Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

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France

Dominique Farrugia

Dominique Farrugia, born on September 2, 1962, in Vichy, France, is a multifaceted French creative. He functions as an actor, film director, screenwriter, producer, humorist, and comedian. His family background reflects a diverse heritage, including Jewish pied-noir and Maltese ancestry; his parents, who left Algeria after its independence in 1962, settled in Vichy. They ran a bar-restaurant called Le Verdier, and his father worked as a bandleader at the Vichy casino. Dominique Farrugia’s full name is Dominique Spiridion Léon Farrugia. From 1986 to 1992, Les Nuls were active, contributing significantly to French comedy. He wrote for the TV series Objective: nul in 1987, which earned a 7 d'Or award. During this period, he briefly hosted a parodic weather forecast on 'Nulle part ailleurs' from 1987 to 1988 and accidentally appeared as an actor in an episode of Objective: nul due to an actor’s absence. The TV special TVN 595 in 1988 also received a 7 d'Or. He co-founded the RF2K production company with Olivier Granier and, in 1997, established the Comédie! TV channel, serving as director-general and president from April 2002 to February 2003. He directed La Cité de la peur in 1994, which attracted 2.2 million viewers in France. His directorial work includes Delphine 1, Yvan 0 (1996), L'amour, c'est mieux à deux (2010), Bis (2015), Return to 17 (2015) and Under the Same Roof (2017). Currently, he leads Shine Fiction alongside Guillaume Thouret as chief operating officer, focusing on producing premium scripted series for French broadcasters and global streaming platforms.

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United States

Don Ameche

Dominic Felix Amici, known professionally as Don Ameche, commenced his life on May 31, 1908, in Kenosha, Wisconsin; he was an American actor with a career lasting from the late 1920s until the early 1990s. His parents were Felice Amici, an immigrant from Montemonaco, Italy, and Barbara Etta Hertel, who had Scottish, Irish, and German ancestry. He grew up with eight siblings, including actor James (Jim) Ameche. Initially intending to study law, he attended Marquette University, Loras College, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His early career began with performances in college shows and vaudeville, including a year working with Texas Guinan. He spent five years as a radio announcer before finding broader recognition. Ameche quickly gained popularity as a radio star in Chicago by 1932, appearing in programs such as 'Empire Builders', 'First Nighter', and 'Betty and Bob'. In 1933, he moved to Hollywood seeking a film career. He signed a movie contract with 20th Century Fox in 1935 after appearing in Clive of India , which led to a seven-year contract. Throughout the late 1930s and 1940s, he became known as a light romantic lead, often paired with actresses like Alice Faye and Betty Grable. He starred in numerous films including Midnight (1939), The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), and Swanee River (1939). The latter film’s success led to the slang term 'ameche' being used for a telephone. In 1943, Ameche’s income reached $247,677, positioning him as the second-highest paid individual at 20th Century Fox that year. He also hosted NBC's International Showtime from 1961 to 1965 and appeared on Broadway in musicals such as Silk Stockings (1955) and Our Town (1989). A resurgence in Ameche's Hollywood career began in 1983 with the film *Trading Places*; subsequently, he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in *Cocoon* (1985), and a Volpi Cup for Best Actor for *Things Change* (1988). Don Ameche, who married Honore Prendergast for 54 years and had six children, died on December 6, 1993, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Hollywood Walk of Fame recognizes Don Ameche with two stars, one acknowledging his contributions to radio and the other to television.

