Stephen W. Whalen

Known by his friends and family as Steve and to his peers and fans as Mr. Jokes, he was a dedicated stand-up comedian and actor with a generous spirit and contagious sense of humour. Steve was a graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School who went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter.

Steve was cherished in the New York City comedy scene for his quick wit and unique style, and for his dedication to his craft. Along with countless gigs in the NYC circuit, he was a frequent performer and writer for The Special Without Brett Davis, appearing on over 50 episodes between 2015 and 2018. Steve took great pride in his 2019 album “I Love This Crowd”, which featured 130 jokes in 28 minutes, a feat that he petitioned for inclusion in The Guiness Book of World Records. As a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, Steve passionately pursued a career in acting, preparing diligently no matter the size of the role.

As a longtime employee at JHU Comic Books, Stephen cultivated his love of fiction, art, and storytelling. He dedicated his time at the store to passing on his knowledge of comics and games to younger generations.

Stephen was treasured by family and friends as a kind, generous, warm soul, eager to share what he loved and make people smile, someone who could make even the mundane task of food shopping into an adventure. A man of many, many interests, Steve loved cooking and was an avid fan of the New York Giants and New York Yankees. He spent many hours with his father and mother enjoying dinner and watching the game.

Stephen is survived by his loving father and mother, Thomas and Stephanie, his younger sister Lauren, and his older brother Tom.

Donations may be made in Steve’s honor to the Actors Fund and to the Epilepsy Foundation.

https://actorsfund.org/

https://www.epilepsy.com/