Paul Elia

Paul Elia is an Iraqi-Assyrian actor, comedian, and writer from Detroit, Michigan. Known for his singular voice and sharp, culturally rooted comedy, Elia has emerged as one of the most compelling talents working across the stand-up, digital media, and television spaces. His viral content has amassed more than 250 million views across platforms, earning him a rapidly growing audience and widespread recognition.

His debut special, Detroit Player, marked a breakout moment, drawing acclaim from outlets including Deadline and ABC News Nightline. He is also the co-creator and host of the LowKey Comedy Show with Matt Rife, and the duo’s LowKey Comedy Special generated millions of views through widely shared digital clips.

Elia’s screen work includes recurring sketch appearances on Conan and roles in Lady Dynamite and Ramy. He is a series regular on #1 Happy Family USA, voicing multiple characters including standout fan favorite Uncle Ahmed, and recurs in season two of BET+’s Diarra From Detroit. His newest self-produced one-hour comedy special, Good Son, is now available on YouTube.

About The Belly Room

Hidden on our second floor, the Belly Room has been a testing ground for the best developing comedians over the last four decades. Not only have great comedy voices been discovered in this room but some of your favorite shows and podcasts got their start on this tiny but powerful stage. Built by Yakov Smirnoff and his father, the Belly Room is many comics' first home while they work their way up at The Store.