Living Outside the Box

By 1985, Pete George had already made a name for himself as one of Cleveland’s top lead guitarists when he was invited to join the original alternative rock band Separate Checks. At the height of the MTV era, the band released two original songs and a music video—while also spearheading the petition drive that helped bring the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to Cleveland.

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At the same time, Pete’s quick wit and onstage banter led to calls for him to try stand-up comedy. He took the challenge—and in his first three comedy competitions, his unique blend of musicianship and humor won him the top spot over more seasoned comedians.

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By the 1990s, Pete expanded into acting, performing in theater and numerous TV commercials. His first film role was in The Shawshank Redemption, where he worked alongside Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. Soon after, he hit the road full-time as a comedian, developing his signature mix of stand-up and comedy music, which earned him a devoted national following. In 2000, Pete relocated to Los Angeles.

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Now, with more than 10,000 shows under his belt, Pete has headlined the Tropicana and Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, the House of Blues, and the Hard Rock Casino in Cleveland. He’s entertained at countless comedy clubs, corporate events, colleges, and military shows nationwide, and even hosted the Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp at Hollywood’s legendary Whisky a Go Go.

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Currently, Pete can be seen as the lead in an international Audi commercial, guest-starring in Blood Relatives and The Incredible Life of Darrell (Warner Bros.), and yes… starring as a drag queen in the film A Social Distance.