Ali Siddiq
Biography
Siddiq was born in Houston. After his parents' separation, Siddiq and his siblings were raised by their single mother, living for a time in the projects. He and his siblings also went on to live with other family members. Siddiq started selling drugs around the age of 14 and was imprisoned at the age of 19 for trafficking in cocaine. He served 6 years of a 15 year sentence in the Ruben M. Torres Unit in Hondo, Texas. It was during his incarceration, while telling jokes to fellow inmates, that he discovered his ability to make people laugh. He worked in the prison's laundromat and his workmates were his captive audience. After his release from prison in 1997, Siddiq started doing stand-up at the Just Joking Comedy Cafe in Houston. His first stage appearance was during the comedy club's Apollo Night, which tended to attract a college crowd. Siddiq was booed on his first occasion on stage because he was wearing a suit. He decided to wait a couple of weeks before trying again while wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Siddiq became the co-host of the Apollo Night show a month later.
Known For & Full Filmography13 Titles
Drama Series - 1996, 16 episodes • as Self - Guest
The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.
Drama Series - 2012, 16 episodes • as Self - Comedian
Gotham Comedy Club, a popular comedy venue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, is the setting of an hourlong series that is shot in front of an audience at the club. Each episode features routines by several comics -- a list that has included such names as David Alan Grier, Gilbert Gottfried and Artie Lange -- in what the network says is an unedited and uncensored format. In addition to the big names of the field who take the Gotham stage, the show also features up-and-comers who want to make a name for themselves in the stand-up comedy business.
Drama Series - 2026, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Top storytellers share their wildest, unfiltered true stories before a live audience in this final installment of Ari Shaffir's 16-year exploration of long-form storytelling in stand-up comedy.
Movie - 2019, 2h 15m • as Ali Siddiq
The Workout Room is a dramatic comedy film about an up and coming comedian who is given the chance of a lifetime at the cost of missing his daughter's wedding. The Workout Room is a clean, funny, plot driven film featuring real life stand-up comedians.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as Self
Ali Siddiq delivers the final chapter in his comedy special series with The Domino Effect Part 4: Pins & Needles. This 2 hour special tells the true stories of Ali Siddiq’s last few years of incarceration for drug trafficking, how he started doing comedy and his eventual release from prison.
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Self
Ali Siddiq tells true stories and breaks down the differences between his 'old son' and his 'new son', and spoiler, one of them is much better than the other. In a break from the hugely successful 4 part Domino Effect series, which has over 35 million views on YouTube, this new special gives a look into Ali's family life, his sometimes unconventional parenting strategies, and his role as a father of 9 children.
Movie - 2018, 2h 15m • as Self
Shot at Bell County Jail in Texas, Ali Siddiq: It's Bigger Than These Bars shares Ali's hilarious experiences of both incarceration and freedom. Siddiq talks with jailers and the jailed about life in lockup, and explains why dousing yourself in baby oil and refusing to leave your cell is always a bad idea. Encouraging and inspiring his convict audience, Ali makes hard laughs out of hard time, restoring faith in the power of second chances.
Movie - 2023, 2h 15m • as Self
Following the success of Ali’s last special THE DOMINO EFFECT (over 9 million views in the first year) comes the sequel “THE DOMINO EFFECT 2: LOSS”. Ali tells the traumatic stories of his adolescence that ultimately lead to him going to prison for 6 years.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as Self
The next chapter in Ali Siddiq's comedy special series, The Domino Effect. This 75-minute special tells the true stories of Ali Siddiq’s first few years of incarceration for drug trafficking. The Domino Effect 1 & 2 have over 16 million views combined and are available on his YouTube page.
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Ali Siddiq is many things—a master storyteller, a comedy powerhouse—but a handyman? Not even close. In his brand-new special, RUGGED, Ali trades the past gripping tales of his Domino Effect series (40+ million views on YouTube!) for a hilarious deep dive into his current home life, where his DIY attempts go horribly wrong. From botched repairs and general home maintenance failures, to a family that has zero faith in his handyman skills, Ali delivers his signature blend of sharp wit and real-life storytelling. You’re going to laugh, cringe, and feel a little better about your own abilities.
Movie - 2023, 2h 15m • as Self
Ali Siddiq's new comedy stand-up special shares stories about parenting, dealing with people in society, his neighbors in a gated community, and some life lessons.
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Ali Siddiq: The Animated PTA Special
Movie - 2022, 2h 15m • as Self
The 49-years-old’s second comedy special, which follows his 2018 Comedy Central presented debut, Ali Siddiq: It’s Bigger Than These Bars, was filmed in front of a sold-out hometown crowd. In the new special, Siddiq tells hilarious true stories of growing up in Houston that include living with his hustling father that got him into illegal hustling because he wanted to buy a tracksuit that, inevitably, landed him in prison for six years.