Adam Burke is a stand-up comedian, writer, and comic artist in the United States, best known for multiple appearances as a panelist on the National Public Radio comedy news program Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Born in Australia and raised in Northern Ireland, Burke currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.[1]
Adam Burke began his stand-up comedy career after his research for an article on the Chicago stand-up comedy scene for Chicago Social magazine led him to do an open mic night himself.[2] Early gigs included co-hosting a Wednesday night open mic with Cameron Esposito at Cole's Bar in Chicago, Illinois. His influences include Spike Milligan, Bill Hicks and Steve Martin.[3] Burke was voted Best Standup by readers of The Chicago Reader in 2014,[4] and won Second City's Up Next Comedy Competition.[5]
Burke released his debut album Universal Squirrel Theory on A Special Thing Records in 2012,[11] and in 2024, he released Weaponized Empathy.[12] In 2025, he released on YouTube his first filmed special UnAmerican.[13][14] Burke is the creator of the webcomic The Grimbles (published from 2001 to 2005), and Diabolica (published from 2000 to 2001).[citation needed]
