Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

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

1628 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

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

Heinz Gröning

Heinz Gröning, born November 18, 1965, in Emmerich, is a German comedian, musician, and moderator. He is also known professionally as 'Der unglaubliche Heinz,' a stage persona inspired by The Incredible Hulk. Gröning's journey began with years of performing street theater and playing in various bands. Following military service, he pursued studies in medicine in Cologne and even completed an internship working as a doctor in pathology. This background informs his current work, which often incorporates medical references. Gröning gained wider recognition starting in 2007 as a regular guest on the show 'NightWash' on Comedy Central. His performances are characterized by singing and reciting self-written songs and poems, frequently using a Reclam booklet titled 'Ich bin ein sensibler Poet, gefangen im Körper eines zu stark behaarten LKW-Fahrers'. He often incorporates musical interludes, walking to his guitar with the announcement that women are present to witness this act. Throughout his career, he has released several CDs and hosted various television programs, including the first season of 'u. A. w. g. – um Antwort wird gebeten' on Comedy Central in early 2007, and 38 episodes of the comedy series 'Fun(k)haus' on WDR television from June 2007 to May 2010. He also presented ten episodes of the short ‘poetical comedy series’ Poetry Comedy on Sat.1 Comedy. Over three decades, Gröning has cultivated a distinctive comedic style that blends stand-up texts with play scenes featuring expressive mimicry and choreographed songs. His Christmas comedy program, "VERSCHOLLEN IM WEIHNACHTSSTOLLEN" (Lost in the Christmas Stollen), has become a tradition for many families, likened to having a Christmas tree. This show, which he has performed for 25 years, incorporates parodies of artists like Elvis Presley, Herbert Grönemeyer, Shirin David, and Rolf Zuckowski. Critics have praised it highly; the Rheinische Post called it the funniest Christmas comedy evening they had seen, while the Kölner Stadtanzeiger described it as very personal, very Christmassy, and incredibly humorous. With over 307 appearances, more than 40,000 audience members have attended his shows, generating over 50 million laughs in total. Gröning currently tours with programs like 'Dr. Laugh - BESTE MEDIZIN,' described as a humorous therapy, and continues to perform "Verschollen im Weihnachtsstollen." A new version of his show, "Heinz Punkt 25," is planned for 2025, featuring 25% of the best jokes from his career. He has received numerous awards including the Kleinkunstpreis Datteln, DER SPEZIALIST Hannover, and the Tuttlinger Krähe, and was nominated for a German Comedy Award.

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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

Henning Schmidtke

Henning Schmidtke is a German comedian born on February 3, 1970, in Northeim. He spent his childhood in Hattorf am Harz and completed his secondary education at the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Gymnasium in Herzberg am Harz in 1989. Schmidtke pursued higher education, studying German and English in Göttingen. During this time, he engaged in musical activities, playing piano and forming bands, and also contributed written pieces as an author for the street magazine TagesSatz from 1997 to 2004. He toured Romania in 2002 with the chanson-rock band 'Schneemann', receiving funding from the German Foreign Office. Since 2004, Schmidtke has established himself as a cabaret artist, musician, and author. Initially performing under the name 'Kelvin von der Musikpolizei,' he gained recognition for his 'Musikpolizei' program, which featured reinterpretations of famous rock songs on piano. This program earned him the Bochumer Kleinkunstpreis in 2004. He has also written and composed material for other artists such as Hennes Bender and Ausbilder Schmidt. From 2001 to 2010, he provided musical accompaniment for improv theater groups. His work extends to radio comedy, collaborating with Ramona Schukraft on children's programs like the 'Jimmy Böndchen' series. Schmidtke’s current work focuses on presenting a generally optimistic view of the world. Beginning in 2011, Bastian Pastewka has hosted the interview podcast 'Schön Reden,' and his live performances feature programs like 'No Wumme, No Cry' (which aired on 3sat), 'Hetzkasper – zu blöd für Burnout,' 'Egoland,' and 'Es ist nicht alles so scheiße, wie du denkst.' He is also a victor of the Trierer Comedy Slam and has been featured on the Cologne program Nightwash. From January 2013 onwards, Bastian Pastewka has performed as a cabaret artist on ZDFinfo’s ‘Berlin Politix.’ His book, 'Es ist nicht alles so scheiße, wie du denkst,' came out in 2021, and the accompanying stage show – a blend of stand-up comedy and infotainment – is presently on tour. Schmidtke’s performances highlight positive developments often overlooked by the media, using statistics to support his argument that things are generally improving. He has recently won the Passauer Scharfrichterbeil in 2024, receiving praise for offering a perspective capable of spreading confidence and optimism, and also received the “Lorscher Abt” award in 2024.

