Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

Browse comedian profiles, biographical summaries, country of origin, and official links.

1588 comedians

Alexander Goebel

Alexander Goebel, a German, works as an actor, musical actor, director of comedian theater and radiomaker and lives and works in Austria.

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Germany

Erwin Grosche, a comedian and humorist, hails from Paderborn, Germany. Born on November 25, 1955, in Anröchte, Kreis Lippstadt, his birthdate is subject to minor dispute; his mother claims it was November 24th. He comes from a family with roots in the local community, as his father was a baker and his mother ran the local grocery store. His early life included attending the Volksschule in Berge before moving to the Theodorianum grammar school in Paderborn. Grosche’s interest in performance began early, fostered by his brother Heiko Grosche, who encouraged his passion for theater and art. During his school years, he took on lead roles at the Westfälische Kammerspiele in Paderborn and also appeared at the Schloß Neuhaus open-air stage. He demonstrated an aptitude for writing during this period, publishing poems and songs in magazines like DOM. Initially performing with his brother, Grosche transitioned to a solo career in 1980. His work has been featured on television shows such as 'Die Sendung mit der Maus' and 'Stadt, Land, Fluss,' and he has maintained a significant friendship with jazz guitarist Toto Blanke, recording numerous LPs and CDs together. Throughout his career, Grosche has written over seventy books, including children’s literature translated into multiple languages. He has collaborated with actors like Doris Dörrie, Sven Severin, and Margarethe von Trotta. His comedy style often reflects everyday life, incorporating sound effects and observations about common objects. Critics describe him as a 'großartiger Beobachter' (great observer), noting his truthful and relatable work. Grosche’s humor relies on language, imagination, and a playful approach, cultivating a close connection with his audience through a sympathetic demeanor. He received numerous awards, including the German Kleinkunstpreis and the Sonderpreis Reif & Bekloppt of Prix Pantheon in 1995, followed by the Morenhovener Lupe and Wilhelmshavener Knurrhahn in 1999, and the Kulturpreis der Stadt Paderborn in 2000. He is also a patron of UNICEF PADERBORN since 2003 and an ambassador for 'Stiftung Lesen' since 2009. Grosche’s legacy continues to grow; his life's work was recognized in the 2010 exhibition 'Westfälische Kabarettheroen.' He recently authored 'Das Lesebuch Erwin Grosche' (2024) with introductions by Hanns Dieter Hüsch and Walter Gödden, and co-authored 'Die kleine Fußballschule' (2022) with Peter Menne. A film featuring his experiences testing cakes and tortes, directed by Wolfgang Dresler and including the vocal ensemble 'Anis oder Mandel,' is also among his recent projects. Grosche continues to perform, as evidenced by his appearance at the Unter-Haus in Bad Hönningen on September 19, 2026, featuring his cabaret and variety program "PIPIFAX Deluxe." He believes the world would be better if more people saw it through his eyes, focusing on drawing conclusions from large events and applying them to everyday situations.

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Germany

Guido Cantz

Guido Cantz, born on August 19, 1971, in Porz am Rhein, is a German television presenter and comedian. He attended the Maximilian-Kolbe-Gymnasium in Cologne-Wahn and earned his Abitur. Cantz began performing stand-up comedy at the Cologne Carnival in 1991, sometimes making up to 250 appearances per season. Between 1991 and 1994, he pursued a dual path: studying Business Administration at the University of Cologne while also undertaking an apprenticeship to become a state-certified commercial media assistant. This apprenticeship concluded in 1996 at the Joseph-DuMont Vocational College. He has worked for German broadcasters since 1998, appearing on comedy shows like Quatsch Comedy Club and TV Total, as well as other programs such as Ottis Schlachthof and Genial daneben. Additionally, his career in television has encompassed hosting game shows such as Deal or No Deal, along with diverse entertainment programs including Karnevalissimo, Kenn ich?, Die Edgar-Wallace-Show, and Wie geil ist das denn? Guido Cantz has been performing his individual stage shows throughout Germany consistently from 2006 onwards. He celebrated his 25th stage anniversary in 2017, dubbed "Blondiläum." His comedy style involves natural wit and targeted jokes, exploring topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and political correctness. He also incorporates personal family experiences into his performances and addresses challenges like midlife crises. In 2022, he won the second season of Der König der Kindsköpfe and hosted relaunched shows 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe and Ich setz auf Dich. He will host the relaunch of Glücksrad starting in 2024. As of 2024, he has been entertaining fans for 34 years and is considered one of Germany's most well-known comedians.

