Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

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

1635 comedians

Alban Ivanov

Alban Ivanov is a French humorist, comedian, and improviser. Born on September 10, 1984, in Narbonne, France, his background is Russian. He developed a passion for comedy at age 11 and began performing artistically in 1997 with the Ligue d'improvisation des Yvelines. He trained in theatrical improvisation with Alain Degois at Déclic Théâtre, later joining the Déclic Théâtre company. His full name is Alban Maurice Igor Yvinaï Juvénal. Ivanov’s career includes diverse roles and collaborations. From 2002 to 2004, he appeared in television commercials for AOL and Bouygues Telecom, and had roles in several TV series such as Âge sensible , L'Instit , and SOS 18 . He performed with the troupe Trait d'Union in 2002 and in the duo Not mo Molière with Djemel Barek in 2005. He also appeared in collective shows from 2004, including Les Soirées Cecilia and La Famille . In 2008, he starred in the humorous mini-series Dur dur d’être le fils de… , and hosted open mic nights at the Jamel Comedy Club starting in 2009. He met Jamel Debbouze who helped launch his career, and Debbouze later gave him the reins of the Jamel Comedy Club. Ivanov has gained recognition for his improv and sketch comedy. He had a film debut in 2011 in Les Mythos , followed by roles in films such as Anyone (2014), Le Sens de la fête (2017), Le Grand Bain (2018), and Patients (2017), for which he won Best Male Performance at the Sarlat Film Festival in 2016. He voiced Pumbaa in the French dub of The Lion King (2019) and appeared in Le Dernier Mercenaire (Netflix) with Jean-Claude Van Damme. He presented his first one-man show, Alban Ivanov et les autres , in 2012, followed by Élément perturbateur in 2015. Currently, he is touring with his new show 'Vedette 2.0', and participated in the fourth season of ‘LOL: Qui rit, sort’ on Amazon Prime Video in 2024.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Audrey Vernon

Audrey Vernon is a French actress and humorist, born in Marseille in 1980. She hails from a family with artistic ties; she is the great-great-niece of painter Marthe Bonnard. Her early training involved studying drama at the conservatory in Toulon, as well as attending the ERAC workshops, the conservatory in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, and Cours Florent. This foundation led to stage roles including Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Polly in Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera , marking the beginning of her career. Vernon's work expanded beyond the stage, encompassing television appearances such as Fatou la Malienne in 2001 and Moot-Moot in 2007, and a starring role in the 2010 television film Le Petit Poucet . From 2005 to 2013, she gained recognition for her daily one-minute segment on Canal+ Décalé. She is also known for writing and performing Comment épouser un milliardaire , which premiered in 2009 and has seen continued success; Giorgia Sinicorni has performed the show in Italy. The show reached a significant milestone, celebrating its 500th performance at the Théâtre Antoine in 2018. She also created and performed Marx et Jenny , which debuted in July 2013 at La Nouvelle Seine, inaugurating the theatre with a series of performances. In recent years, Vernon has pursued diverse creative avenues. She presented Le billet d’Audrey Vernon on France Inter from 2016, although a segment regarding railway worker suicides was censored in 2017. She co-created Écologie, maintenant il faut se battre in 2018, and has since presented Billion Dollar Baby , originally titled Cannon Fodder , starting in the winter of 2020. Alongside launching the BigBooks podcast in April 2020, which features readings related to capitalism, she became involved in political activism, joining the Parlement de l'Union Populaire in March 2022 and subsequently becoming a co-president of Soulèvements de la Terre’s financial support collective in 2023. She is currently in a relationship with comedian Thomas VDB and they have two children. Vernon is scheduled to release Comment épouser un milliardaire 2 : Noces de cristal in 2026.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Baptiste Lecaplain

