The Comedy Benefit for H.O.S.T. House Comedy night in Patterson presents Rocky LaPorte, which will benefit people in more ways than one. Not only will the audience be served an evening of laughter and good cheer but the funds raised will also help the less fortunate in the surrounding communities.

If the name Rocky LaPorte sounds familiar it could be from his stint on Season 8 of Last Comic Standing where he battled to be in the top five out of 100 comedians. He toured with the finalists of the show for three months throughout the U.S.

“It was kind of rough,” stated LaPorte of taking part in the show. “It was almost a year long. It was very trying and tiring for everyone but we did gain some new fans.”

Comedy came naturally for LaPorte and at a young age he knew that he had something when he had the teacher laughing along with other classmates that led him to spend some time in the hallway for causing a disruption.

“She would send me in the hall and not to the principal’s office,” said LaPorte. “That wasn’t the best place to send me because I would think of other funny stuff to say. I was never mean spirited. I was always a goof and always getting in trouble for laughing.”

Watching comedians on television like George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield Bill Cosby and listening to Woody Allen and Richard Pryor, LaPorte did not realize that comedy could be a full time job.

In the late ‘80s LaPorte was a delivery driver in Chicago and made a business owner laugh so hard that she told him that he should pursue comedy. This planted the idea in his head so he started going to open mic nights in Chicago. This pursuit began in February of 1988 and by October he had quit his day job and went for the comedy scene full time.

“I thought if I am going to do this I am going in with both feet. Ya know,” expressed LaPorte.

This led him to several specials on television like Comedy Central, making appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a short lived Showtime special Godfather of Comedy, and a few movies like “Crazy on the Outside” with Tim Allen. He also made his way to the Middle East with Drew Carey to entertain the troops overseas.

“When you are making people laugh and you have a full room of people laughing I think at that point you are honestly free and alive,” stated LaPorte. “When you are in the middle of a laugh you are not thinking about your boss or your bills. You aren’t thinking about none of that stuff. You are in the moment and it is happening. I think that is the most beautiful thing about live comedy.”

Catch some laughs with LaPorte on Friday, May 19 at the Fellowship Hall Federated Church, 45 S. El Circulo Ave. in Patterson. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets in advance are $15 or can be purchased at the door for $20.

For more information call 800-838-3006 or visit HostHouseComedyNight.com.