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Actor Derek Mio returns to Huntington Beach for his hometown comedy debut

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It’s homecoming week for Derek Mio, a filmmaker, comedian and Hollywood actor who grew up in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach High School alumnus — whose work includes appearances on “CSI,” “Bones” and a character voice for “The Emoji Movie” — will make his hometown comedy debut Thursday at the Rec Room, a bar and arcade that opened this year near Golden West College.

Mio, a USC film school graduate who lives in Los Angeles, is new to the comedy world. He’s been acting for about 15 years but grew tired of waiting for roles. So he tried his hand at comedy and already has performed at major Los Angeles-area venues such as the Comedy Store, Laugh Factory and Ice House.

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“It’s been a lot of fun, meeting some of the biggest comics in L.A., getting laughs,” said Mio, 35.

Mio is scheduled to help open for comedian John Campanelli Thursday and do about a 12-minute set with topics such as his life growing up in Huntington Beach, being an Asian American in Hollywood and defying stereotypes.

Mio also might bring out his impressions of presidents Trump and Obama, actor Morgan Freeman and drug lord Pablo Escobar as seen on Netflix’s “Narcos.”

At Huntington High, Mio was involved in basketball, not performing arts, he said.

“It wasn’t cool at the time,” he said with a laugh. “We were just jokesters.”

But, inspired by actor-comedian Dana Carvey and others, he found he had a knack for impressions. At a team banquet, Mio did a routine impersonating the coaching staff.

“It got huge laughs,” he said. “The bug was probably planted then.”

Aside from his comedy appearances, Mio is working on a documentary about the artists in his family.

Thursday’s show starts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7. Tickets are $15.

The Rec Room is at 7227 Edinger Ave. Guests must be 21 or older.

For tickets or more information, visit recroomhb.com.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint

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