Leader of the Pack

By Natalie Cuomo
Photo by Emily Eizen

As a touring entertainer and the first female cast member of “Jackass,” Rachel Wolfson is a force to be reckoned with. The Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian is known for her quick-witted humor and fearlessness, especially when it comes to tackling personal subjects in her stand-up such as mental health. “I’ve been on this path to try and find the funny in the real, dark parts of my life,” she says. “It’s been challenging, but worth it.”

Wolfson started going to comedy shows in her twenties, where she developed the strong urge to get up on stage. “I loved watching comedians and got to a place in my life where I told myself, ‘If I don’t go after stand-up now, I will regret it for the rest of my life.’” From the first moment she held the microphone, Wolfson fell in love with stand-up comedy. It wasn’t just the adrenaline rush of making a crowd laugh that hooked her, it was the challenges inherent in stand-up and the satisfaction that comes from the work. “Anytime I feel like I’m growing as a comedian, I’m reminded of why I do it in the first place,” she says. “Comedy can be tough—as it should be when you’re learning an art form. It’s the moments of growth that make it worth it. My favorite is whenever I figure out a new joke or when something clicks on stage. It feels like I’ve unlocked a new level in my material.”

There is seldom a moment when Wolfson isn’t focused on comedy, meaning that even the most mundane daily interactions are seen through a work-based lens. “I think in jokes, so I’m always writing and thinking about my material,” she says. “I also do improv mics to keep different muscles fresh. Anytime I make someone laugh I write it down and see if it can work on stage.”

The unpredictability of the comedy world surprised Wolfson when she made the transition from fan to performer. “Comedy is a very transient industry, so what’s true today may not be true tomorrow in terms of the industry and the people who run it,” she says before offering some advice to her younger self: “Listen to yourself more, trust the process, embrace your mistakes but learn from them. Who you are is not your fault, but it’s your responsibility.”

The trends and tastes aren’t the only transient things in comedy—so are the performers. Wolfson is always on the road, which suits her perfectly. “I love traveling to different places, performing at new clubs and meeting new people,” she says. “I’ve never enjoyed staying in one place too long so I’m grateful I have a career where I get to move around and switch up my environment.”

She always returns home with new friends and plenty of stories to tell. Like the time she was doing a bar show in Palm Desert, California, when one woman got a little too rowdy. “I kept getting interrupted by this woman, so I tried to engage with her and even complimented her, but the alcohol in her was not having it,” Wolfson recalls. “She ended up getting escorted out but the audience was loving it. On the way out she poured her beer on the floor. I just kept trying to punch up by complimenting her, but it made her even more mad, which made it funny.”

Alongside stand-up comedy, Wolfson is also a cast member of “Jackass.” As a kid, she was a fan of the show and despite the warning to “not try this at home” preceding every episode, she came up with plenty of pranks on her own. “I would make prank calls, try to prank my dad for April Fools and prank my teachers in school,” she says. “I was a goofball and that’s probably why I was always in trouble. I always loved ‘Jackass,’ so being invited to join the family was a dream come true.”

Wolfson first worked alongside Johnny Knoxville by playing the granddaughter of Irving Zisman, Knoxville’s character from “Bad Grandpa.” “Learning the art of pranking and having those experiences is something I will always cherish,” she says. “Also the fact that we were able to safely execute pranks during COVID was cool too.”

For Wolfson, some of the most meaningful memories with the cast during “Jackass Forever” were behind the scenes. “Some of my favorite moments were of us off camera just hanging out and hearing stories from the OGs,” she says. “My favorite is going out to dinner after a long day of shooting and just laughing with the guys, or being at the premiere and getting to introduce my parents to all the guys. I will forever cherish these moments.”

In “Jackass Forever,” Wolfson endured some pretty painful pranks, including scorpion bites and taser licks. In fact, not all of the scorpion bites were even included in the final cut of the film! “The most painful thing I did in ‘Jackass Forever’ was the scorpion bite,” she laughs. “Ten out of 10, would not recommend.” Apparently scorpion bites hurt significantly more than getting a tattoo. Rachel has two Jackass tattoos, one of which is of a scorpion. “I have a high everything,” Wolfson says when asked if she has a high pain tolerance. “But, yeah, for sure. I think because of my mental illness I enjoy physical pain in some sick way. I have depression and anxiety and doing physical stunts and comedy is a release for me.”

Wolfson knew she wanted tattoos since she was young.“I remember my dad trying to make my sister and me promise we’d never get tattoos or piercings anywhere other than our ears growing up,” she says. “He even tried to make us sign a contract but we knew we weren’t going to keep it. We just signed it to make him happy. Sorry, Dad.”

Despite the lack of support for ink back at home, Wolfson has a tattoo that says “Raised By Wolves” for her family. “My last name is Wolfson,” she explains, “so it’s a saying I’ve always loved and I thought it represented my family perfectly.” Unfortunately for her dad, she doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon, as she plans on representing different parts of her life through ink in the future.

Fresh from working with the masters, Wolfson will soon be showcasing her own pranking prowess on ABC’s “Prank Panel.” If you’re lucky enough to see Rachel perform stand-up comedy, you’ll be keeled over with laughter, but keep your eyes peeled—a prank might be coming your way!