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The Funniest Canadian Comedians

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Funniest Canadian comedians that you need to watch

Working-class Canadians associate local comedians, actors, and singers as part of the country’s modern culture. However, many people worldwide are unaware of Canadian comics and how they have a sharp and distinct sense of humor that sets them apart from American comics.

Canadians are often stereotyped as polite individuals who are always quick to say sorry. They are known to be modest and have a strong sense of social responsibility which is apparent in many Canadian comics’ style of humor. They also respect the fine lines of comedy and usually deliver performances based on observational humor, parody, and impressions. Although many Canadian comics are influenced by British and American culture, they also have a dark sense of humor that is quite unique.

If you are looking for some great humor from the Land from Maple Syrup, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we have listed some of the funniest Canadian comedians you should know about. While you may recognize some comedians from this list, you will also come across a few new names that will take you by surprise. Be sure to check out some tips for visiting a comedy club before seeing the following funniest Canadian comics.

Contents

Here Are the Funniest Canadian Comedians You Need to Check Out

25. John Cullen

John Cullen is a popular stand-up comedian, writer, teacher, and podcaster based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has been delivering exceptional stand-up performances for almost a decade and has made appearances at Winnipeg Comedy Festivals, Just for Laughs, and Halifax Comedy Festivals. He has also appeared on CBC Radio’s The Current and The Debaters.

24. Amy Bugg

Amy Bugg is an Alberta-based stand-up comedian who has appeared on CBC’s Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids. She has a unique style of comedy and usually focuses on observational humor.

You can catch her on tour as Amy delivers amazing performances all over Canada and makes audiences hoot with laughter with seemingly mild-mannered jokes about pizza and dogs who look like people.

Her deadpan delivery makes every joke seem doubly funnier, and that is why she is one of Canada’s up-and-coming comics.

23. Ophira Calof

Ophira Calof is a writer, comedian, and consultant who focuses comedy around their disability knowledge and experience. Their top credits are Kids in the Hall, TallBoyz, Generally Hospital, and Literally Titanium.

They are a Toronto-based comic who have also worked on a number of disability arts projects and have received the 2021 Cahoots Theatre Promising Pen Prize as well. Currently, they also are a TV writing fellow for the 2022 RespectAbility Lab for Entertainment Professionals with Disabilities.

22. Cassie Cao

If you want to catch some new comedic talent in Canada, you should look up whether Cassie Cao is performing near you any time soon.

She is one of the rising comedians in Canada who has been a part of Just for Laughs’ New Faces: Canada showcase. Aside from performing stand-up shows in various comedy clubs in the country, she also frequently shares jokes online with her followers.

21. Leonard Chan

Leonard Chan is a Toronto-based comic who regularly tours around North America for live performances and is also a comedic writer. He mentions on his website how he started doing comedy in grade school as a form of self-defense but got into the stand-up comedy scene after taking part in an open mic in Vancouver.

His stand-up acts are quite popular among the local crowds, and he has opened for River Butcher, Matt Braunger, Joel Kim Booster, K. Trevor Wilson, and Ronny Chieng.

20. Nathan Fielder

Nathan Fielder is a comedian, writer, actor, entrepreneur, producer, and director who is known widely for co-creating the parody reality show ‘Nathan for You’ on Comedy Central. He is also credited for making the HBO docu-series ‘The Rehearsal’ and producing ‘How To with John Wilson’. During his teenage years, he was a member of his school’s improv comedy group, which also has Seth Rogan.

19. Christina Pazsitzky

Christina Pazsitzky is a Canadian-American comedian, writer, and podcaster who is most commonly known as Christina P. She hosts the comedy podcast ‘Your Mom’s House’ with her husband and fellow comedian, Tom Segura, and is also the host of the podcast ‘Where My Moms At?.

Christina first debuted on TV as a cast member for Road Rules: Down Under on MTV in 1998. She has also been a part of the stand-up comedian group called Deathsquad Network. In 2018, she successfully pitched and landed a TV deal on CBS with her husband, who agreed to pilot production of their show ‘The Little Things’.

18. Martin Short

Martin Short is a Canadian-American comedian, singer, writer, actor, and voice artist. He is most notably known for starring in comedy films like Three Fugitives, Innerspace, Three Amigos, Pure Luck, Captain Ron, Father of the Bride Part II, Jungle 2 Jungle, and Mars Attacks!.

He also won a Tony award in 1999 for his performance in the Broadway revival of Little Me. Most recently he has earned new younger followers from his starring role in Only Murders in the Building, where he co-stars with Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. This hit show from Hulu is currently on its second season and will run for at least one more season.

17. Norm MacDonald

Norm Macdonald was a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, known for his deadpan humor and incredible performances. In his early career, he wrote for Roseanne, a sitcom, and made appearances on NewsRadio and The Drew Carey Show.

Norm was also a cast member of Saturday Night Live for five years and anchored the Weekend Update section of the show for three seasons. He began working on his own sitcom called The Norm Show once he left SNL and starred in the film Dirty Work in 1998.

His video podcast gained popularity in 2013 where he interviewed various celebrities and comedians. In 2018, he released a Netflix talk show with a similar premise to his podcast called ‘Norm Macdonald Has a Show’. 

Sadly, Norm passed away on September 14, 2021. He had an extended battle with cancer which he kept private from his closest friends. His comedic legacy lives on and if you watch his tv shows, movies or even YouTube clips, you can help honor him.

16. Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, graphic artist, screenwriter, and comedian and is known for his iconic performances on Saturday Night Live.

His first step into comedy was when he joined the comedy group Groundlings in 1975 and helped Paul Reubens develop his character Pee-wee Herman. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1986 and got famous for his spot-on impressions, especially of Bill Clinton’s.