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Germany

Günter Neumann

Günter Christian Ludwig Neumann was a cabaretist working in Germany, author of texts, composer and pianist. He is often confused with his professional colleague Klaus Günter Neumann.

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Germany

Günther Lüders

Günther Lüders, born March 5, 1905, in Lübeck, was a German actor with a career spanning over four decades. He came from a family involved in shipping; his grandfather, Johannes Meno Wilhelm Lüders, co-founded the Lüders & Stange shipping company in 1865, and his father, Carl, continued as a shipowner and merchant. After attending the Katharineum until reaching maturity and completing a commercial apprenticeship from 1921 to 1923, he pursued acting studies with Karl Heidmann. Early in his career, Lüders joined the Wanderbühne of the Städtebund-Theater in 1923, performing in cities like Lübeck, Dessau, and Frankfurt am Main throughout the 1920s. From 1934 onwards, he was engaged at Berlin theaters, and his film debut came that same year in Die Insel . His work included roles in notable films such as Drei Männer im Schnee (1951), Das sündige Dorf (1954), and Das Wirtshaus im Spessart (1958). He also ventured into directing, with films like Wenn wir alle Engel wären (1956) and Ihr 106. Geburtstag (1958). A brief imprisonment in the Esterwegen concentration camp in 1935 resulted from his critical views on the Nazi regime. Following World War II, Lüders continued to work extensively in theater, including engagements at theaters in Flensburg, Lübeck, and Hamburg. From 1947 to 1954, he was a prominent member of the Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf under Gustaf Gründgens. He was recognized as one of the most sought-after theater actors of his time. In addition to his stage and film work, he participated in over one hundred radio plays from 1946 onwards, often taking leading roles. Lüders also contributed texts for Die Rückblende in the 1960s and was known for his performances of works by poets such as Joachim Ringelnatz, Christian Morgenstern, and Wilhelm Busch. He resided in Urfeld am Walchensee from 1954 until his death on March 1, 1975, in Düsseldorf, shortly before his 70th birthday. His contributions to German entertainment were acknowledged with the German Kleinkunstpreis in 1974.

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Germany

Hans Süper

Hans Süper, a German musician and comedian, was born Johannes 'Hans' Süper junior on March 15, 1936, in Cologne. He passed away in Cologne on December 3, 2022, at the age of 86, due to liver cancer. His father, Hans Süper senior, was a member of the Kölner Gesangsquartet De Vier Botze, establishing an early connection to music within the family. Süper began his performing career around 1950 with his older brother Paul 'Charly' Süper as 'Zwei Schnürreme,' playing accordion. During this time, he met Hans Zimmermann, who would become his future partner in the Colonia Duett. From 1974 to 1990, Süper and Zimmermann formed the Colonia Duett, entertaining audiences primarily during Carnival. Their shows featured improvisational gags and Moritaten-like compositions centered around the phrase 'Du Ei,' which later became nationally known through television appearances on WDR, ARD, and ZDF. The duo reached a peak of 250-300 performances per year. After Zimmermann’s departure, Süper partnered with Werner Keppel from 1991 to 2002 as the Süper-Duett, continuing the same stage show style. The Süper-Duett officially celebrated its farewell in January 2002 at the Cologne Gürzenich. Süper increasingly used High German in his later performances, a contrast to his partner's dialect. He briefly retired from performing in 2004 but returned in 2011 and 2012 with the program 'Mein Leben mit der Flitsch.' This program, along with his autobiography of the same name published in March 2011 by Helmut Frangenberg, highlighted his connection to his trademark instrument, a mandolin crafted by his father during wartime imprisonment, nicknamed "Flitsch." He appeared at events such as the 'Coelner Giganten' in 2012 and the Cologne Dreigestirn proclamation in January 2013. In October 2016, he performed at 'Kölle singt' in the Lanxess Arena for approximately 12,000 spectators. He received the Dürener Papiermacherorden in February 2020 and was considered a Karnevalslegende (Carnival legend) from Cologne. A memorial is planned for Cologne-Sülz in 2024, and a puppet of Süper exists at the Hänneschen-Theater.

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Germany

Helmut Hoffman

Helmut Hoffmann is a comedian and cabaretist working in Germany who by his portrayal of the postal employee and typical citizen Hans‐Hermann Thielke became known.

