Joey Diaz is a famous Cuban-American comedian. His fans know him mostly from his roles on film and TV and his podcasting career. However, few people know his life outside his funny jokes and witty punch lines. Even a quick Google search will give you very little information even if you look up “Joey Diaz young.” What was a young Joey Diaz like?
Much like anybody else, Joey has his fair share of baby pictures, high school yearbook memories, and other similar mementos. Let us look at what this iconic stand-up comedian was like through the years when he was young.
Young Joey Diaz:
1. Young Joey Diaz in a suit
In this photo, you see a very young Joey Diaz with another family member. The kid is seen wearing a suit, showing his stage presence even as a young kid! Joey, or “CoCo,” as his fans call him, posted the photo on Twitter to commemorate his childhood. This photo is just one of many images that CoCo posts on his social media pages to keep in touch with fans.
2. Joey Diaz dancing as a pre-teen
Joey Diaz, as a pre-teen, is probably something you would be curious to see. In this photo, you can see another memory of young CoCo as he seems to make a dance move. This is an image that frequently pops up on his media, such as YouTube videos or his popular podcast, Uncle Joey’s Joint. You can see the kind of energy present in Joey even as a very young man.
3. Joey Diaz as part of his high school basketball team
Joey was also part of his basketball team in high school. Here he is depicted alongside his teammates back in the late 70s. There were a lot of memories made back then, although only a handful of photos have been publicized. This one is a rare depiction of Joey during his high school athletic days, having fun while enjoying the highs and lows of being in the varsity.
4. Joey Diaz with a funky haircut and friends
Another photo of a very young “Uncle Joey” was posted by him on his Twitter page. Here, you see an even more personal look at the comedian. He is enjoying his time with middle school classmates at his former institution. Joey is depicted in the middle, sporting a distinct and unique haircut. He posted the photo on Twitter, noting the hair.
5. A high school yearbook photo featuring Joey
Of course, Joey has his yearbook photos intact. A photo of Diaz from high school has made rounds on the internet. You can see his signature facial expression in this photo, which is probably a few years after the photos above were taken. Much like many of the pictures in this article, the source is Uncle Joey, who likes to connect with his fans and followers.
6. Joey Diaz with a friend in 1982
Uncle Joey shared another vintage throwback photo of his from 1982. Joey, who was born in 1963, would have been 19 years old in this photo. You can see his young energy in this image, alongside his handsome smile as he enjoys a hug from one of his friends. The photo is a testament to the many friendships Joey would make throughout the rest of his life and career.
7. Joey in wintertime
Known for his frank demeanor and wide smile, the comedian has built a following from his stand-up comedies and podcasts. Before he was seen on television shows and movies, Joey also studied at the University of Colorado before getting his big break. As Joey got older, he developed more of his wisecracking and open personality. In this photo, Joey is a few years older. Taken during the winter, you can see a grin on his young face.
8. Joey Diaz at home in the 90s
Joey continued to get more traction as a comedian into the 90s. His first official routine was held in 1991. During this time, Joey struggled with his cocaine dependency. Nonetheless, he kept smiling and powering through his personal struggles. Many of his jokes and online remarks are based on his experiences with these heavy topics. In this photo, Joey is seen relaxing while sitting. Presumably, this was taken on a break from his stand-up jobs.
9. Joey Diaz outside a bar in the 90s
Throughout the 90s, Joey continued to build a presence for himself in the comedic circuit. He gained traction and built a solid fanbase as he cracked jokes in many events and functions. This attention allowed Joey to build momentum. During this time, Joey also struggled with his divorce from his ex-wife. He also lost contact with his daughter. Here he is around the same time period, in a vintage photo outside a venue.
10. Joey Diaz headshot for Hollywood roles
As the decade came to a close, Joey started to get some steam in the entertainment industry. He was offered a role in a television pilot called Bronx County. He also started getting roles on Law and Order and NYPD Blue in the following years. This photo depicts Joey in the latter years of the decade, posing for a series of shots that he later shared on Twitter.
11. Joey Diaz, 2002, in NYPD Blue
The iconic series NYPD Blue featured Joey Diaz in one of his first memorable roles on television. This break was soon followed by appearances in other shows like My Name is Earl. He also started showing up in Hollywood movies, such as Spider-Man 2 and The Longest Yard. This particular scene of his in NYPD Blue was also uploaded on YouTube as a highlight reel, depicting his onscreen talent.
12. Joey Diaz in Spider-Man 2 (2004)
While the part in the movie was very small, Joey Diaz appeared in a memorable cameo in Spider-Man 2. In the film, he has a piece of dialogue that is now iconic on the internet. While on a train where he encounters the titular hero, Diaz’s character and other passengers come to his defense as he faces a villain. With the release of new Spider-Man movies over the years, Diaz’s cameo has continuously re-emerged due to being iconic.
13. Joey Diaz in My Name Is Earl (2007)
While the earlier appearances were more like cameos, Diaz’s star power continued to rise. Towards the end of the 2000s, he started appearing as a recurring cast member on My Name is Earl. The beloved comedy series featured Joey as the Candy Bar Criminal. This role allowed him to gain more fans and roles on the small screen. This photo shows one of his appearances in the television show.
14. Joey Diaz posing with weed
Joey Diaz has been vocal in his occasional use of weed. This passion is one he shares with his good friend Joe Rogan. Both of them have talked about their use of these products on their podcasts. It is also one of the reasons why Joey has maintained a steady online presence. In this photo, he poses goofily with what seems to be a type of plant. The image has since become a popular meme on many internet websites.
15. Joey in Stacy’s Mom (2010) as a teacher
Joey welcomed the 2010s with another film role. This time in the comedy film Stacy’s Mom. Like some of his other film and TV roles, the appearance was uploaded to YouTube as a highlight reel. This thumbnail depicts Joey’s role in the movie, where he portrayed the teacher of the teenage protagonists.
16. Diaz at the premiere of Grudge Match (2013)
The actor and comedian continued to appear in various film roles in the 2010s. Many of these appearances have allowed him to bolster his portfolio in the industry. In 2013, he attended the premiere of the movie Grudge Match at the Ziegfeld Theatre. The red carpet premiere was just one of Diaz’s many appearances throughout the decade.
17. Joey with his daughter and his dog
Joey later remarried in 2009 to Terrie Clark. They have one child, Mercy Sofia Diaz, born in 2013. Joey shared photos of himself with his daughter throughout the years. One of the most memorable ones is this shared image on Twitter, where he poses with his daughter and his dog. Over the years, Mercy has continued to make appearances with her father.
18. Joey and his daughter at the premiere of Coco in 2017
Mercy continued to appear in photos with his father. They continued to show their strong emotional and familial bond, inspiring fans and followers. In this photo, Mercy and Joey attended the premiere of the children’s movie Coco. It is one where Joey shows his pride in his daughter, who is politely addressing the crowd.
19. Joey Diaz filming a TV show in 2020
Joey did not stop taking film roles after he settled down with his family. The actor lends his appearances to the small screen even with his own podcast followed by many people worldwide. In this photo, he is seen sporting an orange shirt as he shoots a television program in the United States. It was taken before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has hurt many productions in the country.
20. Joey Diaz with co-stars for an HBO Max movie in 2021
The year 2021 has been difficult for many people, but Joey Diaz has kept the ball rolling. He landed a role in a prequel movie based on The Sopranos. The movie was highly successful on HBO Max. Diaz appears in the film as the character Buddha. He shares scenes with many other talented actors, including Ray Liotta. This photo shows Diaz in the film.
