On Monday, August 18, The Comedy Store in Los Angeles will be holding the 818 Brody Stevens Comedy Benefit in honor of the late comedian Brody Stevens.
Stevens, a beloved figure in the comedy community, passed away in February 2019 at the age of 48. His death was ruled a suicide.
The annual benefit not only celebrates Stevens’ life but also raises funds and awareness for Comedy Gives Back, a nonprofit dedicated to providing mental health programs and resources for stand-up comedians in crisis.
“Losing Brody was a devastating blow to our comedy community,” said Comedy Gives Back co-founders Jodi Lieberman, Amber J Lawson, and Zoe Friedman. “Every year on 8/18, we gather to celebrate our friend, bring people together—which we know Brody would have loved—and raise awareness about suicide prevention and the mental health of comedians.”
Since its founding in 2019, Comedy Gives Back has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to comedians facing hardship, hosted recovery meetings at major festivals such as Netflix Is a Joke, Just for Laughs Montreal, and Moontower Comedy Festival, and sponsored vital mental health services and residential treatment for those battling chemical dependency.
In 2024 alone, the organization distributed $143,851.31 in aid, over $129,000 for financial crisis relief, $13,000 for mental health therapy, and more than $1,700 for community programs.
This year’s benefit kicks off at 8 p.m. on August 18 (an ode to one of Stevens’ favorite sayings, ‘818’), featuring an all-star lineup including Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Robby Hoffman, Eleanor Kerrigan, Doug Benson, and more surprise guests to be announced.
