Nationwide — Comedian Sinbad returns to the stand-up stage more than five years after a 2020 stroke affected his mobility, announcing new shows in Pasadena. He shares recovery updates and plans to perform alongside his daughter Paige, who opens the set.
Sinbad posted a video on Instagram on April 29 addressing questions about his return to comedy. He said he still cannot walk following the stroke, but plans to perform at the Comedy Ice House in Pasadena on May 10th.
According to People, he described the shows as his way of stepping back into stand-up after years away from the stage. He also said he is looking forward to reconnecting with audiences in person.
“It’s just the beginning of me coming back,” he said.
Sinbad added that he has new material ready and joked about his return, saying he plans to “be talking more trash than I ever talked” once he is back on stage.
He also confirmed that his daughter Paige will open for him during the Pasadena shows. He said it marks the first time they will perform together as comedians. Paige shared that many comedy clubs are not ADA accessible, which has made it difficult for Sinbad to attend her performances.
Alongside his return to stand-up, Sinbad has also resumed acting work. He appeared in Tyler Perry’s film Straw, starring opposite Taraji P. Henson, marking another step back into entertainment after his health setback.
Sinbad suffered a stroke in October 2020 after a blood clot traveled from his heart to his brain, according to his family. They later shared updates expressing gratitude for public support and credited prayers and encouragement during his recovery.
In 2024, he made his first public appearance since the stroke through a Zoom reunion with the A Different World cast during a tour stop at historically Black colleges and universities in Atlanta. That appearance marked his gradual return to public life before stepping back onto the comedy stage in 2026.