Mario Joyner (born October 3, 1961) is an American stand-up comedian and actor best known as the host of MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour from 1988 to 1992.
He was born on October 3, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After some time at Vincennes University, he attended the University of Pittsburgh, participating as a track athlete at both schools.[1][2]
He made his film debut in 1987 in Three Men and a Baby, and later starred in Hangin' with the Homeboys and Pootie Tang.[3]
He is a longtime friend and collaborator of comedians Chris Rock[4] and Jerry Seinfeld.[5] He appeared regularly on The Chris Rock Show and Everybody Hates Chris. He also guest starred in the Seinfeld episodes "The Engagement" and "The Puerto Rican Day," playing two different characters, and voiced the character Jackson in the film Bee Movie. He has opened on national tours for Chris Rock (during his "No Apologies" tour) and for Jerry Seinfeld. He appeared in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld in July 2019.[6]
During the October 12, 2010, episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in an interview with Congressman Eric Cantor, Stewart credited Joyner with the joke: "Sort of in the way that murderers get sometimes, like, 'I found Jesus and I'm OK now.' 'Well, when did you find Jesus?' 'Right after you found me.'"