Baptiste Lecaplain, born on May 23, 1985, in Avranches (Manche), is a French comedian and actor. He spent his early childhood in Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët before moving to Mortain. His education includes attending the Collège de Brécey and Lycée Littré in Avranches, where he earned a literary baccalaureate in 2004. Following this, he studied English at Rennes University, completing a license. Lecaplain’s family background includes a father who works as an upkeep worker and a mother who manages a hair salon. Baptiste Lecaplain began his career as a children's animator in Levallois-Perret before transitioning to comedy. He worked as a youth leader in Levallois-Perret from 2004 to 2006, and quit animating in September 2006 to pursue humor. His first show, simply titled 'Baptiste,' premiered in January 2008 and drew heavily on autobiographical material. He then embarked on a tour with 'Baptiste se tape l'affiche,' also largely autobiographical, starting in 2008. He has appeared in several films, including 'Fidèles au poste!' (2012) and 'Nous York' (2012), marking his film debut. In February 2012, he filled nine performances at the Bataclan theaters in Paris. He performs stand-up comedy. Lecaplain’s career has continued to evolve since 2012. He participated in 'La Tournée du Trio' with Jérémy Ferrari and Arnaud Tsamere from January to February 2013. In 2014, he played the main role in 'Libre et assoupi,' and also starred in a short film for French road traffic safety. He joined 'Les Grosses Têtes' on RTL in October 2014, and participated in Fort Boyard in August 2014, where their team won €11,270 for the charity Un cadeau pour la vie. He began touring with 'Origines' in 2015. He has also appeared in ‘Scènes de ménages’ (2013) and the web series 'Pitch' (2019), as well as participating in 'Les Duos Impossibles' in 2018 and 2020. Gad Elmaleh publicly praised Lecaplain, calling him the best humorist of his generation in 2010. He is a father to two daughters, Thelma (born March 2014) and Fantine (born 2018).

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Blanche Gardin

Blanche Gardin is a French comedian, actress, and screenwriter born on April 3, 1977, in Suresnes. Her upbringing was shaped by intellectual parents: her father is a linguistics professor and communist, and her mother is a novelist and translator. She pursued higher education, earning a Master of Sociology degree from Paris Nanterre University in 2001. Before dedicating herself to comedy, Gardin worked as an educator in the Paris suburbs. Her career began when she sent a DVD of sketches to Karl Zéro, leading to her discovery. Gardin gained public recognition through appearances on the Jamel Comedy Club, starting in 2006. She hosted the weekly show 'Ligne Blanche' on Comédie! from March 10, 2007, until 2008. Her work extends beyond stand-up; she has appeared in films such as Le Chihuahua de Beverly Hills (2007), La Lisière , Low Cost , and Case départ (2011), and 20 ans d'écart (2013). She also had a role as Hélène Grilloux in the television series WorkinGirls from 2012 to 2014. Gardin co-wrote Parents mode d'emploi , which aired on France 2 starting in 2013, and co-created the short-form comedy series of the same name. She also co-wrote Le Crocodile du Botswanga with Fabrice Éboué. Gardin’s comedic talent has been widely recognized. She won the Molière Award for Humor in 2018 for her one-woman show 'Je parle toute seule,' performed at L'Européen in Paris, and again in 2019 for 'Bonne nuit Blanche.' She also co-wrote and appeared in Inside Jamel Comedy Club (2009). In 2015, she performed Il faut que je vous parle! , subsequently publishing a book with the same title in 2016. Gardin's work has been influenced by American actor Louis C.K., and she dated him from 2018 to 2022. She established her own production company, 'White Spirit,' in 2016, and presented the Molières in 2018 during discussions surrounding Harvey Weinstein.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Caroline Grimm

Caroline Grimm, born June 8, 1964, is a multifaceted French creative professional. She began her career in music in 1985 with the release of 'La Vie sans toi,' which achieved gold record status and remained in the Top 50 for 19 weeks. Her mother is actress Sophie Grimaldi and her father is Gilbert Ledermann. She studied literature, demonstrating an early interest in storytelling and language. Grimm’s career has encompassed numerous roles including screenwriter, actress, producer, director, novelist, and singer. From 1996 to 2000, she produced and hosted 'La Nuit Caroline' on France Inter for four summers. She also released an erotic novel titled 'La Nuit Caroline' in early 2000. Her writing extends beyond fiction; she is a biographer, having published Moi, Olympe de Gouges in 2009, which was adapted into a successful theatrical production at the Petit Théâtre de Paris. Further demonstrating her versatility, she subsequently published Churchill m’a menti in 2014, receiving positive reviews from critics, and later released Vue sur Mère in 2019, followed by Ma Double vie avec Chagall in 2021. Beyond writing, Grimm is actively involved in filmmaking and storytelling. She appeared on France 3 with Marc Jolivet in 'Rire c'est bon pour la planète' in 2009, featuring one-minute sketches. In 2010, she wrote and directed her first short film, 'Sous l'oreiller'. She has also worked as a script doctor and manages fiction production, having held that role for France 3 from 2000 to 2004. Grimm enjoys telling stories that blend personal experiences with universal themes, aiming to balance emotion, narrative tension, and human depth, and she has developed a visual, embodied, and sensitive writing style. She is also a radio storyteller and writes lyrics, showing her many artistic talents.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Chantal Lauby

