World's Oldest Female Comedian, 90, Performs On LI: 'It Feels Great'

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — While many seniors in their golden years might be tucking into early bird specials and turning in early, D'yan Forest of Southampton, 90, finds herself taking nighttime gigs to entertain crowds with her hilarious stand-up comedy.

Forest, who received the Guinness World Records title for Oldest Working Female Comedian in the World, will be joining Harry Freedman, Keith Fairfax, Tim Thomson, Mike Ellison, Emily Santosus, and Kathy Arnold for a comedy show Saturday night at the Sticks and Stones Comedy Club, presented by the Southampton Cultural Center, located at 25 Pond Lane.

Forest, who just celebrated her 90th birthday on July 31st, has been hailed by critics as the "naughty version of Betty White."

According to her bio, Forest has appeared on SNL, Comedy Central, and France’s Incredible Talent. She regularly performs her distinctive stand-up, complete with ukulele, at Gotham Comedy Club, The Broadway Comedy Club, Le Poisson Rouge, and many more.

Her popular one woman show, "I Married a Nun" has landed her on the same stages as Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, and the late Joan Rivers. She also shared memories in her book, "I Did It My Ways", she said.

Forest, who grew up in the Boston suburbs, left the U.S. after a divorce and went to study abroad in Paris.

"After falling in love with the city, Forest would then embrace the French culture fully, which would determine the trajectory of the rest of her career," her bio said.

Once back in the United States, Forest performed as an international singer at golf clubs, country clubs, bars, and restaurants. However, her life as a singer was cut short when the entertainment business in New York City was brought to a halt after the 9/11 attacks.

"With no idea that she had the capability to be funny, Forest became what the world needed the most at that time — a comedian," her bio said.

Ukulele in hand, Forest put together a hysterical and risqué one-woman show which continues to draw crowds. She most recently performed her new show “D’yan Forest: 90 Years of Songs & Scandal” at Joe’s Pub.

Speaking with Patch, Forest described the experience of pivoting from singing to stand-up.

"I transitioned from singing to comedy because after 9/11, my singing and piano jobs were canceled. A lot of us musicians were out of business," she said. "When I asked Caroline [Hirsch] of Caroline’s Comedy Club how to get into comedy, she got a coach to advise me on what I could do. I started making jokes about my age, and then put the singing into the comedy by doing parodies on my ukulele, singing and playing. It worked great, and I was accepted from the very beginning doing this innovative type of comedy."

She added that in her act today, she's able to incorporate all of her talents. "I love doing the comedy because I love hearing people laugh with me, not at me. It’s been a great transition."

Comedy's changed over the course of her lifetime, Forest said.

"Now, comedy is, much of the time, done in the clubs where I work by very young people. Young fellows with mustaches and beards in their 20s, and young girls talking about their sex lives in their 20s. It seems to be getting younger and younger; therefore, I am quite an outlier because I’m 90 years old and talking about these things."

But her age doesn't stop Forest from forging ahead with her hilarious, and sometimes bawdy, brand of comedy.

"It feels great to be an old working comedian, because when I first walk into a club, people want to know which comic’s grandmother I am — and have no idea that I will be performing. When I get on stage, believe me, they are totally surprised by my schtick, and are totally entertained by this old lady. It gives me happiness that I can entertain all ages."

Foster describes how she manages to maintain such a high level of stamina on and offstage.

"I take 12 pills every morning, and then I swim almost every day, and walk at least nine holes of the golf course during the summer. I have mostly younger friends who keep me having fun and keep me active. I don’t sit home and just watch television."

The entertainment landscape has changed dramatically since she first embarked upon her career, Forest said.

"The changes I’ve seen are that shows and movies are more explicit. Nothing’s barred. You can do anything and everything now in the entertainment business — and I do."

Over the years, Forest said she's met many stars and famous people, both from doing comedy and being in films. "What I find is that everybody is the same when you get down to the person-to-person level. Even though they’re famous, they’re just average people with hopes and dreams like me."

When asked about the secret to living a long and happy life, Forest laughed. "There is no secret, except I have never smoked or drank very much. It’s not that I’m pure, but since I was young, I've felt that these things wouldn’t help my physical life. I keep the sports going, and I keep doing my career because it makes me memorize and learn new things, so my brain keeps active. I will never retire because I always have something to work on and look forward to."

Looking ahead, Forest said: "My goals are to keep working, to get my comedy and singing even better known — and to stay alive."

The doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show at the Sticks and Stones Comedy Club at the Southampton Cultural Center Saturday night.

Doors open a half hour before the show, so guests can mingle in the art gallery and enjoy drinks and snacks before showtime.

Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased here.