21 Feb 26th-March 4th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | The Man With the Golden Voice Patrick Warburton brings his standup act to Phoenix. P atrick Warburton thanks the Lord that acting and standup comedy worked out. Dozing through community college was never going to propel him anywhere except REM sleep. Lucky for him, his signature deadpan delivery found its calling. Now he’s bringing it to the Desert Ridge Improv, where his “Still Catholic” run hits the stage March 6 to 8. “I disclose a lot, so at the end of the night, you might like me more,” Warburton says. “Or you might like me less.” Either way, audiences tend to recognize him long before the lights come up. Warburton’s résumé is anything but subtle — he’s the deadpan force behind Puddy on “Seinfeld,” the smirking scene‑stealer on “Rules of Engagement” and “Less Than Perfect,” and the unmistakable voice of Joe Swanson, the eternally intense para‑ plegic cop on “Family Guy.” His characters all share that signature voice — the slow, velvety drawl that trails off like the late‑night perv calls of the 1980s. Warburton, who was scheduled to fly to Florida for a movie just before the Phoenix show, says he’s fortunate and grateful. “This is a very strange business,” he muses. “Certain doors open for you; certain doors don’t. They’ll put you in a box and, unfortunately, you can’t do certain things. I didn’t get into the busi‑ ness to be a comedic actor, but that’s primarily what I’ve done. I’m always looking to do something different. Diving into standup a couple of years ago was a really great move because it has been a fantastic ride and experience.” His work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital isn’t a laughing matter. To support it, he hosts an annual Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament next month in Palm Desert, California. He founded the event 16 years ago and has since raised more than $38 million for charity. Warburton credits his board and volunteers for the success. “I take the most pride in because it truly is the most inspirational hospital in the world,” Warburton says. “(The center) is non‑proprietary, so they share everything with the rest of the world. St. Jude has truly changed the world and saved so many lives. I have a deep sense of compassion for others. I feel it’s a normal human condition.” Warburton says he’s “fortunate enough to have four healthy children.” His family supports his career, although his wife sometimes rolls her eyes at his “blue” jokes. “She said I should be concerned about my ‘brand,’” he says. “I say, ‘Darling, I know I work for Disney. But there’s an immunity on stage in standup.’ It’s the one safe place where you can be dangerous. The court jesters 1,000 years ago had immunity.” Warburton grew up studying the greats — the precision of Steve Martin, the raw electricity of Richard Pryor — and he talks about them with the kind of reverence usually reserved for saints or baseball legends. Their influence still threads through his own work, even as he’s carved out a voice that’s unmistakably his. “They made me laugh,” he said. “We all have a different sense of humor. Comics will go in one direction or just (joke) about general societal perspectives. “Mine has a lot to do with relationships, being married for 35 years and everything that comes with that. I also include industry anecdotes. I mix it up.” The true key to his success is coffee and his love of mocha or caramel latte. Either could have saved him in community college. “I could have been saved, but I hadn’t discovered coffee yet,” Warburton says. “If I had coffee, I probably would have stayed awake in class. I’m on so many different stimulants now — coffee, nicotine and apparently, Adderall.” Patrick Warburton: 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8. Desert Ridge Improv, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. Tickets start at $36.90. Patrick Warburton (Desert Ridge Improv) ▼ Arts & Culture
