Cameron Anne Young Anastasia Esposito (born October 17, 1981) is an American actress, comedian, and podcaster known for her show Take My Wife, as well as her stand-up comedy and her podcast, Queery. Esposito substantially focuses on topics surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, feminism, social justice, and the challenges faced by members of marginalized communities.
Early life Born to Italian-American parents Brenda and Nick, Cameron Esposito was raised in Western Springs, Illinois.Bosch, Sandy Illian (March 13, 2008). "Western Springs native lands comedy nomination". The Doings (Burr Ridge–Darien–Willowbrook, Illinois).Nekervis, Erin (August 1, 2011). "Chicago Crush of the Month: Cameron Esposito". Chicago Sun-Times. She is the middle of three children, having an older sister and a younger sister. In high school, Esposito swam breaststroke on the swim team,Considine, Mike (December 5, 1997). "Lake Park places third at Upstate Eight meet: Benet". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). p. 5. was a member of a community service group called The Marians Society,Wowchuk, Stefanie (December 27, 1998). "Marians open their hearts, ears at meetings". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). p. 1. and was a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program.Wowchuk, Stefanie (November 7, 1999). "Seniors named National Merit Scholars". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). p. 3. She graduated from Benet Academy in 2000."Suburban childhood experiences are comedy gold". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). February 11, 2014. p. 1."Candidates for graduation from Benet Academy". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). May 26, 2000. p. 7.
Esposito studied theology and English literature at Boston College, intending to become a social worker in Chicago.Borrelli, Christopher (October 10, 2014). "Comedian Cameron Esposito is on a charm offensive". TCA Regional News (Chicago). While in Boston, she played rugbyRamirez, Kaylie (May 28, 2018). "Boston Calling Day 3 Burns Out with Enigmatic Eminem Set". University Wire (Carlsbad, New Mexico). and performed in the school's improv troupe, My Mother's Fleabag.Zaino, Nick A., III (June 17, 2015). "No slowing down: Young comic Esposito is 'grinding' out a career". The Boston Globe. p. G11. Esposito graduated from Boston College in 2004."Headliners: Week of June 14, 2015 ". Boston College Magazine. Boston College. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
After returning to Illinois, Esposito began a Master of Social Work at the University of Chicago for one semester, before dropping out and deciding to pursue a different career.
Career Early stand-up career Esposito began her stand-up career in Chicago, performing in various local venues, including as a regular at The Lincoln Lodge from 2007 to 2011."Alumni" , The Lincoln Lodge. Accessed February 1, 2015. She has appeared at comedy festivals including SXSW, the Moontower, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and SF Sketchfest. To supplement her income, she worked in special education, as a law clerk, and as a nanny.Parikh, Rima (November 1, 2015). "A Q & A with comedian Cameron Esposito". University Wire (Carlsbad, New Mexico).
2013–present In 2013, Esposito made her television debut on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Fellow guest Jay Leno expressed admiration for Esposito, calling her "the future of comedy".Luippold, Ross. "Jay Leno Interrupts Cameron Esposito's Stand-Up, Calls Gay Female Comic 'The Future . The Huffington Post, September 4, 2013. She has appeared on ConanBendix, Trish. "Watch Now! Cameron Gets Gay on Conan" . AfterEllen.com, August 15, 2014. and on Last Call with Carson Daly. She voiced "Carroll the Cloud Person" on an episode of Cartoon Network's animated show Adventure Time. Entertainment website Consequence of Sound named Esposito its comedian of the year for 2014.Pickett, Leah. "Comedian of the Year: Cameron Esposito" . Consequence of Sound, December 7, 2014.
In the fall of 2014, Esposito created a series of videos with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures titled "Ask a Lesbian",Habersburger, Keith. "Questions You Wish You Could Ask a Lesbian" . BuzzFeed.com, October 31, 2014. in which she answers a variety of questions sent in to BuzzFeed staff about lesbianism. The videos also featured then-partner River Butcher.Star, Erika. "Lez Stand Out: Rhea Butcher and Cameron Esposito" . AfterEllen.com, February 20, 2013. In addition to touring regularly, Esposito was a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately with Chelsea Handler and used to write a regular blog on The A.V. Club."Who in the World Is Cameron Esposito?" TheAVClub.com Accessed January 29, 2015.
Esposito's comedy album Same Sex Symbol was released in December 2014 by Kill Rock Stars. She appeared on Comedy Central's Drunk History as a storyteller on October 20, 2015. Esposito co-hosted the stand-up comedy podcast Put Your Hands Together with River Butcher, which was recorded weekly in front of a live audience at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles from 2013 until July 2019.
Esposito is known for her lesbian content creation, especially hers and Butcher's television show Take My Wife, which streamed on Seeso until the service was discontinued in November 2017. In March 2018, Take My Wife was picked up by iTunes. The show was acquired by Starz in April 2018.
