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Mark Breslin | |
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| Born | 1952 (age 72–73) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | York University |
| Occupation(s) | entrepreneur, comedian, actor |
| Known for | Yuk Yuk's comedy clubs |
Mark Breslin,CM is aCanadianentrepreneur, producer,stand-up comedian[1] andactor best known for being the co-founder (along with Joel Axler) ofYuk Yuk's, the largest chain of comedy clubs inCanada. On December 29, 2017, he was appointed[2] a Member of theOrder of Canada byJulie Payette,Governor General of Canada.
Breslin graduated fromYork University with a B.A. Honours in English Literature.[3] Soon after graduating, he became Director of Theatre and Music forHarbourfront Corporation, an innovative cultural organization which produces events and activities at numerous venues on Toronto's waterfront. He is a founding member of theCanadian Comedy Awards, and was a comedy mentor for the B.C. Festival of the Arts.
In 1976, Breslin and his collaborator Joel Axler opened the first Yuk Yuk's, in the basement of Toronto's519 Church Street Community Centre. Two years later, Breslin and Axler opened Yuk Yuk's first permanent venue at 1280 Bay Street in theYorkville district. Over the next few decades, Yuk Yuk expanded its presence nationally and internationally. There are ten clubs across Canada.[4]
Breslin made several guest appearances in theRobocop: The Series television series.[5] He also worked as a consultant writer for 27 episodes and appeared in an episode ofKenny Vs Spenny.[6] His most recent[when?] film credit was as "Bob" in the movieConfessions of a Porn Addict.[citation needed]
Breslin has produced such television programs asThe Late Show with Joan Rivers forFox Broadcasting,Yuk Yuk's - the TV show forCBC Television,Mondo Taboo pay-per-view specials forThe Movie Network andThe Yuk Yuk's Great Canadian Laugh Off annual TV special forThe Comedy Network, which he also hosts. He was executive producer onFriday Night with Ralph Benmergui forCBC TV andYuk Yuk's 25th Anniversary Special for the Comedy Network. He was also a story consultant for the first two seasons ofKenny vs Spenny for CBC TV and Showcase and an associate producer ofPetal Pushers onHGTV.
In addition to television, Breslin has also worked in radio, developing "Live from Yuk Yuk's", a daily radio show syndicated by the Telemedia Radio Network on over 80 stations coast to coast. Breslin was theprogram director and an on-air personality on theXM Satellite Radio channelLaugh Attack, which features predominantlyCanadian comedy and is Canada's only 24-hour Canadian comedy channel. He hosted call-in shows onQ107 andCFRB and has appeared as a featured panelist on multiple episodes of ROB TV'sThe ArtS Panel and Global Television'sGrumps. He has written four books so far:Zen and Now (Somerville House), aBrian Mulroney joke bookSon of a Meech (Random House), and an autobiographical novel,Control Freaked (Insomniac Press). Breslin also wrote and narrated two 5-CD audio book, published by HarperCollins, titledYuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Stand-Up andRarities and Road Warriors. Add to this, book reviews forThe Globe and Mail,The Toronto Star andQuill and Quire, and a monthly comedy column for theVillage Post Magazine. He also wrote a weekly movie review column alongsideRichard Crouse in theMetro newspaper.
In 2014, Breslin was included in theToronto Star's list of 180 most influential people to come out of Toronto.[7]
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