Jessica Kirson (born November 14, 1969^[1]) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and producer. Kirson is known for performing regularly at comedy venues in New York City — some of which include Gotham Comedy Club, Laugh Factory, Caroline's, and the Improv.

Kirson was born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey, and is of Austrian and Polish-Jewish descent.^[2] Before her family moved from Europe to the States, their last name was Kirshenbaum which means “cherry tree.”^[3] Her mother is a therapist who treated clients in Kirson's childhood home, which she has said has had a profound impact on her and her comedy.^[4][5]

Kirson graduated from Columbia High School in 1987. She described herself as a 'major class clown' who loved to make people laugh.^[6] Kirson is the stepsister of both actor Zach Braff and writer Joshua Braff, whose father married her mother when she was an adolescent.^[7] With the intention of becoming a therapist, Kirson graduated from the University of Maryland in family studies and from New York University with a Masters of Social Work.^[8]

Kirson made her career debut in the film School Dance. Her one-hour special Talking to Myself debuted on Comedy Central and was executive produced by Bill Burr.^[9] Other projects include her series The Call Girls with longtime friend and comedian Rachel Feinstein.^[10] In 2016, Kirson acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film The Comedian.^[11] Kirson was an executive producer and appeared in the documentary Hysterical which follows a group of female comedians, on and off stage.^[12]

Kirson has performed on The Tonight Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, and Kevin Can Wait. Kirson also hosts her own podcast, Disgusting Hawk.^[13] Kirson is also a contributor on The Howard Stern Show, where she produces and stars in prank calls for the program.

In her comedy, Kirson often narrates personal experiences of sobriety,^[14] her Jewish upbringing, and her identity as a lesbian, utilizing "gallows humor" and "biting, often crass asides."^[15] She sometimes performs inner monologues during her sets while facing away from the audience: "A lot of the jokes, when I turn around, I've said before, but I only do it at certain times, when a joke doesn't work or I get uncomfortable or something happens in the audience...  That's my way of saving it in the moment."^[16] Commenting on her approach to comedy, Kirson said:

I don’t like being labeled as a type of comedian. I do all kinds of comedy. I’m just trying to be very real and honest and truthful. I try to entertain people as best as I can, because I feel like right now most people don’t like to think a lot. So, I go on and try to have it so that they don’t analyze and think a lot. I love doing characters, and I love putting out a message of tolerance that teaches people not to be mean, and to be more kind.^[17]

She has cited Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett among her comedic influences.^[17]

Kirson has four children.^[18] She has been open about her struggle with food addiction^[7] as well as substance abuse throughout her life.^[19]