Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

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

1740 comedians

Alf Poier

Alf Poier, born Alfred Poier on February 22, 1967, in Judenburg, Styria, Austria, is an Austrian artist and stand-up comedian. He attended elementary school in Sankt Peter ob Judenburg and graduated from the commercial academy in Judenburg in 1987. Before embarking on his artistic career, Poier held various jobs between 1987 and 1995, including night watchman, waitress, office worker, student, and journalist. Poier began performing cabaret in Graz in 1995, initially placing second at the Kleinkunstvogel cabaret competition. His career gained momentum with the release of his first program, 'Himmel, Arsch & Gartenzwerg,' in August 1995. He continued to perform extensively in Austria and Germany following this debut. He also won the German Comedy Awards (Best Newcomer) in 2000 and the Österreichischer Kabarettpreis in 2002. Poier’s work is characterized by a unique blend of cabaret, images, and objects, creating what he calls a Gesamtkunstwerk. He participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Weil der Mensch zählt' in 2003, placing sixth and incorporating references to different animals in a parody of the contest. He attempted to represent Austria again in 2005. He has released several albums, including Himmel, Arsch & Gartenzwerg (1996), Zen (2001), Alf singt die schönsten Lieder mit Band (2003), Lustige Lieder der Traurigkeit und Not (2005) and This Isn’t It (2010). He also released several DVDs, such as Mitsubischi (2008), Zen (2007), Kill Eulenspiegel (2007) and Satsang (2009). A song he wrote, 'Good Old Europe Is Dying,' caused controversy due to its lyrics. He opened his private museum, 'Botschaft für Bewusstsein, Scheißdreck und Kunst,' in Eggendorf (Tullnerfeld) in September 2008. After a 26-year career, Poier retired on July 31, 2021, primarily due to health issues, including chronic nausea and gastritis.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Alfred Dorfer

Alfred Dorfer hails from Austria and works as a comedian, writer and actor. He ranks among the country’s most recognized cabaret performers and comic figures, a status bolstered by his involvement in many Austrian movies. Following early achievements with the ensemble Schlabarett, he gained broader fame as both screenwriter and lead of the film Indien. Currently, Dorfer is considered one of the leading satirists and authors in the German‑language sphere.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Bettina Soriat

Bettina Soriat is an Austrian who She works as a singer, dancer, comedian and choreographer. In 1997 she represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Fritz Imhoff

Under the stage name Fritz Imhoff, actually Friedrich Arnold Heinrich Jeschke, he was an Austrian actor, operetta tenor and comedian.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Josef Armin

Josef Armin was a comedian with Hungarian-Austrian roots who He also worked as a couplet singer, stage writer and director as well as a writer. He belonged to de n authors of the Budapest Orpheum in Vienna.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Karl Farkas

