Jeff Ross
Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz (born September 13, 1965; height 5 ft 10½ in (1.79 m)) is an American stand-up comedian , actor , writer , director, and producer , best known by the moniker "Roastmaster General" for his expertise in insult-based roasting comedy . Born in Newark, New Jersey , and raised in a family of kosher caterers in Springfield, he developed his craft through early work in the family business before pursuing comedy professionally. Ross rose to prominence as a regular roaster on Comedy Central's celebrity roast specials, where his unfiltered, boundary-pushing humor targets high-profile figures across entertainment, politics, and beyond without regard for conventional sensitivities.
Ross has executive produced, written, and performed in numerous roast events for networks including Comedy Central and Netflix , emphasizing live, improvisational insult exchanges that highlight comedic resilience under pressure. Key achievements include creating and hosting Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle , a competitive format launched on Comedy Central in 2016 that pits comedians against each other in roast-offs, influencing modern insult comedy competitions. He has also produced acclaimed specials such as Patriot Act : A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie (2005), which satirized post-9/11 American patriotism through roasts, and Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail (2017), where he performed for inmates in a high-security Texas facility, demonstrating his willingness to engage audiences in challenging environments. Additional specials like Jeff Ross Roasts Cops (2016) feature ride-alongs and roasts with law enforcement , underscoring his approach to comedy that confronts authority directly.
In 2025, Ross expanded his career with the Broadway one-man show Take a Banana for the Ride , a mix of roasting anecdotes and personal reflections debuted at the Nederlander Theatre, marking a transition to theatrical performance while maintaining his signature irreverent style. His body of work, performed for diverse audiences including military personnel at bases like Joint Base Andrews, prioritizes raw, equal-opportunity humor over audience appeasement, contributing to his status as a pivotal figure in contemporary roast comedy.
Jeffrey Ross, born Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz on September 13, 1965, in Springfield, New Jersey , was raised in a Jewish family in the suburban environment of northern New Jersey . He has a younger sister named Robyn .
Ross's childhood was marked by significant family tragedies. His mother, Marsha, died of leukemia when he was 14 years old. Five years later, at age 19 while attending college, his father died from a cocaine-induced brain aneurysm. Following these losses, Ross lived with his grandfather in New Jersey .
These early familial hardships, including the sudden deaths of both parents before Ross reached his early twenties, contributed to the personal challenges of his formative years in a working-class Jewish household.
Ross attended Boston University , majoring in broadcasting and film with a minor in political science . He graduated from the university's College of Communication.
During his college years, Ross engaged in campus media activities, including work at the student-run radio station WTBU , which aligned with his academic focus on broadcasting . These pursuits highlighted his initial creative inclinations toward film , media production, and performative elements of communication, though without evidence of formal comedy involvement at that stage.
After graduating from Boston University , Ross relocated to New York City in the late 1980s, where he began pursuing a career in stand-up comedy by attending open-mic nights across the city. Living with his grandfather during this period, Ross frequently traveled to comedy clubs, honing his initial material through repeated performances at these venues.
