15 Best Asian Stand Up Comedians Who Are Known Worldwide!

If you’re a fan of comedy, then you’ve got to have come across the 15 of Asia’s funniest and most effective comedians. Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand – every country has its unique style of humor. So, which Asian standup comedians are the real legends? You might be perplexed to find out that these famous Asian stand-up comedians are not only famous in their native countries but around the world too!

Our site analyzes 15 comedians who are known worldwide. It is widely known that Asians make the best comedy. Have you ever seen an American stand-up comedian who is famous? The whole world loves to laugh, and Asia is no different. These great comics performed in Asia, the U.S., and Canada. And they have been featured on various media platforms.

Here you will find 15 of the best Asian stand-up comedians who are famous worldwide and not just restricted to their locality or country. They perform in English or translated into English for worldwide audiences. These Asian comedians have influenced people all over the globe, more specifically American, with their humor and comedy style that is unique to people in Asia. Many of them were even part of popular Netflix Asian comedy series. Check them out.

1. Bobby Lee

Bobby Lee is a standup comedian, actor, and host of the TBS comedy pawn show. He’s a frequent guest star on TBS’ Sullivan and Son and Tosh.0 and How to Be a Grownup, debuting season two on Comedy Central in May 2013. Bobby’s been featured in film roles such as Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, The Dukes of Hazzard, Bubble Boy, Crank 2 High Voltage, and star in General Hospital.

He was recently seen in the comedy special “Bobby Lee Live from Austin, TX” for Netflix. He has appeared on shows like “Mad T.V.” and “Parks & Recreation.” He was also featured in several movies, including Adam Sandler’s animated comedy “The Longest Yard” and most recently in Netflix’s award-winning series “House of Cards.” 

2. Jimmy O. Yang

Jimmy O. Yang is a Chinese-American comedian and actor. He is revived for his recurring role as Jian Yang in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley. Some of his credits include the roles of Bernard Tai in crazy rich Asians, Randy Chu in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Jianyu Li / “Convenience Store” Clerk at The End of the Tour, and Lister Choy in Office Christmas Party, which was his first major film role, occurring shortly before Superstore.

Jimmy O. Yang, also a young Asian comedian actor, is mostly known for being a successful translator and entrepreneur in HBO’s Silicon Valley. He has appeared in numerous movies and even has a few lines on Jimmy Kimmel Live. More importantly, he played himself.

3. Randall Park

Randall Park is a Korean-American actor and standup comedian. His work includes the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, for which he was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. This Asian-American comic, actor and filmmaker Randall Park began regularly performing standup around 1997. Born in Los Angeles to South Korean parents, he attended Harvard University and now resides in New York City.

He has appeared on numerous programs, including US TV shows such as The Office, Sesame Street, Franklin & Bash, Drunk History, Delocated; Canadian T.V. shows such as Slings and Arrows, Kim’s Convenience and How I Met Your Mother; as well as numerous radio programs like NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, WNYC’s comedy series 2 Dope Queens and the Arsenio Hall Show.

4. Ali Wong

Ali Wong is one of the best Asian stand-up comedians female and writer for the hit television show Fresh Off The Boat. A new full-length album is set to release 12/13/2015 with Phil Rosenthal’s Company which describes itself as a comedy machine working on behalf of the world.  Comedian, television writer and actor Ali Wong bursts into the mainstream with her offbeat style and delivery.

She has made guest appearances on late-night talk shows and hosted an episode of the Food Network’s “Thirsty For…,” which explores how different cities feel about one another. Her self-titled comedy special released on Netflix in February 2017 earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award and garnered high praise from her contemporaries.

5. Jo Koy

Nominated one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch by many people, Jo Koy is a standup comedian currently starring in his semi-scripted television series on T.V. Land. The Filipino American comic is known for its one-liners and quirky observations. Jo Koy has been on stage for nearly 20 years, touring and headlining comedy clubs from L.A. to New York to Dubai. He’s released hit comedy specials (Jo Koy: Live from Seattle and Jo Koy: Live From the Honda Stage) and partnered with fellow comedians Eric Andre and Rob Schneider in an alternative-comedy supergroup called the 14K’s.

6. Sheng Wang

Sheng Wang, a Taiwanese American stand-up comedian and writer, was born on January 9, 1980, in Taipei. He spent his formative years in Houston, Texas. From 2015 to 2018, he worked as a staff writer for the ABC sitcom series “Fresh Off the Boat.” Furthermore, he has gained recognition for his Netflix special titled “Sweet and Juicy.”

He is known for his unique comedic style and observational humor. He has built a reputation for his deadpan delivery, often blending personal anecdotes with witty observations on various aspects of life. Wang has performed on several late-night shows, including “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and “Conan.” He has also made appearances at numerous comedy festivals, gaining recognition for his comedic talent. With a diverse background and experiences, Wang brings a fresh perspective to the comedy scene and continues to entertain audiences with his distinct comedic voice.

7. Ronny Chieng

Ronny Chieng is a comedian. He’s originally from Malaysia but now lives in New York City. He’s performed worldwide, and he has a new Netflix comedy series coming out. Ronny hosted The Daily Show as host from December 2015 until August 2017, when he left to focus on his standup and other projects. You may recognize him as a correspondent on The Daily Show, but Ronny Chieng has been shaking up the stage with his energetic and probing standup routines.

With equal parts intelligence and absurdity, Ronny delivers fast-paced commentary with a razor-sharp edge. His hard-hitting jokes explore topics from racism to religion to stereotypes with a unique perspective about growing up in a strict Malaysian household – while also throwing in his take on Pop culture and the fickle nature of fame.

