Frank King was a writer for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno for 20 years. He’s had two aortic valve replacements, a double bypass, a massive heart attack, and three stents, and lived to joke about it all, so he is truly funny at heart. He’s fought a lifetime battle with depression, and thoughts of suicide, turning that long dark journey of the soul into a TED Talk, “A Matter of Laugh or Death,” and sharing his insights on Suicide Prevention and Post-vention with corporation, association, and college audiences. He uses the life lessons from all of the above, as well as lessons learned crisscrossing the country in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, doing 2,629 nights in a row on the comedy club circuit, to show how attendees can turn messes and stresses into successes, and save a life, occasionally, their own.
You’ll laugh, learn, and leave loving life.
Quick Reference Card
• Learn Mental Health Literacy, How to Start That Conversation, How to Facilitate Recovery, Resiliency, and Return to Work, as well as Suicide Prevention and Post-vention Techniques
• Learn the signs and symptoms of depression
• Learn the signs and symptoms of thoughts of suicide
• Learn what to say if you believe someone is depressed and what not to say
• Learn what to say if you believe someone is seriously contemplating suicide
*Speaker fees vary based on event location, program duration and other factors, and are subject to change without notice. Please contact us for an accurate fee quote for your event.
Frank King was a writer for Jay Leno, and The Tonight Show, for 20 years, and has been a speaker and corporate comedian for 30. He’s had two aortic valve replacements, a double bypass, a massive heart attack, and three stents, and lived to joke about it all, so he is truly funny at heart.
He has keynotes on Suicide Prevention and Post-Vention, Change, Living Heart Healthy Happily, Networking, Leadership, and Overcoming Adversity. He speaks for Corporations, Associations, and at Colleges, using the healing power of humor to show attendees how to find the chuckles in change, the laughs in the losses, and the punchlines in the pain.
His keynotes are packed with ah-ha’s as well as ha-ha’s. Attendees will laugh, learn, and leave his presentations loving life.
Frank King, BA, BS, is a graduate of the University North Carolina Chapel Hill, and he earned his CSP, Certified Speaking Professional designation, as a member of the National Speakers Association.
He began his standup comedy career in 1985 catching the comedy club wave, and holds the record for the longest, non-stop comedy club road trip 2629 nights in row, with no home, just a PO Box, and an answering service.
His road trip came to an end in 1993, as his career as a radio personality, syndicated humor columnist, and professional speaker and trainer began.
On his 30 year journey he has shared the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Jon Stewart, Jim Carrey, Bill Maher, Brad Garrett, Ray Ramano, Steve Harvey, David Spade, George Lopez, Pauly Shore, JJ Walker, Adam Sandler, Carrot Top, Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, Dana Carvey, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, Kathleen Madigan, Frank Caliendo, Same Kinison, Bill Hicks, Bill Engval, Ron White, Kevin James, Dennis Miller, Rosie O’Donnell, Charles Fleischer, Kevin Nealon, Daniel Tosh, Randy Travis, The Beach Boys, Neil Sedaka, Lou Rawls, Mary Wilson, The Fifth Dimension, Crystal Gayle, Lorna Luft, Steppenwolf, William Webster (Former Director of the CIA), Jamie Diamond (Big Cheese at JP Morgan Chase), among others.
He has appeared on An Evening at the Improv, Showtime’s Comedy on the Road, and Comedy Club Network, The Joan Rivers Show, The Dennis Miller Show, CNN’s Business Unusual, and The Original Star Search, with Ed McMahon, where he was Quarterfinalist…and then lost to a puppet…yes, a puppet.
He’s spoken for Pepsico, Taco Bell, McDonalds, JP Morgan Chase, Citicorp, AFLAC, Sun Trust Bank, ING, WalMart, Sam’s Club, Phillip Morris, Wachovia, Allstate, Miller-Coors, Ford Motors, Cargill, BASF, Hardees, IMG, NASCAR, Sodexho, Sheraton, IGA, Piggly Wiggly, OHVI, Sprint, Harley Davidson, among others.
Believing that success in life comes from giving value first, he helped these comics get their start:
Retta Sirleaf (now on NBC’s “Parks and Rec”)
John Reep (won “Last Comic Standing” and appears in the Dodge Hemi ads)
Dr. Ken Jeoung (aka: Dr. Ken, seen most recently in the “Hangover” movies)
And, he has performed on every continent, including Antarctica…yes, that Antarctica.
Frank is a member of the Springfield, OR Chamber of Commerce, and the Springfield Chamber’s Greeters Committee, and is a volunteer with the National Alliance for Mental Health, Lane County Chapter, where he speaks on behalf of NAMI, raising money and awareness for those battling mental health issues, and the people who love them. He’s in the process of starting a chapter of “Stand Up for Mental Illness,” which will provide comedians who joke about their battles with mental illness in an effort to de-stigmatize it, and start that conversation.
Frank has a weekly humor column in “The Springfield Times,” and is working on a book, a compilation of his favorite columns, “No Rest for the Witty.”
Start the Conversation: Suicide Prevention and Post-Vention
He’s fought a lifetime battle with depression, and thoughts of suicide, turning that long dark journey of the soul into a TED Talk, “A Matter of Laugh or Death,” and sharing his insights on Suicide Prevention and Post-vention with corporation, association, and college audiences.
You’ll learn the signs and symptoms of depression and thoughts of suicide, followed by solutions. The right person, at the right time, with the right information can save a life.
He uses the life lessons from all of the above, as well as lessons learned crisscrossing the country in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, doing 2,629 nights in a row on the comedy club circuit, to show how attendees can start that conversation, and save a life, occasionally their own.
What Would Dixie Do
Laugh and Learn the Top 10 Traits of a Master Networker Give Value First, Promptly Follow-Up,·Positive Attitude, Enthusiasm, Be a Good Listener, Commitment to Networking, Gratitude,·Sincerity, Dedication To collecting and connecting people, Get started! Get up off your aspirations!
Dead Man Talking
On paper, I shouldn’t still be here. I’ve had two aortic valve replacements, a double bypass, a massive heart attack and three stents, as well as fighting a lifelong battle with depression and chronic suicidality. Yet, I”m still here. You’ll find out how to find the chuckles in challenges, the punchlines in the pain, and the humor in the hurt, and turn your messes and stresses into successes.
We laughed. We cried. It was much better than Cats. — Office of the Governor of NC
We really appreciated how you tied your speech into the goings-on at our convention. — ND Grain Dealers
You were funny as heck in Steamboat. — D'Accord Financial
Your performance really lightened the atmosphere of the conference; there were several cardiologists at my table who were bent over double laughing! — Interventional Cardiology
