, Jill Soloway, Mary Lambert, Andrea Gibson, Margaret Cho, Alia Shawkat, Roxane Gay, Trixie Mattel, and Lea DeLaria.[31]

    On June 11, 2018, Esposito released Rape Jokes, an hour-long standup special about sexual assault from her perspective. The special was free to stream on Esposito's website, but viewers could pay to download a copy and proceeds would benefit RAINN, the United States' largest anti-sexual violence organization.[32] [33] [34] [35] By September 2018, the special had raised $65,000 in donations.[36]

    On March 24, 2020, Esposito released her memoir Save Yourself.[37]

    Personal life

    Esposito is openly lesbian and was married to fellow stand-up comedian River Butcher from 2015 to 2018.[38] [39] [40] Butcher and Esposito collaborated on multiple projects, including the Put Your Hands Together stand-up show, the podcast Wham! Bam! Pow!, and the TV show Take My Wife.

    In April 2021, Esposito came out on Twitter and Instagram as genderfluid, stating that she uses both she and they pronouns.[41] In June 2021, Esposito announced via Twitter that she had married Katy Nishimoto, an editor for Dial Press.[42]

    Filmography

    Film

    Year Title Role Notes
    2016 Sleight Luna
    First Girl I Loved Jasmine
    Operator Chloe Johnston
    Mother's Day Max
    2017 The Hero Herself
    2020 Ranger Tabes (voice)
    The Dark Divide Monty
    2022 Moonshot Tabby

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    2013 The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson Guest 1 episode
    2014–2016 Last Call With Carson Daly Guest 2 episodes
    2014 Conan Guest 1 episode
    Ask a Lesbian Host Web series
    2014–2016 Maron Zoe 5 episodes
    2014–2017 Adventure Time Carroll the Cloud Person (voice) 2 episodes
    2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Server Episode: "Maya Rudolph Wears a Black Skirt & Strappy Sandals"
    Drunk History Herself Episode: "Journalism"
    2016 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Liz Episode: "Roger Me Rightly"
    2016–2018 Take My Wife Cameron 14 episodes; also creator, writer, executive producer
    2016–2019 We Bare Bears Ranger Tabes (voice) 17 episodes
    2017 Danger & Eggs Rad (voice) Episode: "Chill Twins/Nightmare"
    2018 Big City Greens Additional voices Episode: "Parade Day/DIY Guys"
    2019 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Jocelyn Pryce 2 episodes
    2020 The George Lucas Talk Show Herself Episode: "The Search for Watto"
    2022–2023 A Million Little Things Greta Strobe Recurring
    2022 Hell's Kitchen Herself guest diner; Episode "Breakfast 911"
    2023 With Love Chauncey Episode: "Lily's Double Quinceañera"

    Albums

    Year Title Label
    2010 Grab Them Aghast Rooftop Comedy Records
    2015 Same Sex Symbol Kill Rock Stars
    2016 Marriage Material Comedy Dynamics
    2017 Back to Back aspecialthing records
    2018 Rape Jokes aspecialthing records

    Podcasts

    Year Title Role
    2021Morbid: A True Crime PodcastGuest
    2013–2019 Put Your Hands Together Host
    2013–2015 Wham Bam Pow Host
    2013–present Comedy Bang! Bang! Guest
    2014 My Brother, My Brother and Me Guest
    You Made It Weird Guest
    2014–2016 How Did This Get Made? Guest
    2015 With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus Guest
    The Nerdist Podcast Guest
    2016 Bad with Money Guest
    2017 Homophilia Guest
    2017–2018 Nancy Guest
    2017–2024 Queery Host
    2021MorbidGuest
    2023 Survive or Die Trying[43] Host

    Books

    Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
    2020 Save Yourself Memoir
    2021 Hungry Hearts: Essays on Courage, Desire, and Belonging (contributor) Essays

