Dennis Michael Miller, an American, has worked as a political commentator, performed stand‑up comedy, hosted talk shows, written, acted, and earlier served as a sportscaster.
Dercy Gonçalves, born Dolores Gonçalves Costa in Santa Maria Madalena, Rio de Janeiro, on June 23, 1907, was a Brazilian actress, comedian, and singer. She used the stage name Dercy Gonçalves and enjoyed an 86-year career, beginning her work at a cinema ticket booth as a child. There, she learned makeup and acting techniques by observing films. At age 17, she left home to join a traveling theater troupe in Macaé, and later performed with the Maria Castro circus company. Her family had mixed heritage; her paternal grandmother was from Dacar (Senegal), her grandfather from Coimbra (Portugal), and another grandmother was 'almost Indian'. Gonçalves’s career included work in theater, revues, film, radio, and television. She achieved significant success at the ‘Casa de Caboclo’ theater in Rio de Janeiro starting in 1932. Around 1931, she formed a duo called 'Os Pascoalinos' with Eugênio Pascoal; however, their relationship ended when he left her due to tuberculosis. She became famous for her humorous use of vulgar language and was recognized as a prominent figure in Brazilian improvisational theater. Her style involved irreverent interviews and frequent use of profanity. In 1991, she caused controversy by exposing her breasts at Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval. Dercy Gonçalves’s remarkable longevity in the entertainment industry was formally recognized by Guinness World Records, which acknowledged her as having the longest acting career (1922-2008). A biography titled Dercy de Cabo a Rabo was published in 1994 by Maria Adelaide Amaral. Amaral later adapted this book into the 2012 miniseries Dercy de Verdade , portrayed by Luisa Périssé, Heloísa Périssé, and Fafy Siqueira. Gonçalves designed her mausoleum, shaped like a glass pyramid where she was buried standing up, as early as 1991. Pneumonia caused her death on July 19, 2008, at the age of 101; she was subsequently interred in Santa Maria Madalena, Rio de Janeiro.
Didier Porte is a French comedian, radio host, journalist, and humorist born on January 29, 1958, in Compiègne. He is currently 68 years old. His parents are French and have lived in France for generations. Porte earned a degree in economics from the University of Paris-X Nanterre in 1980. He describes himself as a 'journalist de complément' rather than a simple entertainer. Porte began his career as a journalist in 1984 at La Dépêche du Midi, and subsequently collaborated with various media outlets including Le Matin de Paris, L’Étudiant, Canal 102, TSF 93, RMC, RFM, Europe 2, and Ouï FM. From 1984 to 1992, he worked as a reporter-director for the show 'Culture Pub' on M6. He also co-authored the show 'La Nuit de la connerie' with Anne Magnien on Canal+ and the book 'Le Grand Livre de la connerie' with William Reymond. His work has included contributions to shows like 'Les Lois de la jungle', 'Éconoclaste', 'Tutti frutti', 'Comme au cinéma', and 'Héros vinaigrette'. Didier Porte’s career includes regular columns on France Inter, starting in 1993 with 'Zappinge' and continuing through shows like 'Zoom', 'Audimatraquage', 'Rien à cirer', 'Les P’tits Déj’s', 'Changement de direction', 'Rien à voir', and 'Le Fou du roi'. He has faced several defamation lawsuits due to his commentary. He debuted as a one-man show performer in 1998 with L'Ami des vedettes , followed by other shows including Entracte manqué , Didier Porte joue et gagne à être connu , Didier Porte aime les gens , and Didier Porte fait rire les masses . Since 2013, he has performed Didier Porte à droite! He satirizes Nicolas Sarkozy and his administration and is known for being 'merciless' in his satire; last week, he satirized Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister. His work has attracted more and more listeners, contributing to a resurgence of politically engaged French comedy. He has appeared as himself in the film 'Satire dans la campagne' and continues to contribute to the web version of 'Là-bas si j'y suis' since 2015.
