Lavell Crawford (born November 11, 1968) is an American stand-up comedian and actor from St. Louis, Missouri. As a child, Crawford suffered from numerous hardships, including a struggle with weight, a near drowning at age 10, and abandonment by his father. He attended Pattonville Senior High in Maryland Heights, Missouri, where he graduated in 1986. Crawford's first break came at a comedy club in Belleville, Illinois, where he hosted an open mic night. The owner of the club was impressed and paid him $250. First appearances were made on Def Comedy Jam and BET's Comicview. Crawford has appeared on numerous television shows including Premium Blend, The Jamie Foxx Show, Comics Unleashed, Showtime at Apollo, and most recently Last Comic Standing, where he finished second to Jon Reep. Crawford's material is mainly focused on him being a morbidly obese African-American man. He recently taped a special for Comedy Central Presents. Crawford often appears on Chelsea Lately. His most notable work is a headliner appearance on All Star Comedy Jam: Live from South Beach. He also appeared in the Season 4 opening of AMC's Breaking Bad.