    Notes and References

    1. News: Lindy West . West . Lindy . August 7, 2014 . Yo, Men, Cameron Esposito Doesn't Want to Have Sex with You Either . . April 12, 2015 . July 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150710113235/http://jezebel.com/yo-men-cameron-esposito-doesnt-want-to-have-sex-with-1617178180 . live.
    2. Web site: Hugs For Hecklers: Cameron Esposito on Life as a Lesbian Comedian . . NPR Staff . October 11, 2014 . April 4, 2018 . June 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180615191436/https://www.npr.org/2014/10/11/354646177/hugs-for-hecklers-cameron-esposito-on-life-as-a-lesbian-comedian . live.
    3. Web site: Cameron Esposito, Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich . December 27, 2020 . April 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220401064007/https://omny.fm/shows/your-last-meal-with-rachel-belle/cameron-esposito-chicago-italian-beef-sandwich . live .
    4. Bosch, Sandy Illian (March 13, 2008). "Western Springs native lands comedy nomination". The Doings (Burr Ridge–Darien–Willowbrook, Illinois).
    5. Nekervis, Erin (August 1, 2011). "Chicago Crush of the Month: Cameron Esposito". Chicago Sun-Times.
    6. Web site: Stand-up comic Cameron Esposito loses her religion in 'Save Yourself' . February 14, 2022 . The Seattle Times . April 8, 2020 . Sarah Neilson . February 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215004157/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/stand-up-comic-cameron-esposito-loses-her-religion-in-save-yourself/ . live.
    7. Considine, Mike (December 5, 1997). "Lake Park places third at Upstate Eight meet: Benet". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). p. 5.
    8. Wowchuk, Stefanie (December 27, 1998). "Marians open their hearts, ears at meetings". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). p. 1.
    9. Wowchuk, Stefanie (November 7, 1999). "Seniors named National Merit Scholars". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). p. 3.
    10. "Suburban childhood experiences are comedy gold". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). February 11, 2014. p. 1.
    11. "Candidates for graduation from Benet Academy". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). May 26, 2000. p. 7.
    12. Borrelli, Christopher (October 10, 2014). "Comedian Cameron Esposito is on a charm offensive". TCA Regional News (Chicago).
    13. Ramirez, Kaylie (May 28, 2018). "Boston Calling Day 3 Burns Out with Enigmatic Eminem Set". University Wire (Carlsbad, New Mexico).
    14. Zaino, Nick A., III (June 17, 2015). "No slowing down: Young comic Esposito is 'grinding' out a career". The Boston Globe. p. G11.
    15. "Headliners: Week of June 14, 2015 ". Boston College Magazine. Boston College. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
    16. https://www.thelincolnlodge.com/alumni "Alumni"
    17. Parikh, Rima (November 1, 2015). "A Q & A with comedian Cameron Esposito". University Wire (Carlsbad, New Mexico).
    18. Luippold, Ross. "Jay Leno Interrupts Cameron Esposito's Stand-Up, Calls Gay Female Comic 'The Future . The Huffington Post, September 4, 2013.
    19. Bendix, Trish. "Watch Now! Cameron Gets Gay on Conan" . AfterEllen.com, August 15, 2014.
    20. Pickett, Leah. "Comedian of the Year: Cameron Esposito" . Consequence of Sound, December 7, 2014.
    21. Habersburger, Keith. "Questions You Wish You Could Ask a Lesbian" . BuzzFeed.com, October 31, 2014.
    22. Star, Erika. "Lez Stand Out: Rhea Butcher and Cameron Esposito" . AfterEllen.com, February 20, 2013.
    23. https://www.avclub.com/tag/who-in-the-world-is-cameron-esposito "Who in the World Is Cameron Esposito?"
    24. Web site: Put Your Hands Together with Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher . UCB Theatre . en . February 23, 2018 . December 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181205233318/https://www.ucbtheatre.com/show/3347 . live.
    25. Web site: After 6.5 great yrs, @pyhtshow will end July 30. It's been my baseline in LA — thank u to everyone who ran it, performed on it & came to laugh.pic.twitter.com/15encdzcWe . Esposito . Cameron . June 26, 2019 . . May 16, 2021 . May 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516093007/https://twitter.com/cameronesposito/status/1143884470014992384 . live.
    26. News: With "Rape Jokes," Cameron Esposito Turns the Lowest Form of Comedy Into Something Groundbreaking . Walrath . Rowan . June 11, 2018 . en-us . June 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074421/https://www.motherjones.com/media/2018/06/cameron-esposito-rape-jokes/ . live .
    27. News: Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher's 'Back to Back' comedy tour feels more urgent with their TV show in limbo . Johnson . Steve . Chicago Tribune . February 23, 2018 . en-US . February 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180224053043/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-cameron-esposito-1012-story.html . live.
