Australian comedian and author Brendon Burns, though hailing from Australia, spends the bulk of his touring schedule performing in the United Kingdom. He has built a reputation for a forceful on‑stage presence and humor that often pushes the boundaries of offensiveness.
He spent his childhood in Longreach, Central Queensland, and later moved to the Gold Coast where he worked as a roof-tiler before relocating to Sydney. Prior to finding success in comedy, he held various jobs, including working as a grease trap pumper, an experience that earned him the title of 'Pumper of the Year' in 1993. His comedic journey began with impromptu performances at the Harold Park Hotel, marking the start of his professional career. He also received ‘Best Up and Coming Talent’ awards in 1993, alongside Comic of the Year. Barron’s comedy style is rooted in observational humor, drawing laughs from everyday situations and relatable experiences. He first appeared on television on April 17, 1997, as a guest on the NRL Footy Show. Subsequently, he has become a frequent presence on Australian television, appearing on shows like Good News Week, Out of the Question, Thank God You're Here, and Rove. Audiences consistently favor Carl Barron's live shows, which frequently sell out during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He tours extensively, performing live shows throughout Australia and internationally, including locations such as New York, Los Angeles, London, South Africa, Auckland, Ireland, Singapore, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Edinburgh. He has also appeared in over 50 TV spots. Barron’s work has achieved significant commercial success. 'Carl Barron LIVE!', a DVD released without a specific date, achieved four-times platinum certification and continues to be the best-selling Australian comedy DVD; it is also recognized as the highest-selling stand-up comedy DVD in Australia’s retail market. The DVD 'Whatever Comes Next,' released on DVD, reached number one in the charts for over 12 months and won Best International Show at the N.Z. Comedy Festival. It also received an ARIA award nomination. He has released five DVDs in total: Carl Barron LIVE!, Carl Barron: Whatever Comes Next, Carl Barron: Walking Down The Street, Carl Barron: A One Ended Stick, and Carl Barron: Drinking With A Fork. A box set, 'All The Stuff I've Done So Far,' was released in November 2010, encompassing the first three DVDs along with a documentary and outtakes. In 2015, he co-wrote and starred in the film Manny Lewis, portraying the title character based on himself. Carl Barron is presently regarded as Australia's leading live stand-up comedian, and five of his DVDs rank among Australia's top ten bestsellers.
Catherine Deveny is an Australian writer, comedian, author, and speaker. Born in 1968 and growing up in Melbourne, she experienced financial hardship as a child, including having her family’s car repossessed and living in public housing. She moved from Melbourne to Sydney in her mid-20s. Deveny started out in stand-up comedy and writing, performing at The Espy when she was 23 and receiving a positive review for her first performance. Her career has encompassed television writing, stand-up, warm-up work, column writing, one-woman shows, book authorship, keynote speaking, conference hosting, and running Gunnas Writing Masterclasses. Deveny’s professional journey includes significant contributions to Australian media. On her 24th birthday, she received a full-time position as a comedy writer for Tonight Live, where she had previously contributed writing for Steve Vizard. She subsequently appeared on television programs like Tonight Live with Steve Vizard and Good News Week. From 2001 to 2010, she served as a regular columnist for The Age newspaper, publishing over 1000 columns, and her column writing has been collected in several books including It’s Not My Fault They Print Them (2007), Say When (2008) and Free To A Good Home (2009). In 2005, Russell Crowe and she collaborated to co-write the AFI Awards, and she also wrote material for the Logie Awards. In March 2009, she staged a one-woman strike protesting wage reductions at The Age; her column was removed from The Age after controversial Twitter posts related to the 2010 Logies. Deveny’s work extends beyond writing and performing. She has appeared on Q&A six times and participated in 'Go Back To Where You Came From' (2014) with Angry Anderson and Peter Reith. In 2009, she famously debated Cardinal George Pell at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and the Sydney Opera House. She is an atheist and opened the 2010 Global Atheist Convention with Richard Dawkins. The one-woman show 'God Is Bullshit; That’s The Good News' achieved sell-out performances both in 2010 and 2011. Deveny has authored ten books, including ‘True North: A Memoir’ (2022) and 'Mental' (2018, co-written with Dr. Steve Ellen). She founded Gunnas Writing Masterclass, which has served over 9000 people since 2014 and expanded to include international retreats. Deveny is also a frequent performer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and works as a corporate speaker and panel member, engaging with organizations like the Law Institute of Victoria and Beyond Blue.
