Nico Santos Reunites With San Francisco Comedy Friends In Heartwarming Gathering

Actor Nico Santos recently took to Instagram to share a nostalgic moment with his followers, posting a photo of what he called “A little San Francisco Comedy reunion!” accompanied by heart emojis. The image shows Santos smiling alongside friends from his early comedy days, capturing a warm moment of reconnection between performers who shared stages before their careers took different paths.

Before becoming a household name through his roles in “Superstore” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” Nico Santos honed his comedy skills in the San Francisco stand-up scene. The reunion photo represents a meaningful connection to his roots in live performance, where many successful actors and comedians begin their careers.

The gathering comes at an interesting time in Santos’ career, as he’s been increasingly visible across multiple entertainment platforms. This meetup appears to be a chance for the comedian-turned-actor to reconnect with those who knew him before his Hollywood breakthrough.

Santos has been particularly busy in recent months. He’s currently starring in the Tubi original series “The Z-Suite,” which has been generating positive audience response. The show, which has released all its episodes on the streaming platform, features Santos as part of an ensemble cast navigating comedy scenarios revolving around generational differences.

The actor has also been making the rounds on talk shows to promote his new projects. He recently appeared on Sherri Shepherd’s show, where he discussed not just his professional life but also his personal journey, including the heartwarming story of how he met his husband.

As featured in Tatler’s January 2025 issue, Santos shared his perspective on authenticity in the entertainment industry: “The more I leaned into being myself, the more people responded. Instead of trying to mould myself into what I thought Hollywood wanted, I decided to show them who I am.”

From Stand-up To Screen Success

Nico Santos, born Nicolás Sanchez, has come a long way from his beginnings in Manila, Philippines. After moving to the United States, he built a career that began in stand-up comedy before transitioning to television and film. His breakthrough role came as Mateo Liwanag in the NBC sitcom “Superstore,” where he portrayed an undocumented Filipino immigrant working in a big-box store.

However, it was his scene-stealing performance as Oliver T’sien in the blockbuster “Crazy Rich Asians” that significantly raised his profile in Hollywood. The film’s massive success helped establish Santos as a recognizable face in the industry.

Podcasting And Collaborations

Beyond television and film, Santos has been expanding his creative output through podcast appearances. A recent Instagram post by a colleague mentioned Santos appearing on the “Almost Alpha” podcast alongside Beth Stelling, suggesting he remains connected to the comedy community through various collaborative projects.

Santos’ ability to move between different entertainment formats—from traditional stand-up to streaming series, blockbuster films, and podcast appearances—demonstrates his versatility as a performer and his ongoing connection to his comedy roots.

Personal Authenticity

Throughout his career trajectory, Santos has emphasized the importance of authenticity. In promotional materials for his Trailblazer Award, he was quoted saying that his career journey—”from playing minor roles in school theatre productions to starring in Hollywood blockbusters”—has been guided by “determination, humour, and authenticity.”

This commitment to being himself appears to be central to both his personal philosophy and professional success, making his reunion with fellow comedians from his San Francisco days particularly meaningful. It represents not just a nostalgic gathering, but a celebration of the path that led him from local comedy clubs to Hollywood success without losing his authentic self.

As Santos continues to build on his impressive career trajectory, this San Francisco comedy reunion serves as a reminder of where his journey began and the importance of maintaining connections to one’s roots even as success takes you to new heights.]

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Pratibha

 

Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.

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