Esther Povitsky

Esther Povitsky (born March 2, 1988) is an American stand‑up comedian, actress, writer and producer who first gained attention under the stage name "Little Esther." She was born in Chicago, Illinois to Mary and Morrie Povitsky, a family of mixed Russian‑Jewish and Finnish Christian heritage, and grew up in the suburb of Skokie before graduating from Niles North High School in 2006. After three years at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, she left school dissatisfied with the sorority‑centric culture and pursued comedy, studying at iO Chicago, The Second City and later The Groundlings in Los Angeles. Povitsky quickly became a regular performer at The Comedy Store, The Ice House and The Improv, and in 2015 she appeared in the semifinals of Last Comic Standing and made history as the first female guest on The Joe Rogan Experience. Her television credits expanded with recurring roles such as Maya on Crazy Ex‑Girlfriend (2016‑2019), appearances on Brooklyn Nine‑Nine, Love and Parks and Recreation, and a starring role as Izzy in Hulu’s Dollface. In 2015 she wrote, starred in and produced the short film Alone Together, which was later developed into a Freeform series that ran for two seasons (2018‑2019). On July 17 2020, Comedy Central aired her debut special Hot for My Name, cementing her reputation as a bold, self‑deprecating performer. Beyond screen work, Povitsky co‑hosts several podcasts—including Weird Adults with Little Esther and Glowing Up—and runs the fashion line “Sleepover by Esther,” frequently promoted on Instagram. Engaged to comedy writer Dave King, she welcomed a daughter in March 2024, marking a new personal chapter while she continues to create and perform across multiple media platforms.