May 19, 2015

O’Donnell ’78 inducted into R.I. Comedy Hall of Fame

callout O'Donnell 2After more than three decades as a funnyman, Frank O’Donnell ’78 became the fourth person inducted into the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame.

But that’s not how he spends his days. O’Donnell, who majored in accountancy at PC, is an assistant vice president for quality control at Embrace Home Loans in Middletown, R.I. The rest of the time he is a writer, stand-up comic, actor, and playwright.

He got his start in comedy by writing parody news articles for a local radio station. In 1982, O’Donnell performed his first stand-up routine at a talent night. “I was absolutely terrible — two laughs in 15 minutes — but that was enough to keep me going,” he said.

Since then, O’Donnell has performed in community and professional theater and written four Christmas-themed plays based on characters that developed in his stand-up. He also writes a humorous pop culture blog — published nationally — for a network of radio stations.

“I just keep trying to grow in it, and I go where it takes me,” he said.

He lives in North Providence with his wife and three children, who have all explored the performing arts themselves.