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United Kingdom

Don Black

Don Black, born Donald Blackstone on June 21, 1938, is an English lyricist with a career spanning decades. His parents, Morris and Betsy Blackstone, were Russian Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, and he spent his early years in a council flat in Tornay House, South Hackney, London. He attended Cassland Road School before beginning his professional journey. Initially, Black briefly worked as a comic. His career began in the music industry as an office boy with a publishing firm, progressing to a role as a song-plugger. These early experiences provided a foundation for his later songwriting success. Black’s contributions to popular culture are extensive and varied. He managed singer Matt Monro for many years, writing lyrics for him during that time. Notably, he is frequently remembered for his partnerships with John Barry; together, they created five James Bond opening tracks, such as “Thunderball,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” and “The Man with the Golden Gun.” Furthermore, in 1969, Black and Quincy Jones jointly composed the theme for “The Italian Job.” His work with Andrew Lloyd Webber resulted in projects like "Tell Me on a Sunday," which later formed the basis of "Song and Dance," as well as "Aspects of Love" and "Bombay Dreams." Black achieved significant commercial success, including U.S. number one hits with “Ben,” performed by Michael Jackson, and “To Sir With Love” by Lulu. Throughout his career, Don Black has received numerous accolades for his songwriting talent. He won an Oscar for Best Song for "Born Free" in 1966, alongside John Barry, and garnered five additional Academy Award nominations for songs like "True Grit," "Ben," "Wherever Love Takes Me," and "Come to Me." He also received two Tony Awards for best book and lyrics for Sunset Boulevard , alongside Christopher Hampton, and a further three Tony nominations. His achievements include six Ivor Novello Awards and a Golden Globe. Born Free, He was awarded an Order of the British Empire and a Special Olivier Award in 2020. Currently, he is collaborating on a song for the film 'Mog’s Christmas' (2023), and is planning a limited run of From The Heart at London’s Garrick Theatre in 2026.

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Germany

Dorkas Kiefer

Dorkas Kiefer is a German actress, singer, and comedian. Born on June 21, 1972, in Offenbach am Main, she grew up in Braunfels. Her brother, Vinzenz Kiefer, also works as an actor. She began her performance journey at a young age, performing in a children's musical in Wetzlar at the age of nine. Dorkas received training in various artistic disciplines including singing, piano, ballet, tap, and dance. In 1988, she signed with composer Ralph Siegel and released six singles. She achieved recognition by placing third in the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 with 'Ich hab Angst'. Further musical success came in 1994 when she represented Germany as part of the group Mekado at the Eurovision Song Contest, again placing third. Her acting career began in 1996 with a role in the soap opera 'Unter uns', and she has since appeared in fifteen film and television productions. Tanja was a significant character she played in the 1999 movie, 'Eden in the Flames of War'. Additionally, she took on the part of Kriemhild within the 2005 film 'Siegfried', and also played Sheila in the 2008 fantasy production, 'The Legend of the Loch Ness Monster'. She hosted the show 'Singles 2000' in 2000 and toured as a guest singer with Udo Lindenberg. Since 2007, she has voiced the role of Anna Siebert in the audio drama soap '…und nebenbei Liebe'. Her performance in the 2013 drama 'Between Us' was a starring role. Furthermore, she featured in both the 2015 comedy 'Toilet Story' and the television series 'Lanes', where she embodied the character Phantom. She is credited as a comedian for a TV show. Dorkas Kiefer currently lives in Heiligenhaus and frequently collaborates with directors Thomas Nennstiel and Martin Kinkel, as well as actors Fiona Coors, Rainer Hunold, Marcus Mittermeier, and Radost Bokel.

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United Kingdom

Douglas Adams

Douglas Noël Adams, an English writer of novels, comedy and scripts, created The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as a BBC radio comedy in 1978; the concept later grew into a five‑book “trilogy” that moved more than 14 million copies during his life. He went on to turn the story into a television series in 1981, a video game in 1984, and, after his death, a feature film released in 2005.