As a French artist, Chantal Lauby demonstrates versatility through her work as an actress, film director, screenwriter, humorist, comedian, and television host. Her birth occurred on March 23, 1948, in Gap (Hautes-Alpes), and her formative years were spent in Auvergne, specifically between Auzon and Clermont-Ferrand. Her career began early, with work as a speaker for ORTF Auvergne in 1970 and later roles as an announcer on FR3 Auvergne. During her time with regional offices of France 3 and Radio France, she encountered Bruno Carette. A pivotal moment in Lauby's career as a comedian arrived with her participation as a founding member of Les Nuls, a comedy troupe that also included Bruno Carette, Alain Chabat, and Dominique Farrugia. This group created memorable works such as the mock space series 'Objectif Nul' in 1987. Together, they hosted several comedic shows including 'Azur Rock', 'Un petit clip vaut mieux qu’une grande claque', 'Bzzz!', 'Le JTN', 'TVN 595', and 'A.B.C.D. Nuls'. She also starred in ‘La Cité de la peur’ (1994), a satirical comedy featuring other Les Nuls members, and subsequently appeared in films directed by her former colleagues, including 'Delphine 1, Yvan 0' (1996) and 'Didier' (1997). She also had roles in ‘XY’, ‘Meilleur Espoir féminin’ (1999), ‘Antilles sur Seine’ (2000), and ‘Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre’ (2002). Beyond her work with Les Nuls, Lauby has continued to build a diverse career. She directed the film 'Laisse tes mains sur mes hanches' in 2002 and appeared in numerous other comedies, such as ‘Toi et moi’ (2006), ‘Comme tout le monde’ (2007), ‘Vilaine’ (2008), and ‘Bancs publics (Versailles Rive-Droite)’ (2009). Notably, she initially developed the script for a film called 'Comme un Ouragan', which later became 'Les Tuche', and recommended Jean-Paul Rouve and Isabelle Nanty for lead roles. She also provided voiceovers for the morning show on Virgin Radio from August 23, 2010, and presented the show ‘Génération’ with Jean-Luc Lemoine in 2012. An album called Aéromusical served as the soundtrack for one of her films. She is the mother of Jennifer Ayache, singer for Superbus, born in 1983.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Claudia Tagbo

Claudia Tagbo is a French-Ivorian actress, comedian, and television personality. Born on June 14, 1973, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, she spent her early years there before moving to Chanac, Lozère, France at the age of 13, where she resided for two years. Following that, she lived in Alès, Gard, until she turned 18. From a young age, Claudia Tagbo developed a passion for art and theater, which would shape her future career path. Although she attempted to enter the Conservatory of Montpellier without success, she pursued further education, earning a Master's degree in Performing Arts from Université Paris-VIII after completing vocational studies including a BEP and a professional baccalaureate in accounting. Tagbo’s career encompasses both dramatic acting and comedy. She has worked with directors like Stanislas Nordey, Elisabeth Rappeneau, Julien Leclercq, and Olivier Dahan, appearing in films such as Mama Aloko , La Valse des gros derrières , Ma vie n'est pas une comédie romantique , and Chrysalis . Her television credits include roles in Fatou la Malienne , Ma meilleure amie , Le tuteur , and R.I.S Police scientifique . She began her stand-up comedy career successfully, launching her journey as a humorist within the Jamel Comedy Club in 2006. From November 2010 to July 2012, she was part of the team on Ce soir avec Arthur , and also appeared in the comedic series United colors of Jean-Luc in 2011. She participated as a contestant on On n'demande qu'à en rire that same year. Claudia Tagbo does more than act and do stand-up. This shows she is good at being on television. Since December 2011, she has been a frequent guest on Vendredi, tout est permis . In 2013, she hosted Claudia Tagbo & co , a comedy gala benefiting the CéKeDuBonheur association, and also presented Disco party . She addressed her cancer experience in the program À nous deux in 2014, and contributed to the single Kiss and Love for Sidaction that year. She continues to be active in the entertainment industry, building a career that spans acting, comedy, and television appearances.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Constance