Karl Diedrich Bader, an American actor and comedian, is most recognized for his work in comedy and voice‑over performances. He held regular cast spots on the sitcoms The Drew Carey Show, American Housewife and Outsourced, and has also returned in recurring parts on Better Things and Veep. His movie résumé includes The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Office Space (1999) and Napoleon Dynamite (2004).
Diego Esteban Capusotto, born in Argentina, works as an actor, humorist, writer and driver. His career has been distinguished by leading the programs Cha Cha Cha, all for two pesos and Peter Capusotto and his videos.
Dieter Thomas was a German cabaret artist and comedian, born March 18, 1947, in Limburg an der Lahn. His early life took several unexpected turns; after attending elementary school from 1953 to 1961, he twice failed to secure an apprenticeship as an electrician at age 14 and instead worked in a factory. Further attempts at formal education, including failing an exam for the Wiesbaden police school in 1963, also proved unsuccessful. He avoided military service through what he described as trickery, an experience he believed sparked his later comedic talent. Following this, he traveled the world for two years before settling in Frankfurt am Main in the late 1960s and participating in student protests. Dieter Thomas’s career began to take shape in the mid-1970s. He earned his high school diploma (Abitur) in 1975 and briefly studied German and political science at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, though he did not complete the degree. From 1976, he developed a distinctive stage persona with various partners. In summer 1976, he co-founded 'Karl Napp’s Chaos Theater,' which continued until summer 1981. He then co-founded 'Vorläufige Frankfurter Fronttheater' (later 'Frankfurter Fronttheater') in January 1982 alongside Matthias Beltz and Hendrike von Sydow. His performances often satirized current events, including topics like the 'Startbahn West' and the 'Wackersdorf reprocessing plant,' as well as police actions during student demonstrations. Dieter Thomas’s comedy style was unique, incorporating juggling with objects such as balls, fruit, or even small Christmas trees. He also incorporated clownish Hessian dialect ('Gebabbel') into his performances. For over 30 years, he performed satirically, frequently targeting the Sponti scene and often questioning the authenticity of his own statements. He appeared in television shows and films with Hendrike von Sydow, including 'Scheibenwischer', 'Zu Gast im Fronttheater', 'Dieter & Hendrike', and 'Die Sache ist gelaufen.' His later work included the program "Weihnachts(d)App," and he planned to release an app related to it, designed to help navigate family gatherings during the holidays. He collaborated with numerous other comedians throughout his career, and was described as an "Urhesse" who viewed the world from the perspective of a funny small-town rogue. Dieter Thomas died in Limburg an der Lahn on April 8, 2016, following a diagnosis of cancer only months prior.
Dieudonné Mbala Mbala, who frequently uses the stage names Dieudonné or Dieudo, is a French entertainer working as a comedian, actor, and political advocate. He was born on February 11, 1966, in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, the son of a Cameroonian accountant and a French sociologist. Raised by his mother following his parents' divorce when he was one year old, he spent his childhood in the Paris suburbs. After attending Lycée Lakanal de Sceaux and Lycée Michelet de Vanves without completing a diploma, he held a job as a sales representative before embarking on a career in comedy. Dieudonné initially gained recognition in the 1990s as part of the comedic duo Élie et Dieudonné with Élie Semoun. Their humor was initially identified as antiracist, and they created Bonnie Productions together in 1993. He subsequently pursued a solo career, developing socially conscious one-man shows and also appearing in film. From 2006 to 2020, he had a relationship with Noémie Montagne and fathered five children. In the late 1990s, Dieudonné became politically active, initially opposing the far-right, but his views shifted significantly over time. From the 2000s onward, Dieudonné’s statements increasingly attracted accusations of antisemitism and controversy. He ran for legislative elections in Champagny-en-Vanoise in 1997 and 2001, opposing the National Front at first. Later, he became political allies and friends with Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2007, and gradually moved towards the ‘French national socialism’ of Alain Soral and the Front National. In France, Belgium, and Switzerland, convictions have been issued against him for offenses including hate speech, promoting terrorism, denying the Holocaust, and defamation. Notable incidents include a 2003 sketch depicting an Israeli settler as a Nazi and accusations in 2013 of mocking a Jewish journalist. A signature gesture, the ‘quenelle,’ became notorious in 2013. Throughout his career, he has faced frequent restrictions from traditional media outlets, and numerous performances were halted by local governments; specifically, a production between 2013 and 2014 resulted in an official ban from the French government. Media, politicians, and political scientists largely consider him an antisemite, and he identifies as ‘antisestablishment’ and ‘anti-Zionist.’
