Sinbad is back.
The comedian and actor, 69, took to Instagram on April 29 to announce his return to stand-up comedy — his first time on stage since suffering a stroke in October 2020. He performed that same night at the Ice House in Pasadena, California, with a second show set for May 10 at the same venue.
“I can’t walk. Since the stroke in 2020, I have not been on stage,” he said in his video announcement. “I’m gonna get my feet wet April 29 and May 10 at the Comedy Ice House in Pasadena, California. It’s just the beginning of me coming back. I got so much stuff to talk about. I’m gonna be talking more trash than I ever talked.”
Making the night even more special, his daughter Paige Bryan opened for him — the first time the two have shared a stage as comics. Comedian Chase Anthony also opened the show.
Paige didn’t hold back about what the moment meant to her. “This is bigger than I can fully comprehend,” she wrote on Instagram Stories, The Grio reported. “Since starting comedy, my dad has only been able to watch me perform twice. Mainly due to the fact that MOST clubs are not ADA accessible so he literally can’t get in there. It’s been heartbreaking to be on this journey without my biggest cheerleader, so when I say tonight is special — it’s a moment I will NEVER forget and ALWAYS cherish.”
Sinbad, born David Adkins, first rose to fame on Star Search before landing the role of Coach Walter Oakes on A Different World from 1987 to 1991. He went on to star in his own sitcom, The Sinbad Show, and became a household name through films including Jingle All the Way, First Kid, and Good Burger. He also hosted Showtime at the Apollo from 1989 to 1991.
His stroke in 2020 was triggered by a blood clot that traveled from his heart to his brain. His family confirmed the news weeks after it happened, and in November 2022 released a full update crediting prayer and community support for his survival. Sinbad made his first public appearance post-stroke in February 2024, joining A Different World cast members via Zoom for an HBCU tour stop in Atlanta. He returned to acting in 2025, playing Benny in Tyler Perry’s Straw alongside Taraji P. Henson.
On the night of his return, Sinbad captioned his post: “Some moments you don’t rush. You just wait until they’re ready. Tonight is one of those moments. I’m coming back to the stage — and I’m bringing family with me.”
Welcome back, Sinbad. We’ve been waiting.