Born On 3 August 1985 in Vieux-Moulin, Oise, Constance Pittard, mainly known as Constance, worked as an actor and humorist in France.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Curnonsky

Maurice Edmond Sailland, known professionally as Curnonsky and nicknamed 'Cur', was born on October 12, 1872, in Angers, France. His mother, Blanche Alphonsine Mazeran, died shortly after his birth, and his father, Edmond Georges Sailland, abandoned him. He was subsequently raised by his grandmother in Angers, attending Collège Saint-Maurille. At approximately 18 years old, he relocated to Paris with the goal of pursuing a journalism career and attending the École normale supérieure. Curnonsky began writing for various publications, including La Vie parisienne, Le Music-Hall illustré du matin, and Comœdia. He worked as a literary assistant for Willy in 1895 and co-authored novels with Paul-Jean Toulet. Alphonse Allais suggested the pseudonym 'Curnonsky,' which he adopted. Curnonsky's writing encompassed diverse areas, including advertising copy for companies like Pyrex and Michelin, and he is considered by some to have almost invented ghostwriting. He wrote or ghost-wrote many books and newspaper columns, and was a humorist and music hall critic. Curnonsky’s contributions to the culinary world were significant. The name Bibendum for the Michelin Man was created by him in 1907, and beginning in November of that year, he authored the weekly 'Les Lundis de Michelin' column for Michelin. He was elected ‘Prince of Gastronomes’ in 1927 by a plebiscite of approximately 3000 chefs. From 1921 to 1928, he co-authored 28 volumes of 'La France Gastronomique' with Marcel Rouff, totaling 3,000 pages and over 5,000 recipes. He also founded the Académie des gastronomes in 1928, serving as its first president until 1949, and launched Cuisine et Vins de France in 1947. Curnonsky died on July 22, 1956, in Paris at the age of 83, leaving behind a substantial body of work that cemented his reputation as the ‘Prince of Gastronomy’.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Cyril Hanouna

Cyril Hanouna, a Franco-Tunisian animator, television producer, and businessman, was born on September 23, 1974, in Paris. His parents, Jewish Sephardic immigrants from Tunisia, arrived in France in 1969. Cyril Hanouna’s father, Ange Hanouna, was a general practitioner who passed away in 2024. He obtained French nationality on December 20, 1985, and completed his secondary education with a scientific baccalaureate specializing in Biology. Hanouna's career path took several turns before settling in entertainment. Initially, he studied medicine, followed by management, but abandoned both pursuits. He began his television journey in 1999 by writing texts for Comédie+ trailers. From 2002 onwards, he gained prominence through various roles, including co-hosting 'La Grosse Émission' and hosting the radio show 'Planet Arthur'. His work expanded to include presenting ‘Morning Live’ on M6 in 2003 and contributing to radio stations such as Fun Radio, Rire et Chansons, and RTL. Between 2002 and 2012, he appeared on numerous television shows on France Télévisions, covering a wide range of programming. Hanouna is primarily recognized for hosting and producing 'Touche pas à mon poste!' (TPMP), which began production by his company H2O Productions on April 1, 2010. He founded H2O Productions in March 2010. The show’s success led to a significant investment of €250 million from Vincent Bolloré in 2015 to retain Hanouna. His television work also includes hosting 'Nouvelle Star' from 2012 onwards and presenting the French tele-votes for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008, as well as providing commentary from 2009 to 2010. He has also hosted 'Les Pieds dans le plat' (2013-2016), 'Balance ton post!' (2018-2022), 'Face à Baba' and 'Face à Hanouna' (2018-2022), ‘La Très Grosse Émission’ and ‘Le Hanounight Show’ (2016-2017) and appeared in the film 'La Vérité si je mens!' in 2011. He is launching a communications agency called 'Chapchak' in May 2025, and a talk show called 'Tout beau, tout neuf' on W9 starting in 2025. In November 2023, he participated in the March for the Republic and Against Antisemitism in Paris.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Franck Dubosc