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United Kingdom

Douglas Byng

Douglas Byng, born on March 17, 1893, in Basford, Nottinghamshire, was an English comic singer and songwriter who enjoyed a remarkably long career spanning 76 years. Byng began his stage career at Hastings in 1914, initially as a theatrical dresser before joining concert parties. He toured extensively, notably appearing in The Girl in the Taxi at age 21, performing in over 100 towns. Audiences recognized his shows for their suggestive jokes and original compositions, frequently promoted under the name 'Bawdy but British'. Known for his female impersonations, he pioneered a camp performance style, frequently appearing in music halls and cabaret as characters like 'Camille'. In 1925, he established The Kinde Dragon nightclub, where he presented cabaret performances in drag. His comedic style blended crude innuendo with clever wordplay, and Noel Coward famously described it as "the most refined vulgarity in London." Due to societal prejudices, Byng was a closeted gay performer. Throughout his career, Byng appeared in numerous productions including West End theatre, revue, cabaret, and pantomime. He took on the role of the Grand Vizier in Aladdin at the London Palladium in 1921, and developed his initial pantomime dame character, Eliza, for Dick Whittington and His Cat in 1924; subsequently, he featured as a pantomime dame in more than 30 stage productions. He also made international appearances in London, Paris, and New York, including a successful cabaret performance at the Club Lido in New York in 1931. During World War II, he entertained troops. His work continued into his later years, with appearances in Hotel Paradiso (1956) and its film version (1966), a guest appearance on Parkinson in 1977 with Carol Channing, and performances until his late eighties. He influenced subsequent drag and comic artistes, and regularly sold out venues like Chez Henri Club, Café Anglais, and the Strand Roof Garden. Members of the British Royal family engaged Byng for private performances at Windsor Castle and Balmoral, and he frequently raised significant funds for charities through his work. Douglas Byng died on August 24, 1987.

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Argentina

Dr. Tangalanga

Julio Victorio De Rissio, who the public knew as Dr. Tangalanga, was an Argentine comedian born in Buenos Aires on November 10, 1916, in the Balvanera neighborhood. His parents were Italian-Argentine immigrants, and he spent his formative years within that community. Initially, he worked in a shoe factory and later as a shoemaker, marrying at age 25. However, his career took an unexpected turn in 1958 when he began recording prank calls to entertain a friend who was ill. This accidental beginning would eventually define his professional life. Dr. Tangalanga’s comedy centered around prank phone calls to strangers, often targeting businesses and feigning complaints that escalated into arguments and insults. His style frequently incorporated Argentine Lunfardo vernacular, absurd scenarios involving a fictional relative, and the use of vulgar language and double entendres. A particularly memorable call involved a football field owner, concluding with the phrase “Oíme, me hizo mierda este hijo de puta.” He released over 40 albums of these prank calls, beginning in 1989, and they sold over 250,000 copies between 1989 and 2013. Critics like Carlos Loiseau and Alejandro Rozitchner acknowledged his work. Notably, the album 'Dr. Tangalanga es mundial' (1998) featured Octavio for the first time. While his career experienced a pause after 1965 following his friend’s death, Dr. Tangalanga resumed recording in 1980 during his recovery from hepatitis. His popularity grew through informal distribution networks in Argentina during the 1980s. Later releases included '40 Años Currando' (2004), which was exclusively released in Mexico, and a live recording from La Tristienda Club that appeared as an official bootleg in 2006. He also occasionally used the names Raúl Tarufetti or Licenciado Varela. Dr. Tangalanga died on December 26, 2013, leaving behind a legacy as, according to some, the most famous prank call artist in the Spanish-speaking world.

