When you think of Joey "CoCo" Diaz, you probably picture a guy screaming about "blue cheese or go to hell" or telling a story about a kidnapping in 1980s Colorado that sounds too wild to be true. But if you've listened to him lately, especially since the world flipped upside down in 2020, you’ve noticed a shift. The loud-mouthed, "Uncle Joey" persona is still there, but it’s tempered by something much softer. That something is his family.
People are constantly digging for the scoop on joey diaz wife and daughter because, for a long time, Joey was the poster child for a bachelor life fueled by chaos. Then came Terrie and Mercy. They didn't just change his life; they probably saved it.
Who is Terrie Diaz?
Honestly, Terrie Clark (now Terrie Diaz) is a saint if you consider what it takes to live with a guy like Joey. They got married on November 25, 2009. This wasn't Joey’s first rodeo, though. He’d been married once before back in the day—divorcing in 1991—and that first marriage ended in a way that haunted him for decades. He lost contact with his first daughter, a trauma he’s been open about on The Joe Rogan Experience and his own podcasts.
Terrie is originally from Tennessee. She’s got that grounded, Southern vibe that serves as a perfect foil to Joey’s Cuban-Jersey intensity. She isn't a comedian. She isn't looking for the spotlight. You’ve maybe heard her voice in the background of The Church of What’s Happening Now or seen her on a Mother’s Day special, but she stays out of the Hollywood nonsense.
She was the one standing there when Joey decided to finally kick the blow for good in 2007. It's one thing to get sober for yourself; it's another to have a partner who makes you want to be a man worth staying sober for.
Meeting Mercy: The Daughter Who Changed the Game
Then there’s Mercy. Mercy Sofia Diaz was born in early 2013. If you want to see a 300-pound man melt, just watch Joey talk about her.
Mercy’s arrival changed the trajectory of Joey’s career. Before she was born, Joey was grinding in Los Angeles, doing the "Store" (The Comedy Store) every night, filming spots on My Name is Earl, and living the life of a working comic. Once Mercy showed up, the priorities shifted. You could hear it in the podcast. He started talking less about the old days of crime and more about taking her to jiu-jitsu or worrying about what she was learning in school.
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Why Did They Leave Los Angeles?
This is the big one. In 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, Joey shocked the comedy world by packing up and leaving California. He ended The Church of What’s Happening Now, said goodbye to Lee Syatt, and moved the whole operation back to New Jersey.
Why? Because of joey diaz wife and daughter.
Joey has been very vocal about the fact that he didn't want Mercy growing up with "Los Angeles values." He wanted her to have the same "grit" he had growing up in North Bergen, but without the trauma and the drugs. He wanted her to know her cousins. He wanted her to see the snow. Basically, he wanted to give her the childhood he never had.
- The Neighborhood Factor: Joey moved them to a quiet area in New Jersey where he can be a "regular guy."
- Family Support: Terrie and Joey wanted to be closer to their roots.
- The Schooling: Joey has often ranted about the California school system and wanted something different for Mercy.
It was a massive gamble. Most comics think if you leave LA or New York, your career dies. Joey proved the opposite. He launched Uncle Joey’s Joint from his basement and, if anything, his bond with his audience grew stronger because he was being "real."
The Complexity of Joey’s First Daughter
We can't talk about his family without acknowledging the "lost" daughter from his first marriage. For years, this was the source of Joey's deepest "darkness." He’s admitted that one of the reasons he worked so hard to get famous was the hope that she would see him on TV and know he made something of himself.
He didn't want to make the same mistakes twice. That’s why his relationship with Mercy is so intense. He’s "doing it right" this time. He’s present. He’s at the school plays. He’s the one making the lunches. It’s a redemption arc that you don't usually see in the world of raunchy stand-up comedy.
Life in Jersey Today
Currently, the Diaz family is living a relatively private life. Terrie continues to be the backbone of the household, managing the "madness" of Joey’s schedule while keeping things normal for Mercy. Mercy is growing up fast—she’s a pre-teen now—and Joey’s stories have shifted from "robbing people" to "navigating the world of a young girl growing up in the 2020s."
It’s a different kind of funny. It's more relatable.
If you're looking for actionable insights into why Joey’s family life matters to you as a fan or a casual reader, it's this:
- Redemption is possible. You can be a "degenerate" for 40 years and still turn it around to be a great dad.
- Environment matters. Joey’s move shows that sometimes you have to leave a "successful" environment (LA) to protect your family's peace.
- Privacy is a choice. Despite his fame, you won't find Mercy’s every move on Instagram. They keep the "important stuff" off the internet.
The story of joey diaz wife and daughter isn't just a celebrity bio. It's a case study in how a man can change his spots when he has something to lose. Joey isn't just a comedian anymore; he’s a father who happens to tell jokes. And if you ask him, he’ll tell you that’s the only job that actually matters.
To keep up with Joey's latest stories about his life in Jersey, check out his latest episodes of Uncle Joey's Joint.