STATELINE, Nev. – Actor and comedian, Bret Ernst, has come a long way since his first swing at comedy 29 years ago. 

A week before his 25th birthday, Ernst and his friends attended an open mic. It was on this fateful night that he took his initial step on the road to becoming a comedy veteran. 

“I wrote the jokes down word for word on cards,” Ernst laughed as he reminisced on the memory of his first time on stage. “You don’t want to do that.” 

From Miami to a brief stint in New York, and across the country to Hollywood, Ernst worked his way to The Comedy Store, a historic comedy club located right on the Sunset Strip.

“It’s the most famous comedy club, probably, in the world,” said Ernst. “I worked there every night for almost 17 years.” 

Among other famous comedy clubs in Los Angeles, there’s the Laugh Factory and the Hollywood Improv. Ernst was among the few to get into all three clubs for gigs. 

Eventually, he landed a role in the hit show “Weeds” and then went on to be a season regular on “Cobra Kai” as Cousin Louie LaRusso. Yet Ernst always found his way back to comedy. 

“Comedy is first. Always has been. I love stand-up,” Ernst said, and he’s dusting off his snow boots to return to Lake Tahoe after more than ten years.

Unlike that first night 29 years ago, now when Ernst tells jokes, they roll off the tongue. He’s as comfortable as can be during stand-up routines, more comfortable than skiing on the slopes of Heavenly, that’s for sure. “I can see why people enjoy it,” Ernst said as he recalled his last time skiing in Tahoe. “It wasn’t for me. I just remember pizza and french fries.” 

You can catch Ernst in his element on Saturday, February 21 at Bally’s as he uses his wit and charm to keep you captivated and chuckling.

He’ll be doing two shows inside Blu Nightclub at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

Tickets to both performances are available at casinos.ballys.com/lake-tahoe/events-calendar.aspx