Karl Farkas, born in Vienna on October 28, 1893, was an Austrian actor and cabaret performer. He grew up in Vienna-Leopoldstadt with two sisters and an older brother, his parents, Moritz and Franziska Farkas, running a shoe store. His mother’s uncle was the author Felix Salten. Although his parents initially wanted him to study law, he chose the stage instead, attending the k.k. After attending Staatsrealschule Glasergasse, he then studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Acting Arts. He debuted in Olmütz as Tsarevich in 1903, beginning a career that included various stage appearances in Austria and Moravia. Farkas's comedic journey took a significant turn around 1921 when he joined Kabarett Simpl under Egon Dorn, working there as a 'Blitzdichter,' also known as 'Die Zecke.' He collaborated with Fritz Grünbaum on Doppelconférences and cabaret numbers originating in Budapest. In 1924, he married actress Anny Hán. From 1926, he worked at the Vienna Burgtheater, and in 1927, he and Grünbaum presented the Marischka Revue, which enjoyed a long run of 430 performances. He also wrote lyrics for songs such as 'Wenn die Elisabeth nicht so schöne Beine hätt’' and 'Pflückt ein Mädl Ribisel.' His writing extended to revues and musical comedies, including Journal der Liebe (1926), Wien lacht wieder! (1926), Die Wunder-Bar (1929), Der Traumexpreß (1931), Hofloge (1936), Dixie (1938), and Marinka (1945). Several films were based on his works, including When the Soldiers (1931), By Candlelight (1933), Wonder Bar (1934), and adaptations of Hofloge and Bei Kerzenlicht . Due to his Jewish descent, Farkas was forced into exile in 1938, moving through Brno, Paris, and eventually New York. While in New York, he wrote the book of poems Farkas entdeckt Amerika . He also wrote the libretto for Emmerich Kálmán's operetta Marinka . He served on the Russian, Romanian, and Italian fronts during World War I, receiving the Silver Bravery Medal. After returning to Vienna in 1946, he remarried his former wife and resumed performing at Kabarett Simpl in 1950, directing it until his death on May 16, 1971. He frequently appeared on Austrian TV (ORF) from 1957 onward, known for his 'Balances,' and hosted the 'Aktualitätlichkeiten' program on Sender Rot-Weiß-Rot. His work continued to be recognized; in 2014, he starred in the Austrian revue comic book Der Blöde und der Gscheite . He also wrote as a screenwriter for films like Lumpenkavaliere (1932) and Adventures on the Lido (1933).

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Liane Augustin

Liane Augustin, born Liane Augustin on November 18, 1927, in Berlin, Germany, was a German-Austrian singer and actress. Her family relocated to Vienna in 1944 due to the impact of bombing raids in Berlin and her father’s career change; her father, Karl Augustin, was a Viennese actor, and her mother was a concert singer from Frankfurt am Main. Inspired by Ilse Werner as a teenager, she received singing lessons and later studied music. Early in her career, around 1946, she performed at an American soldiers' club, and by 1949, she secured a recording contract with Odeon, later transitioning to Elite Special/Austroton. Augustin achieved significant success as a nightclub singer in Vienna’s Boheme Bar after World War II. She frequently performed with the Boheme Bar Trio, consisting of Michael Danzinger (piano), Laszlo Gatti (guitar), and Willi Fantel (bass). Her voice was described as possessing a unique guttural quality, blending playful, vulnerable, lascivious, and sentimental notes. From 1951, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) prominently featured her, providing her with radio shows that extended her fame beyond Vienna. She made numerous recordings, primarily for the Vanguard label, and her first LP was released in the USA by Vanguard Records in 1952. She appeared in several Austrian films beginning in 1953, including Die Fiakermilli , Lavender , The Red Prince , And Who Is Kissing Me? , Liebe, die den Kopf verliert , and Licht auf der Piazza . Augustin’s career included representing Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 with the song "Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe," which earned her 8 points and a 5th place finish out of ten participants. She also starred as Polly Peachum in a 1956 recording of The Threepenny Opera , an accomplishment that garnered the Grand Prix du Disque. She performed internationally, including a successful engagement at New York's Town Hall in 1961. She collaborated extensively with Robert Stolz, recording numerous titles with the Vienna Radio Orchestra. She participated in the German Schlagerfestspiele in 1964, though she did not advance to the final round. Liane Augustin died on April 30, 1978, in Vienna.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Liesl Löwinger

