Matt Wilder is an explosive and manic comedian which tends to put the audience in hysterics and fill the place with laughter. Matched with intelligence and a pointed and sick sense of humor, the 6'9" comedian is always a crowd favorite.

Hometown: Eldersburg, MD

Websites: MattWilder.com / Matt Wilder MySpace

Influential Comedians: Rodney Carrington, Dane Cook, Eddie Murphy

Favorite Quote:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." -Albert Einstein

How did you get your start as a comedian? As boring and cliche as it sounds, I was always the "funny guy" at parties and when I would hang out with my friends. After a while, I started to think about trying it out but could never get the courage to do so. Finally, I was dared to perform by some friends, so it was time.

What was your first gig? Most comedians start out at an open mic somewhere......I was different. I had the bright idea of renting out a community center in my hometown and putting on my own show. I carefully planned out the show for a few months, and on December 21st, 2001 I took the stage for the very first time. Looking back on it now, I was terrible. I did not have an act, and probably said some things that offended a lot of people. I had some really close friends and family show up, but after all was said and done, I think I lost about $1,500 putting on the show. It was enough to get me going though. After that there was no turning back.

What is your most memorable moment? Probably the 2nd show that I ever performed in. I went to a local bar on their open mic night, but the night was geared towards musical acts. I went on stage and performed for about 20 minutes in front of a crowd that could have cared less about me being on stage. You could have heard a pin drop in that place because it was so quiet. Nevertheless, I did my time and walked off stage. I found out later that night that I was the first person to ever attempt comedy in front of that crowd, and they had no idea what to think of me. Regardless, I had impressed a few people and met some decent contacts in the business. That night, I learned that getting Booed is rather preferable than having no reaction at all from a crowd. To this day, I have never been Booed, but I would like to think that it is a result of that night that I received something worse........silence.

What is your reason for doing comedy? Laughter is a drug, and the only one that is contagious. To me, there is no better feeling than the rush I get when I make an entire room full of people laugh. It is comforting to know that during that amount of time I am on stage, I can make all of the people in the room forget about their own lives, and get completely lost in my words. I also am a very firm believer in mind over matter, and because of that I feel that laughter can increase the quality of anyone's life to a great extent.