Skyrocketing gas prices and the historic possibility of a Black president are some of the things funnyman Patrice O’Neal might discuss during his four-night run—May 8-11—at the Pittsburgh Improv this weekend.

“Having opinions about what’s going on around you like with your wife and kids or your family is what I use to make people laugh,” said O’Neal. “At one point I got into comedy to make people laugh but now, (I’m in it) to make people laugh at what I think is funny and to make people feel emotional over things coming out of my mouth.

PATRICE O’NEAL

“I always knew I was funny because I enjoyed laughing and making people laugh. I got chased home and suspended a lot while I was in school. Nothing was sacred,” he continued.

Citing comedic legends Richard Pryor and George Carlin as his inspiration, O’Neal got his start in comedy by happenstance. He was at the Boston-based Estelle’s heckling a fellow comic and the comedian suggested maybe O’Neal thought he could do better.

O’Neal took the challenge and the following week he performed at Estelle’s and brought down the house.

Afterward he gained steady employment at the Comedy Connection. He quickly moved from there to working the majority of clubs in and around Boston, New England and New York.

Since that time, the 6-5, 300 pound-plus comedian has appeared on “The Late Show with Conan O’Brien” three times and was a regular on Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.”

The avid shopper has also made guest appearances on numerous television shows such as NBC’s “The Office,” and Fox’s “Arrested Development.”

His voice can be heard in the animated shows “Shorties Watchin’ Shorties” and “O’Grady High.” He also had roles in “The 25 Hour,” which was directed by Spike Lee, “In the Cut, starring Meg Ryan and “Head of State” opposite comedian Chris Rock.

O’Neal will have his own HBO “One Night Stand” half hour special airing late this summer.

O’Neal said if he wasn’t a comedian he would be in jail for embezzlement or some other white-collar crime. “I work really hard to be lazy,” he said. “I admire people who work hard every day for a living.”

When O’Neal isn’t making audiences laugh he can be found at home in New Jersey. “I bought a house a few years ago and when I’m not on stage I like to sit at home and just stare at the ceiling fan,” he said.

O’Neal offers sage advice to those who want to become a comedian: “Don’t call yourself a comic until someone else calls you a comic,” he said. “It’s nothing but a hobby until it’s a job. Just get up on stage and do it and remember that anyone you admire or you think is famous, was funny in the back of a school bus once.”

(The Pittsburgh Improv is located at 166 East Bridge St. in Homestead. For more information on O’Neal’s shows, call 412-462-5233 or visit www.improv.com.)