David Cross on Growing Up in Chaos, Comedy as Survival, and Becoming a Dad

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with David Cross—Emmy-winning comedian, writer, and actor, best known for Mr. Show with Bob and David, Arrested Development, and The Ben Stiller Show. Over the course of his career, David has earned multiple Emmy and Grammy nominations and shared three SAG Award nominations for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Behind his sharp wit and cultural commentary lies a turbulent upbringing: frequent evictions, extreme poverty, a volatile father who vanished, and a mother doing everything she could to stay afloat. David recounts how those early years shaped him—not just as a comic, but as a person still reckoning with identity, responsibility, and what it means to create a different life for your own child.

They explore themes of Jewish identity, inherited trauma, the gradual disconnection from his British-Jewish extended family, and the firm decision to cut off contact with his father—despite living in the same city for over 20 years.

Now a father himself, David reflects on the gravity of being present, the legacy of emotional absence, and the quiet work of choosing a better path than the one you came from.

Guest: David Cross.

Host: Nabil Ayers.

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji.

Identified is produced and distributed by Palm Tree Island.

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