Travon Free
Travon Free (born 1984/1985)[1] is an American comedian and actor who currently writes comedy for The Daily Show on Comedy Central.[2][3] He won an Emmy Award for his work on the Daily Show in 2015. He is a former college basketball player.
Early life
Free grew up with his mother and grandmother in Compton, California.[1] He attended Dominguez High School, where he played basketball. In 2002, the Los Angeles Times called him the "team's best player".[4] He chose to remain local and decided to play college basketball for the Long Beach State 49ers. Their program was struggling, and Free liked his chances of earning a starting role. Injuries sapped his dream of playing professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and he had no interest in playing overseas.[1] While he was out injured with a torn meniscus in his right knee that required surgery, he entertained the team with his humor, which was a prelude to his career in comedy.[5] While in college, Free took a Comedy Writing class and performed at Laugh Factory in Hollywood and The Ice House Club in Pasadena, California.[2][6]
Professional career
Free began writing for The Daily Show in October 2012.[2] After coming in second place in a contest to win a position working for the show, he was invited by Executive Producer Rory Albanese to tour the show's set, which Free treated as a consolation prize.[1] During his visit, he was surprised backstage when Jon Stewart offered him a full-time writing job.[2] Free won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series on The Daily Show in 2015 after being nominated in the two years prior.[7][8] He has also had recurring roles on the shows Tosh.0 and Chelsea Lately.[2]
Personal life
In 2011, Free came out as bisexual, one of the few Division I college basketball players who have come out.[2][9]
See also
References
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