Anthony Ackroyd

Anthony Ackroyd is one of Australia’s most successful comedians, speakers and writers. 

Before becoming a comedian Anthony worked as a busker, actor, puppeteer, songwriter, musician and was the lead singer in the almost famous rock band Albatross. But it was open mike night at the Sydney Comedy Store that would change his destiny. In his stellar career as a stand up comic he would go on to create laughter live in front of thousands of audiences including 110,000 people at Stadium Australia.

Anthony became a household name as a star of ABC TV’s legendary comedy series The Big Gig and has performed and written for hundreds of Australian and international TV shows, radio programmes, and feature films (he’s even been a question on Wheel Of Fortune!).

Anthony was also a writer-performer on three of Australia’s most successful comedy TV series, Hey Hey It's Saturday, The Comedy Company and Good News Week, and filled the role of head writer at Granada Television. For 25 years he was one of the stars of ABC Radio’s top rating comedy show Thank God It’s Friday!

Anthony’s impersonation of ex-Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has become the stuff of legend and was described by the real ex-PM Bob Hawke as “the funniest and best in the history of Australian political impersonation”.

Anthony has worked throughout Australia, USA, UK, New Zealand, South America, the Middle East and Asia. He was chosen as one of six international speakers to be featured at Kuwait’s first ever happiness conference and was a headline speaker at the renowned Happiness & Its Causes conference.

Anthony has workshopped material with writer-performers such as Billy Crystal and Rowan Atkinson, and co-starred in the movie Reckless Kelly with Hugo Weaving and English comic Alexei Sayle. He has also written material for Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura character.

As a clown-doctor Anthony spent years cheering up sick children in the Sydney Children’s Hospital. He is a certified Laughter Group Leader with Laughter Club International. He also worked extensively as a Humour Therapist in aged care facilities helping dementia patients.

Anthony was the creator and Director of the Bowral Of Laughs Comedy Festival, a three year project which showcased the cream of Australian comedy including the staging of the official Graham Kennedy Celebration which honoured one of Australia’s most iconic comedians.

In the business and corporate world Anthony applies his unique talents to uplifting, entertaining and inspiring with his keynote delivery and seminar Stress Less Laugh More. He teaches people how to deliberately and skilfully enjoy, create and express humour and laughter at work and in life in general and reap the rewards. His work in this area was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s website.

Recognised as a leading authority on the social and cultural impacts of comedy Anthony’s articles on this subject have frequently been printed in leading publications including the Sydney Morning Herald.

The political satire web shows Political Bent and The Ackroyd Retort Anthony wrote and presented were featured on the websites of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WA Today, and The Brisbane Times.

Anthony is a senior teacher at Screenwise Acting School delivering the Comedy course and the Improvisation course. In recognition of his cultural influence Anthony was chosen to be part of a group of prominent Australians recorded for a permanent multi-media installation at the Museum Of Australian Democracy in Canberra.