Famous Australian Comedians

Australian actress, Rebel Wilson, started her acting career with television in Australia and then gained wider recognition after appearing in Hollywood films. Struck by Lightning, Bachelorette, Isn't It Romantic, The Hustle, Cats and Jojo Rabbit are some of the notable films she has acted in. She received critical appreciation for the 2012 film, Pitch Perfect, and subsequently acted in its two sequels.

Eric Bana, better known as Nero from Star Trek, initially gained fame with the series Full Frontal. The Australian actor made a mark in Hollywood with movies such as Hulk, Troy, and Munich. He loves racing and donates to charities related to causes such as mental-illness awareness and animal welfare.

Tim Minchin is an Australian musician, comedian, writer, actor, and songwriter. He is best known for combining music and comedy in his shows, which have been received well by the audience. Tim Minchin is also known for writing lyrics and composing the critically acclaimed show, Matilda the Musical, which won several awards including Tony Award and an Olivier Award.

One of Australia’s most popular comedians, Adam Hills is also a well-known TV and radio host. The BAFTA- and Gold Logie-nominated star has soared to fame with shows such as Spicks and Specks, Adam Hills Tonight, and The Last Leg. He has also penned a bestselling memoir and a children’s novel.

Two-time Logie Award-winning Australian comedian/actor Chris Lilley is known for his mockumentary series such as Ja'mie: Private School Girl and Summer Heights High. In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement, Netflix removed 4 of his shows due to their controversial content featuring blackface characters.

Well-known Australian comedienne Magda Szubanski soared to fame with her performances in shows such as Kath and Kim, D-Generation, and Fast Forward. She has also been part of movies such as Happy Feet and penned a bestselling memoir. An open lesbian, she is also an LGBT activist.

Australian comedian and actor Josh Thomas is best known for his comedy-drama series Please Like Me, which he co-wrote and starred in. Openly gay and autistic, he has also launched a couple of podcasts, such as How to be Gay. He was also diagnosed with ADHD in is late-20s.

Sam Hammington is a comedian known for hosting a radio show titled Drivetime from 2008 to 2012. He is also known for his appearance in the variety show Real Men, for which he received a couple of MBC Entertainment Awards. His work in The Return of Superman, a South-Korean reality-variety show, has earned him a couple of KBS Entertainment Awards. 

Australian comedian, actor, writer, and singer Gina Riley is best known for her sketch shows such as Fast Forward and Full Frontal. She soared to fame with the sitcom Kath & Kim, which she co-created, and has also appeared in musical theater. She is a breast cancer survivor.

Part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy, Hamish Blake has entertained audiences on various TV and radio shows, such as the Logie Award-winning Hamish and Andy's Gap Year. Not known to many, Hamish had dropped out of a double university degree in science and commerce, to step into comedy.

Best known for his portrayal of Frank Pickle in the British sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, John Bluthal was a veteran Polish-born Australian comedian and actor. He had an illustrious career in the UK and had appeared in a number of Carry On and Pink Panther movies.

Jane Turner is an Australian actress, writer, and comedian. She is best known for her contribution as a writer and actress in the Australian TV industry. Over the course of her career, Jane Turner has played important roles in popular TV programs like Prisoner, Fast Forward, and Kath & Kim.

Australian singer, pianist, and comedian Eddie Perfect has also had a successful songwriting/composing career on Broadway, with the Tony Award-nominated score of Beetlejuice. He has also been a host and a playwright. Fans know him best as Mick Holland from the Australian comedy-drama series Offspring.

Glenn Robbins is an Australian comedian, actor, writer, radio and television presenter. He is best known for his portrayal of Kel Knight in an Australian sitcom titled Kath & Kim, which earned him nominations at the 2003 and 2004 Logie Awards for Most Popular Actor. Glenn Robbins reprised his role as Kel Knight in the 2012 film, Kath & Kimderella.

Julia Morris is an Australian television presenter, comedian, and actress. She is known for her solo comedy shows and live performances across Australia. Morris has also performed in comedy festivals around the world; at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, she was honored with a Herald Angel Award. In 2004, she was named Comedy Performer of the Year by Time Out.

