Displaying the side-splitting humor that has made her famous, comedienne and actress Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams reflected on her journey from convicted felon to starring in her own Emmy-nominated BET+ series.
“I’m a convicted felon, and I could not find a job,” she recalled. “I was talking to a case worker who thought I was funny. I was just telling her a bunch of lies. And she ended up telling me I needed to do comedy. I gave it a try and never thought it would get this big. I was just trying to make enough money so I could stop stealing. And other things popped off.”
She added, “You know, I had a husband who was in my ear telling me to quit. But I know when I get myself into something, I can feel when it’s something there for me. Everybody was just trying to make me work at Target and Walmart. And I was like, ‘I’m too old to have that type of career.’ And I just stuck with being a comedienne because I’ve always been a trash talker. I’m the person in the group who don’t hold my peace with nobody, and people thought that was funny. But I was just being honest.”
The Atlanta native will be bringing her signature, raw brand of comedy to Baltimore Center Stage for three shows February 13-14, 2026. The Baltimore performances are part of her national tour.
“I chose Baltimore because I’ve been coming to Baltimore for quite a few years now,” said Ms. Pat. “And Baltimore has always turned out for me. I am excited. I just love coming to Baltimore.”
Season 5 of her Emmy-nominated sitcom “The Ms. Pat Show!” premiered in January. The first four seasons of the R-rated sitcom unpacked everything from drug addiction and abortion to sexual abuse and dysfunctional family cycles. Season 5 continues that trend as the multi-dimensional Carson family tackles topics including scars left by absent parents, scars created by present parents, and following your dreams through all of it.
Ms. Pat said that while her journey to stardom was long and difficult, the timing was perfect.
“I’ll tell everybody that I’m glad things popped off when they did,” she said. “If this was given to me when I was a little girl, I had the wrong man in my life and I was making the wrong decisions in my life. So, I’m glad I was able to get it while I am in my grown woman state, so I know how to handle it.”
Season 3 of Ms. Pat’s judge show Ms.Pat Settles It premiered Nov. 4th on BET. In the tradition of Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, and Steve Harvey, Ms. Pat takes hold of the gavel to settle people’s everyday disputes. Using her signature, hilarious sensibility Ms. Pat and a jury of her comedy friends resolve high-stakes disputes on the weekly court show. Such disputes include who is financially responsible for dog poop on the rug, do food stamps count as payment, and what is proper hair wig etiquette.
“The goal through my work is to let people know not to give up no matter what you’ve been through in life,” said Ms. Pat. “Whatever your dream is, you got to believe in yourself. Because you know, people thought I was crazy. I remember telling one of the comedians I worked with I was going to get me a sitcom. He said ‘Yeah, that’s what everybody says.’ And here I am. But one thing I truly believe about life is you have to speak life into whatever you believe in.”
Ms. Pat recently co-starred in the remake of the 90s classic film “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” She also has a YouTube cooking show, “Whisking It All with Miss Pat.”
“I think my gift is bringing joy to people and making them laugh,” she said. “I just want to see a person smile.”
Ms. Pat talked about what people can expect at her Baltimore Center Stage performances.
“For that hour and a half, or two hours, you’re going to spend with me, I’m going to take all of your pain away,” she said. “We’re going to have a good time. When you are with me, whatever you are going through, I’m going to make sure it is not on your mind.”
For tickets, performances times and other information, visit www.centerstage.org.