    28. News: How Much Watching Time Do You Have This Weekend? . Lyons . Margaret . The New York Times . March 8, 2018 . March 11, 2018 . en-us . March 9, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180309001141/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/watching/what-to-watch-this-weekend.html . live.
    29. Web site: Starz Acquires Original Comedy Series From Shuttered Seeso Service . Kirsten . Chuba . April 16, 2018 . June 27, 2018 . June 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173529/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/starz-acquires-take-my-wife-new-deal-1202754084/ . live.
    30. Web site: QUEERY with Cameron Esposito by Cameron Esposito on Apple Podcasts . Apple Podcasts . en . February 23, 2018 . August 23, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180823195332/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/queery-with-cameron-esposito/id1268343859?mt=2 . live.
    31. Web site: Queery with Cameron Esposito podcast on Earwolf . www.earwolf.com . June 27, 2018 . June 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173242/http://www.earwolf.com/show/queery/ . live.
    32. News: The #MeToo Movement Has a Place in Comedy: Just Ask Cameron Esposito . Robinson . Joanna . HWD . June 14, 2018 . en . September 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921024312/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/cameron-esposito-me-too-rape-jokes-comedy-take-my-wife . live.
    33. News: The Comedian Who Is Taking Rape Jokes Back for Survivors . Fox . Jesse David . Vulture . June 14, 2018 . en . June 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044115/http://www.vulture.com/2018/05/cameron-esposito-rapes-jokes-survivors-sexual-assault.html . live.
    34. News: Cameron Esposito's 'Rape Jokes' Comedy Act Debuts Online . The Hollywood Reporter . June 14, 2018 . en . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612110822/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/cameron-esposito-s-rape-jokes-debuts-online-today-1117336 . live.
    35. News: Cameron Esposito on 'Rape Jokes,' Her New Comedy Special Tackling Sexual Assault and Consent . Framke . Caroline . June 13, 2018 . Variety . June 14, 2018 . en-US . June 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180614143208/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/cameron-espositos-rape-jokes-special-interview-1202843555/ . live.
    36. Web site: 21 Times Our Favorite Comedy Podcasts Got Dark . . Wright . Megh . September 7, 2018 . April 5, 2019 . July 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190712184021/https://www.vulture.com/2018/09/dark-comedy-podcast-episode-roundup.html . live.
    37. Book: Save Yourself . June 27, 2017 . . 9781455591442 . September 1, 2020 . September 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925201423/https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/cameron-esposito/save-yourself/9781455591442/ . live.
    38. Comedians Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher Announce Their Split . Erika . Harwood . Vanity Fair . December 23, 2019 . November 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012522/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/08/comedians-cameron-esposito-and-rhea-butcher-announce-their-split . live.
    39. News: New Hope, New Pain, Same Old Divorce . Cameron . Esposito . The New York Times . September 13, 2019 . December 23, 2019 . December 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191222005311/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/style/modern-love-cameron-esposito-divorce.html . live .
    40. Web site: QUEERY with Cameron Esposito: 112. Fortune Feimster on Apple Podcasts . Apple Podcasts . December 23, 2019 . November 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231110225335/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/112-fortune-feimster/id1268343859?i=1000456430687 . live.
    41. Web site: Fluid like water. She *&* they. Cameron *and* Cammy. A woman + also ur boi. (i went lap swimming in my high school team suit.) . Esposito . Cameron . April 29, 2021 . . May 16, 2021 . May 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516093008/https://twitter.com/cameronesposito/status/1387823231503978508 . live.
    42. Web site: A few weeks ago, Katy & i got married. . Esposito . Cameron . June 8, 2021 . . June 22, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201919/https://twitter.com/cameronesposito/status/1402330046631538691 . live.
    43. Web site: Comedian Cameron Esposito and Sony Music Entertainment Launch New Comedy Podcast Survive or die Trying Today - Sony Music . May 17, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712172319/https://www.sonymusic.com/sonymusic/cameron-esposito-and-sme-launch-survive-or-die-trying/ . live .

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