Joshin’ around with Josh Cahn

Local stand-up comic and actor Josh Cahn leans into his Jewish identity on stage.

As an aspiring actor and comedian, Josh Cahn had to develop a thick skin early in life. “I really wanted to play the troll in our second-grade production of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, but they made me a porcupine,” he divulged over coffee on a recent Monday morning. “It was my first letdown, and I thought, ‘Sign me up—I want a full life of this rejection.’” 

Three decades later, the Chicago-based Jewish performer was cast as his share of proverbial porcupines, but he has also been enjoying steadier success in recent years, particularly in the world of standup. 

Cahn plays comedy clubs across the country, performing to thousands of people every month. In 2023, he was awarded “Best Next Jewish Comedian” by The Chosen Comedy Festival, at which he was able to share a stage with some of his heroes in comedy, from Dave Attell to Jeff Ross to Jessica Kirson. 

The Long Island native performs for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences; in all settings, he showcases his Jewish identity prominently in his act.  

“Yes, I am a Jew,” he shared with an audience. “It’s part of my personality—it may be my entire personality.” 

And this: “I have acid reflux,” he admited. “For those of you who don’t know what acid reflux is, it is when you eat food—and you are also Jewish.” 

Gastrointestinal issues aside, Cahn said he’s proud to be a link in the Jewish chain. “I love the culture and the people,” he said. “I love coming from something with such a long line of history, and knowing that we’ve experienced similar things growing up.” 

No matter whether the audience is Jewish or not, Cahn says, the secret to good standup is connecting with the crowd. “Part of being a successful standup comedian is finding your audience,” he said.  

“When you do a set at an open mic night at a club, you have no idea if an audience is going to resonate with your material,” he said. “Everyone has stories that are funny, but it’s putting your own point of view on it which makes it funny.” 

What was no laughing matter was his longtime desire to be on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Growing up, Cahn spent hours in his living room watching SNL reruns, dreaming of one day joining the cast.  

But in his 20s, Cahn made the intentional decision to pivot from his quest to land on the iconic show. “I was concerned that if I spent my entire life trying to get on this one TV show,” he said, “I’d look back and think that all I did was try to get in front of Lorne Michaels, and I didn’t want to do that.” 

Cahn realized he’d be happy as long as he was he doing what he loved—performing. He “diversified” his definition of success: These days, he juggles a lot, from playing clubs, to doing regional theater, screenwork, and commercials. The schedule is grueling, but he’s passionate about the work. 

Then, just before the pandemic, Cahn moved to Chicago, feeling “pulled to this city, one of the birthplaces of comedy.” Six years later, Cahn has settled part-time in Chicago, along with his fiancée, a fellow actor.  

In addition to performing, Cahn owns a small media company to help actors launch their careers. Up next, he will star this month in a San Diego production of the comedic play The Cottage. He can also soon be seen in the upcoming feature films The Toast (alongside SNL alum Jon Lovitz) and Love Language (with Chloë Grace Moretz). 

So, what would Cahn tell that 8-year-old porcupine who didn’t make it as a troll? “I think of how proud he would be,” he said. “He’d be proud that we have made it this far— and this is just the beginning.” 

Cahn loves performing at Jewish events! Find him at joshcahn.com and @joshcahnmedy on Instagram.