Esposito's podcast Queery is an interview-style podcast focusing on contemporary queer luminaries and their life experiences. Queery guests have included River Butcher, Lena Waithe, Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Evan Rachel Wood, Joey Soloway, Mary Lambert, Andrea Gibson, Margaret Cho, Alia Shawkat, Roxane Gay, Trixie Mattel, and Lea DeLaria.
On June 11, 2018, Esposito released Rape Jokes, an hour-long standup special about sexual assault from her perspective. The special was free to stream on Esposito's website, but viewers could pay to download a copy and proceeds would benefit RAINN, the United States' largest anti-sexual violence organization. By September 2018, the special had raised $65,000 in donations.
On March 24, 2020, Esposito released her memoir Save Yourself. In 2025, Esposito was announced as a guest performer on the second season of the panel show Smartypants, on Dropout. Additionally, on March 21, 2025, Dropout announced a standup special featuring Esposito, titled Four Pills, as an exclusive release on April 11. In Four Pills, Esposito explored being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 40 years old. Four Pills is Esposito's directorial debut.
On May 1, 2025, it was revealed that Esposito would be a guest judge on the upcoming drag king competition show, King of Drag.
Personal life Esposito is openly lesbian and was married to fellow stand-up comedian River Butcher from 2015 to 2018. Butcher and Esposito collaborated on multiple projects, including the Put Your Hands Together stand-up show, the podcast Wham! Bam! Pow!, and the TV show Take My Wife.
In April 2021, Esposito came out on Twitter and Instagram as genderfluid, stating that she uses both she and they pronouns. In June 2021, Esposito announced via Twitter that she had married Katy Nishimoto, an editor for Dial Press. In August 2025, Esposito revealed via Instagram that they were expecting their first child. They documented their pregnancy in a collaboration with The Try Guys in a series of videos called "Call Them Mother".
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2016 Sleight Luna First Girl I Loved Jasmine Operator Chloe Johnston Mother's Day Max 2017 The Hero Herself 2020 We Bare Bears: The Movie Ranger Tabes (voice) The Dark Divide Monty 2022 Moonshot Tabby
Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson Guest 1 episode 2014–2016 Last Call With Carson Daly Guest 2 episodes 2014 Conan Guest 1 episode Ask a Lesbian Host Web series 2014–2016 Maron Zoe 5 episodes 2014–2017 Adventure Time Carroll the Cloud Person (voice) 2 episodes 2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Server Episode: "Maya Rudolph Wears a Black Skirt & Strappy Sandals" Drunk History Herself Episode: "Journalism" 2016 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Liz Episode: "Roger Me Rightly" 2016–2018 Take My Wife Cameron 14 episodes; also creator, writer, executive producer 2016–2019 We Bare Bears Ranger Tabes (voice) 17 episodes 2017 Danger & Eggs Rad (voice) Episode: "Chill Twins/Nightmare" 2018 Big City Greens Additional voices Episode: "Parade Day/DIY Guys" 2019 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Jocelyn Pryce 2 episodes 2020 The George Lucas Talk Show Herself Episode: "The Search for Watto"2022–2023 A Million Little Things Greta Strobe Recurring2022 Hell's Kitchen Herself guest diner; Episode "Breakfast 911"2023 With Love Chauncey Episode: "Lily's Double Quinceañera" 2025 Dropout Presents Herself Episode: "Cameron Esposito: Four Pills" King of Drag Herself; Guest judge 1 episode2026Crowd ControlHerself Episode: “Lesbian Applause Break”
Albums Year Title Label 2010 Grab Them Aghast Rooftop Comedy Records 2015 Same Sex Symbol Kill Rock Stars 2016 Marriage Material Comedy Dynamics 2017 Back to Back aspecialthing records 2018 Rape Jokes aspecialthing records
Podcasts Year Title Role 2013–2019 Put Your Hands Together Host 2013–2015 Wham Bam Pow Host 2013–present Comedy Bang! Bang! Guest 2014 My Brother, My Brother and Me Guest You Made It Weird Guest 2014–2016 How Did This Get Made? Guest 2015 With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus Guest The Nerdist Podcast Guest 2016 Bad with Money Guest 2017 Homophilia Guest 2017–2018 Nancy Guest 2017–2024 Queery Host2021MorbidGuest 2023 Survive or Die Trying Host2025 Alphabet ClubGuest
Online Year Title Role Notes 2018 Good Mythical Morning Guest 2026The Try GuysGuest
Books Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes 2020 Save Yourself Grand Central Publishing Memoir 2021 Hungry Hearts: Essays on Courage, Desire, and Belonging (contributor) The Dial Press Essays
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