Dylan Thompson’s Days Off
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Mitchell Swetich
Team Cliff & Vi
Dylan Thompson, 46, moved back to his hometown of Maryville, Mo. to care for his family after years of chasing adrenaline around the world. Skydiving and BASE jumping fueled his life, but when the extreme sport lifestyle lost its edge for him, Dylan went looking for a harder thrill: stand-up comedy.
"When you're BASE jumping, you have to accept the possibility of death, but getting on stage is scarier than that," Dylan said.
Comedy has given Dylan a new sense of purpose that extreme sports couldn't offer. He's invested $15,000 in making his comedy set feel professional. He hopes to eventually turn a profit, but for now he's content treating it as a passion project.
Dylan Thompson takes a cold plunge at his friend Gentry Martin’s house in Maryville, Mo. He soaks in 45-degree Fahrenheit water for 3 to 4 minutes, listens to music, then submerges his head for as long as he can hold his breath, hoping to reach a meditative state.
Looking for new ways to joke around and make his friends laugh, Dylan wears a tiger mask he bought at a costume shop in Denver, Colorado.
Dylan rolls a joint before watching his comedy tapes and writing new material. He smokes marijuana and says his high helps his creative mind.
The Maryville Forum newspaper featured Dylan in August 2026, when he began performing at a local comedy club he is working to start.
Dylan hosts and produces a comedy open mic at The Hanger, giving other artists a platform to perform.
Dylan laughs as he watches his own comedy set in the living room of his home to critique and learn from himself.
Dylan writes his comedy set punchlines in shorthand, helping him brainstorm. His jokes are meant for adult audiences – not for the family.
After bowling, Dylan pulls down his jeans to expose a tattoo on his butt of the words “I KNOW.” He isn’t afraid to use his body as a canvas for his jokes.
Dylan takes a quiet moment in his bedroom while setting up his newly purchased PlayStation.
Dylan plays poker at a friend’s house in Arkoe, Mo.
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