Dan Ilic is an Australian presenter, comedian and filmmaker. He gained recognition for his parody projects, such as various videos and the self‑written Beaconsfield: The Musical, and later for contributions to the television program Hungry Beast. His mother is of mixed Lebanese and Italian heritage, while his father, born in Germany, descends from Serbian parents. Ilic formerly led the satirical‑content division at the digital platform AJ+, but was dismissed after using company resources in an unsuccessful audition for The Daily Show.
Felicity Ward is an Australian comedian, actress, writer, and performer currently based in London. Born in 1980 in a small town near Sydney, she grew up in Killcare on the Central Coast of New South Wales. She began performing stand-up comedy in 2008, following earlier work as a writer and performer in the sketch show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour from 2005 to 2006, where she played characters Poppy, Gretchen, and Heidi. Ward’s comedy style encompasses a wide range of subjects, including mental health, as evidenced by her work and public discussions. She is part of The 3rd Degree and collaborated with Heath Franklin from 2006 to 2009 in 'Chopper's Fuckin Bingo'. Felicity Ward’s first solo exhibition, titled *Ugly as A Child Variety Show*, debuted at the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival, where it secured her the Melbourne Airport Award for Best Newcomer. She toured this show to Adelaide, Sydney, and Edinburgh in 2009. In 2011, she won Best Local Act at the Time Out Sydney Comedy Festival Awards for her show Honestly . She has also appeared in films such as Any Questions for Ben? (2012) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014), and starred in the Australian remake of The Office in 2024, as well as the psychological drama Wakefield (2021). In 2018, she received a nomination for the Edinburgh Comedy Award; additionally, her 2012 production, *The Hedgehog Dilemma*, was recognized with award nominations at both the Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She won the best Australian act award at the Sydney and Perth Comedy Festivals in 2012. Following her pregnancy at age 38, Felicity Ward has publicly addressed challenges related to anxiety, IBS, and perinatal depression, integrating these narratives into her stand-up comedy and sharing them in formats such as the documentary *Felicity’s Mental Mission* (2014) and shows like *What If There Is No Toilet?*. (2015), which was filmed as a Netflix special. She is currently lending her voice to an animated comedy series, Dad’s House , for Netflix. She maintains an international touring schedule, with performances previously taking place in Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand; and in 2026, she will reappear at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with *I Wish I Could Come Out of My Shell*.
Frank Woodley, an Australian comedian, writer and musician, rose to prominence through his collaboration with Colin Lane as the comedy pair Lano and Woodley. The duo spent nearly two decades together, appearing in live performances, a television series and a comedy‑song album before opting for solo careers in 2006. They revealed that they were reuniting in November 2017.
Jane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian, screenwriter, and series creator, known primarily for her portrayal of Kathleen Darleen Day Knight, often shortened to Kath, in the television sitcom Kath and Kim . Her early career included guest appearances in television dramas like Prisoner , spanning fifteen episodes, as well as roles in sketch comedy programs such as The D-Generation , Fast Forward , Full Frontal , Big Girl's Blouse , and Something Stupid . She also hosted the travel program Getaway in 1992. Turner’s most significant contribution to Australian comedy is undoubtedly her work on Kath & Kim . She co-created, wrote, produced, and starred in the show alongside Gina Riley. As Australia’s most successful ABC syndicated program, the series sparked a franchise encompassing the 2005 telemovie *Da Kath & Kim Code*, in which she performed, served as creator, and provided the writing; the 2012 film *Kath & Kimderella*, for which she penned the screenplay and portrayed both Kath Day-Knight and Prue; and numerous other special presentations. She also contributed to Kath & Kim: Specials (2012), Kath & Kim Kountdown (2013), and Kath & KimStream (2002), serving as a creator and writer for these projects. In 2022, she produced a special about Kath and Kim with the cast for channel 7, and also created and wrote Kath & Kim: Our Effluent Life , and acted in Kath & Kim: Preposterous Years . This is Serious , and Who Do You Think You Are? . Beyond her work with Kath & Kim , Turner demonstrated her versatility by making her West End debut in Holding the Man in April 2010. She also took on the role of Sharon Redlion in Parlement (2020). The lawyer John Denton is her husband, and together they are parents to three children: Anna Denton, who works as a model, and Nicholas Denton, pursuing a career as an actor. Turner continues to be involved in television, appearing in Kath & Kim: 20th Anniversary Specials (2023) as both an actor and creator. She also made a guest appearance on The Graham Norton ShowStream in 2007.
