You’ve seen him as the arrogant but lovable Bumper in Pitch Perfect or the manic, high-energy version of himself on Workaholics. Adam Devine has this vibe that screams "California surfer who spent too much time at a frat house," but that’s mostly just movie magic and a really good tan. If you’re wondering where is Adam Devine from, the answer isn’t the beaches of Malibu or some Hollywood acting dynasty.
He's actually a guy from the Midwest.
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Born on November 7, 1983, in Waterloo, Iowa, Adam didn't stay a Hawkeye for very long. His family packed up and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, when he was just ten years old. This is the place he really considers his hometown. It’s where he grew up, where he survived a near-fatal accident, and where he developed the sense of humor that eventually made him a millionaire.
The Nebraska Roots Nobody Talks About
While most people assume he’s a West Coast native because of his connection to Orange Coast College, his formative years were spent in the Millard area of Omaha. He’s a 2002 graduate of Millard South High School. Honestly, Omaha is a huge part of his identity. He even shot a Netflix special there because he wanted to go back to the people who knew him before he was "Bumper."
His dad, Dennis Devine, worked for the railroad. His mom, Penny, was the one who helped keep his spirits up during some incredibly dark times. He has a sister named Brittani, too. They were just a normal, middle-class family until 1995. That was the year everything changed for the Devine family on a random street in Omaha.
The Accident That Should Have Killed Him
If you ask where is Adam Devine from, you have to talk about the intersection in Omaha where he nearly lost his life at age eleven. It’s a story he’s told a million times, but it never gets less terrifying.
He was walking his bike across the street. He waited for three cement trucks to pass. Thinking the coast was clear, he stepped out. A fourth truck—a massive, 42-ton monster—hit him head-on. He didn't just get tapped; he was dragged 500 feet. The truck literally rolled over his legs.
He was in a coma for two weeks.
The doctors told his parents he might not survive. Then they said they might have to amputate both legs. Then they said he’d never walk again. It took 26 surgeries over several years to put him back together. He spent two years in a wheelchair. While other kids were playing middle school football, Adam was relearning how to stand up without collapsing.
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How a Tragedy Created a Comedian
This is the part where the "where is he from" question gets deeper. Culturally, he's from a place of resilience. Because he had massive scars and walked with a limp for a long time, he got bullied. Kids can be mean, and a kid in a wheelchair is an easy target.
Adam realized early on that if he could make people laugh, they’d stop making fun of his mangled legs. He started calling into local Omaha radio stations while he was stuck in bed, doing impressions of celebrities to pass the time. He became the "funny kid" as a survival mechanism. By the time he got to Millard South, he was the guy everyone wanted to hang out with because he was hilarious, not because they felt sorry for him.
The Move to California
At 18, he left Nebraska. He headed to Orange County, California, specifically to attend Orange Coast College. This is where the Workaholics lore begins. This is where he met Blake Anderson.
They weren't stars. Not even close.
He worked odd jobs to stay afloat. He sold Omaha Steaks over the phone (a nice nod to his roots). He sold Time Life books. He was even a "door guy" at the Hollywood Improv, basically the guy who checks IDs and hopes the manager lets him do five minutes of stand-up at 1:00 AM.
Eventually, he formed the sketch group "Mail Order Comedy" with Blake, Anders Holm, and Kyle Newacheck. They started posting videos on YouTube and MySpace back when those platforms were the Wild West. That’s what caught the eye of Comedy Central, and the rest is history.
Clearing Up the Misconceptions
There is a weird rumor that he’s related to Jack Black. They have the same energy, sure. They both do the "intense singing while being funny" thing. But no, they aren't related. Adam is just a huge fan who happened to grow up looking a bit like a younger version of the School of Rock star.
Another thing people get wrong is his age in Pitch Perfect. He played a college student, but he was actually 28 when they filmed the first one. That’s the "Midwest genes" at work—he’s looked 25 for about fifteen years now.
Is He Still "From" Omaha?
Even though he lives in a fancy house in Newport Beach now with his wife, Chloe Bridges, and their son Beau, he hasn't gone "full Hollywood." He still talks about the Mississippi River. He talks about fishing for 13 hours with his dad.
In a recent interview with Graham Bensinger, he got pretty raw about the long-term effects of that truck accident. He’s been dealing with intense pain and spasms lately. At one point, doctors even misdiagnosed him with a fatal condition before realizing his muscles were just reacting to the trauma from decades ago. He still carries Omaha with him—literally—in the form of the scars on his legs.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to see the "real" Adam Devine, don't just watch The Righteous Gemstones.
- Watch his stand-up special 'Best Time of Our Lives' on Netflix. It was filmed in Omaha, and he talks extensively about his childhood there.
- Listen to 'This Is Important' podcast. He and the Workaholics crew talk about their early days in California and their suburban upbringings constantly.
- Follow his health journey. He’s been very open lately about how childhood trauma affects the body long-term, which is a huge service to other accident survivors.
Knowing where Adam Devine is from helps you understand why his comedy is so physical and why he seems so desperate to entertain. It wasn't about fame at first; it was about making sure the kids in Omaha didn't look at his wheelchair. He turned a 42-ton tragedy into a career, and honestly, that’s about as "Midwest tough" as it gets.