Kitty Flanagan is an Australian comedian, actress, and writer. Over the course of her career, Flanagan has performed in several nations, including Australia, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Kitty Flanagan has also won several prestigious awards, such as the Annual AACTA Award and Annual Equity Ensemble Award.

Andy Lee is an Australian television presenter, comedian, children's writer, and musician. He is best known as one-half of the popular comedy duo, Hamish & Andy, which he formed along with Hamish Blake in 2003. Andy Lee is also credited with forming a couple of musical bands, namely Zoophyte and Coolboys and the Frontman.  

Santo Cilauro is an Australian comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, actor, cameraman, and author. He is best known for co-founding the popular TV sketch comedy show, The D-Generation. Santo Cilauro achieved international prominence when his video Elektronik Supersonik went viral on the internet.

Dave Hughes is an Australian television and radio presenter and stand-up comedian. Best known for his deadpan comedic delivery, drawling Australian accent, and larrikin personality, Hughes performs regularly at prominent comedy festivals, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In 2007, Dave Hughes won the ARIA Music Award for Best Comedy Release.

Shaun Micallef first gained fame with Theatre Sports on ABC TV. A qualified lawyer who practiced for a decade too, he later stepped into films and TV. Although a teetotaler, he does consume alcohol for his shoots. He has also hosted programs such as the Dave & Denise with Shaun Micallef.

Australian comedian, singer, and digital content creator Jordan Raskopoulos is best known as the lead vocalist of the comedy music act The Axis of Awesome. She also gained fame with The Ronnie Johns Half Hour and has hosted the podcast This is About. Openly transgender, she is also an LGBTQ icon.

A pioneering thrash metal musician from Australia, Steve Hughes initially played drums for the band Slaughter Lord and later gained immense success in the stand-up comedy scene in Ireland and England. Known for his social commentary and discussions on conspiracy theories, he has also been an MTV VJ.

Carl Barron is an Australian television and theatre comedian. An exponent of observational humor, Barron is best known for his performances in international festivals, such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In 2006 and 2019, Carl Barron was nominated for the prestigious ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release.

Cicely Courtneidge was an Australian-born British comedian, actress, and singer. She is best remembered for her partnership with her husband Jack Hulbert as they performed together on stage and screen for over six decades. Cicely Courtneidge was also a humanitarian as she raised funds and entertained the armed forces during the Second World War.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith is a Filipino-Australian model, actress, dancer, host, writer, and endorser. She is best known for her portrayal of Yael in the 2013 Filipino drama film Transit. Jasmine Curtis-Smith's performance in the film earned her a couple of awards, including the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2013 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

Australian musical comedian and satirist Samuel Jonathan McMillan, better known as Sammy J, dropped out of a law course to focus on comedy. Best known for his man-puppet show Sammy J & Randy, he has also penned a novel and hosts satirical sketches on ABC TV.

Kate Langbroek is an Australian television and radio presenter and comedian. She achieved popularity after hosting Hughesy & Kate alongside popular stand-up comedian Dave Hughes. Kate Langbroek has also appeared on popular TV shows like The Panel, The Project, and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.   

Graham Kennedy was an Australian comedian, entertainer, and variety performer. Referred to as the king of Australian television, Kennedy is the most celebrated television personality in Australia. In 1998, Graham Kennedy was made an inductee of the Logie Hall of Fame.

Peter Kelamis is an Australian-born Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, and impressionist. He is best known for voicing popular characters like Rolf in Ed, Edd n Eddy and Tail Terrier in Krypto the Superdog. Peter Kelamis has also voiced Goku in the English version of the popular Japanese anime television series, Dragon Ball Z.

Australian disability activist, comedian, and broadcast journalist Stella Young had worked extensively for the ABC. Born with a genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, or the brittle bone disease, she spent almost her entire life on a wheelchair. She died of an aneurysm at age 32.

The 1975 Gold Logie-winning Australian TV and radio presenter, comedian, and singer Ernie Sigley had 20 more Logie Awards under his belt. Best known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Ernie Sigley Show, he also released hit singles such as Love Is A Golden Ring.

Veteran English-born Australian entertainer Stuart Wagstaff initially had a brief stint with the Royal Navy, before starting his acting career with repertory theater. He also appeared in over a 100 Benson and Hedges commercials. Beauty and the Beast and In Melbourne Tonight were 2 of his best-known TV programs.