Liesl Löwinger, born Elisabeth Meinhard on January 11, 1918, in Graz, Styria, was an Austrian folk actress and comedian. She died in Vienna on October 15, 1980, following a pulmonary infarction, which was described as a 'heavy blow' for the community of Altlengbach. Löwinger’s journey into performance began with extensive training; she studied at the Graz Conservatory and received instruction in piano, accordion, speech coaching, literature studies, acting with Dorothea Neff, dance with Willy Fränzl, and singing with Professor Rittersheim. She married folk actor Paul Löwinger in 1938, which led to her involvement with the family-owned theater stage directed by him. Known as a 'drastic comedian,' she frequently portrayed down-to-earth women with a strong rural character, embodying characters like Mirzl, Zenzi, Kathi, Leni, and Mitzi. She appeared in numerous films between 1950 and 1970, including 'Der keusche Adam' (1950), 'Lachendes Wien' (1957), and 'Das Liab am Almsee' (1966). The Löwinger Bühne became central to her work. She gained theater experience at the Löwinger Bühne, and television recordings of its productions are considered cult classics. She performed in numerous folk plays alongside Paul Löwinger and her aunt Gretl. She retired from public life in 1970 to focus on her family, which included three children: Sissy, Guggi, and Paul Jr. Following her father’s death in 1988, Sissy Löwinger took over the management of the Löwinger stage, which has been touring Austria since 1997. She also contributed significantly to the Löwinger Bühne’s programming, directing, writing under a pseudonym, and organizing tours through Germany and the USA. Culture Minister Claudia Schmied praised Liesl Löwinger as a 'full-blooded actress' who charmed audiences with humor, while Niederösterreich’s Governor Erwin Pröll highlighted her contribution to bringing joy through her acting.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Michael Niavarani

Michael Niavarani, whose background combines Austrian and Persian heritage, performs as a stand‑up comic, writes, and appears on TV and in films, continuing the Austrian cabaret tradition. His jokes often stem from the cultural mix of his upbringing, positioning him as a prominent figure in Austria’s cabaret community. He has served as the artistic director of the Viennese Kabarett Simpl since 1992, a venue that first opened its doors in 1912. In 2010 he was awarded the Austrian Kabarett Prize, and he has collected three Romy awards.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Richard Waldemar

Richard Waldemar, born Kramer on May 3, 1869, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, was a famous actor and comedian. He died on December 27, 1946, also in Vienna. Initially, he worked for the railway before pursuing a stage career, attending a theater school to prepare for it. Waldemar began his performance career in 1890 in Troppau and subsequently had engagements in Wiesbaden and Munich. From 1893, he became a fixture in Vienna’s theatrical scene, performing at various venues including the Theater in der Josefstadt, Ronacher, and Carl- and Raimundtheater. He initially focused on serious roles, but later became known as a comedian. His performances extended beyond Vienna, with guest appearances both domestically and internationally. He appeared in numerous silent films starting around 1908, including "Der Stiefelputzer" (1908) and "Ein Walzertraum" (1908), and continued to appear in films throughout his career, reaching a peak in the 1930s. He also starred in sound films such as "Lumpenkavaliere" (1932) and "Hotel Sacher" (1939). Waldemar's comedic talent was evident not only on stage and screen, but also in his recordings. “Cabaret Songs on the Military Situation,” a seven-verse couplet, was recorded in 1915 under commission from the k. k. Österreichischen Militär-, Witwen- und Waisenfonds. These satirical verses vilified the enemy and affirmed troop certainty of victory, with one verse imitating an infantryman writing to his love in Viennese dialect and another featuring the Russian Tsar writing to Hindenburg. He also appeared in the 1926 comedy and romance film The Prince and the Dancer ( Der Balletterzherzog ), directed by Max Neufeld, which faced negative reviews and censorship. Throughout his career, he recorded music on gramophone records. In 1939, he received the Ehrenring der Stadt Wien (Honor Ring of the City of Vienna). He was also included in the ‘Gottbegnadeten-Liste’ (List of Blessed Ones) in 1944, a list used by the Nazi regime to protect artists. Following his death, several places were named after him, including the Richard-Waldemar-Hof and the Richard Waldemar Park, which features a bust of him; he is buried at the Hietzinger Friedhof in a grave dedicated to him.

View Profile

Verified Unclaimed

Austria

Stephen Fry

Stephen John Fry , holder of the title “Sir”, is a British-Austrian author, screenwriter, actor, director, journalist, poet, comedian and television presenter.