Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

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

1740 comedians

Gaby Köster

Gaby Köster is a German actress and comedian, born Gabriele Wilhelmine Frings on December 2, 1961, in Cologne-Nippes. She resides in Cologne. Her career spans several decades, encompassing radio, television, stage, and literature, and is characterized by a distinctive Rhineland humor. Köster initially pursued training to be a caregiver but left the program three weeks before completion, later also abandoning a nursery-school teacher program. She explored music and painting, exhibiting some of her artwork. Her career began in 1987 when she started writing sketches for Jürgen Becker’s radio program after meeting him at a bar called Out in Cologne's Südstadt. This led to regular radio appearances and eventually her own shows, with her first television appearance occurring in 1991 through WDR. From 1991 to 1995, she participated in an alternative Cologne Carnival stage show and the Stunksitzung ensemble. Köster gained wider recognition through appearances on RTL Samstag Nacht and as a cast member of 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe from 1996 to 2005. From 1999 until 2003, the actress portrayed Rita Kruse within the comedic television show *Ritas Welt*, a performance for which she received an Adolf Grimme Award in 2000. Her humor is characterized as somewhat bawdy and utilizes the Kölsch dialect. Throughout her career, she received numerous awards including a Bambi in 1998, the Deutscher Comedypreis in 1999, and a Comedy Honorary Award in 2012. In 2011, Till Hoheneder and she jointly wrote *Ein Schnupfen hätte auch gereicht – meine zweite Chance*; additionally, she provided the narration for the audiobook. She also served as a judge on the RTL show Die Puppenstars from 2016 to 2017. Recently, she appeared in the documentary film "Was haben wir gelacht," which examines the portrayal of women in German television shows.

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Germany

Gerburg Jahnke

Gerburg Erna Jahnke is a German cabaret artist, presenter, actress and director who First through there The cabaret duo Missfits became known.

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Germany

Heinz Eckner

Heinz Eckner, a German actor and comedian, was born on May 4, 1925, in Dresden. From the age of 14, he harbored a desire to perform, following a successful school play. However, his father initially discouraged him from pursuing a show career, insisting he learn a trade. Consequently, Eckner completed an apprenticeship as an electrician while simultaneously studying acting. During World War II, he performed at 'bunte Abende' (variety shows) as a 'Sketch-Offizier'. He later appeared in theaters in Berlin, Hannover, and Hamburg after the war, achieving success as an operetta buffo. Eckner’s transition to comedic roles stemmed from practical considerations; increasing weight prevented him from performing alongside a ‘too slender’ soprano. His television career began with a chance encounter in the Radio Bremen cafeteria in 1968, leading to a collaboration with Rudi Carrell and a job offer after he consumed five calves’ haunches. He became known to the German TV audience as an assistant on Carrell's 'Rudi Carrell Show', and subsequently gained further fame through appearances on 'Am laufenden Band Carrells' and 'The Rudi Carrell Show'. From 1974 to 1979, he was widely recognized as Rudi Carrell’s sketch partner on the ARD quiz show 'Am laufenden Band,' frequently playing a good-natured, somewhat clumsy sidekick. He worked alongside Carrell on over 70 shows and appeared in a film with him. Between April 22, 1981, and 1983, Eckner hosted the ZDF program 'Ein Wort aus Musik,' directed by Hans Rosenthal. This series, featuring viewers sending in solutions to words derived from songs, attracted hundreds of thousands of submissions and ranked first at ZDF. He also appeared in several television series, including minor roles in "Derrick" and "Die Schwarzwaldklinik," and released four books and several records. In the mid-1970s, he acquired a small farm in Wachendorf, becoming neighbors with Rudi Carrell. He was married to Renate ( 1934) and had three children: Gudrun ( 1957), Hans ( 1958), and Frank ( 1966). Heinz Eckner died on May 30, 2012, at the age of 87, spending his final years in a nursing home in Achim.

