Artists

Trevor Noah, (born February 20, 1984, Johannesburg, South Africa), South African comedian, television host, political commentator, and author who was perhaps best known as the host (2015– ) of the American television series The Daily Show. He was also noted for his stand-up comedy shows, in which he often incorporated observations about growing up in South Africa. Noah’s mother was a Xhosa woman from South Africa, and his father was a white man from Switzerland. Noah was born under apartheid, and, because interracial relationships were illegal, his parents had to hide their relationship from authorities. Noah was raised by his mother and grandmother in Soweto, an urban area just outside Johannesburg that was set aside for Black people. Fearing for his safety, they sometimes had to hide Noah from the police because biracial children were often taken from their parents. When he was about 10 years old, apartheid ended. In 2002 Noah had an uncredited bit part in an episode of the South African soap opera Isidingo. He then hosted an educational show on a family public television channel before hosting the radio show Noah’s Ark. When he was 22 years old, friends dared him to perform a comedy routine at a nightclub. He entertained the audience with humorous stories about his friends and his life. After that night Noah continued performing at comedy clubs, gaining more and more fans along the way. As his popularity increased in South Africa, he began hosting television shows—including a sports show and a dating game show—as well as major awards shows. In 2008 Noah appeared as a contestant on the reality dance competition show Strictly Come Dancing. Trevor Noah, (born February 20, 1984, Johannesburg, South Africa), South African comedian, television host, political commentator, and author who was perhaps best known as the host (2015– ) of the American television series The Daily Show. He was also noted for his stand-up comedy shows, in which he often incorporated observations about growing up in South Africa. Noah’s mother was a Xhosa woman from South Africa, and his father was a white man from Switzerland. Noah was born under apartheid, and, because interracial relationships were illegal, his parents had to hide their relationship from authorities. Noah was raised by his mother and grandmother in Soweto, an urban area just outside Johannesburg that was set aside for Black people. Fearing for his safety, they sometimes had to hide Noah from the police because biracial children were often taken from their parents. When he was about 10 years old, apartheid ended. In 2002 Noah had an uncredited bit part in an episode of the South African soap opera Isidingo. He then hosted an educational show on a family public television channel before hosting the radio show Noah’s Ark. When he was 22 years old, friends dared him to perform a comedy routine at a nightclub. He entertained the audience with humorous stories about his friends and his life. After that night Noah continued performing at comedy clubs, gaining more and more fans along the way. As his popularity increased in South Africa, he began hosting television shows—including a sports show and a dating game show—as well as major awards shows. In 2008 Noah appeared as a contestant on the reality dance competition show Strictly Come Dancing.