Zach Galifianakis Recalls Working as a Busboy at a N.Y.C. 'Strip Joint' in His 20s: 'Not Proud of It'
Zach Galifianakis Recalls Working as a Busboy at a N.Y.C. 'Strip Joint' in His 20s: 'Not Proud of It'
Bailey RichardsWed, April 22, 2026 at 6:33 PM UTC
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Zach GalifianakisCredit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic -
Zach Galifianakis revealed he worked as a busboy at a New York City strip club until the late '90s
The actor said he is "not proud of" the gig at the gentleman's club, which said he worked until he was 28
Galifianakis is currently promoting his new Netflix docuseries, This Is a Gardening Show
Years before he cemented himself as a comedy legend, Zach Galifianakis was working behind the scenes at a New York City strip club.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Wednesday, April 22, The Hangover star, 56, revealed that he worked as a “busboy” at a gentleman's club in the Big Apple as a young adult, until the late '90s.
Galifianakis, who is promoting his new Netflix docuseries This Is a Gardening Show, made the revelation after he was asked to describe his “current relationship” with Hollywood, and address the narrative that he “sort of left” the industry.
“The lifestyle of Hollywood never fit with me. It’s not my thing,” the actor told THR. “So I work in it, but then I separate it. For me, it’s more healthy that way — to live in it and constantly go to things, that ain’t me.”
Zach GalifianakisCredit: George Pimentel/WireImage
“Maybe it would be if I’d been successful when I was younger, but I was a busboy at a strip joint till I was 28,” he then added. (Galifianakis was in his late 30s when he starred in 2009's The Hangover, which marked his breakout role.)
Asked what establishment he was employed at, Galifianakis then said, “Stringfellows in New York.” He also told THR he is not exactly prideful when it comes to that chapter of his life.
“Not proud of it,” he added of the busboy gig. “I do think my approach has always been a little bit different. I feel like I have a healthy relationship with show business because I am not that into it.”
The actor is seemingly referring to now-closed Manhattan nightclub Stringfellows, which The New York Times once described as “posh.” In 1992, The Times reported that the spot “was popular in the 1980's and recently reopened with semi-nude dancers."
The gentleman's club was one of several locations owned by late businessman Peter Stringfellow, who originally opened the flagship club in 1980 in London, according to the BBC.
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In his THR interview, Galifianakis also revealed that despite not being “that into” show business, he still loves his job.
Asked, “Do you still enjoy the work?” the actor said, “Always.” “I wake up in the morning, ready to go to work,” he continued. “Talking about it is where I go, ‘Oh, had I known this was part of the job …’ No offense to you, but this is the difficult part.”
The Between Two Ferns comedian also walked back some of his previous remarks about the difficulties of living in the spotlight.
“Some of that stuff I’ve said in the past about being known, I’m a little embarrassed by it,” he admitted to the outlet. “Because it seemed like I was complaining. That was never my intent. I was just trying to be honest.”
“I never find that showbiz people are that honest about being known and what it does,” the star continued. “It rattled me. It did, and I didn’t like it. That is not my feeling anymore. I don’t think about it at all. I live in an area where no one gives a crap, which is wonderful. The onus put on actors is so silly to me. It’s how we got a celebrity president.”
Zach GalifianakisCredit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
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Galifianakis’s latest project, This Is a Gardening Show, is a six-episode series in which the host “digs into the world of gardening, interviewing curious kids and eccentric experts in a funny, oddball celebration of the food we eat,” per a Netflix synopsis.
The actor is best known for his iconic role in The Hangover trilogy, hosting celebrity talk show Between Two Ferns, and starring in comedies like Masterminds, Due Date and The Campaign. He is also a prolific voice actor, lending his recognizable pipes to characters in Bob’s Burgers, The Lego Batman Movie and more.
Galifianakis also recently starred in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch remake. Up next, he is set to appear alongside Mia Goth and Dan Stevens in revenge comedy Hey Bear, per Deadline.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