Dimitrije Banjac, rođen u Srbiji, bavi se glumom, komedijom i scenarističkim radom. Zajedno sa Nikolom Škorićem i Dejanom Ćirjakovićem stoji iza nastanka i glume u brojnim omiljenim televizijskim programima kao što su Noćna smena, Velika Srbija, Srbi u svemiru, Pravi fudbal i Državni posao. Srpska publika najviše prepoznaje njegov lik profesora Kišprdilova u seriji Noćna smena i Đorđa Čvarkova iz Državnog posla.
Dinyar Contractor, born in 1946, was an Indian actor who worked extensively in stage, film, and television. He was recognized as a comedian and stage actor, performing in both Gujarati and Hindi theatre [1, 2]. His professional acting career began in 1966 [4, 31], following a brief period where he earned a pharma degree and worked as a medical representative [32]. Contractor’s versatility is evident in the breadth of roles he undertook, appearing in Bollywood and Tollywood films [3] and demonstrating a deep knowledge of theatre, even able to identify plagiarized plays [17]. He was often referred to as the "moon-faced comedian" [16], suggesting a distinctive comedic style. Contractor’s filmography included diverse character portrayals. He played a Theatre Owner in Cinema Cinema (1979) [7] and took on roles of authority figures, such as a Principal in Khiladi and Jawab , and a Judge in Kranti and Khichdi: The Movie [8, 9]. Other notable film appearances included playing a Casino Manager in Baadshah , Mr. Roy in Jhankaar Beats , a School Principal in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi , and the general manager of a Hotel in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke [10, 11, 12]. He also had roles as Mr. Lobo, a servant, in 36 China Town and appeared in films like Baazigar [13, 27]. His television work included appearances in serials such as Khichdi , Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma , and Do Aur Do Paanch [28], beginning with his collaboration on the DD-2 channel's 'Aao Marvao Meri Saathe' alongside Adi Marzban in 1984 [5, 29]. Dinyar Contractor’s contributions to Indian theatre and cinema were widely acknowledged. He was a veteran theatre artiste and director [15], and he received the prestigious Padma Shri award in January 2019 [6, 23]. This recognition followed a period where he was recovering from a spine ailment [24] and had been admitted to Global Hospital for 29 days [19]. He died on June 5, 2019, at the age of 77 in Mumbai [14, 18], with his last rites performed at Worli crematorium [20]. Tributes poured in from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Smriti Irani via social media [25], reflecting the respect and affection he garnered throughout his career. He is survived by four siblings [21, 22].
A German actor, comedian, and television presenter, Dirk Bach was born in Cologne on April 23, 1961. At the age of 51, Dirk Bach passed away in Berlin on October 1, 2012; heart failure is suspected as the cause. His parents, Willi and Trude Bach, both worked for WDR and were involved in local history research. He began his career in independent theater in Cologne without formal training. Bach’s early career included work in theatres in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, New York, Utrecht, and Vienna after completing his schooling in 1980. He received his first theatre role in 1978 in Heiner Müller's Prometheus . From 1992 to 1996, he was a permanent member of the Schauspiel Köln ensemble. He gained wider recognition in 1992 with The Dirk Bach Show , broadcast on RTL and later Super RTL. He starred in television series such as Lukas (1996–2001) and Der kleine Mönch (2002), and played Pepe on Sesamstraße from 2000 to 2007. Bach achieved national recognition for his role as a single dad in the sitcom Lukas , which ran for five seasons. From 2004 until 2012, he gained significant recognition for co-hosting Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! with Sonja Zietlow. He received several awards during his career, including the Telestar award in 1996, the German Comedy Award in 1999, and the Goldene Kamera in 2001. Bach was an LGBT activist and a member of the LSVD organization, actively fundraised for AIDS charities, and supported Amnesty International and PETA.
