Esther Povitsky
Esther Povitsky (born March 2, 1988), for a time known by the stage name "Little Esther," is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, and producer. Povitsky, from Chicago, is the co-creator and star of the comedy series Alone Together (2018); she starred as Izzy in the Hulu series Dollface. Her debut comedy special, Hot for My Name, premiered on Comedy Central on July 17, 2020.

Early life and education
Povitsky was born in Chicago to Mary and Morrie Povitsky. Her father is of Russian-Jewish descent and her mother is a Christian and of Finnish descent. Her mother worked as an administrative assistant for the Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook. She has one older half-sister from her mother's first marriage. Esther grew up in the Chicago suburb of Skokie; she graduated there from Niles North High School in 2006.

After high school, Esther Povitsky attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign for three years before she dropped out to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and acting. "I was really unhappy at my school," Povitsky recalled. "A lot of people were in sororities and a lot of people drank all the time, and I wasn't into either of those things, so I really did not feel like I fit in."

She then studied comedy at iO Chicago and The Second City in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles, where she took classes with The Groundlings. She has performed regularly at The Comedy Store, The Ice House, and The Improv which are all in southern California  .

Career

2012–2014: Early projects
Povitsky had a recurring role, starring as Maya on the series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend from 2016 until 2019. Other television appearances include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Love, and Parks and Recreation. She was in the semifinals of 2015's Last Comic Standing (season 9).

Povitsky was the first female guest to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience; she began podcasting with Deathsquad.tv regularly after that. She hosted Little Esther's Piecast and was the former co-host of Brode & Esther with fellow comedian Brody Stevens. She was the host of Weird Adults with Little Esther and along with Caroline Goldfarb, co-hosts Glowing Up, a makeup and beauty-themed podcast. She often appears as a guest on Deathsquad.tv's Ice House Chronicles.

In 2012, Povitsky turned down an offer from MTV to do a reality show based on her life as a comedian because she felt the series would be too invasive.

2015–present: Alone Together and Hot for My Name

In 2015, Povitsky wrote, starred in, and produced the short film Alone Together. Later the short was adapted into a pilot for Freeform and produced by The Lonely Island. In December 2016, the pilot was picked up to series. In October 2017, Freeform renewed the series for a second season ahead of its January 2018 debut, however the series was canceled after its second season in 2019.

On July 17, 2020, Povitsky's debut comedy special, Hot for My Name, was released through Comedy Central.

Fashion brand 
Povitsky has her own fashion brand, "Sleepover by Esther"; she advertises it on Instagram. She regularly advertises her brand on the Trash Tuesday podcast and often posts herself on Instagram modeling her brand's clothing.

Personal life

Povitsky previously dated Kill Tony hosts, Tony Hinchcliffe and Brian Redban. She is currently engaged to comedy writer Dave King; they welcomed their first child, a daughter, in March 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Comedy specials

Podcasts

References

External links

 
 Podcast - Glowing Up
 Podcast - Weird Adults with Little Esther

1988 births
Actresses from Chicago
American film actresses
American people of Finnish descent
American people of Russian-Jewish descent
American stand-up comedians
American television actresses
American women comedians
American women podcasters
American podcasters
Comedians from Chicago
People from Decatur, Illinois
Living people
People from Skokie, Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater performers
21st-century American actresses
21st-century American comedians
Jewish American comedians
Jewish female comedians