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Germany

Jan Böhmermann

Jan Böhmermann is a German left-wing satirist, journalist, and television host. Born on February 23, 1981, in Bremen, he grew up in the Vegesack district. His mother’s family emigrated from Poland to Germany in the early 1970s; his father, a police officer, died of leukemia when Böhmermann was seventeen. He attended Schulzentrum Bördestraße and obtained his Abitur. After briefly studying history, sociology, theater, film, and television science at the University of Cologne without completing the degree, he began his career in journalism. Böhmermann’s early work included a brief stint at Die Norddeutsche newspaper in 1997, followed by five years as a moderator and reporter for Radio Bremen from 1999 to 2004. He then joined 1Live on WDR, where he created the satirical column 'Lukas’ Tagebuch' parodying soccer player Lukas Podolski. This work led to a lawsuit from Podolski. In 2008, he launched the podcast 'Pod-Olski – Der EM-Podcast von Lukas'. He hosted the six-part comedy show 'Echt Böhmermann' in 2007 and, in 2009, participated in a satirical action for the RTL show TV-Helden, establishing the 'Ersten Türkischen Karnevalsverein Deutschlands (1. TKVD)'. The TV program 'TV-Helden' received the 2009 German Television Prize. Throughout his career, Böhmermann has been involved in various projects. From 2011 to 2016, he co-hosted 'Sanft & Sorgfältig' with Klaas Heufer-Umlauf and later Olli Schulz. He also co-hosted the talk show 'Roche & Böhmermann' with Charlotte Roche from March 2012 to October 2012. He went on tour with Lateline in 2012 and 2013, and recorded radio plays 'Förderschulklassenfahrt' in 2013 and its sequel in 2014. Böhmermann has also written the 'Gott fragt, Böhmermann antwortet' column for the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s youth edition and produced the documentary film '16 × Deutschland' about the Bremer Antikolonialdenkmal. Currently, he hosts the ZDF Magazin Royale and the podcast Fest & Flauschig, and has been active as a Schöffe (lay judge) at the Amtsgericht Köln.

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Germany

John Friedmann

John Friedmann, born on August 16, 1971, in Frankfurt am Main, is a German actor and comedian. He is also a voice-over artist and member of the Bundesverband Schauspiel e.V. (BFFS). As a child, he relocated to Bad Tölz and participated in the Tölzer Knabenchor. He later pursued studies in architecture at Munich University, believing it benefits his filmmaking abilities. Friedmann initially gained recognition as part of the comedy duo Erkan und Stefan, performing under the pseudonym Erkan Maria Moosleitner alongside Florian Simbeck. The name 'Erkan Maria Moosleitner' was inspired by actor Charles Muhamed Huber and references multicultural society. They began their career performing in radio shows, and Michael ‘Bully’ Herbig directed their first film, Erkan und Stefan (2000), which received the Bavarian Film Award. Subsequent films included Erkan & Stefan – Gegen die Mächte der Finsternis (2002), which he co-wrote and starred in, and Erkan & Stefan in Der Tod kommt krass (2006). He also appeared in Ich Chef, du nix (2007) and co-wrote the screenplay for that film. Beyond his work with Erkan und Stefan, Friedmann has had a diverse career. He starred in films such as Lucky Fritz (2009), Shoot the Duke (2009), WUNDERKINDER (2011), and GIRL ON A BICYCLE (2010). He also played an SS Sturmbannführer in the Holocaust drama Wunderkinder (2011). Since 2017, he has appeared in various television productions, including episodes of Die Rosenheim-Cops , SOKO München , and GENIAL DANEBEN . Friedmann is also a published author, having released Flaschendrehen Furioso in 2012 and Das Blaue vom Himmel in 2015. He and Florian Simbeck operate the ErkanUndStefan channel on Twitch, which has over 60,000 followers as of July 2023. Currently, he is participating in the reality show 'Forsthaus Rampensau Deutschland' (2023) and has been involved with the Pulse of Europe movement since 2017.

