Brett Leake

In 2003, public broadcasting companies around the country began running this hour-long comedy special. It is a one-man show full of "wit and wisdom" with a healthy dose of comedian Brett Leake's humor and insight. Brett is an enthusiastic performer of observational material and spends practically his entire routine examining everyday difficulties. He also explains what it is like to be disabled. Brett has a type of muscular dystrophy.

Brett has been a stand-up comic since 1983. In 199l, he became the first disabled comic to appear on NBC's "Tonight Show" about which Jay Leno said, "He broke up the whole room. People realized, here's a man with a disability and he's not going to let it bother him." In 1998, Brett became a sit-down comic, but it didn't prevent him from being on the road 225 shows a year. In 2002, his one-man show "Knuckleball" began to play at small theaters.

In 1998, Brett also began to work as a motivational speaker, adding to his act personal stories and what have been called "philosophic lecturettes" that address humor as a problem-solving device and as a mean's to get more out of life. He has performed at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center and Wolftrap. Corporate clients include IBM, Toyota and Ford.

He has worked with Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Don Rickles, The Smothers Brothers and Jerry Lewis. He has appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, made 5 appearances on "Entertainment Tonight", "The American Comedy Awards", "Look Who's Laughing" and a BBS special on diabled performers.

Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1959, Brett graduated from Henrico High School in 1978 and from The College of William and Mary in 1982 with a BA in Economics. He now resides with his dad in Louisa County, Virginia.