Dez Reed

Infobox Comedian
name = Dez Reed
birth_date = birth date and age|1968|09|15
birth_place = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
medium = Stand-up
nationality = Canadian
influences = Eddie Murphy, Dennis Miller, Sam Kinison
influenced = Kelly Taylor, Myles Morrison
website = [http://www.dezreed.com Official Website]

Dez Reed (born 15 September 1968 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian actor, writer, and stand up comedian.

Biography

Dez Reed was born Dez Reed Panko in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His parents Don and Jane Panko, both fans of The Saskatchewan Roughriders named him after legendary runningback George Reed.

Dez grew up loving comedy and being able to make people laugh naturally. After watching Eddie Murphy on a video tape of his concert Delirious, he decided he wanted to do comedy.

However, that would wait another six years. Dez joined The Canadian Forces right out of high school, so he did not begin his comedy career until he was 21 years of age.

Early career

Dez began his career like almost all Canadian comedians, on open-mic night at the local Yuk Yuk's comedy club.Very early, Dez quit using his family name Panko opting instead to use his middle name Reed believing it to have a better ring.Within a year he was headlining bar gigs and moving from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to New York City.

Dez then, with his fiance Charmaine Hockley (an aspiring actress attending New York City's American Musical and Dramatic Academy) moved to Toronto, Ontario.

There he attended workshops at the world famous Second City.

Accomplishments

Dez has had many career highlights including performing as an opening act for showbusiness legends Sam Kinison, Steven Wright, Emo Philips, Bobby Curtola, Paul Anka and more.

He performs around the globe entertaining NATO troops, as well as performing at comedy clubs and festivals throughout North America.

Politics

Dez Reed (Panko) ran for and lost The Canadian Alliance Nomination for The Cypress Hills Grasslands riding in the 2000 election.
Reed remains active in politics attending Hollwood Republican meetings and performing at The Sask Party Annual Convention.Though his politics are decidedly conservative, he was invited to perform for The Maryland Democratic Party.

Presently

Dez presently lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with his wife and nine children. He travels the world over performing his stand up routine.
Dez has been called The Maestro by such comedians as Kelly Taylor and Myles Morrison, because he continually helps up and coming acts as well as established comedians with their acts.
Dez Reed began working with Armed Forces Entertainment in 2008. This year alone he has visited nine countries entertaining US service men and women serving abroad.
Two tours he has worked with include Your Momma Wears Combat Boots with Keith Barany, Chris Zapatier and Iliza Shlesinger and The Ineligible bachelors with Tommy Savitt and Myles Morrison. Dez Reed has been accepted into this year's San Francisco Comedy Competition. He is one of only a handful of Canadians to be accepted in the competition's thirty two years. If he wins he'll join fellow Canadian's Rob Pue and Gerry Dee as Canadian winners. Dez Reed has just accepted an invite from The United States Armed Forces to entertain the troops serving in Iraq. For security purposes, the exact location and dates are not to be publishes.

Family

Parents Don and Jane Panko
Brothers Devon Shane Panko and Daron Scott Panko, both older
WifeCharmaine Dianne Panko
ChildrenDemi Dian Reed Panko - Devina Grace Reed Panko - Dyson Jack Reed Panko - Donal Frederick Reed Panko - Desmond Frank Reed Panko - Dariusz Joe Hughe Reed Panko - Dorian Reed Panko - Damien Scot Reed Panko

Television work

*"Comedy at Club 54" 1994
*"Comedy at Club 54" 2001
*"Kinsmen Telemiracle" (2005)

Film Work

*"Devlin" 1992 Starring Lloyd Bridges
*"Baby on Board" 1991 Starring Judge Reinhold and Carol Kane
*"The Swordsman" 1993 Starring Lorenzo Lamas
*"Hostage for a Day" 1993 Directed by John Candy Starring George Wendt
*"Sodbusters" 1994 Directed by Eugene Levy Starring Kris Kristofferson, Fred Willard and John Vernon

References

[FFWD Weekly, April 29, 2004]

[ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/08/31/alli000831.html From NDP to Liberal to Alliance; Sask. politician running again ] ] [FFWD Weekly, July 22, 2004] [ [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34550 Comedians Bring Laughter to Troops in El Salvador ] ] [ The Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Friday, July 6, 2007]
http://www.vpnavy.com/vp9_2008.html
The Outlook April 29, 2008 US Army Garrison Vincenza
http://www.armedforcesentertainment.com/AFEmedia_newsReleaseIneligibleBachelors.htm
http://www.mddems.org/ht/display/EventDetails/i/839231

External links

* [http://www.dezreed.com Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/dezreed Official Myspace Page]