Demetri Martin

Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox priest. His family also ran a Greek diner, the Sand Castle, in Beachwood, New Jersey. Martin graduated from Yale University in 1995. Despite objections from his family, he dropped out a year before graduating NYU School of Law to pursue a career in comedy. Regarding the event, Martin has said: “It’s weird to make a decision where everyone in your life disapproves, pretty vocally and directly. They said, 'You've got one year left. Just do it.' I had a full scholarship so I didn’t have to pay for it. I ignored them. They asked, 'Why don’t you just get the degree so you can have it?' And I said, 'You don’t understand. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do and now I know. I have the answer and it’s dumb to waste any more time.'”