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France

Dranem

The French entertainer Charles Armand Ménard, who used the stage name Dranem, was a singer of comic songs, a performer in music halls and on stage, and an actor in films. Born in Paris’s 10th arrondissement on May 23, 1869, he died in Paris’s 7e arrondissement on October 13, 1935. His father was a craftsman-jeweler, and Dranem learned the trade from him. He adopted the stage name Dranem as an anagram of Ménard. Dranem began his career as an apprentice jeweler before entering entertainment. Initially, he worked briefly as a belt salesman and an orthopedic instrument seller. He launched his amateur stage career at La Verrerie in September 1890. His professional debut occurred on March 24, 1894, at the Electric-Concert. From 1895, he performed with Félix Mayol and Max Dearly at the 'Concert Parisien'. Around 1896, he developed a signature costume: a small jacket, striped pants, enormous shoes, and a hat, along with face paint. He became a leading music hall entertainer known for his comic absurdist genre. Dranem’s comedic singing routine gained him a loyal following and made him wealthy. He appeared in numerous films, including 'Bonsoir m'sieurs dames' in 1902 and several silent shorts directed by Ferdinand Zecca, such as 'Le salut de Dranem' (1901). Alice Guy directed eleven initial sound films, referred to as 'Phonoscènes,' featuring Dranem for Gaumont in 1905. His humor was incongruous and often risqué, and he performed songs like ‘Le Fils d'un gniaf’ to great popularity. Acquiring Château de Ris in 1910, he subsequently created a philanthropic organization to aid aging entertainers; the retirement facility was inaugurated by President Armands Fallières in 1911. The Dranem Foundation operated until 2000, and the property is now a government-operated retirement home. He appeared in operettas, live theatre, and film, including 'La fille de Madame Angot' (1918) at the Paris Opéra-Comique and ‘Les brigands’ (1931). During 1910, Dranem also took part in a production of Molière's 'Le Médecin malgré lui' at l'Odéon theater. In 1923, he received the distinction of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, followed by the rank of Officier in 1935. The Château de Ris-Orangis serves as Dranem’s final resting place. During World War I, Dranem performed for troops and wounded soldiers, appearing in hospitals. He also appeared alongside Maurice Chevalier in 'Là-Haut'. The film ‘Le Ménage Dranem’ (The Dranem Household), made by Pathé, depicts a reversal of traditional gender roles, with the wife abusing the husband. He made numerous radio appearances and starred in a dozen films between 1919 and 1935. He passed away on October 13, 1935, at the Clinique de l'Alma in Paris, having reached the age of 66.

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United States

Drew Droege

Andrew Gerhardt Droege, an American actor, comedian, writer and director, has made a name for himself through improvisational performances and a collection of web‑based impersonations of Chloë Sevigny that went viral.

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United Kingdom

Dudley Moore

An English actor, comedian, musician, and composer, Dudley Moore was born on April 19, 1935, in Dagenham, England. His parents were John Moore and Ada Francis. Early in life, he faced challenges due to club feet, requiring extensive hospital treatment; one foot did not respond to corrective measures. Even so, his exceptional abilities were evident early on; he received a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music at the age of 11, followed by an organ scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955. While studying there, he developed into a skilled jazz pianist and composer, performing at jazz clubs and cabarets, and collaborating with Alan Bennett in The Oxford Revue. Moore’s career took off in the early 1960s when he joined John Dankworth's big band after graduating from Oxford in 1958. From 1960 to 1964, Moore participated in the satirical comedy revue *Beyond the Fringe*, performing alongside Bennett and fellow artists, and was recognized with a special Tony Award in 1963. A significant partnership formed with Peter Cook, resulting in the BBC television series Not Only... But Also from 1965 to 1970. The duo jointly received the 1966 British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance and created the humorous Dagenham Dialogues sketches for the show. They also appeared together in films such as The Wrong Box (1966) and Bedazzled (1967), with Moore co-writing Bedazzled alongside Cook. Moore achieved solo success in America during the late 1970s and early 1980s, starring in films like Foul Play (1978), 10 (1979), and notably, Arthur (1981). His performance in Arthur earned him nominations for an Academy Award for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award, which he won. He received a second Golden Globe Award for Micki & Maude (1984). In 1987, Moore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him the title of CBE in 2001. Diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease in the 1980s, Dudley Moore continued to work until his death on March 27, 2002.

