Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah was raised in Soweto by his Xhosa mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, and his grandmother, Nomalizo Frances Noah. His father, Robert, was Swiss-German. Because interracial relationships were illegal under apartheid, Noah's parents concealed their relationship, and Noah's mixed-race identity placed him within the apartheid government's classification system for Coloured people.

Noah attended Maryvale College, a private Roman Catholic school in Gauteng. His experiences growing up in a multicultural household and in South Africa during apartheid became central themes in his comedy and memoir. In 1992, Patricia married Ngisaveni Abel Shingange, and the couple had two sons. They divorced in 1996 after Shingange physically abused Patricia and Noah. In 2009, Shingange shot Patricia, and he was later convicted of attempted murder.

Noah began his entertainment career with an uncredited appearance on the soap opera Isidingo in 2002. He later hosted the radio program Noah's Ark on YFM before focusing on stand-up comedy after friends dared him to perform at a nightclub. He became a prominent South African comedian while also appearing on programs including Run the Adventure, The Real Goboza, Siyadlala, and The Amazing Date.

He was the runner-up on the fourth season of Strictly Come Dancing in 2008 and hosted several major South African awards ceremonies. His first solo comedy show, The Daywalker, opened in 2009, followed by the late-night program Tonight with Trevor Noah, which he created and hosted from 2010 to 2011. His South African stand-up work included Crazy Normal, That's Racist, and It's My Culture.

After relocating to the United States, Noah became the first South African stand-up comedian to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2012 and the first to appear on Late Show with David Letterman in 2013. His international profile also grew through The Racist, his Showtime special Trevor Noah: African American, and the documentary You Laugh But It's True.

Noah joined Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as a contributor in 2014. After Jon Stewart announced his departure, Noah was selected as his successor, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah premiered on September 28, 2015. The program retained its satirical news format, combining opening monologues, humorous reports, and interviews with public figures.

During his seven-year tenure, Noah brought an international perspective to American politics and world events. His commentary frequently addressed race, media coverage, refugees, war, and social inequality. He also produced and hosted annual end-of-year specials for Comedy Central and developed projects involving former Daily Show contributor Jordan Klepper, including The Opposition with Jordan Klepper and Klepper.

Noah announced his departure from The Daily Show in September 2022 and hosted his final episode on December 8 of that year. He said that returning to stand-up and touring was part of his decision to leave the program. His work on the show earned two Primetime Emmy Awards, along with nominations and recognition from organizations including the NAACP, GLAAD, and the Producers Guild of America.

Noah's memoir, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, was published in 2016. The book examines his childhood under apartheid, his relationship with Patricia, and the racial and social forces that shaped his upbringing. It became a number-one New York Times bestseller and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor and two NAACP Image Awards. Noah also performed the audiobook, which won an Audie Award for Best Male Narrator.

His other books include The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library, created with The Daily Show writing staff and featuring a foreword by Jon Meacham, and the young readers adaptation It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime. He continued releasing stand-up specials including Lost in Translation, Afraid of the Dark, Son of Patricia, I Wish You Would, and Where Was I.

As an actor, Noah provided the voice of Griot in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and appeared in Coming 2 America, American Vandal, Nashville, and This Is Me... Now: A Love Story. He also hosted the Grammy Awards for six consecutive years from 2021 through 2026 and hosted the 2022 White House Correspondents' Dinner.

In 2018, Noah founded Day Zero Productions in partnership with Viacom, creating an international production and distribution company focused on film, television, documentaries, and other creative projects. Day Zero has developed projects including adaptations of Born a Crime and Kiese Laymon's novel Long Division, as well as documentary and unscripted programs.

Noah also founded the Trevor Noah Foundation in South Africa in 2018. The organization works to improve access to quality education, strengthen schools, support teachers, develop digital skills, and create employment pathways for young people. Its programs include the Khulani Schools Program, Education Changemakers initiative, and Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund.

After The Daily Show, Noah continued his global comedy career and launched the podcast What Now? with Trevor Noah. He has also expanded his work into gaming and digital entertainment through projects such as JokeNite in Fortnite.