Dmitry Yurievich Khrustalev, born on February 20, 1979, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), is a Russian showman, actor, humorist, and television presenter. His early life included pursuing ballroom dances as a child. He began his academic journey at the Saint Petersburg State Agrarian University in Pushkin in 1997, initially studying agriculture, before transferring to the Economic Faculty of the Aerospace Instrumentation State University and graduating with a degree in 'Manager of Science and Education'. Khrustalev’s career took off significantly through his involvement with KVN (Club of Creative Young People). From 1998 to 2005, he performed with the 'St. Petersburg Team,' eventually becoming its captain at age 19. This team achieved considerable success, winning the Moscow Cup in 1998, reaching the Higher League finals in 1999, receiving the 'Small KiViN in the Dark' award in 2000, and being vice-champions in 2002. He also led the ‘USSR Team’ to victory in the Summer KVN Cup in 2003. He is particularly known for his parodies of Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Lenin, which contributed to his growing recognition. Following his KVN years, Khrustalev expanded his comedic presence on television. From 2007, he was a member of the Comedy Club program in a duet with Viktor Vasiliev, and appeared on 'Comedy Woman' from 2008. He co-hosted 'Evening Urgant' from September 30, 2013, to October 12, 2016, where he was known for the 'Cultural Adventures of Vitya and Mitya' segment with Viktor Vasiliev. He has also hosted shows like 'St. Petersburg Stand-up Club' (2014) and 'Theatre of Variety' (2014-2015). His film credits include roles in 'The Best Film 2' (2009), 'Pregnant' (2011), and the 'Classmates' series. Currently, he is a co-host of the revived parody show 'Big Difference'.
Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr., who performed under the name Dolphy, was an actor and comedian from the Philippines. The Philippine press often crowned him the nation's “King of Comedy,” and he appeared in numerous comedic movies and TV shows across a career that lasted over sixty years.
Albania
1
Armenia
2
Argentina
36
Austria
27
Australia
52
Azerbaijan
1
Bangladesh
1
Belgium
13
Bulgaria
57
Benin
2
Bolivia
1
Brazil
27
Belarus
2
Canada
125
Democratic Republic of the Congo
3
Switzerland
17
Cote d'Ivoire
1
Chile
15
Cameroon
1
China
8
Colombia
4
Cuba
4
Czech Republic
7
Germany
188
Denmark
17
Dominican Republic
1
Algeria
2
Ecuador
2
Estonia
5
Egypt
10
Spain
74
Ethiopia
1
Finland
15
France
214
United Kingdom
365
Georgia
1
Ghana
3
Greece
18
Guatemala
1
Croatia
2
Haiti
1
Hungary
7
Indonesia
23
Ireland
31
Israel
10
India
47
Iraq
3
Iran
6
Iceland
4
Italy
136
Jamaica
1
Japan
37
Kenya
3
Korea, South
20
Kazakhstan
3
Lebanon
5
Sri Lanka
1
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
4
Russia
9
Saudi Arabia
4
Sweden
101
Singapore
3
Slovenia
4
Slovakia
2
El Salvador
1
Syria
1
Thailand
2
Tunisia
4
Turkey
5
Taiwan
1
Ukraine
11
Uganda
7
United States
213
Uruguay
4
Uzbekistan
1
Venezuela
5
Vietnam
1
South Africa
3
Zimbabwe
1
