By: Grace Katich
D’yan Forest, a comedic mogul at age 90, still takes the comedic scene by storm. At age 87, she was crowned the Oldest Working Female Comedian by the Guinness Book of World Records and doesn’t plan on stopping her shows anytime soon.
How does D’yan Forst keep her competitive edge in the comedy game at 90 years old? She reveals her secret, which is to have a friendship with the Gen Zers. D’yan picks up on their current slang and will use it in their material, learning to appeal to younger audiences. “I hear, and I learn,” D’yan told me, even adding that at 90, it’s nice to have younger friends since they “stay alive,” she told me with infectious laughter.
D’yan began her illustrious career as a chanteuse (a nightclub singer) at age 37. The starlet would sing in multiple languages with a band behind her. However, She made an unexpected pivot into comedy after a life-changing event. Given the circumstances, she felt the sadness impact her career as nightclubs were declining. On a limb, she tried comedy. She was surprised by the laughter, feeling euphoric at the response. Before her comedic career, D’yan described herself as “shy”; however, comedy made her more “fun and outgoing.” Infusing her talent from her singing stint in her life, D’Yan incorporates a ukulele into her acts. At the start of her comedic career, she asked her coach if she could incorporate her piano playing into her act but was met with a curt No. That day, she spotted her ukulele staring back at her at her home- and the rest was history. She finds incorporating her musical talent allows the crowd to interact, singing alone with her. “It makes me different from the other performers on the stage… It makes me different.”
D’yan has had a long career, bringing laughter and joy to countless people along the way. She remembers the ups of her extensive career. D’yan resided in Paris for 2 years and did comedy there, even doing her acts in French- as she is fluent in 9 languages. Upon her residency, she auditioned for France’s Got Talent, Taking the stage in front of a large audience. She reflects on this moment, “‘I’ve never had such a huge audience in a huge audition. It was memorable because I did the thing in French. One side would laugh, then the other- it was a rolling cascade of laughter after joke. To hear a large audience laugh was fantastic.” The multifaceted comedian earned three yes’s from the judges.
D’yan’s comedy is like no other, often referred to as a “naughty Betty White.” Her style is fierce, saucy, and witty. D’Yan stresses that her comedy is always about making fun of herself and is often risque but never vulgar. “I’m not naughty; I’m just making fun of the truth of older people. People don’t understand that older people have fun. I’m educating the world.” The comedienne pulls the inspiration for her work from what’s going on in her life, from the dating scene to working or just getting older. When asked to describe her material in one word, she tells me, “I would say fun. Fun! Fun! Fun! I just walk on the stage. I just want the audience and me to have fun. I couldn’t think of anything else.”
So what’s next for the 90-year-old superstar? “I want to stay alive- that’s what’s next!” D’yan stresses how comedy keeps her alive, helping her stay young and active. That being said, D’yan will not stop or slow down any time soon. She is continuing to perform in NYC and France, and who knows, you just might see her auditioning for America’s Got Talent.
If you’re in New York City, you might catch D’yan performing at Gotham Comedy Club on Sundays.
Published by Stephanie M.