A French actor and stand-up comedian, Franck Dubosc was born in Petit-Quevilly, Seine-Maritime, France, on November 7, 1963. He attended collège Claude-Bernard and lycée Val-de-Seine, earning his baccalauréat. His early education included three months of English studies at university before he joined the Conservatoire de Rouen, where he met future collaborators like Valérie Lemercier and Karin Viard. Dubosc began his entertainment career in 1979 as a pilot on Temps X , marking an initial foray into performance. Dubosc's path to prominence involved diverse experiences. He had a brief role in À nous les garçons in 1985 and subsequently worked as an assistant to magician Hugues Protat from 1985 to 1988. A short stint in the UK saw him portraying Patrice on Coronation Street in 1987, and he also worked as a journalist for Channel 4. He gained national fame in the 1990s through his comedic duo with Élie Semoun, particularly their sketch series Les petites annonces . From 1994 onwards, he performed stand-up comedy at venues like Café du Trésor and Le Réservoir, establishing himself as a recognizable humorist. Dubosc’s career has encompassed film, television, and stage. He gained significant recognition in 2006 with his role in Camping , which launched a successful trilogy including Camping 2 (2010) and Camping 3 (2016), all collaborations with Fabien Onteniente. He also frequently worked with director Éric Lavaine on films such as Incognito , Bienvenue à bord , Barbecue , and Les Beaux Malaises . He appeared in major French productions like Astérix aux Jeux olympiques and Les Seigneurs . Dubosc has 153 credited roles, including voice acting in animated films like Boule & Bill (2013) and Megamind (2010). He directed his first film, Tout le monde debout , in 2018, which was well-received. His third film, Un ours dans le Jura , received positive reviews and earned him the César Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2026. He continues to tour with shows like Il était une fois… Franck Dubosc (2022), and is slated to appear in upcoming films Gérald le conquérant (December 2025) and LOL : In Real Life (November 2025).

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

France

Michel Boujenah

Michel Boujenah is a French-Tunisian Jewish actor, humorist, and director. Born on November 3, 1952, in Tunis, Tunisia, he moved to France with his family at the age of eleven, settling in Bagneux near Paris. His father, Joseph Boujenah, was a doctor, and he has three brothers, including filmmaker Paul Boujenah. From a young age, Michel expressed an interest in acting, wanting to become one at fifteen. He attended the École alsacienne from 1967 to 1970. Boujenah’s career began with the founding of the theater company 'La Grande Cuillère' in 1972 alongside Paul Allio and Corinne Atlas. His initial foray into solo performance came in 1980 with ‘Albert,’ a show co-written with Corinne Atlas that explored the experiences of Tunisian Jewish immigrants in France, premiering at the Théâtre du Lucernaire. He has written and directed all his solo shows, aiming to challenge negative stereotypes. While his second show, 'Anatole,' was not successful, 'Les Magnifiques' proved to be a significant success, featuring portraits of Franco-Tunisian Jews. His film career started in 1980 with ‘Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai fait au bon Dieu pour avoir une femme qui boit dans les cafés avec les hommes?’ and he has appeared in over thirty films. Throughout his career, Boujenah has received several accolades. He won the César Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985 for Trois Hommes et un couffin , and was nominated for the César Award for Best Actor in 1994 for Le Nombril du Monde and for Best Debut in 2004 for Father and Sons . He directed the films Father and Sons (2003), Trois amis (2007), and Heartstrings (2016), also writing screenplays for several films. In 2004, he was made an Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit in Monaco. He has expressed complex views on identity, feeling Jewish, French, Tunisian, Zionist, and close to Israel, while also supporting a Palestinian state. In 2017, his invitation to a Tunisian cultural festival faced protests due to these views. Currently, he is preparing a film with Yvan Attal and Pascal Elbé, announced in 2013, and has served as the artistic director of the Festival de Ramatuelle since 2007.

View Profile