(Photo credit: Michael Kushner)
Known for her edgy wit and sharp timing, Judy Gold has built a career turning personal stories, her Jewish identity, and cultural commentary into laugh-out-loud comedy.
The actor, writer, and comedian did her first set when she was a student at Rutgers University. She went on to appear at a variety of New York comedy clubs before graduating in 1984. She soon began working as both a comedian and an actress, landing a gig on The Arsenio Hall Show and a recurring role on the sitcom All-American Girl. She continued to work on numerous TV shows, from The Drew Carey Show to 30 Rock, while also doing stand-up, both live and on television.
She has won numerous awards for her work, including the United Jewish Appeal’s Mother of the Year Award, the GLAAD Media Award, two daytime Emmy Awards for her work as a writer and producer of The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and a nomination for the Drama Desk Award, for her one-woman, off-Broadway show 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, based on her own experiences and interviews she had conducted with Jewish mothers around the country.
In 2020, she released her book, Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble, a humorous and sharp defense of free speech and an argument against the censorship of comedy.
Currently, Gold stars on Hulu’s Not Suitable for Work and HBO’s Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.
What was the last book you read?
Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn.
What’s your all-time favorite movie?
Rear Window
What’s your favorite Jewish food?
Challah and then more challah.
What are you listening to these days?
My mother’s voice in my head telling me, “They all hate us.”
Who was the last person you texted on your phone?
My sons, Henry and Ben.
If you could invite three people to a Shabbat dinner, who would they be?
Carole King, Serena Williams, and Doris Kearns Goodwin.
If you could have any other occupation, what would it be?
Teacher. But I cannot imagine my life without stand-up.
Who are two of your biggest role models?
Joan Rivers and Golda Meir
What are you currently binging on TV?
Wimbledon
If you could offer the teen version of yourself one piece of wisdom, what would it be?
Follow your gut!
