Ali Hassan (comedian)

Hassan in 2022

Ali Hassan is a Canadian comedian and actor, known as the host of CBC Radio One's weekly comedy program Laugh Out Loud[1] and as the moderator of CBC Radio's annual Canada Reads competition since 2017.[2] He also played "Delivery Doug" from the PBS/TVO Kids series "Odd Squad".

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and raised in Montreal, Quebec,[3] Hassan studied business administration at McMaster University before launching his comedy career.[3] Initially he ran his own catering business with the goal of becoming a television cooking show host, and began performing as a comedian to build his confidence.[4] After two years performing as a comedian in Montreal, he was invited to perform as an opening act for Russell Peters at the inaugural Amman Stand-up Comedy Festival in Amman, Jordan.[4] During this time, he also had supporting roles in the films Breakaway, French Immersion and Goon.[3]

After moving to Toronto, Ontario, in 2011,[4] he began appearing regularly on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and continued performing as a touring comic.[5] In 2013, he recorded his first comedy DVD, From Zero to Hero, in Montreal.[3] In 2016, he performed his next one man show, Muslim, Interrupted, at the Just for Laughs Festival[5] and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In addition to his regular roles with CBC Radio, he is a frequent guest host of Q[6] and The Next Chapter.

In 2024, he is nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards: Best Guest Performance, Comedy in the show Sort Of, and Best Supporting Perfomer, Comedy in the show Run the Burbs. In 2021, he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Host in a Web Program or Series at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards, as cohost with Peter Keleghan of the National Canadian Film Day livestream.[7]

He has appeared in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and had recurring roles in Hudson & Rex, Designated Survivor, Sort Of, and the CBC Television sitcom Run the Burbs,[8] and the CBC Gem web series You're My Hero.

  1. ^ "A legacy of laughter". Montreal Gazette, April 17, 2014.
  2. ^ "CBC Canada Reads 2017 announces longlist, including Katherena Vermette, Vivek Shraya, André Alexis". National Post, December 19, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Prodigal son, now a father, returns for more laughs; Comedian Ali Hassan comes back to Montreal to record first DVD". Montreal Gazette, November 14, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Comedian pulls double duty at TIFF". Etobicoke Guardian, September 9, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "The funny side of being Muslim: Hassan explores his secular baggage in one-man show at Just For Laughs". Montreal Gazette, July 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "Get ready for Canada Reads 2019!". CBC Books, December 7, 2018.
  7. ^ Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021.
  8. ^ Alexandra Del Rosario, "‘Run The Burbs’: Rakhee Morzaria, Zoriah Wong, Roman Pesino & More Set As Main Cast Of CBC Family Comedy From Andrew Phung". Deadline Hollywood, September 27, 2021.