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Germany

Josef Eichheim

Josef Eichheim, born on February 23, 1888, in Munich, was a German stage and film actor who gained prominence as a comedian. His parents were Josef Ferdinand Maria Eichheim, a trading agent, and Josefa Maria Weikl. He initially completed a commercial apprenticeship in his father’s stained glass business before pursuing acting studies in Zurich in 1905. Eichheim debuted as an actor at the Stadttheater Passau and quickly established himself as a popular comedian, performing in cities like Memmingen, Biberach an der Riß, Lindau, and Altenburg. Eichheim's career spanned the Weimar Republic and Nazi periods. He was engaged at the Münchner Kammerspiele from 1919 to 1932, becoming a favorite with audiences. His film career began in 1922 with the Karl Valentin silent film Mysterien eines Frisiersalons , a collaborative effort involving Bertolt Brecht and Erich Engel. This film, rediscovered in the 1970s and considered one of the most important German films, featured improvisation and was described as containing “enough cruelty jokes to have made WC Fields envious.” He continued to appear in several other films including Der Weiberkrieg (1929), Hinter Klostermauern (1928), and Bruder Bernhard (1929), and later, Peter Voss, der Millionendieb (1932) and Der Tunnel (1933). Eichheim specialized in character roles highlighting regional dialects, often infusing them with Bavarian humor. In 1939, Eichheim founded the production company Isar-Film. During this time, he was reportedly asked by Joseph Goebbels to play the lead role in the antisemitic propaganda film Jud Süß but refused. He was placed on the 'Gottbegnadeten-Liste,' a list of actors deemed indispensable for film production. He is buried at the Munich East Cemetery. Throughout his career, he worked as a comedian, singer, and voice actor, leaving behind a legacy of Bavarian humor in folk plays and films.

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Germany

Markus Majowski

Markus Majowski is a German actor, comedian, director, author, and entrepreneur. Born in West Berlin on April 29, 1964, he currently resides in Berlin. His father, Heinrich Majowski, was a cellist with the Berliner Philharmoniker, providing an early connection to the arts. Majowski studied acting at the Else Bongers Schauspielschule from 1983 to 1987 and made his theater debut there, also receiving vocal training. Majowski’s career began in 1988 with appearances in 'The Black Forest Clinic', where he appeared in three episodes. He subsequently took on roles in series such as 'Hellish Neighbors' and '7 Dwarves – Men Alone in the Wood,' demonstrating his versatility across comedic and dramatic genres. From 2002 to 2008, he gained wider recognition for his participation in the Sat.1 comedy series 'Die Dreisten Drei – Die Comedy-WG'. In 2008, Majowski presented the German adaptation of 'Come Dine with Me' on VOX. Throughout his career, Majowski has performed at various theaters including the Theater am Kurfürstendamm and Hamburger Kammerspiele. Beyond acting, Majowski has a diverse professional life. Since 1997, he has been employed by German Telekom in advertising, frequently portraying the comedic character known as T. Neumann. He also runs a party advertising business called Majowski party advertising and has worked in advertising for the poultry producer Wiesenhof. In 2013, he published his autobiography, 'Markus, glaubst du an den lieben Gott?', which explores personal struggles. He continues to be active in the entertainment industry, appearing in films like Philippika (2023-2024) and Kreuzfahrt ins Glück (2021-2022), and currently playing Henri Schuhmann in Ein Herz aus Schokolade at the Comödie Dresden. Beginning November 1, 2026, Majowski will embark on a German tour with “Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei” (The Edukators), and he is slated to portray a judge in “The Jury Experience – Death by AI.” His honors include the Theater Prize of the Berliner Morgenpost, awarded in 2005, and the Deutscher Comedy Preis from 2004.

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Germany

Markus Maria Profitlich

Markus Maria Profitlich, born March 25, 1960, in Bonn, Germany, is a long-standing and successful German comedian, actor, and voice actor. He initially performed comedy on local stages, including the Bonner Springmaus-Theater, after completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter. His surname, "Profitlich," is not a stage name and may mean “a person who acts profitably.” Profitlich left school at age 14 and has five siblings: two brothers and three sisters. He gained recognition through his work on the television show 'Die Wochenshow' from 1999 to 2001. During this time, he played various characters, most notably the 'Erklärbär' (Explaining Bear), as well as Peter Wuttke, Mawegda Gandhi, and Baby Markus. Following this, Profitlich hosted, directed, and produced his own entertainment show, 'Mensch Markus,' from 2002 to 2007 through his company mmp production. He also produced the programs 'Weibsbilder' and 'Deutschland ist schön'. He received the German Comedy Award for Best Comedian in 2002 for 'Mensch Markus', and has received the award three times overall. Incredible in the German dubs of 'The Incredibles' and 'Incredibles 2'. He also appeared in films like Til Schweiger's "Barfuss" (2006) and Sven Unterwaldt’s “Siegfried” (2013). He has toured with various stand-up programs since the 1980s, including shows such as 'Magic Marabus', 'Dinner for One', and 'Mensch Markus Live'. In April 2018, Profitlich publicly disclosed his Parkinson's diagnosis and has openly addressed it with humor, feeling physically and mentally stable thanks to medication. He is now a member of a free Protestant parish and enjoys activities like playing table tennis as a member of the PingPongParkinson club.

