Mike Binder

Successful comedian, writer and filmmaker Mike Binder knew by age nine that he wanted a career in comedy.

“I always loved comedy. I was a class clown and was involved in high school skits…I’ve been making a living at it since I was 17 years old. I just knew it’s what I wanted to do,” he explained.

Binder was born in Detroit and moved to Birmingham with his family in sixth grade. He spent many summers of his youth at Camp Tamakwa in Ontario, Canada, which later became the inspiration for his 1993 comedy-drama movie, “Indian Summer.”

Binder wrote and directed the movie which his childhood friend, film director Sam Raimi, had a supporting role. Binder attended the camp with Raimi and actor-comedian Tim Allen.

“I had lots of fun as a kid growing up in Michigan and still have so many friends from that time.”

After graduating from Seaholm High School, he moved to Los Angeles with the intention of getting into the local comedy scene and to attend Los Angeles Community College, where he “struggled the first week of class.”

Binder said initially started working as a doorman at The Comedy Store, a famed comedy club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, and moved into performing alongside legendary comics such as Howie Mandel, Bob Saget, Jim Carey, Chris Rock and Jay Leno. “It became my education,” he remarked.

He was also able to work with his close friends from Michigan, Tim Allen and Dave Coulier – Coulier later being best man at Binder’s wedding and the godfather to one of his children.

In 2020, Binder directed, produced and starred in Showtime’s documentary miniseries, “The Comedy Store,” which explored the history and different time periods of the celebrated club and featured appearances by a lengthy list of famous comedians.

“It was a community and fellowship of guys I know to this day. It was a magic time. I was in the right place at the right time – I was very lucky.”

Over the years, Binder made several films about Detroit including “Crossing the Bridge” and “The Upside of Anger.” He is currently working on two Detroit-related films, one about Henry Ford II and the other a boxing movie with his son, Burt Binder, a talented actor, producer and writer.

The comedian also recently wrote a crime thriller novel, “Long Day in Detroit,” soon to be released.

Binder lives in Santa Monica and has been married for 38 years to his wife, Diane, with two adult children, Molly and Burt. He proudly notes he has been sober for 41 years. He returns to Michigan regularly for comedy performances, film projects, Detroit Tigers games, and to visit friends and family, including his mother who still lives in the area.

“I’m writing, directing and back doing stand-up [comedy] and having fun. I’m never going to retire,” he said, adding, “I live five blocks from the ocean and spend a lot of time down there. I have a really good life here, but my heart is still in Detroit."

After decades in the entertainment industry, Binder offered this guidance: “Figure out a way to do what you want to do and then do it. If you want to do stand-up comedy, go to an amateur night and just do it. Learn to write – it's a shortcut to the front of the line. Write a screenplay – write, rewrite and write another one…Learn all the new AI tools...ChatGPT can be just as useful for feedback as studio notes are.”

He reflected, “Through all the ups and downs and dry spells I never changed what I wanted to do. It’s been one of the blessings of my life that I always knew what I wanted. I’m very lucky that something always came along and I’ve been able to do it my way.”

Story: Tracy Donohue