It was not exactly the birthday present had hoped for, but in July, on the day he turned 45, Gabriel Iglesias learned he had tested positive for COVID.
What did he do?
鈥淚 basically (quarantined) in the kitchen eating cereal.... watching 鈥楾he Voice,鈥欌 the comedian said with a laugh.
It wasn鈥檛 exactly how he wanted to spend his birthday, but he felt grateful, nonetheless.
鈥淚 was fortunate that I was at least celebrating life and wasn鈥檛 worse off,鈥 said the comedian who is bringing his 鈥淏eyond the Fluffy World Tour 鈥 Go Big or Go Home鈥 to the on Saturday, Nov. 13. 鈥淚 consider myself very lucky.鈥
Iglesias, who goes by the stage name 鈥淔luffy鈥 and pokes fun at his weight, is celebrating 25 years in comedy. And one important lesson he has learned over those years: Aim low and celebrate when you exceed your expectations.
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鈥淚nstead of saying, 鈥業鈥檓 going to reach for the stars,鈥 how about, 鈥業鈥檓 going to reach for the second floor,鈥欌 Iglesias said. 鈥淚f you make it to the third floor, then look at you, you overachiever.鈥
Iglesias comes here after nearly a year away from live shows courtesy the COVID-19 pandemic and it marks his first show in Tucson since he played the AVA in 2017.
He is celebrating 25 years in the humor business with a series of shows that will converge across the country through next July. Many of those dates, including Tucson, are reschedules after the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to stop touring.
In addition to recounting his COVID experience and poking fun at his girth, Iglesias might also reminisce about his early days in comedy. He was 20 years old when he landed his first gig and has been going strong since. But it was never an easy path, he said during a phone interview in September.
鈥淏ack then if you tried to get into a club, you had to record your set (and) put it on a VHS tape,鈥 Iglesias said, adding that he also had to 鈥渞esearch an address, get a contact, mail your tape out (and) hope that they watch it.鈥
Early in his life, Iglesias was inspired by well-known comedians from the 1980s and 鈥90s including Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy.
He recalls the exact time when he knew he wanted to pursue standup comedy.
鈥淚 was 10 years old,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 saw 鈥楨ddie Murphy: Raw鈥 and I said, 鈥業 want to do that.鈥欌
The larger-than-life entertainer has over half a billion views on YouTube and a strong social media following of over 24 million followers. Iglesias has performed at world famous arenas such as New York鈥檚 Madison Square Garden and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
He is now working on the Netflix sitcom, 鈥淢r. Iglesias,鈥 in which he plays a kindhearted high school teacher working with misfit and gifted students.
Last year at the Imagen Awards, which recognizes positive or accurate images of Latinos in television and film, 鈥淢r. Iglesias鈥 won for best primetime comedy.
鈥淩epresentation is important when the correct message is being relayed,鈥 Iglesias said. 鈥淧eople understand this is a position that I worked hard to be in.鈥
Brian Savic is a University of Arizona journalism student apprenticing with the Star.
