Tom began performing at the age of 15. When he turned 19 he began his professional career. At age 20 he became one of the infamous "Outlaw Comics" and his comedy became dark and cutting edge. Tom began to challenge the audience's core belief systems as well as his own. At this point Tom began to grow into an artist not just a stand-up comedian under the strong early influence of Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison.

He began polishing his stand-up routines by touring comedy clubs throughout the United States and in 1991 he won "Austin's Funniest Person" and later the Austin Chronicles "Critic Choice Award."

His recent work as a producer, writer, director and actor on the no-budget short film "A Fist Full of Pills" is a tribute to his stand-up piece also called "A Fist Full of Pills" which is currently the #1 requested bit on XM Satellite Radio off his lastest CD "Words Are All I Have." The short film was accepted in the 2005 Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival. The film took just a short weekend to shoot with his fellow comedians Tom Rhodes, Slade Ham and Caroline Picard. The film cost no money and is a tribute to Tom's resourcefulness as an artist. He was honored to receive a rare "special mention" at the Comedia 2005 Awards.

The Eat My Shorts!
Audience Award for Best Short Film
A special mention goes to the film Fist Full of Pills by Tom Hester & Slade Ham (USA, 2005) for so well exemplifying the mandate of Comedia as a home for stand-up comedians who have written, starred in or produced their very own big-screen Presentations, as well as in recognition for the exceptional critical and public response it garnered at the festival."
Just For Laughs Comedia Website ©2005

His recent trips to entertain troops stationed around the world is a testament to his courage and patriotism. Within weeks of 9/11 Tom was on a plane to Germany to lend his comedy to the troops fighting for his right to do it. Soon thereafter he traveled to South Korea, Japan, Italy and Bahrain. Tom performed more than 40 shows in six overseas tours. Tom also is inspired by lending his talent to the civic community and many charitable organizations in the past decade. His latest fundraiser was for The Tsunami Relief Fund at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

He has performed at:

Improvs in Hollywood, Santa Monica, San Diego, Houston and Dallas
The Comedy Stores in Hollywood and La Jolla
The Laff Stops in Houston, Austin and Mont Clair
Stand-Up New York in NYC
The Comedy Workshop, Houston
The Velveeta Room, Austin
JFL Montreal Comedy Festival: 1995, 2001 and 2005
The Crystal Palace: 3 shows during the Aspen Comedy Festival
Houston Comedy Festival
--- and too many to mention internationally in the last 20 years

TV

NBC Friday Late Night
Comedy Central: Insomniac with Dave Attell
ACTV Austin

Tom Hester has appeared with:

Bill Hicks
Sam Kinison
Mitch Hedberg
Tom Rhodes
Dave Attell
Thea Vidal
Ellen Degeneres
Doug Stanhope
Ron White
Bill Ingvall
Jeaneane Garofalo
Carlos Mencia
Emery Emery
Sean Rouse
Johnny Hardwick
Felicia Michaels Becky
Phyllis Diller
Elayne Boosler
LaWanda Page
T. Sean Shannon
Charlie Shannon
Paula Poundstone
Brett Butler
Boy George
The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Special thanks to Lenny Bruce. Richard Pryor.
Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison
whom without none of this could have been possible.

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