{{short description|Australian comedian, speaker and writer (born 1958)}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | name = Anthony Ackroyd | image = Anthony Ackroyd page pic.png | birth_name = Anthony Michael Ackroyd | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|30 June 1958}} | birth_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Comedian, speaker, writer | partner = Anna | children = 2 | alma_mater = University of Tasmania | website = }} '''Anthony Michael Ackroyd''' (born 30 June 1958) is an Australian comedian, writer, speaker, musician, actor, coach, and teacher.
==Biography== Ackroyd was born in Hobart, Tasmania and grew up in the suburb of Warrane.<ref name="Q&A">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2673420.htm |title=Panellist: Anthony Ackroyd |work=Q&A |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> He graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature, European Literature and Philosophy.<ref name="Q&A"/>
Ackroyd began performing stand-up comedy at the Sydney Comedy Store in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102036610|title=The making of a new comic|last=Lynch|first=Amanda|date=1988-12-08|work=Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)|access-date=2019-05-15|pages=32}}</ref> Television exposure followed with appearances on popular TV shows such as ''The Video Comedy Store'', ''Hey Hey It's Saturday'' and ''The Midday Show''. From 1989 to 1991 he was a cast member on ABC TV's pioneering live comedy show ''The Big Gig''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icmi.com.au/anthony-ackroyd |title=Anthony Ackroyd |publisher=ICMI |date=2016 |access-date=3 June 2016 }}</ref> During the 1990s he appeared on TV shows including ''Good News Week'', ''Tonight Live'', ''Mornings with Kerri-Anne'', and ''Pizza''. He performed the critically acclaimed comedy monologue "Karma Comedian" on ABC's ''The Smallest Room in the House'', which detailed with great honesty many aspects of his life to that point.{{cn|date=February 2026}} Between 1996–2021 he was a cast member of the ABC radio current events comedy show ''Thank God It's Friday!''{{cn|date=February 2026}}
Ackroyd performed for many years as a clown doctor at the Sydney Children's Hospital<ref name="Q&A" /> as well as working as a humour therapist in aged care facilities. He currently teaches the healing power of laughter and humour to people with PTSD, trauma issues, serious and chronic illnesses at the Quest For Life Centre in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
He is an international speaker whose keynote delivery ''Stress Less Laugh More'' teaches people how to use the power of laughter to change our lives and transform businesses.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
Ackroyd's one man shows have included ''Anthony Ackroyd in His Own Little World'', ''Ecstasy and How To Get It'', ''At Last The Truth About Everything'', and ''The Fruit of My Lions''.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
He has written for TV and film including the sketch show ''The Comedy Company'' and two years writing for an internet sitcom spin off for Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura character. He has workshopped material with writer-performers such as Billy Crystal and Rowan Atkinson. Ackroyd's articles have appeared in ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', ''The Age'', ''Vogue'', ''Life Etc.'', ''Studio'', ''Eco Magazine'', ''Parenting'', ''Men's Stuff'', the ''Good Weekend'' and ''Good Taste''. He has held the position of senior writer at Granada ITV. For 3 years he was the director of the ''Bowral Of Laughs Comedy Festival'' held in Bowral, New South Wales.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
Ackroyd's film work includes roles in the movies ''Reckless Kelly'', ''Gino'', and ''WillFull''. He provided the voice of Dragon on the children's TV show ''Magic Mountain''.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
Ackroyd became a frequent impersonator of former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/02/most-blatant-election-themed-ads|title=Election-themed ads: the most blatant political tie-ins|last=Murray|first=Warren|date=2013-09-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-08-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and hosted his own show ''Political Bent''.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
At the 2014 by-election for the seat of Griffith, brought about following the retirement of Kevin Rudd from the Australian House of Representatives, Ackroyd contested the poll representing the Bullet Train party.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 January 2014 |title=ALP 'targets' PM using local poll |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/alp-targets-pm-using-local-poll/story-fn59niix-1226803568220# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116195013/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/alp-targets-pm-using-local-poll/story-fn59niix-1226803568220 |archive-date=2014-01-16 |work=The Australian}}</ref> He was also a candidate at the 2016 federal election for the seat of Wentworth, representing the Arts Party.<ref>{{cite press release|title=New Candidate Announced - Anthony Ackroyd|date=9 March 2016|publisher=Arts Party|url=http://www.artsparty.org/new_candidate_announced_anthony_ackroyd|accessdate=3 June 2016|author=Collins, P. J.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808112718/http://www.artsparty.org/new_candidate_announced_anthony_ackroyd|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Ackroyd was a senior tutor teaching the Advanced Diploma comedy and improvisation courses at Screenwise Acting School in Sydney. {{cn|date=February 2026}}
Ackroyd has been CEO of his companies Feel Betterer, Creative Call, Write My Fire, Story Of You, and The Laughter Advantage. He is currently active as a comedian, writer, speaker, and coach. He currently heads his company [https://www.anthonyackroyd.life/ Elevate Your Life].
==Personal life== Ackroyd is the father of two children, Michael and Brodie, and lives with his partner, Anna, in {{NSWcity|Bowral}}, on the NSW Southern Highlands.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/two-of-us-michael-and-anthony-ackroyd-20121118-29kx4.html |title=Two of us: Michael and Anthony Ackroyd|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |author=Stansfield, Charlie |date=24 November 2012 |accessdate=3 June 2016 }}</ref>
He is an Ambassador for the Sydney Swans.<ref name="Q&A"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.anthonyackroyd.life Anthony Ackroyd website] *{{IMDb name |id=nm0010095 |name=Anthony Ackroyd }}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ackroyd, Anthony}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Hobart Category:Australian male comedians Category:University of Tasmania alumni Category:Comedians from Tasmania