Earthquake (comedian)
Earthquake | |
|---|---|
Earthquake in 2020 | |
| Born | Nathaniel Stroman |
| Notable work | Uncle Mike on Everybody Hates Chris Karl in The Longshots Root in Barnyard & Back at the Barnyard |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1980s – present |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film |
| Genres | Observational comedy, improvisational comedy, black comedy |
| Subjects | African-American culture, racism, race relations, relationships |
| Website | www |
Nathaniel Stroman, known professionally by his stage name Earthquake, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, and radio personality. He hosts a radio show entitled Quakeshouse for SiriusXM and Kevin Hart's Laugh Out Loud Network. His first Netflix special, Chappelle's Home Team - Earthquake: Legendary, was produced by Dave Chappelle and his Magic Lemonade production entity in February 2022.
Earthquake performed a half-hour HBO special as part of the series One Night Stand, which first aired on August 26, 2005. During the 2000s, Earthquake made multiple appearances on The Howard Stern Show, including visits in 2005 and 2008.[1][2] His film credits include a small role in Kevin Smith's film Clerks II (2006), and a supporting role in the film The Longshots (2008). His television appearances include a recurring role on the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood (2018–2021), starring Cedric the Entertainer, as well as cameos on South Side (2019), In the Cut (2017), and other programs. Earthquake's additional television credits include a recurring role as Chris' uncle Mike on Everybody Hates Chris. He voiced Root the Rooster in the 2006 CGI film Barnyard and in the video game of the same title, and continued to do so on the television spin-off Back at the Barnyard. Earthquake reprised his voice role as Uncle Mike in Everybody Still Hates Chris.
Early life
Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman was born in Washington, D.C.; his mother gave him the nickname “Earthquake”.[3] She said: “Any time you take all the precautions not to have a kid, from the diaphragm to .... a condom, and you still have a child, there's nothing else you can name that child but a natural disaster."[3]
He enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating from Ballou High School.[4] Later he explained that he joined the military to get out of his mother's house.[5]
Military career
Stroman enlisted in the Air Force on the day after his high school graduation. As stated by Stroman to Matt Ehlers of the Raleigh News & Observer, “My mother argued with me, hollered at me, and I wasn't getting a check, so how hard could basic training be?”.[3]
Early comedic career
In the early 1990s, Earthquake started off doing gigs in small clubs. By 1993, he co-owned Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta's vibrant Buckhead entertainment district. While there he continued to hone his skills as the much sought-after house host and featured some of the greatest minds in stand-up. Later he opened a club of his own, Earthquake's Comedy Corner II, in Dallas, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, respectively. In 1997, Earthquake got his national break when he was asked to join the Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam Tour.[6]
Earthquake started his career in the Air Force talent show “Tops and Blues”.[7] In 2002, Earthquake joined Latham Entertainment Presents Comedy Tour.[7] In 2004, he signed a deal with ABC to create his own sitcom called Earthquake, which later fell through, although in 2005 he performed one of his most popular shows, About Got Damn Time.[8] In 2007, he appeared in All Star Def Comedy Jam,[9] and in 2008 appeared at the TBS Comedy Festival Lollapalooza.[10] In 2009, Earthquake starred in Shaquille O'Neal's All Star Comedy Jam special. In 2011, he made a guest appearance on TV One's Way Black When.[10]
WBLS
Earthquake started off in radio, contributing every Tuesday and Thursday on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and was known to fill in as a personality while Steve Harvey was on vacation. In 2013, Quake joined 107.5 WBLS as a full-time radio personality, weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with Déjà Vu.[11] He left the station in February 2016.[12]
Recognition
In April 2013, he appeared on ABC's The View in a special segment of stand-up comedians showcased by the cast of The View as their personal favorites; Quake appeared on the show as the favorite of Whoopi Goldberg.[13] Comedian John Mulaney included About Got Damn Time on his list of his favorite comedy albums, saying, "just trying to mix Spalding Gray and Earthquake and Bernie Mac into some kind of amalgam has been the goal of my career."[8]
Personal life
Earthquake is married to Rashida Miller.[14]
References
- ^ "Show Rundown: September 29, 2005". Howard Stern. September 29, 2005. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "Show Rundown: January 10, 2008". Howard Stern. January 10, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ a b c Loeffler, William (January 13, 2010). "Comedian Earthquake hopes to have them shaking in the aisles". Pittsburgh Tribune. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ Williams, Alexis P. "Earthquake (the comedian) is ready to shake things up". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ "Earthquake shakes comedy up". The Virginian-Pilot. June 14, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "Royal Comedy Tour". Archived from the original on March 2, 2013.
- ^ a b "Earthquake comedian profile". Look Laugh. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "John Mulaney on His 5 Favorite Comedy Albums". Pitchfork. September 27, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "Earthquake". Laugh Stub. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ a b Hecht, Elizabeth (November 27, 2017). "Earthquake". The Comedy Zone. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "WBLS". 107.5 WBLS - # FOR R&B.
- ^ "Earthquake Exits WBLS/New York".
- ^ "Earthquake On The View". April 2013.
- ^ "Bridal Bliss: Comedian Earthquake And Rashida Miller Wed With Help From Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown And Comedy Legends". Essence. September 24, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2026.