Ralphie May

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For 25 years now, Ralphie May has appeared at the biggest venues, slayed every late-night audience multiple times, recorded a special for every comedy-loving network on television, traveled the world for the USO and reached the level of popularity few stand up comedians have attained.

Yet little compares to the amount of exposure May will receive on Feb. 27 when Netflix exclusively launches his new comedy special “Unruly” at the same time it releases the new season of “House of Cards.”

“That’s the biggest launch in Netflix history,” May said. “The wave for ‘House of Cards’ is a tsunami and I’m the fat guy trying to body surf. What’s up? It’s going to be incredible. These guys are taking me to the middle of the country. They’re taking me into people’s homes. I’m the luckiest guy in America.”

You could make the argument May already was among the luckiest, with a charmed career that’s equal parts sweat equity and choking the life out of every opportunity that came along. He fell in love with comedy after performing at a church conference at age 13, and winning unexpected rewards. He turned professional at 17 when he opened for Sam Kinison after winning a contest as a dual-enrollment student at the University of Arkansas.