Mary Gallagher

With me, you will get a professional, hilarious stand-up comic who will listen to your concerns and needs, and I will tailor the material to your specific event and gathering. One of my greatest talents is the ability to craft incredibly funny jokes for your audience, so you can make your event one they won’t soon forget. Here’s my most recent review from the event planner at Greenberg Glusker Law firm, in Los Angeles, CA:

Mary was truly fantastic. We hired her to do stand-up for us as part of a firm fundraiser. In the past, when I’ve worked with comedians, they’ve called me ahead of time to get a sense of what not to say. Mary did this as well, which is always appreciated, but what she also did that really set her apart from others was take the time to get to know our firm culture so that she could incorporate it into her routine. We talked about different norms and quirks specific to our firm, and she tailored her performance around that. This was so great because it felt so much more personal, and our employees really got a kick out of it. She was also very prompt, very kind, and – as expected – very funny. Would happily bring her back for another performance if the opportunity presented itself.

Nicole Kosoff
Employee Engagement

Mary Gallagher is the friend you’ve always wanted. Her wholehearted approach to stand-up comedy, hosting, acting, and improv will have you laughing and feeling wonderful. Besides being a headlining comedian, she also gives lectures on Hollywood and the history of stand-up comedy, teaches stand-up comedy and cartooning, facilitates workshops on using comedy for personal growth, and writes and illustrates children’s books.

In 2018, Mary had the thrill of performing her stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (taped LIVE at The Ed Sullivan Theater…a long-time Beatles fan dream come true!). She also has a Dry Bar comedy special, gave a humorous TED Talk, and most recently was on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS.

As an actor, Mary has guest-starred on hit TV shows such as Friends, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, The West Wing, and been the star of TV pilots created by Rob Reiner and Jason Alexander. Her film roles include Flightplan with Jodie Foster, How Do You Know with Reese Witherspoon, and Bernard Rose’s Frankenstein.

Trained at Second City and The Groundlings, she’s performed sketches on Ellen and The Tonight Show, and hosted for Jay Leno in Burbank and in Hermosa Beach. She’s also hosted several national TV shows, including Kelsey Grammer’s World Cup Comedy, GSN’s Faux Pause, and E!’s The Short Show.

As a lifelong prankster, she’s starred in prank shows like David Spade’s Fameless on TruTV, The Terrence Howard Fright Club for Fox, and most recently, Prank Encounters on Netflix. She’s been hired by Kevin Hart to pull a huge, elaborate prank on two of his friends in Cannes, France. After it was done, she went all around the South of France on a rented electric scooter (her favorite form of transportation...Thanks, Kevin!).

Mary’s performed in ten comedy festivals, including Montreal’s Just For Laughs (with “Be My Therapist,” a series she co-created), and in 2022, she was Best of the Fest in the San Luis Obispo Comedy Festival. In 2024, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to England and Ireland and performed her stand-up comedy and improv in Dublin. She also performs and speaks on US military bases with a program promoting better mental health and suicide awareness for the military.

Mary teaches positive stand-up comedy workshops incorporating wellness to people of all ages and also coaches TV and film actors. In 2024, she coached Brett Dier in his lead role of “Archie,” a stand-up comic in the romantic comedy, “In Spite of Ourselves.” Mary also co-stars in the film, which is due for release in 2026.

Mary is the daughter of two proud former United States Marines, has a daughter in college, and makes friends everywhere she goes. Please check out (link hidden) for more information on your new friend Mary!

I am a stand-up comedian, and the most effective performance is with a good sound system in place. That system requires a good working microphone and speakers. I can supply my own system if necessary, but it can be difficult to carry around if we are dealing with limited space or transportation. If there are no stand-alone mics available and it's not top-of-the-line cordless mics, a corded mic is always a safer bet. Being seen onstage is also of the utmost importance, so good stage lighting is imperative. Seating arrangements should also be taken into consideration for an audience. Seating them facing the stage in an orderly fashion will ensure their comfort and attention. I can help you with any questions or if you need to work within a unique space.