About Atsuko Okatsuka
Atsuko Okatsuka (born May 27, 1988) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She was named one of Variety's "Top 10 Comics to Watch" in 2022 and is the second Asian-American woman to have a stand-up special on HBO.
Okatsuka was born in Taiwan, the daughter of a Taiwanese mother and Japanese father, and spent her early childhood in Japan. At the age of eight, she was taken by her maternal grandmother to her mother in Los Angeles, where she lived for the next seven years as an undocumented immigrant. She discovered stand-up comedy through a Margaret Cho DVD, attended Venice High School, studied psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and later graduated from the California Institute of the Arts.
Okatsuka began doing stand-up in small clubs around Los Angeles. In 2020, she released her debut album with Comedy Dynamics, But I Control Me, and hosted and executive produced Let's Go Atsuko for the now-defunct Quibi. In 2019, she performed a stand-up set during an earthquake at The Ice House comedy club in Pasadena, which went viral. Her debut stand-up special The Intruder premiered on HBO and HBO Max on December 10, 2022; The New York Times named it Best Debut of 2022, and it won best comedy special at the Gracie Awards. She also started the viral Drop Challenge with her grandmother, and her life story was told on This American Life in September 2023.
Videos (348)
Videos 289 to 312 of 348.
1:00first time in Christchurch New Zealand am I dressed right?
69.9K views
0:21A comedian's job is never done!
68.9K views
1:45I’m too trusting
68.5K views
0:21island girl happy AAPI month
65.7K views
0:44Honored to bring out that twinkle @WhatNowPodcast
63.9K views
0:27We understand each other @monetxchangeofficial
63.8K views
0:41there is such a thing as having too much fun
61.7K views
0:51Is this a cult? @americanmasters
60.2K views
0:21He came home earlier than expected
59.3K views
0:14Airport but make it fashion
54.8K views
0:11Happy Lunar New Year to all
53K views
0:57A comedian’s job is never done @theshop
52.6K views
0:58Call me Boss Baby @DisgracefulTheShow
52.4K views
0:52Wellington, you called I answered See you August 13th! Get your tickets before they're gone
50.7K views
0:44hey LA tickets now available for my hometown special taping 1/30 atsukocomedy.com
50.1K views
0:26Asia tickets are live! Japan is already SOLD OUT. Can’t wait to come home and see you all!
49.3K views
1:06How did he keep his cool all night knowing how FIRE his ankles were
48.6K views
0:56I think this was a sign
48.2K views
1:21Atsuko Okatsuka deals with a Nip Slip on Stage
48.1K views
0:33San Diego we added a THIRD show due to demand!! At this point I will have to move there.
46.7K views
0:22NEW CITIES ADDED to my Big Bowl Tour! Tix already going fast!
46K views
4:50Let's Go, Atsuko! Ep. 1: Atsuko Learns Karate
44.1K views
1:37i'm so grateful @americanmasters
44K views
0:49It's Ryan’s b-day In honor of the sacrifices he’s made for our family, let's revisit his vasectomy
42.5K viewsGuest appearances (40)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Atsuko Okatsuka.
Guest appearances 1 to 24 of 40.
1:02Having a bowl cut requires a 5 year plan| Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
972.3K views
0:57The kamasutra does not incorporate stools | Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
823.9K views
8:26Atsuko Okatsuka on Giving Her Grandma a Bath, Her Husband Getting a Vasectomy & Hulu Comedy Special
Jimmy Kimmel
791.6K views
7:43Atsuko Okatsuka Teaches Chelsea Handler & Guillermo How to Do the Drop Challenge
Jimmy Kimmel
562.7K views
2:24:45Atsuko Okatsuka: Joking in Japanese
Trevor Noah
436.6K views
0:59Schizophrenic moms with Atsuko Okatsuka
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
426.3K views
1:03:43Atsuko Okatsuka (Full Episode) | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
276.6K views
16:38ATSUKO OKATSUKA | Out of Pocket with Trixie Mattel
Trixie Mattel
237.9K views
5:19Chelsea's Roundtable Feat. Bob The Drag Queen, Atsuko Okatsuka & Rosebud Baker | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
215.8K views
1:02:19Atsuko Okatsuka - Matteo Lane & Nick Smith - I Never Liked You 115
Matteo Lane
158.8K views
1:34Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka on how her turbulent upbringing inspired her comedy special, "Father"
Jon Stewart
150.7K views
8:26Atsuko Okatsuka - Why She's "Father" In Her New Special | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
143.1K views
2:14Conan & Atsuko Okatsuka have iconic hair.
Conan O'Brien
139K views
1:31:19Japanese Clams with Atsuko Okatsuka
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
101.4K views
1:04:02Atsuko Okatsuka Is The Coolest! | Whiskey Ginger
Andrew Santino
86.4K views
11:28"My Mom was the Girl from The Ring" — Atsuko Okatsuka’s shocking childhood
Trevor Noah
80.6K views
0:13This week on Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend: Atsuko Okatsuka.
Conan O'Brien
74.3K views
0:51Boundaries are optional | Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside Podcast with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
71.8K views
1:26:09Atsuko Okatsuka | The Blocks Podcast w/ Neal Brennan | EPISODE 22
Neal Brennan
61.5K views
0:42Ruh roh | Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside Podcast with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
51.9K views
0:52Atsuko Okatsuka doesn't like nature.
Conan O'Brien
49K views
1:19Atsuko Okatsuka is the new bachelorette!
Chloe Troast
45.7K views
1:56:22Atsuko Okatsuka’s Honeymoon Was a Family Affair | Bertcast # 588
Bert Kreischer
43K views
1:01:08Atsuko Okatsuka Didn't Know She Wasn't Married for 7 Years | Breaking Bread with Tom Papa
Tom Papa
40.2K viewsChannels on this page: Gianmarco Vincent Soresi, Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Noah, Conan O'Brien, Trixie Mattel, Jon Stewart, Matteo Lane, Andrew Santino, Neal Brennan, Chloe Troast, Bert Kreischer, Tom Papa
Frequently asked questions
Who is Atsuko Okatsuka?
Atsuko Okatsuka is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer, born on May 27, 1988 in Taiwan to a Taiwanese mother and Japanese father.
What is notable about Atsuko Okatsuka's HBO special?
She is the second Asian-American woman to have a stand-up special on HBO, and her debut special The Intruder premiered on HBO and HBO Max on December 10, 2022.
How did Atsuko Okatsuka go viral?
In 2019, she performed a stand-up set during an earthquake at The Ice House comedy club in Pasadena, which went viral, and she also started the viral Drop Challenge with her grandmother.
What did Atsuko Okatsuka study?
She studied psychology at the University of California, Riverside, before later graduating from the California Institute of the Arts.
What awards has The Intruder received?
The New York Times named The Intruder Best Debut of 2022, and it won best comedy special at the Gracie Awards.
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