Judy Carter--standup comic, corporate speaker, teacher, author, actress and businesswoman. And if it seems like she must be a magician to have pulled all that off, well, yes, she is that too. Carter started her show business career as a magician at the tender age of eight and has been delighting audiences ever since.

"Judy Carter can show you how to make your sense of humor pay off." -Oprah Winfrey

But Carter, who has over one hundred television appearances under her belt, is much more than an entertainer. In 1989 she formed Comedy Workshop Productions, which runs comedy classes nationwide. Judy Carter also produces the annual California Comedy Conference, which is attended by top Hollywood VIPs, such as executives from HBO, Warner Brothers, the William Morris Agency as well as star performers, producers and writers. Her latest book, The Comedy Bible (Simon and Schuster, 2001) is the definitive guide to making a career out of making people laugh. She is also the author of Standup Comedy: The Book (Dell Books, 1989), which has sold over 150,000 copies.

"Remember when you saw your first paycheck? What did you say? 'This is a joke! And who is FICA and why are they getting all my money?'" -Judy Carter

In the past ten years, Judy Carter has had great success moving comedy out of the club and into the boardroom. Her signature technique of turning "problems into punchlines" has created a nationwide demand for her as a corporate and college speaker. Boeing, Lucent Technologies, FedEx, Blue Cross and SBC are just a few of the companies that have brought Carter in to help them tackle such sensitive employee issues like downsizing, layoffs and sexual harassment. Her keynote speeches--personalized for every industry, corporation and occasion--have made her a hit at conventions and company gatherings. Event managers know that it's never boring "business as usual" when Carter steps onto the stage.

Carter's proven ability to teach others to use humor to deal with stress and change has also not gone unnoticed by the media. The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and New York Times have all written articles about her pioneering "Don't get mad, get funny" approach to life. Judy Carter's also been featured on CNN, ABC World News, Good Morning America, Oprah and National Public Radio.

Carter has used her unique approach to comedy to raise consciousness as well as money for good causes. She created a comedy workshop for people living with AIDS---"HIV: Humor is Vital." In addition, she has worked with groups such as Cedar Sinai Hospital social workers and Wellness Community cancer patients to show them how "Humor Heals."

Judy Carter started her career as a professional magician and went on to become on of the first women to work at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood, where she created quite a stir with her "death-defying" escape from her grandmother's girdle. She has United Airlines to thank for her transition to a standup comic--they lost her baggage with her magic tricks and she had to go onstage without them. That launched her on a comedy career that saw her headline at top comedy venues across the country, and led to a nomination for Atlantic City's Entertainer of the Year. A passionate snowboarder and phenomenal matzo-ball soup maker, Judy Carter shares her home in Venice California with two dogs and a domineering cat.