Comedian Sunda Croonquist at Asbury Park Comedy Festival

Life is funny. But Sunda Croonquist’s life is funnier. In her words, “When you’re Swedish and black and you look like a Puerto Rican, with an Italian stepfather and a Jehovah’s Witness mom who loves Country Western music, and sells Mary Kay while cheating on Amway, sends you to an Irish Catholic school with a Hindu first name, you’re bound to be different!” Add a Jewish lawyer husband to the mix, and Sunda had to become a comedian. Inspired by her father’s career as a musician and having a stage/pageant mom, she wanted to be an entertainer at a very young age. Sunda worked as a probation and parole review officer in Newark and later as a detective while taking acting classes and landed roles in local plays and films. While in NY, Sunda was joking around at a party and met Jackie Mason, who told her to consider doing standup. With her husband’s encouragement, she took a comedy class and had her first paid gig at a club called Don’t Tell Mama. Sunda was named NJ’s Funniest Female before landing roles on television and eventually getting a talk show, James and Sunda, which airs on JLTV (Jewish Life TV). She’s been featured on comedy shows and talk shows including: The Today Show, Nick Moms, Entertainment Tonight, Oprah’s, OWN, The Doctors, and recently featured on The View. And now you can catch Sunda Croonquist at the Asbury Park Comedy Festival this weekend at the Paramount Theatre. Did I mention she had legal issues with her mother-in-law? She’ll probably tell you herself. After the interview, please check out After Hours at Jersey Coastal Live for additional information.