Birthdays usually aren’t a big deal for me. I’m the kind of person who would rather keep things quiet, low-key, and intimate. But this year was different. This year, I celebrated my birthday in Dallas, Texas—and it turned out to be a night I’ll remember forever. Why? Because I got to meet the one and only comedian, Mark Curry.
Yes, that Mark Curry from the hit ’90s sitcom Hanging With Mr. Cooper.
I’ve been a fan for years. His humour, his physical comedy, the way he brings every story to life—I’ve always admired him. And on my birthday, I got to shake his hand, talk with him, and even hug him. Here’s how it all unfolded.
From Fried Catfish To Comedy Club Tickets
A few weeks before my birthday, my friend (a Texas native and the undisputed “Queen of Extra”) insisted I come up with a plan. Normally, I’d skip the fanfare, but she wasn’t having it.
Fast forward to the day before my birthday. We were sitting in a little hood spot in Dallas, eating the best fried catfish of our lives, when I casually said, “I just want to go to a comedy show.”
Right then, a man sitting nearby suggested we check out Improv, a popular comedy club in Arlington. I looked it up, browsed the lineups, and nearly fell out of my chair when I saw that Mark Curry was performing on my actual birthday.
It was fate. We booked our tickets immediately.
Birthday Outfit: Extra, But Worth It
The next day, we hit up Nordstrom at Galleria Mall because my friend decided I needed to be “birthday glam.” (I told you, she’s extra.)
She was right.
I ended up in a floor-length pink dress with a bow in the front, paired with my white boots I’d originally planned to wear to the Cowboy Carter tour. Let’s just say the compliments didn’t stop all night.
Mark Curry Lights Up the Stage
At 7:30pm sharp, the lights dimmed, and Mark Curry took the stage.
He was hilarious. The kind of funny that makes your stomach hurt because you can’t stop laughing. His physical style of comedy—acting out every single joke—kept the audience howling. My friend and I are still cracking up over a joke he told about auditioning in Hollywood.
I didn’t want the set to end. But what came next was the real surprise.
Invited To The Stage
As he wrapped up, Mark did something I’ve never seen at a comedy show before: he invited everyone celebrating a birthday up on stage.
One by one, we climbed up as he helped each person. No rushing, no brushing people off. He cracked jokes with us, asked our names, and gave each of us our little moment in the spotlight.
When it was my turn, I told him I was celebrating with my friend—and then I turned to him and said something I’d always wanted to: “Thank you for sharing your gift with us. I’m so grateful you chose to become an actor and comedian.”
He actually paused, looked a little surprised, and said he didn’t expect that response. You could tell he was touched. And then, the icing on the cake—I asked if I could hug him, and he immediately said yes. He hugged me – like hugged me, hugged me. Like I knew me.
No Selfies, But Memories Forever
Because phones weren’t allowed during the show, I didn’t bring mine on stage. (One lady did, and she got some incredible shots—lucky her!) But my friend managed to record from the audience, so I at least have video of the moment.
Even without photos, it was unforgettable. That night, I didn’t just laugh until my cheeks hurt—I got to connect with someone who has brought me joy since childhood.
Giving Mark Curry His Flowers
That’s what made this birthday so special. It wasn’t about going “big.” It was about stepping outside of my comfort zone and ending up with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Mark Curry is a comedy legend, and meeting him was a reminder of how important it is to give people their flowers while they can still smell them.
This was, without a doubt, a birthday I’ll cherish forever.
What about you—have you ever had a celebrity encounter that left you speechless?
I am so disappointed that you were in Arlington, TX up the street from where I live and I did not see you! So disappointed!
Alice! I am so sorry. I went to Texas over a decade ago and wasn’t sure what part I was in. I wish I remembered. But, I am looking to relocate to Dallas. So, if I do, we will become neighbors. Haha. Thanks so much for reading. I miss your beautiful face.