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Germany

Markus Krebs

Markus Krebs is a German stand-up comedian born on July 26, 1970, in Duisburg. He hails from Duisburg-Neudorf and identifies as a supporter and member of the MSV Duisburg football club, having previously been involved with hooliganism for years. His early life included eye surgery due to mumps, resulting in blindness in his right eye. Before pursuing comedy, Krebs held various jobs including wholesale and foreign trade merchant, deputy hardware store manager, bus driver, and work in the restaurant industry. He is known for incorporating "Ruhrpott-Humor," humor from the Ruhr area, into his act. Krebs began his comedy career unexpectedly; he was first brought on stage in 2008 by his brother in Dinslaken to fill a last-minute need. He quickly gained recognition, winning the Niederrheinischer Comedy-Preis in 2008 and the RTL Comedy Grand Prix in 2013. His comedy style incorporates stories from his favorite pub and anecdotes from daily life, often delivered with improvisational humor and a signature stage persona that includes wearing sunglasses and a wool hat with "Ruhrpott" written on it. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including Kaya Yanar, Bülent Ceylan, TV total, Cindy aus Marzahn, Sträters Männerhaushalt, Tietjen und Hirschhausen, and Genial daneben. Markus Krebs has built a substantial career through solo programs and tours. His first tour, 'Literatur unter Betäubung,' began in January 2014, followed by 'Hocker-Rocker' from 2014 to 2016. The program 'Permanent Panne' premiered on RTL in September 2017 and was largely sold out during its 2017/18 tour. He hosted 'Die Show' in February 2018 and 'Witzearena' on RTL from September 2018 to January 2019. His subsequent tours, including 'Pass auf … kennste den?!' (starting in February 2019) and 'Comedy alle wegen mir?' (2023/24), were also sold out. Currently, he is touring with 'Bierschaum ist mein Lippenstift' in 2025. He celebrates 15 years of his career with the show '15 Jahre Markus Krebs - Das Beste aus 6 Live-Programmen,' which will have multiple dates and locations throughout Germany in 2026. Additionally, he hosts a podcast, 'Comedykation mit Markus Krebs' (since March 2020) and 'Der Theken-Talk Podcast', featuring guests like Matze Knop and Atze Schröder, available on various streaming platforms. He has also released multiple 'Best Of Witze' compilations and produces a series called 'Backstage Talk'. His YouTube channel features his podcast and comedy clips.

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Germany

Martin Reinl

Martin Reinl, born in Mainz on October 15, 1975, is a multifaceted entertainer from Germany. He began his career performing stand-up comedy in 1996 while studying Communications Design and then Audiovisual Media in Cologne. His early work includes the debut of the hand puppet Wiwaldi in 1998, followed by the release of his first CD, 'Piep! 999 Anrufbeantwortersprüche,' in 1999. Reinl attended the Köln Comedy Schule in 2000 and completed his studies at the Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln in 2002, demonstrating a foundation in both creative arts and comedic performance. Reinl’s career has been marked by significant television appearances and puppet-based creations. From 2002 to 2016, he was on 'Zimmer frei!' on WDR television. He used puppets, including Horst-Pferdinand, to interview celebrities and be in shows like '5 gegen Jauch'. He is responsible for the Peb and Pebber puppets on Super RTL, receiving a Sonderpreis at the Filmfest München in 2008 for this work. He also contributed puppets, including Kalle and Ralle, to Oliver Pocher's late-night show from 2010 to 2012 and voices Benno Benz in 'Auto Mobil' on VOX since 2011. Reinl’s versatility extends to voice acting, with roles including Mr. Bean and, since 2012, exclusively voicing Elmo in the German version of Sesame Street, as well as Grobi since 2015. Currently, Martin Reinl continues to be active in various comedic and performance ventures. He co-created the stage show 'Zur Sache, Puppe' with Ramona Schukraft in 2007 and is a regular guest at NightWash and the Quatsch Comedy Club. The 'Wiwaldi Show,' which ran from 2012 to 2016, produced 31 episodes and was nominated for the Grimme Prize in 2013. He also co-hosts the podcast 'Puppkultur' with Julian Schlichting since 2023. Reinl tours with his live show called 'Unter Puppen,' where he brings everyday objects to life, and performs the show 'Puppen Gucken' with Carsten Haffke, exploring 100 years of television history using puppets, featuring over 40 puppets and improvised TV formats. Tickets for this show range from €12.50 to €52.90.

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Germany

Torge Oelrich

Freshtorge, bourgeois Oelrich, comes from Wesselburen and is active in Germany as a comedian, actor, musician and producer of web videos. He became known for the n YouTube channel Freshtorge, in which e r brings various figures to life in his contributions.