Marcello Hernández’s Family And Fame Shape His Comedy

Marcello Hernández’s rise to comedy stardom has been anything but ordinary. With his infectious energy, sharp wit, and deeply personal material, he’s become one of the most talked-about cast members on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in recent years. But behind the sketches, the viral moments, and the Netflix specials lies a story rooted in family, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity.

Born to parents who immigrated to the United States—his mother from Cuba and his father from the Dominican Republic—Marcello’s upbringing is a tapestry of cultures, struggles, and, as he often jokes, “different levels of English.” According to Hollywood Life, Marcello’s parents divorced after moving to the U.S., a fact he’s never shied away from in his stand-up. In his now-viral 2022 Montreal “Just for Laughs” performance, he quipped, “My mom being from Cuba and my dad from the Dominican Republic means that they are divorced. It doesn’t work out.” He continued, “They came to America with the same idea, just a little bit different. My mom got here, and she was like, ‘Oh my god, look at all of these opportunities.’ And then, my dad got here and was like ‘Oh my gosh, look at all of these opportunities. This is not a place to be married. This is the land of opportunities.’”

While his father has been supportive—visiting the SNL set and, as Marcello joked on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, charming the writers with his unique English—Marcello’s mother, Isabel Cancela, has been a constant presence both in his life and his comedy. Isabel’s journey is as compelling as her son’s. As reported by TODAY, she left Cuba at age 12 after her family lost their home, relocating first to Spain, then the Dominican Republic, and finally settling in the U.S. “We left with nothing,” Isabel recalled. That experience fundamentally shaped her approach to parenting. Marcello remembers, “If I lost a soccer game or something, I’d be crying in the car. I’d be like, Mommy, we lost. (She’d) be like, ‘You could have lost your house.’ There was never sympathy.”

Isabel worked various jobs and even went to college while pregnant with Marcello, all while raising him and his sister as a single mother. “I’m incredibly proud,” she said in a joint interview with Marcello on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle on January 15, 2026. “As a working mom while I was raising him and my daughter, and as a single mom, it’s the ultimate reward when your kid honors you in his own way. And I think it’s a pat on the back from God telling you, ‘It’s OK. Don’t feel guilty. They’re OK. He’s fine.’”

Marcello has never hesitated to give his mom her flowers. In his Netflix special, American Boy, he not only jokes about her strict parenting—claiming, for example, that she wouldn’t allow him to be depressed or have ADD—but also introduces her to the world. “She’s always had a big personality, and she went through a lot, and so it was always important to me, as I got older and I realized what it’s like to be a mom,” Marcello said. “I’m 28 now. At 28, my mom had already had me, and she was dealing with raising a family, so I have a lot of respect for her for that. And so, in the special I kind of try to make it funny that she went through all this stuff. It’s how I give her her flowers.”

Isabel’s influence on Marcello’s work is unmistakable. She’s the inspiration behind the now-famous SNL sketch “Protective Mom” and the viral “Domingo” sketch, both of which catapulted him to a new level of fame. “I think it’s how I sound, not in front of people,” Isabel said of her son’s portrayal. Marcello added, “Behind the scenes, it’s, like, her thoughts. It’s like if we got to hear her thoughts.” Isabel admitted, “That sketch is my favorite.”

But Isabel’s support doesn’t end at inspiration. She’s fiercely protective of her son—even online. As TODAY revealed, Isabel created a fake Instagram account under her dog’s name to defend Marcello from negative commenters. “When I see something that is negative about him, I just said, ‘Oh, I bet you’re so funny. Oh, negative Nancy! Oh, negative Nelly!’” she said. Marcello finds it amusing: “She would say really crazy stuff to people. Somebody was like, ‘This guy is not funny at all.’ And my mom is like, ‘I would like to see you try to do something like him.’”

Marcello’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. In a candid conversation on Brittany Broski’s Royal Court podcast, he shared how not every SNL pitch lands. He recalled an alien bathroom attendant sketch with Kenan Thompson that never made it to air. “We wrote one where me and Kenan are bathroom attendants, but we’re actually aliens,” he said. “It was literally like us being bathroom attendants, and someone comes in and someone walks out, and we’re like, ‘We hope you enjoyed to pee with us, sir.’” The punchline, he admitted, got “no good” reactions. “Being able to humble yourself is really special, it’s very important,” he reflected. “I’m a big accountability guy.”

Despite the occasional flop, Marcello’s career is on a meteoric trajectory. His Netflix special, American Boy, filmed in his hometown of Miami, debuted on January 7, 2026, and has been lauded for its blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling. As Filmogaz noted, Marcello credits comedian Chris Rock with giving him crucial advice: to stay authentic and true to his roots. That authenticity has helped him resonate with audiences, particularly younger generations craving genuine voices in entertainment.

Marcello’s talents are extending beyond stand-up and SNL. He’s slated to voice Fergus and Farkle in the upcoming “Shrek 5” alongside Skylar Gisondo, and he appeared in “Happy Gilmore 2” in 2025. Through it all, he remains grounded, drawing strength from his family’s journey and the lessons of humility and perseverance instilled by his mother.

As Marcello Hernández continues to carve out his space in the comedy world, his story serves as a testament to the power of family, resilience, and the courage to laugh at life’s toughest moments. With his mother by his side—sometimes literally, sometimes as a fictional Instagram defender—Marcello is poised to keep audiences laughing, thinking, and maybe even calling their moms.