Lester Barrie
Born
Lester Eugene Barrie[1]

(1965-10-01) October 1, 1965
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Pastor, Comedian[2]

Lester Barrie (born October 1, 1965) is a Southern California Christian pastor, a professional stand-up comedian, and former movie and television actor.[3][4][5]

Reverend Barrie is currently the assistant Pastor at the Atherton Baptist Church in Hawthorne California, where he has served since February 2022. Additionally, Barrie makes stand-up comedy appearances at clubs, colleges, and churches around the country.

Biography

He hails from Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Southern California in 1980. He attended Cerritos College before transferring to the University of Southern California.[2][1]

In 2006 Lester Barrie Founded Perfecting Christian Fellowship Church in the City of Carson, California, and after moving around for many years, the ministry merged its membership and ministry efforts with the Bible Believers MBC in 2011.[1]

Additionally, Lester Barrie has enjoyed much success as a stand-up comedian over the years. In 1993 he won best comedian on Star Search over a young Dave Chappelle. Chappelle has publicly joked on a few occasions about being more successful than Barrie. When asked, Barrie would counter with pointing to his being a minister before beginning his career as a comedian, and that he was never "destined" to be successful as a secular comedian. Barrie often points to Chris Tucker (Rush Hour Fridays) D.L Hughley (The Original Kings of Comedy), other A list comedians who also suffered losses to Lester Barrie in comedy competitions of the early to mid 90s. In 1999 Lester Barrie would host a season of Comic View on Black Entertainment Television.[5] This would be Lester's final notable success before prioritizing his calling to ministry.

Lester Barrie also enjoyed moderate success in small acting roles as well, most notably guest-starred on several episodes of Fox's & Sci-Fi Networks Sliders[4] and best known for a guest role in the Wayans brothers film Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood as the Preacher.[4][6][7][8]

Lester Barrie has recorded a Dry Bar Comedy Special entitle "A Fan of Marriage" and the stand-up comedy special "Super Saint" which is available on Amazon. Television appearance as a stand-up comedian would include a set on Martin Lawrence's First Amendment Stand Up on the STARZ Network in 2009. To date Lester Barrie makes frequent appearances at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach Ca, and the Laugh Factory in Hollywood and Long Beach, California.[4]


Lester has a son born in 1995 from a previous marriage and is remarried since 2013 with a daughter born in 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pastor Lester Eugene Barrie". Bible Believers Missionary Baptist Church. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Lester Barrie is a 30-year veteran in stand-up comedy". Lester Barrie. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ Jackson-Fossett, Cora (June 19, 2019). "Inspirational Comedian Barrie Highlights Ward AME's 'Smooth Jazz' Brunch". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Lester Barrie". Laugh Factory. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Lester Barrie". Church Stars Network. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Laugh Factory Las Vegas Presents Harry Basil, Andrew Norelli and Lester Barrie, 4/23-29". Broadway World. April 24, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ Aspray, Benjamin. "Holy Hell! Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Turns 20". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Next Friday Comedy Tour". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
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