Simon Rakoff (born August 30, 1960) is a Canadian stand-up comedian,"Two stand-ups to perform at Trevi this Saturday; Simon Rakoff and Thomas Calnan both mainstays of Canadian comedy scene". Sudbury Star, April 18, 2024. who began performing professionally in 1978.Bob Pomerantz and Jane Widerman, "They came, they joked, they bombed at Yuk Yuk's". Toronto Star, July 6, 1980.
A veteran of the Canadian comedy scene, he has performed in every province, including at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and Just for Laughs.Ted Shaw, "Rakoff: Comedy isn't hard, but life is". Windsor Star, November 8, 2013. He has also been a frequent guest on CBC Radio on The Debaters and As It Happens,Patrick Blennerhassett, "The great Canadian comic debate". Victoria News, pp. A13, A16. September 1, 2008. and held the record for the most appearances by a stand-up comedian on the late-night talk show Open Mike with Mike Bullard.Elizabeth Yates, "He shoots, he scores". Brantford Expositor, January 24, 2002.
In 1999 he provided comedic political commentary for CTV's live coverage of the 1999 Ontario general election.John McKay, "TV networks prepared for election night". Waterloo Region Record, June 3, 1999. In 2005 he was a guest on the debut episode of Unlocked, Andy Barrie's talk show on CIUT-FM during the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation staff lockout.Murray White, "Underground radio; Andy Barrie expected to mark his 10th anniversary at the CBC in a CBC studio But a lockout forced him to find a new (temporary) home". Toronto Star, September 6, 2005.
His comedy album Surrounded By Idiots was recorded and released in 2014.Peter Simpson, "Longtime comedian wants to leave a mark; A professional since 1978, Rakoff decides to record first album". Ottawa Citizen, pp. D1, D2. February 17, 2014. In the same year he also appeared on the comedy panel show Too Much Information.Jim Slotek, "TMI's a good thing ; Too Much Information lives up to name". The Daily Herald-Tribune, November 11, 2014.
He is the brother of humorist David Rakoff and the son of Vivian Rakoff, who was a chair of the psychiatry department at the University of Toronto.Wency Leung, "Psychiatrist Vivian Rakoff believed there was no divide between the brain and the mind". The Globe and Mail, October 9, 2020.
References
External links