About

Dianco Holder is a Minister/Gospel Comedian and is a member of Full Gospel Assembly of Queens in Richmond Hill, New York. 

Holder grew up in the small town of Dublin, Georgia where he first heard his calling: to serve people and to make them laugh. “I’ve always been a counselor to friends and family” he says, “It’s always been a part of my nature, serving people and their needs, being a voice for those who don’t have one.”

Coming of age in his tight-knit community, Holder absorbed the comedic sensibilities of his family and friends and the hard earned wisdom of his teachers, ministers, and elders, helping him form his own uniquely compassionate yet humorous perspective. Holder describes his worldview simply: “Laughter in everything.”

In 2004, Holder left his hometown for New York City, hoping to share his gifts of comedy and service to those in need. He earned his Bachelor of Professional Studies in Human Services from the Metropolitan College of New York and went on to become a credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor, senior trainer, and health educator. He is currently in the process of obtaining a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Long Island University. Throughout his studies and training, Holder credits his wife, Deborah Polidore-Holder, for being his number one fan, always pushing him to think outside the box and keep moving forward.

Helping patients manage issues such as substance abuse, chronic illness, and post-incarceration transition, Holder became familiar with some of the extraordinary challenges people face, strengthening his belief in the importance of humor in overcoming adversity. “Life can be difficult and laughter is good medicine” he says. Holder sees humor in everything. He tells his students “if you’re feeling bad and want to laugh, just walk out the door and look around”. 

As a comedian, Holder tells stories, performs characters, and improvises to meet the needs of his events and audiences. His comedy draws on people, observations, and experiences from his own life. He wants people to laugh but he also wants to send a message. “After they laugh” he says “they relax and they’re open to what I have to say”. Through his comedy, Holder hopes to share the values he’s held since his childhood in Dublin, Georgia: God First, honesty, compassion, empathy, tenacity, open-mindedness, faith, the importance of family, and, of course, the importance of laughter. 

bio by Andrei Hirschhorn