STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Her catchphrase might be “I’m done,” but Lisa Marie Riley is still going strong.
The South Shore resident — known as One Funny Lisa Marie — has built a successful comedy brand uniquely her own over the past five years, with appearances on daytime television shows like “The Today Show” and tours along the East Coast.
But she was nearly ready to walk away from it all last year, following the death of her husband, David.
‘WHEN HE PASSED, I WAS NOT GOING TO DO THIS ANYMORE’
When David was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in 2019, Riley, 41, decided to leave her full-time job as a court stenographer and move into a more crucial role: caretaker.
To ease his stress — and help them both cope — Riley began to make and upload amusing videos about everyday stressors and experiences, which she posted on social media to share with family and friends. After an uproarious TikTok about her husband wanting Riley to fix his ripped jeans went viral in March 2020, Riley’s popularity on social media skyrocketed; she gained an incredible following on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, and branched out into in-person stand-up shows.
She was generating an income and making people laugh, while being able to stay close to home. Her comedy career was budding, but it wasn’t getting in the way of supporting those most important to her; she was a wife and mother of three, first and foremost.
Both of those roles were ingrained in her. But one was stolen away last May.
Upon David’s death, Riley took a break from making and posting videos while she reckoned with her devastating loss. Initially, she considered stopping comedy completely.
“When he passed, I was not going to do this anymore,” said Riley. “I was going to go back to work [as a stenographer]. But then I’m like, you know what? This is what I do now, so let me ride it until the wheels fall off. I can go with this and if it doesn’t work, I can go back to my regular job. And if it does work, I’ll stick with it. Right now, at this point in my life, this is working for me.”
She had built her platform with content about her life as a wife and mother, but now, she decided, she needed to pivot some. She decided to focus more on everyday life, and “being an everyday person.”
“And people just took to it. ... Obviously, it’s different. I no longer have being a wife to joke around about anymore. I’m not doing it for the same reason anymore, my life has shifted,” said Riley, who said being a mother continues to be her main concern.
One Funny Lisa Marie started years prior as an escape from her reality, said Riley, but it has now become her reality.
“I went back to [comedy] for the same reason [I started doing it]. It helps me cope with reality, cope with real life. This is my new life, and life is still going on, so I have to just roll with the punches. I can’t let it consume me. I keep busy so I won’t focus on this new chapter of my life that I was never ready for.”
‘I’M DONE WITH IT’ TOUR
These days, Riley has accepted the responsibility and title of being a full-time comedian, something she was previously reluctant to embrace.
She’s also traveling more for shows, and launched a multi-state tour titled — what else? — “I’m Done With It.”
“I’m selling out shows, thank God,” said Riley. “It’s nice going places that I’ve never been. I’m doing these things that I’ve never done, I’m taking this chapter of my life now and I’m trying to see where I belong, and where life’s going to take me. This is a new chapter of my life now.”
The hope, said Riley, is for her popularity as a comedian to grow, all while staying true to her No.1 passion: her children.
“[I want to] see where this takes me. You know, if it takes me somewhere, God bless. If it doesn’t, I always have my real job to fall back on,” she said. “So I would like to see where it goes, and I’m just rolling with the punches.”
Follow Lisa Marie Riley on Instagram (@onefunnylisamarie), TikTok (@onefunnylisamarie) and Facebook.
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