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Germany

Herbert Hisel

Herbert Hisel, born on June 22, 1927, in Nuremberg, was a prominent Franconian humorist. He is considered the 'father' of Franconian humor and achieved significant success from the 1960s to the 1970s. Before pursuing comedy, he briefly worked as a bus driver after the war and then studied mechanical engineering. From 1953 until 1961, he was employed as a department head at Grundig AG. His comedic journey began in 1953 with amateur performances at company and Christmas parties, festivals, and beer tents. His first public appearance as a Büttenredner (table speaker) occurred that same year at the Karnevalsgesellschaft Rheinländer-Vereinigung in Nuremberg. He quickly gained recognition for his performances at the Nuremberg Volksfest and the Fürth Geismannsaal. In 1961, he left his position at Grundig to become a professional comedian, marking a significant shift in his career. His comedy style is described as dry, sometimes harsh, but heartfelt Franconian humor, frequently incorporating his signature phrase "Jou werkli." Hisel released his first single, 'Jahrgang 22,' in 1963, which became a hit and led to eight gold records for selling 50,000 singles each. Record covers were designed in the colors of the Franconian Rechen (a traditional calculation board). He appeared in fifteen films starting in 1967, including some sex comedies. From 1961 to 1966, he served as president of the 'Nürnberger Trichter Karnevalsgesellschaft e. V. 1909' and was Faschingsprinz 'Herbertla I.' in 1966. Due to significant tax debts of nearly one million marks, he fled to Canada in 1975, where he performed for German-speaking audiences. He died of a heart attack on September 21, 1982, near Toronto, Canada, following a car accident. A memorial stone was erected in Nuremberg in 2008, and a street, Herbert-Hisel-Weg, was named after him in 2016.

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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

Lisa Feller

Lisa Feller, born in Düsseldorf in 1976, is a German actress, comedian, podcaster, and former radio host. She currently resides in Münster. Her career began with studies in elementary education at the University of Münster, majoring in Catholic religion, and included time as a moderator for the university radio station Radio Q. Feller also gained experience as an improvisation actress, being a member of the Placebotheater ensemble, which achieved recognition by winning the Impro-Cup in 2004 and the Gloria Crown in 2005. Feller is known for her work in various comedy formats. She initially gained recognition through her role in the comedy series 'Schillerstraße,' appearing in season 5 in 2010, and also featured on the NightWash anniversary DVD in 2011. She has performed as a stand-up comedian in shows such as Quatsch Comedy Club, Nightwash, and RTL II Fun Club. Her live programs include 'Kill Bernd – aber vorher bringt er noch den Müll runter' (2010), 'Der Teufel trägt Pampers' (2012), 'Guter Sex ist teuer!' (2014), 'Der Nächste, bitte!' (2017), 'Ich komm’ jetzt öfter!' (2019), 'Dirty Talk' (2022), and the upcoming 'Schön für Dich!' (2025). She has also appeared on shows like "Mitternachtsspitzen," "SWR Spätschicht," "Genial daneben," and "Die besten Comedians Deutschlands." Beyond stand-up, Feller hosts the ARD cabaret show 'Ladies Night' since 2019 and co-hosted 'Das Tier in Dir' with Karsten Brensing in 2019. She has also ventured into podcasting, hosting 'Frau Feller & Frau Jahnke' (2020), 'Midlife-Party' with Jürgen Bangert (2021), and 'Naschkatzen' with Patricia Kain (2022). Her published works include 'Windeln haben kurze Beine' in 2013 and 'Mir geht’s gut, nur meine Brüste lassen sich hängen' in 2019. She demonstrated her knowledge and quick wit by winning the first season of 'Der unfassbar schlauste Mensch der Welt' in August 2022, earning the title "Unfassbar schlausten Menschen der Welt." Feller has received several awards including the Prix Pantheon nomination in 2012, the Bottroper FrechDax in 2017, and will receive the Recklinghäuser Hurz and the Ehrenpreis des Dattelner Kleinkunstpreises, Das Dattelner NachtSchnittchen in 2025. She also provides voice acting for projects like 'Die Gerd-Show' and various Hörspiele.

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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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