Biography

Comedian Patrice O'Neal was born in New York, but moved to Boston when he was just one year old. He was educated at West Roxbury High School and went on to attend Northeastern University, both in Boston. After this, various jobs followed including a sausage cart vendor at a train station, flower seller and popcorn seller at the Boston Garden Arena. In October 1992, O'Neal attended an open mic comedy night. He heckled one of the comedians, who challenged O'Neal to perform himself at the next open mic night.