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Germany

Martin Schneider

Known frequently by the nickname 'Maddin,' Martin Schneider is a German entertainer who works as a comedian, cabaret performer, and actor. He was born on May 25, 1964, in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, and grew up in Burgholzhausen, near Friedrichsdorf. Currently, he resides near Marburg. Schneider has a twin sister named Martina. Schneider’s career began with an internship at Hessischer Rundfunk, followed by his first stage performance in 1990 with the show 'Gell, Sie sind spirituell?'. He became a regular fixture in the Quatsch Comedy Club from 1992. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he appeared on television shows such as RTL Samstag Nacht, 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe, and Genial daneben, and was a cast member of Comedy Factory from 1996 to 1997. He is known for incorporating his Hessian dialect into his performances and uses the phrase 'Aschebeschär' as a signature saying; this phrase has become a popular idiom partly due to Schneider’s use of it. Schneider’s work extends beyond stand-up comedy. He played the dwarf ‘Speedy’ in the 2004 film 7 Zwerge – Männer allein im Wald and its 2006 sequel, 7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug . He has released several CDs, including Aschebeschär , Sischär Is Sischär! , Raggae Mann , and Best of Maddin , starting in 1997. Schneider co-authored the book Im Bett mit Maddin in 2003, followed by 'Mach mal Hals lang' (2011), and 'Vom wörscht Käs zum best Käs' (2021). In 2020, he participated in the RTL show ‘Big Performance – Wer ist der Star im Star’ and placed third. Currently, he is touring with his stage program 'Schöne Sonndaach!' since 2024, which incorporates spoken word, readings, and singing. He also offers a 'Häppy Wohlfühl Wörkshop' for corporate events and is available as a keynote speaker on overcoming fear, drawing from his experiences with anxiety.

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Germany

Oliver Kalkofe

Oliver Kalkofe, born Oliver Lars Fred Kalkofe on September 12, 1965, in Engelbostel near Langenhagen, Germany, is a German actor, cabaret artist, satirist, moderator, and voice actor. He spent his childhood in Engelbostel and later in Peine. His father was a furniture salesman named Fritz Kalkofe. Kalkofe began his media career as a radio host for Radio RST in Rheine. After completing the Abitur in 1984, he trained as a foreign language correspondent and economic interpreter in English and French. He studied journalism, English studies, and German studies at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster but did not finish. From 1990 to 1994, he worked on the comedy show Frühstyxradio on ffn radio, where he created the popular character 'Onkel Hotte'. Kalkofe and Oliver Welke formed the duo 'Kalk & Welk', releasing recordings together. He gained early experience with humor on the radio show 'Frühstyxradio' (ffn) in Lower Saxony. He achieved nationwide recognition with the television show Kalkofes Mattscheibe , which premiered on Premiere in 1994 and adapted his Frühstyxradio series. The Mattscheibe show features humorous commentary and parodies of German television clips. This show won the Adolf Grimme Award in 1996, and later a German Comedy Award in 1999. Kalkofes Mattscheibe Rekalked aired on Tele 5 from 2012 to 2013. He has since co-hosted the show Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten (SchleFaZ) on Tele 5 since 2013, inspired by Mystery Science Theater 3000 . He starred in the Edgar Wallace parody films 'Der Wixxer' (2004) and 'Neues vom Wixxer' (2007), co-writing the scripts. He has also worked as a voice actor for film productions, including Hollywood blockbusters like 'Garfield', 'Cars', and 'Robots'. Currently, he appears in various online formats and on TELE 5, and hosts the podcast "Kalk & Welk – Die fabelhaften Boomerboys" with Oliver Welke since 2022.

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Germany

Oscar Heiler

Oscar Heiler, a German actor and comedian, was born on November 23, 1906, in Stuttgart, Germany. He attended Karls-Gymnasium Stuttgart, graduating with an Abitur in 1925. Following his education around 1925, he began an apprenticeship as a bookseller. His acting career commenced at the Stuttgarter Schauspielhaus in 1928. A significant turning point occurred in 1930 when he broke his right leg during a stage rehearsal. Doctors subsequently discovered a bone tumor, leading to amputation and the use of a prosthesis. From 1930, he regularly performed with Willy Reichert on the Stuttgarter Friedrichsbaus variety stage. In 1931, they formed the comedy duo Häberle und Pfleiderer, specializing in humorous sketches delivered in the Swabian dialect. Heiler portrayed Häberle while Reichert played Pfleiderer. The duo gained widespread popularity through theater, radio, television, and film, achieving particular popularity beyond Swabia. During the early 1950s and late 1950s, Häberle und Pfleiderer created a number of significant works, among them radio series like 'Die Abenteuer des Herrn Pfleiderer' and 'Hӓberle und Pfleiderer auf Weltreise'. Heiler also appeared in films like Die Rosel vom Schwarzwald (1956) and Alter Kahn und junge Liebe (1973), and had recurring roles in television series including Tatort , Kapitän Harmsen , and Chronik der Familie Nӓgele . Heiler was married to Lydia Jahn until 1983. Throughout his career, he received several honors, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1972, a further elevation to 1st Class in 1987, and the Citizen's Medal of the City of Stuttgart in 1991. Heiler died on April 9, 1995, at the age of 88, in Bad Cannstatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and is buried in the Uff-Kirchhof. A bronze statue of Häberle and Pfleiderer was erected in front of the Friedrichsbau in 1994. Additionally, a road leading to Karlshöhe in Stuttgart-Süd is named after him – the Oscar-Heiler-Staffel. Heiler left behind signed memorabilia, including an album leaf with a handwritten recommendation dated January 17, 1957, and a signed portrait postcard with a personal dedication and recommendation dated January 15, 1980.