15. Leslie Nielson

Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian comedian, actor, and producer. He was a part of 150 TV programs and 100 films and played over 220 characters. He was a part of many famous movies like the Poseidon Adventure and Forbidden Planet; however, he later took his career in a different direction with deadpan comedy roles.

Leslie’s performance in ‘Airplane!’ was a turning point that made him more successful in the genre with The Naked Gun series. He was inducted into Hollywood’s Walk of Fame as well as Canada’s Walk of Fame, aside from receiving recognition for his work with various awards.

14. John Candy

John Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian who rose to fame with his works in Stripes, Flash, Cool Runnings, Summer Rental, Home Alone, The Great Outdoors, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs, and Only the Lonely. His most famous performance to date is Del Griffith in the John Hughes comedy Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

13. Mike Myers

Mike Myers is a Canadian comedian, screenwriter, and producer who was a popular member of the cast of Saturday Night Live from 1989 to 1995. He is also known for playing key roles in Austin Powers, Wayne’s World, and the Shrek film franchises. He has stepped away from acting but has a supporting role in Bohemian Rhapsody and Terminal.

12. Rick Moranis

Rick Moranis is a Canadian actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter. Initially, he rose to fame with the sketch comedy series Second City Television and acted in multiple Hollywood films like Strange Brew, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, The Flintstones, and Parenthood.

Rick took a long break from acting starting in 1997 to care for his children as a widower and now only dedicated himself to voice-over work and comedy albums.

11. Tom Green

Tom Green is a Canadian comedian, filmmaker, actor, and talk show host. He is known for his unique type of shock comedy and found fame with his MTV show, The Tom Green Show. He was also a part of famous Hollywood films like Charlie’s Angels, Shred, Stealing Harvard, and Road Trip.

10. Rick Mercer

Rick Mercer is a prominent Canadian comedian, TV personality, author, and political satirist. He is best known for his work on CBC with shows like Rick Mercer Report and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Aside from that, he has also written three books based on content from the shows.

9. Katherine Ryan

Katherine Ryan is a popular Canadian comedian, presenter, writer, actress, and singer based in the UK. She has appeared on many British panel shows and has her own Netflix show, The Duchess.

She has also performed stand-up comedy on BBC’s Live at the Apollo as a featured and lead act. Moreover, Katherine has two stand-up specials on Netflix called Katherine Ryan: In Trouble and Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room.

8. Trey Anthony

Trey Anthony was born in Brampton, Ontario, and is a Jamaican-Canadian comedian. She became the first black person to star, write, and produce a TV show on a Canadian primetime network in 2007 with Da Kink In My Hair.

Although the show was canceled after two seasons, it gave black female comedians a spot in the limelight and a chance to showcase their talents.

7. Eugene Levy

Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor and comedian who is the only one to have starred in all eight American Pie movies. He plays frustrated and unconventional figures and is also an incredible comedic writer.

Eugene was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the greatest honor in the performing arts in Canada. He was also appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011. Currently, he stars in Schitt’s Creek as Johnny Rose and has millions of fans all over the world.

6. Caroline Rhea

Caroline Rhea is a stand-up comedian and actress who is best known for her performance on the ABC show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

She has been a part of various comedy specials, such as one-hour specials for HBO, Bravo, and Showtime. Aside from that, fans also know her from Linda Lynn-Fletcher from Phineas and Ferb and as a regular on Hollywood Squares with Whoopi Goldberg.

Personal note: I saw her in December 2022 at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. She remains very funny and is still quite popular.

5. Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd is a Canadian-American comedian, filmmaker, and actor who was the original cast member of Not Ready for Prime Time Players on Saturday Night Live.

Dan conceived and starred in Ghostbusters, which became a huge hit and eventually became an entire media franchise. Aside from that, he also starred in his sitcom, The Soul Man, which ran from 1997 to 1998.

4. Catherine O’Hara

Catherine O’Hara is a Canadian actress, comedian, and writer who was an integral part of the improv comedy troupe The Second City. She is most popular for her work as a comedic actress and has starred in various Tim Burton projects.

Most recently, Catherine O’Hara is known by fans for her role in Schitt’s Creek and has won four Canadian Screen Awards for Best Lead Actress due to it.

3. Seth Rogan

Seth Rogan is a Canadian comedian, actor, producer, writer, and director. He started doing stand-up during his teenage years and moved to LA to pursue a career in comedy. He has starred in various roles in famous films like Funny People, Knocked Up, and the Steve Jobs biopic.

Seth is also a talented voice-over artist and has worked in films like Kung Fu Panda, Horton Hears a Who!, and the Spiderwick Chronicles.

2. Russell Peters

Russell Peters is one of Canada’s top stand-up comedians, producers, and actors. He won a Gemini award in 2008 and was number three on Forbes’ list of highest-paid comedians. Aside from that, Russell Peters was also the first stand-up comic who got a deal for a Netflix stand-up special.

1. Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, writer, musician, and artist. He is known best for his slapstick comedic performances, especially in Bruce Almighty, Yes Man, A Christmas Carol, Liar Liar, and so many more movies. Jim Carrey has been presented with a number of awards for his performances and is one of the most legendary Canadian comics.

Most recently Jim has announced he has retired from acting, so I’m not sure what to expect from his career. I have a feeling he will resurface in the public eye in non-acting roles, but that remains to be seen.

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Summary

All the Canadian comedians mentioned above have their own style of humor, which sets them apart from the rest. If you want to catch a nice comedy show with your family or friends, be sure to check out if any of these Canadian comics are performing near you. There are also amazing new rising stars, such as Ian Bagg and Lachlan Patterson, on the comedy circuit in Canada, and you must watch their shows whenever possible.