Philly life gave comic
Harris a laugh or two

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

When Ralph Harris was still a little boy and growing up in Philadelphia, he decided he wanted to become a circus clown.
"I was always a quiet kid. I had a lot of friends but I didn’t talk much. But at least I knew how to make people laugh so I figured becoming a clown with the circus was just the right thing for me to do. But I couldn’t figure out exactly how a little kid from the inner city could get the chance to be with the Ringling Brothers Circus," said Harris, one of the five finalists on TV’s Last Comic Standing who are embarking on a nationwide tour landing at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside on Oct. 27.
So to try to make his wish come true, Harris once volunteered at the former Spectrum arena, where the circus would hold forth when in town.
"You know, I saw those old Burt Lancaster movies and thought if they saw me they’d just take me along with them one day. But no such luck," Harris said.
Instead, in his second year in high school, somebody turned Harris on to Eddie Murphy and his appearances on Saturday Night Live. Harris said he became so fixated on Murphy and his routines that he soon knew them word for word.
Working at other jobs, but continuing to have the ability to make people laugh, Harris went with friends one night to watch comics do their routines during open-mike night at a local Philly comedy club. The next week he took the stage. That was 22 years ago, and he said he’s never looked back.
With such comedic greats as Bill Cosby and Jonathan Winters to influence him, Harris insisted it was Murphy who really turned him on to standup.
"But it was really my mom and dad who used to tell long stories, act them out and make everyone laugh, who were my true inspirations," he explained.
And so began a career that has included TV, film and personal appearances. For example, Harris has been featured on several sitcoms and variety shows, with the one that stands out being the critically acclaimed series Seinfeld. He believes it was that appearance that actually got his acting career rolling.
Today, along with Seinfeld, other credits include Parenthood, Living Single and In Living Color. He’s also been on The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno and Late Night With Conan O’Brien.
On the screen, Harris made his film debut in the Oscar-nominated Dreamgirls, and most recently was seen in Evan Almighty.
Harris said his favorite art form is probably film "because you hit so many people. But TV is also nice because you tend to be with it over the long haul. Of course, Last Comic Standing was great in many ways. You might be on for ninety seconds but eight million people see you in one night. So I obviously like what TV can do for you as a comedian."
And just what has Last Comic Standing done for Harris’ career, if anything?
"It’s done a lot . . . Steve Harvey’s people contacted me and are trying to fit me into his program. That’s pretty big. And although this 42-city tour is keeping me busy, with the kind of exposure I’m getting, I’m sure there will be much more coming my way," the comic said.
In his free time, Harris enjoys developing new characters for his comedy routine, and explained that most of them are based on his own family. "It’s gotten to the point where they start performing in front of me just so I have material," he said. "Instead of being angry with me for using them as comedy material, they actually love it."
So they will probably be ecstatic if Harris succeeds in launching his one-man show. "I just tell my own story and that of the people I know and love, and see where it goes from there." ••
For times and ticket information, call 215-572-7650.