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Germany

Simon Gosejohann

Simon Gosejohann, born on January 9, 1976, in Gütersloh, Germany, is a German comedian, television presenter, and actor. He grew up on his family’s farm in Niehorst, a district of Gütersloh, with his older brother Thilo Gosejohann, whose father is Helmut Gosejohann and mother is Brigitte Gosejohann. His early career involved creating short and feature films with friends under the name The Neverhorst Company, beginning in 1991. These films gained recognition in the amateur video scene and won awards at festivals. From 1996 to 1999, Simon Gosejohann completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at Union Knopf GmbH. He began appearing on television in 2000 with a role in the documentary soap opera WG Europa. His comedy career gained significant momentum in 2002 with the show Comedystreet, which ran for five regular seasons until 2009, involving hidden camera pranks. Further seasons followed as Comedystreet XXL in 2009 and 2011. Simon – Die Show (2008, 2010, and 2012), winning the Deutscher Comedypreis for Best Comedy Show in 2008. Gosejohann’s work extends beyond television, including roles in films like Die Nacht der lebenden Loser, Horst Schlämmer – Isch kandidiere!, and 12 Meter ohne Kopf. He participated in the TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge from 2005 to 2014, earning a medal in the 1900s class in 2010. Since March 2011, he has been the face of an image campaign for crafts and published his first book, Schmerzfrei, in August 2011. He continues to work in various media, including appearances in the streaming series Patchwork Gangsta (2019) and a role in 'Jugendsünden - From Shame to Fame' (2019). Currently, he co-hosts the podcast “Mittelalte weiße Männer” with his brother Thilo since November 2019 and resides in Berlin, becoming a father in May 2019.

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Germany

Thomas Hermanns

Thomas Hermanns, a TV presenter working in Germany, also appears as a comedian , writes screenplays, directs and has created the Quatsch Comedy Club.

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Germany

Tom Gerhardt

Tom Gerhardt is a German actor and comedian, born on December 12, 1956, in Cologne as Thomas Justin Fritz Gerhardt. He has been entertaining audiences for over three decades. He completed his military service as a tank hunter and subsequently studied German studies and philosophy at university, writing a master's thesis on the philosophy of language by Nicolaus Cusanus. After university, Gerhardt worked for the German newspaper Express in Cologne, initially as a freelance employee writing about the Cologne cultural scene. In the 1990s, he ended his work for the newspaper after becoming an entertainer. His program 'Dackel mit Sekt' became known in 1988 and was discovered by Jürgen von der Lippe. He began performing comedy in Cologne in the late 1980s, initially presenting the character 'Tommie,' a colloquial figure from Cologne-Kalk, on television in 1988 on ‘So isses’. The character 'Tommie,' a moped rocker, became a cult figure. Gerhardt achieved success with the film Voll normaaal (1994) and its sequels Ballermann 6 (1997) and Die Superbullen (2011). He appeared in films such as The Polar Bear (1998), Pura Vida Ibiza (2003), Germanikus (2004) with Sylviane Aissatou, Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) alongside Milla Jovovich, and Siegfried (2005). He also starred in 80 episodes of the television series Hausmeister Krause – Ordnung muss sein (1999-2010), for which he received the German Comedy Award in 2002. The character 'Hausmeister Krause' has a dedicated fan base who often dress up as him at live events, and a theater play titled 'HAUSMEISTER KRAUSE – DU LEBST NUR ZWEIMAL' is based on the character; it has been performed over 500 times. He has been playing Mathias Bommes in Francis Veber’s play “Dinner für Spinner” since 2015. He co-authored the comedy Ketten der Liebe with Franz Krause and, with his son Rodrigo, the children's book Mats & Murat , which includes a CD with 5 rap tracks performed by Mats and Murat. He received the honorary citizenship of Cologne-Kalk in 2011 and the Honorary German Comedy Award in 2013. A new play, 'ARMAGEDDON!', is scheduled to premiere in January 2027. He has also participated in campaigns for Ordnungs- und Sicherheitsbehörden and a wrestling event, WCW Millennium Tour, in Oberhausen in 2000. The family lives together in Cologne-Lindenthal.

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