Fox Chapel native and comic Eddie Ifft returns for homecoming show

Eddie Ifft was voted funniest student as an eighth grader at Dorseyville Middle School.

“I don’t think my parents were very proud of that because it was my second time in the eighth grade,” Ifft said.

“I had attended St. Scholastica School in Aspinwall and was told I wasn’t ready for ninth grade. So my second time in eighth grade I thought I’d have as much fun as possible,” Ifft said.

Ifft, 52, keeps the fun alive as a stand-up comedian, and he’ll be returning to Pittsburgh for a one-night show — his Pittsburgh Homecoming Show — May 19 at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Harmar.

Eddie Ifft had a rather serious-looking photo in the 1990 Renard, the Fox Chapel Area High School yearbook. In it, he predicted he would be principal of Fox Chapel Area High School someday.

Ifft, a 1990 honors graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School, has performed for 27 years, honing his comedic skills at open mic nights at the former The Funny Bone in Station Square.

After a “lot of partying,” he graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and competed in track and field.

“After college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I didn’t know about comedy and that you could pursue it as a career,” Ifft said.

Comedian Lewis Black urged Ifft to move to New York City to pursue his comedy dreams after Ifft opened up during one of Black’s shows.

Ifft auditioned for “Saturday Night Live,” describing the experience as scary.

“I had to do three impressions and three original characters, but I wasn’t picked,” Ifft said.

In 2006, Ifft moved to Los Angeles and now lives in Malibu with his wife and two young children.

He travels about 42 weeks a year. He’s performed in more than 20 countries, including Australia (his favorite place because it’s where he met his wife), London, China, Africa and the Middle East.

He has opened for such comedians as Chris Rock, Brett Goldstein and Tiffany Haddish.

His television appearances include “Comedy Central’s Presents,” NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” HBO’s “Comic Relief,” NBC’s “Late Friday Night” and BET’s “Comic View.”

He enjoys surfing and is well-known in Australia as an actor and comedian and has performed at the Sydney Opera House to sold-out shows.

“I try to be a bit edgy, but at this point I’m a parent, so I’m always joking about my life,” Ifft said. “My kids, they always try and give me material for my act.”

Ifft’s upcoming show at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center is suitable for 18 and older and promises plenty of Pittsburgh-themed comedy.

“Pittsburgh has a chip on its shoulder. It’s a blue-collar mentality, and everyone is proud of Pittsburgh,” Ifft said. “You’re allowed to make fun of Pittsburgh if you’re from here.”

“I have a large, extended family that still lives here in Pittsburgh, and I try and come back twice a year,” Ifft said.

Expect to hear some Fox Chapel comedy sprinkled into his act. Ifft said he often gets stereotyped when folks hear he is from Fox Chapel, like a recent encounter with a stranger on a ski lift in Vail, Colo.

“ ‘I’m from Fox Chapel,’ I said when she asked where I was from. She went ‘ohhhhh’ and sometimes people say, ‘You rich snob,’ and I say, ‘I was the gardener’s son.’ I make joke about it.”

Ifft’s father, Eddie Ifft Jr., actually owned a successful insurance company.

“My dad worked really, really hard,” Ifft said.

Ifft Jr., 87, of Fox Chapel said his son was a bit devilish growing up, and he had to go to Dorseyville Middle School to meet with teachers about his son’s behavior.

“A teacher said he comes to school late, a theater class. The teacher told him to do whatever he wanted, and Eddie rolled down the stairs in front of the kids,” Ifft Jr. said. “He was a typical boy.”

After graduating from Pitt, the younger Ifft didn’t exactly embrace working in the family business.

“He told me he wanted to be a stand-up comedian, and I wished him the best and told him to pursue his dream. I thought he should give it a try. And he’s enjoying life.”

Ifft Jr. said his son might get his comedic tendencies from his late mother, Audrey, who had a humorous but more wholesome side.

“She never heard ‘damn’ or ‘hell’ in our house, and his shows do have some language,” Ifft Jr. said.