Julia Morris is a highly accomplished and celebrated Australian performer, identified as an actress, presenter, and comedian. She began her television career at age 17 in 1985, appearing on the talent show New Faces, tying for first place. In the mid-1990s, she became a household name as a stand-up comedian and actor, gaining recognition for her role in the comedy sketch show Full Frontal. Morris has hosted several shows throughout her career, including Great Aussie Bloopers and The Morris Report. In 2000, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she gained recognition as 'Lady JMo' through appearances on television shows such as QI and Not Going Out. In 2001, she won the Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and was named Time Out London’s Comedy Performer of the Year. She returned to Australia in 2007, winning Channel Seven's It Takes Two with David Hobson in 2008. She also published her memoir Don’t You Know Who I Used To Be? in 2009 and won The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2011. Between 2012 and 2013, she played Gemma Crabb in Nine Network’s House Husbands, an engagement that led to five Logie Award nominations for Most Popular Actress. During the years 2013 through 2015, she presented Australia’s Got Talent; additionally, her No Judgement stand-up tour was awarded the Helpmann Award for Best Comedy in 2013. From 2015 to 2023, she co-hosted I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia with Chris Brown, and in 2022, the show won a TV WEEK Logie Award. She has been nominated for the Gold Logie four times, in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Australia with Robert Irwin, continuing through 2026, and will appear in URZILA and Class Clowns in 2026. She has featured at all prominent comedy festivals internationally and has previously performed alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Pryor, and Robin Williams.
Rebel Wilson is a comedian from Australia, born in 1980. Known for Ice Age: Continental Drift, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Pitch Perfect.
Based in Sydney, Richard Fidler is an Australian writer and radio broadcaster who lives there with his family. He began his career as a member of the comedy group Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS) during the 1980s; however, DAAS disbanded in 1994. Subsequently, Fidler hosted a number of television shows such as 'Race Around the World,' 'Aftershock,' 'Mouthing Off,' and 'Vulture.' He was also a member of the Australian Republican Movement's national committee between 2001 and 2007, at which point he stepped down. In 2005, he relocated to Brisbane, Queensland, to host a radio show on ABC Local Radio. Since 2012, Fidler has primarily focused on his interview program 'Conversations' on ABC Local Radio, which is broadcast throughout Australia except in Victoria and on ABC Radio National. The program’s podcast consistently ranks among the top five most downloaded in Australia, with millions of downloads monthly. Sarah Kanowski joined 'Conversations' as a regular host in 2018. Fidler received a Churchill Fellowship in 2011 to study public radio. He has authored several best-selling books blending history, travel writing, and mythology, including 'Ghost Empire,' 'The Golden Maze: A Biography of Prague,' and 'The Book of Roads & Kingdoms'. He co-authored 'Saga Land' with Kári Gíslason in 2019. Fidler’s historical writings have received considerable praise; 'The Golden Maze' was among the nominees for General Nonfiction Book of the Year at the 2021 Australian Book Industry Awards, while 'The Book of Roads & Kingdoms' secured the Nonfiction award at the 2023 Indie Book Awards. He also traveled to Istanbul in 2014 with his son Joe for research related to 'Ghost Empire,' and revisited Prague thirty years after experiencing the Velvet Revolution to write 'The Golden Maze.' In 2026, Fidler and Kári Gíslason launched the 'Viking Lives' history podcast series. As a writer and broadcaster, Fidler continues to present 'Conversations' on ABC Radio and explores historical narratives through his books and podcasts.
Rodney Edward Quantock is an Australian comedian and writer, noted for his live comedy performances and appearances in Capt’n Snooze commercials. He has also taken part in political activism and social‑justice initiatives.