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Italy

Duilio Pizzocchi

Duilio Pizzocchi, whose real name is Maurizio Pagliari, is an Italian comedian and cabaret performer born in Bologna in 1957. From a young age, he demonstrated a talent for jokes and entertainment. He began his career at the age of twenty, appearing on radio and television programs within the Emilia-Romagna region. This early period saw the development of several characters that would become central to his comedic persona, including the Ferrarese painter "Duilio Pizzocchi," which would eventually become his stage name, and “Cactus,” a character popular in the 1980s known for seeking loans and illicit goods. Pizzocchi’s comedy style is characterized by a diverse range of characters, each with distinct personalities and quirks. Alongside "Duilio Pizzocchi" and "Cactus," he created "Ermete Bottazzi," a truck driver who debuted in the early 1990s, as well as "Donna Zobeide," a fortune teller parody that gained popularity through radio broadcasts, and "La Novella," an acerbic old woman who later transitioned to stage performances. Other notable characters include "Eddy Collante," "Stefano Pedrazzi," and "Mefistocchi." Starting in 1983, he began appearing on television in local Emilia-Romagna broadcasts, further refining these characters. Throughout his career, Pizzocchi has explored various avenues of performance. From 1988, he pursued a full-time cabaret career, performing in theaters, conventions, and festivals. He co-founded the touring show Costipanzo Show with Andrea Sasdelli (Giuseppe Giacobazzi) in 1992, which continues to run. He has also appeared in numerous films including Consigli per gli acquisti (1997), Baciato dalla fortuna (2011), and Volevo nascondermi (2020). His television appearances include shows like Zelig, the Maurizio Costanzo Show, and Quelli che... il calcio. He hosted the radio program Il mani-comico with Giacobazzi from 2005 to 2026 on Radio Italia Anni 60, and currently hosts "Il Manicomico" on Radio Italia Anni 60 Emilia Romagna, airing Monday through Saturday. He published the book of stories Fuori scena. Risate a sipario chiuso in 2020, and co-authored Quel tesoro di mio figlio with Giuseppe Giacobazzi in 2009. Pizzocchi also works as an American football sports commentator.

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Austria

Daniel Keberle

Daniel Keberle, born on June 1, 1972, in Vienna, is an Austrian actor, comedian, dubbing actor, and voice-over artist. He holds Austrian nationality and possesses European Union working permits. His early career involved working as an extra starting in the 1980s, followed by roles such as a driver for 'The Three Musketeers' production in 1993. Keberle’s training included attending the Franz Schubert Conservatory for Music and Performing Arts from 1993 to 1996, where he earned a diploma in acting. He has performed at numerous theaters throughout Austria and Germany, including the Volkstheater and Theater der Jugend in Vienna, Landestheater Coburg, Schauspielhaus Wien, Salzburger Landestheater, Landestheater Niederösterreich, Kabarett Simpl, Schauspiel Frankfurt, and the Salzburg Festival. He was a member of the Theaterensemble Theater zum Fürchten from the 1990s, performing at the Scala Wien starting in 1995. His theatrical roles include playing 'Laertes' in 'Hamlet' at Schauspiel Frankfurt and Valentin in Goethe's 'Faust' at the Expo Hannover 2000. Daniel Keberle has appeared in a wide range of film and television productions, including 'Ein fast perfekter Seitensprung' (1996), 'Die Knickerbocker-Bande' (1997), 'Eine Familie zum Küssen' (1997), 'Tatort: Nichts mehr im Griff' (2001), and 'Bauernprinzessin' (2004) and its sequels. He has also had guest roles in series like 'Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt', 'Julia – Eine ungewöhnliche Frau,' 'Schlosshotel Orth,' and 'Kommissar Rex.' Notably, the film 'Alles wird gut' (2016), in which he appeared, received an Academy Award nomination for 'Live Action Short'. He continues to work as an actor, comedian, and voice-over artist, with recent appearances in productions like ACHZIG PLUS (2023) and KOPFTUCHMAFIA (2023).

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