Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Gracia.
Rafael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story didn’t start on a stage—it started in survival mode.
I grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, in an environment shaped by instability, violence, and fear. I experienced homelessness at a young age and was raised under the weight of an abusive stepfather. Home wasn’t a place of safety—it was something to endure. Outside wasn’t much easier. The streets taught you fast, or they swallowed you whole.
Like many kids trying to escape pain without guidance, I made choices that led me into addiction. For a while, I was numbing instead of healing, just trying to get through the day. There were moments where the odds were stacked so heavily against me that simply staying alive felt like an accomplishment.
Comedy wasn’t a career choice at first—it was a lifeline. Humor became how I processed trauma, how I connected, and how I told the truth when I didn’t have the language for it yet. Making people laugh gave me a sense of purpose when everything else felt uncertain.
The road forward wasn’t linear. I stepped away more than once to deal with real life—work, family, health, and rebuilding myself from the inside out. In 2020 and again in 2022, I was hospitalized in the ICU at Elmhurst Hospital with a severe bacterial infection that nearly took my life. Surviving that forced a reckoning. I had to ask myself: if I was given another chance, how was I going to use it?
I came back older, more focused, and with nothing to prove except honesty. I rebuilt from the ground up—earning stage time again, telling my story without filters, and trusting that authenticity would find its audience.
Today, I’m a working comedian, author, and storyteller. My work is rooted in lived experience—pain, resilience, culture, and survival. I didn’t beat the odds by pretending they didn’t exist. I beat them by facing them head-on and choosing growth over surrender. Everything I do now—on stage and on the page—is about turning what I lived through into something that gives others permission to keep going.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all—it’s been anything but smooth. Like most meaningful journeys, it’s been filled with detours, setbacks, and moments where quitting would have been the easier option.
One of the biggest struggles was balance. I was chasing a dream while handling real-life responsibilities—working full-time, supporting a family, and trying to stay present at home. There were periods where survival had to come before passion, and stepping away from comedy felt like failure at the time, even though it was necessary.
In a very real way, survival wasn’t just a metaphor. In 2020 and again in 2022, I was admitted to the ICU at Elmhurst Hospital after contracting a severe bacterial infection that nearly took my life—twice. Those moments forced everything into perspective. Comedy, career goals, and plans for the future all stopped instantly. The only focus was staying alive and making it back to my family.
Coming back from that wasn’t just physical—it was mental and emotional. I had to rebuild trust in my own body, face the fear that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and decide what actually mattered if I was given another chance.
I also faced self-doubt and timing. Watching others move ahead while I paused forced me to confront my own expectations and ego. Returning later in life meant rebuilding from the ground up—earning stage time again, reintroducing myself, and proving not just to others but to myself that I still belonged.
Financial strain was another constant challenge. Investing in yourself—travel, production, promotion—adds up quickly, especially without shortcuts or industry backing. Every step forward required sacrifice, discipline, and faith.
What carried me through was perspective. I stopped seeing setbacks as losses and started seeing them as preparation. Those struggles sharpened my voice, deepened my storytelling, and grounded my work in truth. Looking back, the road wasn’t smooth—but it was necessary. Everything I went through is what allows me to stand on stage now with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a stand-up comedian, storyteller, and writer, and my work lives at the intersection of humor, culture, and real life. I specialize in narrative-driven comedy—stories rooted in personal experience, identity, family, and resilience. My comedy isn’t just about punchlines; it’s about connection. I want people to laugh, but I also want them to feel seen.
I’m known for blending sharp humor with honesty. I talk about growing up Puerto Rican in New York, relationships, aging, setbacks, and the uncomfortable moments most people recognize but don’t always talk about. Whether on stage or on the page, my goal is to tell the truth in a way that’s funny, relatable, and human.
One of the things I’m most proud of is my one-man comedy special, Ricanstruction: Not Just a Comeback — It’s Ricanstruction. It was a sold-out live taping in Harlem that I independently produced, and it represents more than a show—it represents rebuilding my life and career on my own terms. I’m also proud of my upcoming book, Mi Vida Loca: Tales of a Nuyorican, which expands on that same honesty in written form.
What sets me apart is perspective. I didn’t take the traditional fast-track route. I lived life first—worked real jobs, raised a family, fell down, got back up, and returned to comedy with something to say. I’m not chasing trends or trying to be the loudest voice in the room. I’m focused on longevity, substance, and authenticity.
At this stage of my career, I see my work as proof that growth doesn’t have an expiration date. I’m proud that my comedy comes from experience, not shortcuts—and that every laugh I earn is built on truth.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is summer in New York—long days outside, the neighborhood alive, music coming from open windows, and everyone knowing everyone. There was a sense of freedom that’s hard to describe now. You could be out all day, riding bikes, cracking jokes, getting into harmless trouble, and somehow always ending up back home when the streetlights came on.
What stands out most is the laughter. Family gatherings, block parties, and just sitting around with relatives telling stories—those moments taught me early on how powerful humor could be. Even when money was tight or life was stressful, there was always room for jokes, teasing, and storytelling.
Looking back, I didn’t realize it then, but those moments shaped everything I do now. That sense of community, resilience, and humor in everyday life is the same energy I try to bring to my work today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.comedianrafaelgee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comedian_rafaelgee
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comedian_rafaelgee
- EPK: https://myppk.com/get/comedianrafaelgee
