Alex Ortiz

Even when Alex Ortiz was a firefighter in East Chicago and a nurse for the Illinois Masonic Medical Center, stand-up comedy was always in the back of his mind.

Inspired by his favorite comics, guys like Richard Pryor and Freddie Prinze, Ortiz first stepped on a stage at 16. But he gave it up until he reached his 30s. After some coercing from his co-workers, Ortiz finally tried his hand at comedy again in 1995 at Chi-Town’s renowned All Jokes Aside comedy club.

“I tried it and that’s where Damon Williams and Bernie Mac saw me,” Ortiz says. “The rest is history, I guess.”

Now 46 years old, Ortiz has built quite the resume. He has shared the stage with not only the late Bernie Mac, but D.L. Hughley, Damon Wayans, Eddie Griffin and Bobcat Goldthwait as well.

He has appeared in TV commercials for Miller Genuine Draft and Empire Carpet. He also has been featured in Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” HBO’s “Bad Boys of Comedy” and BET’s “Comedy View.”

But Ortiz says the comedic accomplishment he’s most proud of is being the three-time winner of Showtime at the Apollo’s Comedy TKO competition. Harlem’s Apollo Theater is widely known as the most intimidating place in America to perform stand-up comedy. Ortiz says the crowd was ravenous the first time he played the Apollo because of an awful performer who took the stage before him.

“That’s the most scared I’ve ever been,” he recalls.

It didn’t take long, however, for him to win over the crowd with his animated impressions and childhood stories.

“When they boo you, they really, really don’t like you. But when you do get them to like you, they really embrace you,” Ortiz explains. “It’s one of those moments I call upon when things are going bad.”

Ortiz describes himself as a “high-energy storyteller.” He discusses his marriage, his divorce, raising children and many other relatable issues. Then, he gets into some more outlandish material like his TV-watching habits. He even does impressions of all of his favorite cartoon characters.

“I do Bugs Bunny and all the Warner Bros. characters. I do everything from Fat Albert to Quick Draw McGraw. I do Speedy Gonzalez. I do Kermit the Frog. I do ‘em all. And they’re always in messed up situations in my act,” Ortiz laughs.

Ortiz says he has two goals at every show. The first is to get the audience thinking one way and then completely spin their heads. The other is just to make sure everyone’s having a good time.

“If even I’m giggling, then I know the audience is having a great time,” Ortiz says.

Ortiz will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at Sammy and Casey’s. Tickets are still available for $20 to $25, but owner Geneo DeSpain says they are going quickly.

“It’s something new, and the last show we had went very well,” DeSpain says. “As far as the comedians coming here go, the type of quality is first class.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information, call Geneo’s Pizza at 232-4000.