Sarah Kendall, an Australian comic originally from Newcastle in New South Wales, took home the Raw Comedy prize in 1998 and became a regular presence on Australian TV. In 2000, at age 24, she relocated to the United Kingdom.
Albania
1
Armenia
2
Argentina
32
Austria
28
Azerbaijan
1
Belgium
13
Bulgaria
31
Benin
2
Bolivia
1
Brazil
27
Canada
118
Switzerland
17
Chile
8
Cameroon
1
China
7
Colombia
2
Czech Republic
7
Germany
188
Denmark
17
Dominican Republic
1
Algeria
2
Estonia
5
Egypt
4
Spain
74
Finland
15
France
214
United Kingdom
330
Ghana
3
Greece
18
Guatemala
1
Hungary
7
Indonesia
8
Ireland
28
Israel
9
India
11
Iraq
3
Iran
6
Italy
136
Jamaica
1
Japan
35
Kenya
3
Korea, South
20
Kazakhstan
1
Lebanon
5
Lithuania
1
Latvia
1
Morocco
17
Myanmar
1
Malta
1
Malawi
2
Mexico
28
Malaysia
7
Nigeria
19
Nicaragua
2
Netherlands
2
Norway
12
Nepal
3
New Zealand
9
Peru
2
Philippines
35
Pakistan
7
Poland
8
Portugal
7
Qatar
1
Romania
1
Serbia
3
Russia
9
Saudi Arabia
4
Sweden
101
Slovenia
4
Slovakia
2
Thailand
2
Tunisia
4
Turkey
5
Taiwan
1
Ukraine
7
Uganda
7
United States
213
Uruguay
1
Uzbekistan
1
Vietnam
1
South Africa
2
Australia has a vibrant comedy culture with comedians performing across stand-up, television, film, radio, theatre and online platforms. From established comedy stars to emerging performers, Australian comedians are known for a wide range of styles, from observational humour and storytelling to satire, sketch comedy and improvisation.
At GiggleTime, we bring together profiles of Australian comedians, stand-up comedians, comedy actors and other personalities connected to Australian comedy and entertainment. Browse the profiles above to discover more about their careers, performances and contributions to the comedy scene in Australia.
Stand-up comedy is an important part of the Australian entertainment scene, with comedians performing in dedicated comedy clubs, theatres, pubs, festivals and live events across the country.
Australia has developed a distinctive stand-up culture, with comedians drawing inspiration from everyday Australian life, relationships, culture and current events. The country's comedy scene also includes performers with very different approaches to humour, ranging from observational comedy and personal storytelling to satire, dark humour, character comedy and improvisation.
Melbourne has a particularly strong reputation for live comedy and is home to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, one of Australia's major comedy events. Comedy is also a significant part of the entertainment scenes in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and other cities around the country.
Australia has produced many comedians who have become well known both nationally and internationally. Some built their careers through live stand-up, while others became recognised through television, films, radio, theatre or comedy writing.
Australian comedians have also appeared in major international productions, helping introduce Australian humour and performers to audiences around the world. Many comedy performers work across multiple areas of entertainment, combining stand-up with acting, writing, presenting, podcasting or television.
The Australian comedy scene continues to introduce new performers alongside established names, giving audiences a constantly changing selection of comedic voices and styles.
Australian comedy extends far beyond the stand-up stage. Television has played an important role in introducing comedians to wider audiences through sitcoms, sketch shows, panel shows, comedy series and other entertainment programmes.
Australian comedians are also active in film, radio, podcasts and online media. Platforms such as YouTube and social media have created new ways for comedians to share sketches, stand-up clips, short-form comedy and original content with audiences in Australia and around the world.
This combination of live performance, traditional media and digital platforms has helped create opportunities for both established Australian comedians and new comedy talent.
Explore our collection of Australian comedians and comedy personalities above to discover performers from different generations and areas of Australia's comedy scene.
Use the search feature to find a particular comedian or browse the directory to discover new names. Individual profiles may include biographical information, career details, performances, photographs and other interesting facts.
Whether you are looking for Australian stand-up comedians, famous Australian comedians, comedy actors, television comedians or emerging comedy talent, GiggleTime makes it easy to discover comedians from Australia.
The directory continues to grow as new comedians and comedy personalities are added.
