Comedian Brian Posehn will deliver “dumb jokes in a smart way” during his stand-up 8 p.m. Friday at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway.

Posehn, who also acts, writes for the “Deadpool” comic book and hosts the “Nerd Poker” podcast, intertwines self-deprecating humor with life experiences in his comedic material.

Northern Star: When did you get your start performing? How old were you?

Brian Posehn: Back then — I already feel so old by starting with ‘back then’ — but I think now you can start going to comedy clubs when you’re younger. Back then, there weren’t as many options. I had decided I wanted to do stand-up when I was about 20, and I called a couple of clubs in my town, and I couldn’t get in until I turned 21.

So, I actually went the week I turned 21 and did stand-up my first time. I had been writing jokes for the six months before that getting ready for that night.

The first time, I crushed. I crushed out of the gate. The second week I went back with a short set but tanked it. I just could not get a laugh. I had loved it so much the first time that I wasn’t discouraged. I just figured out that’s how it works, so I’ll just keep doing this.

NS: What was the best piece of advice you received when you were starting out?

BP: The advice in the beginning wasn’t good, actually. I can’t even think of someone who really set me up on my way. I just kind of notice what other people did, and that’s what helped me the most.

… When I first started in Sacramento, the guys didn’t really know what they were doing. When I moved to San Francisco, I found these comics I really liked like Jake Johannsen and Patton Oswalt, and we made friends right away. I kind of did what they did where they wrote every day and get on stage as much as possible.

Whenever a comic asks me for advice now, that’s what I say: Write all the time and get up all the time. If you don’t live in a city where you can get sets all the time, move to a place where you can do that as many times a week as you can. That was the best advice that I got from watching other people.

NS: How did you know this was what you wanted to do with your life?

BP: Because I hated the other things. I was going to be a journalist, actually, so it’s funny when that comes up. That’s what I was going to school for.

I interviewed a band, and it went so terribly. I realized I didn’t want to do that forever.

Then the other option was I was thinking of being a deejay, and I was working for a top 40 station doing comedy bits up in Sacramento. I liked doing the comedy bits, but I hated the other parts of that job.

Just seeing what comedians did and feeling right away that I could do it, that’s what made me decide this is what I’m going to stick with.

NS: What is your favorite thing about voice acting?

BP: How easy it is. It’s one of the easiest things I do. You don’t even have to memorize it. With my stand-up, there’s writing and performing. Then when you’re acting, there’s memorization, blocking and all that stuff.

With voice-over, you just have to be able to read. If you can read and you have a couple of silly voices or if your natural speaking voice is kind of unique, like mine is, there’s a lot where people want me to just do my voice.

I actually do have a couple of other voices I have done over the years. But it’s mostly because they want this guy. He sounds kind of muppet-y.

NS: You’ve appeared on numerous popular shows, like “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Big Bang Theory” and many others. What is one that always stands out when you look back?

BP: ‘Seinfeld’ because it’s the show. It’s one of the shows I still watch when it’s on. I feel like I’ve done mostly quality shows, but ‘Seinfeld’ was just iconic. It was one of those things where out here, everybody wanted to get a part on ‘Seinfeld,’ and I got in just under the wire. They had four episodes left.

Jerry Seinfeld, one of the things I take away from the show, was how cool that guy was. Even in my auditions, he was super encouraging. I went in a couple of times, and he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, don’t get discouraged. Keep coming back. They like you.’ So I came in for a couple of different parts, and I got it the third time I went in.

The most amazing thing was during the week, they have a ton of stuff going on. The show was winding down … . Jerry made a point to come up to me and say, ‘Hey, we overshoot, so some of the stuff you do might not get used. I just want you to know that it’s not you. It’s not for any reason other than time.’

I couldn’t believe that. I thought that was the coolest thing — the boss and probably the biggest comedy star at the time and still because nobody has really surpassed him.

He knew I was a stand-up, which is why I think he was so cool to me. If you know him, he loves comedy. I just took away from that, that you can be the biggest comedian in the world but you can still be a human and still be really cool.

NS: What’s one show you would like to be on?

BP: ‘The Walking Dead.’ I haven’t done many dramas. I have done other stuff, but I have always wanted to be the creep on one of those shows like ‘CSI’ or the weirdo on ‘24.’

I’d like to play some kind of character that people haven’t really seen me do — a guy locked up in a cabin with all his guns waiting for the apocalypse, then ‘The Walking Dead’ people show up, and I go nuts. You’re not a regular on that show. You either end up with a bullet in your head or a zombie. Either way, you’re dying.

NS: Where do you get inspiration for your shows?

BP: Everywhere. A lot of my act now is things that I’m going through or happening to me. It’s really self-deprecating at this point. There’s a lot of body humor. My last record was called “The Fartist” for a reason.

The one I’m working on now is kind of more of that self-deprecating, but there’s stories. Things that have just happened to me. Anywhere a joke comes from, if I like it and it makes me laugh, the true test is doing it in front of people. Asking my wife if it’s stupid or funny and, you know, trusting that.

NS: What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

BP: There’s a bunch of different things. I’m an ongoing writer on ‘Deadpool’ for Marvel Comics. That’s one of the side things I do. I have my podcast.

I’m working on a new stand-up record, and I don’t know if I’m going to do a DVD this time like I did last time or not. I haven’t decided.

I’m doing a metal record with a bunch of heavy metal guys … . It’s really silly but super metal. I’ve done a couple songs over the years … but I’ve never done a full album.

NS: What keeps bringing you out to DeKalb?

BP: This will be the fourth time, and it’s just been a great city. It makes sense to then do Chicago and bang two shows out. So far, it’s always been a lot of fun.

NS: What can fans expect with your show on Friday night?

BP: I hate to say more of the same, but if they’re fans they know what they’re getting. It’s always silly, I hope.

I think I do dumb jokes in a smart way, if that makes sense. I try to be silly, try to have a good time, and I don’t want to do things you’ve seen a million times.

I want to have a new take on it. I’m such a big fan of comedy that I want to do things that I would enjoy.