8. Russell Peters

Russell Peters is the hottest and most successful comedian in the country. He has enthralled audiences worldwide with his universal observations about race, language, family, and terror. He is now confirmed for a record-breaking 29 shows at The Air Canada Center in Toronto this November. His last tour sold out 38 of 40 shows in Montreal’s Bell Centre, earning over 17 million dollars.

A self-described “brown man,” Russell Peters, a Canadian-born comedian, melds Indian culture with conventional ethnic stereotypes. As he puts it in his book, “I’m an equal opportunity offender.” His standup comedians are crowd-pleasers because they are hilarious, unscripted, and based on his experiences with various people.

9. Ken Jeong

Ken Jeong is an actor, comedian, and former physician. Ken was born in Detroit, Michigan, for high school. Ken attended Harvard University, where he studied economics and graduated cum laude. After spending several years as a doctor in San Francisco, Ken moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. Since then, he has appeared on numerous television programs and films, including Community, The Hangover Part II and The Hangover Part III.

Actor, comedian, and doctor of medicine Ken Jeong rose to fame after his joint roles on the “Hangover” films and his role on the television series “Dr. Ken.” An actor with a unique sense of humor, he is known for his impersonations of celebrities such as Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Ballmer.

10. Steve Byrne

Steve Byrne is a standup comedian who tours the country with sold-out shows and has appeared on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and HBO’s Funny or Die Presents. He’s a regular guest on The Bob & Tom Show on radio, seen weekly in select markets nationwide. He has a great delivery and a very dry sense of humor.

One of the most popular stand-up comics working today with several appearances on The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central Presents, Comedy Central Roasts, and Showtime’s Live Nude Comedy series. From being the face of Verizon Wireless’s “Funny” commercials to his unforgettable role as “Office Tim” on HBO’s THE OFFICE, Steve Byrne has proven himself as one of the best comics in entertainment today.

11. Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho is a standup comedian, fashion designer, author, singer-songwriter, and actress. She rose to prominence as part of the groundbreaking sketch comedy show, In Living Color. Cho’s standup blends satire, social criticism, and comedy with observations on her ethnicity and unconventional family history. She has starred in her T.V. sitcoms, primetime shows, and specials. Margaret Cho has been nominated for awards in music, television, and film.

She won awards for Best Female Comedian from the American Comedy Awards in 1996 and 2000 and was also nominated for Soap Opera Digest Awards in 2002. Comedy, for Margaret Cho, is an act of healing. In high school, she was stuck up because of her sexuality and has dealt with other demons—depression, suicidal urges—her whole life. 

12. Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari is a comedian, actor, author, and master of modern romance. He grew up in Bennettsville, South Carolina. He attended NYU Film School, where he made short films and won the prestigious Vossler Award. In 2007, he created and starred in the hit MTV sketch comedy series Human Giant, which ran for two seasons. He has since appeared in several films, including Funny People, directed by Judd Apatow, which he also co-wrote. His book “Modern Romance: An Investigation” was released in June of 2015 and debuted at #1 in New York.

13. Kumail Nanjiani

Kumail Nanjiani started doing stand-up when he was 17, but it wasn’t until the 2000s that his career started to take off. After moving from Pakistan to the U.S. at the age of nine and spending time as a taxi driver, Kumail developed an interest in comedy around 20 and began taking classes. The more he inquired, the more he realized that comedy was what he was meant to do.

Fast forward to 2007, a few years after moving to LA: Kumail’s big break came in the form of a recording session with HBO for a new show. He has appeared on HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” Comedy Central’s “Frankie & Grace,” “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail,” and “Michael and Michael Have Issues.”

14. Hasan Minhaj

Hasan Minhaj (aka Hammy) is a socio-political comedian from Davis, California. He attended the University of California, Davis, where he was active in the Middle Eastern Muslim community as both a writer and performer for the university’s award-winning humor magazine, Insight. There, he wrote about Muslims and Islam issues while also covering issues affecting students of all backgrounds.

This young Asian comedian is a performer, and writer based in Los Angeles. He started doing stand-up when he was 23 (although he’s been funny since the age of 4) and has since performed on Letterman, at Montreal Just for Laughs, San Francisco Sketchfest, New York Comedy Festival, SXSW, Bonnaroo, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and more.

15. Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is an actress, a comedian, and a bestselling writer. You may know her from The Office, where she is practically the office goddess. Or from one of her many movies, because when it comes to comedy, Mindy can do no wrong. Or you may know her as that gorgeous woman who has made the color blackwork for her.

After starting on The Office, Mindy Kaling has gone on to star in the movie “Date Night” and write, produce and star in her show on FOX called “The Mindy Project.” She also has a New York Times Best Selling Book called “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?”

Besides, the above list there are many more popular stand-up comedians such as Nigel Ng (Uncle Roger), Dave Chappelle, Deshae Frost, Kurtis Conner and Jimmy Fallon. These fantastic comedians bring their own individual flairs to the stage, captivating audiences and leaving them in stitches. Their remarkable ability to connect with their viewers and generate laughter is truly astounding. We guarantee that you will be thoroughly entertained by their performances and excited to see what these gifted individuals will do next in the world of comedy.

Conclusion!

The stand-up comedy scene in Asia is relatively new, and thus newer comedians have not been rooted on the throne yet. Some Asian comedians have their names being recognized in the scene. By knowing these stand-up comedians, you can learn some of the region’s cultures, especially with these talented performers doing both standup comedy and acting. We have formulated a list of the 15 best Asian standup comedians you should follow if you want to be entertained.