Harith Iskander
| Harith Iskander | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Harith Iskander bin Musa |
| Born |
7 August 1966 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia |
| Medium | Television, film |
| Alma mater | Curtin University |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Malaysian culture |
| Spouse | Jezamine Lim (m. 2010) |
| Parent(s) |
Musa Ibrahim (father) Jane Musa (mother) |
| Notable works and roles |
Ah-ha Baik Punya Cilok Buli Balik Komediri Lawak Ke Der Obviously Harith Iskander Funniest Person in the World 2016 |
| Website |
www |
Harith Iskander Musa (born 7 August 1966) or better known as Harith Iskander is a Malaysian actor and comedian. He is considered to be "the Godfather of Stand-Up Comedy" in Malaysia,[1][2][3][4][5] having also won the Asia's Best Stand-Up Comedian Award 2014 by Top 10 of Asia Magazine.[6][7][8]
He won the Funniest Person in the World competition in December 2016.[9]
Early life
Iskander was raised in Johor Bahru in the state of Johore.[10] His father, Musa Ibrahim hailed from the state and was of Javanese descent. His mother, Jane Musa was of Scottish ancestry from the Grant clan, working in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City as a secretary.[11] They both met in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Congo Crisis, Musa being a member of the peacekeeping corps sent by the Malaysian government there while Jane worked as part of the U.N staff.[11]
He attended Curtin University in Perth, Australia, majoring in journalism and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English. He graduated in 1988[3][12]
During his university and young adult days, Iskander made a conscious decision to embrace Australian culture while he was an international student despite his aversion to study.[3] For example, his curiosity led him to trying the sport of cricket.[1][3] On another occasion, Iskander described a time where he entered an adult shop in Australia after arriving from Malaysia, only to find out that the shop was full of Malaysian students.[1][3]
Career
Iskander's career in stand-up comedy began during 1990 or 1991, when he was persuaded by a university friend to get on stage in the old Subang Airport Hotel lobby lounge to tell some funny stories.[4][5] It was at this lounge where a member of the audience saw Iskander and invited him to another function to perform on-stage.
On 12 June 2010, Iskander married doctor and FHM model Jezamine Lim after meeting her through Facebook.[13]
In 2016, Iskander was one of 89 international stand-up comedians nominated for Laugh Factory's Funniest Person in the World.[14]
Comedic philosophy
Iskander's view of comedy is that the best comedians are the most authentic comedians; that is to say, a good comedian does not become someone they are not just because they are on a stage.[4] Iskander describes his comedy as 'totally observational and personal', filled with personal experience.[5] He describes himself as 'not a shock comedian', but one who has his own 'personal barriers'; for example, one area in which he 'treads carefully' is the subject matter of politics.[4] He notes that Malaysian comedy tends to be 'casually racist' sometimes.[5]
Iskander's source of jokes come from everywhere around him[12] and he is an advocate of cross-border relations between Singaporean and Malaysian comedians.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Selubung | Musa |
| 1997 | Hanya Kawan | Haris |
| 1999 | Anna and the King | Nikorn |
| 2004 | Sepet | Abah |
| 2005 | Baik Punya Cilok | |
| 2006 | Buli Balik | |
| Gubra | Abah | |
| 2008 | Cuci | |
| 2009 | Talentime | Harith |
Television
| Year | Title | Network | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | Ah-Ha[8] | TV3 | |
| 2009–2010 | Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd | NTV7, | Izzy |
| Rojak | Paul | ||
| Thursday Night Live[8] | NTV7 | ||
| 2016 | Obviously Harith Iskander | Astro Awani | Himself, as talk show host |
Other appearances
Iskander has also appeared in various comedy sittings such as The Kings and Queens of Comedy Asia[5] and the Best of Comedy Malaysia at Lower Town Hall, Melbourne.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Schembri, Jim (29 March 2012). "Review: Best of Comedy Malaysia featuring Harith Iskander". HeraldSun. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ "Harith Iskander". Singapore Comedy Fringe 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Tulloch, Yvette (13 April 2015). "The 'godfather' of Malaysian stand-up comedy – Harith Iskander". News and Events. Curtin University. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Loh, Genevieve Sarah (14 September 2016). "Godfather of Malaysian stand-up Harith Iskander: "I’m not a shock comedian!"". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh (19 October 2015). "8 Questions with Harith Iskander: Malaysia's godfather of stand-up". The Straits Times. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ "HARITH ISKANDER (MAL) | Enmore Theatre". metrotheatre.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ "Malaysia's Top 10 Comedians". TallyPress. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Harith Iskander at the Sydney Comedy Festival". Dirty Work Comedy. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ "Harith Iskander wins Funniest Person in the World competition - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
- ↑ Tam, Michelle (19 May 2016). "TMJ plays 'tour guide' to Harith Iskander". The Star. Star Media Group Berhad. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- 1 2 Surin, Jacqueline Ann (8 November 2011). "Harith Iskander's "Race Malaysia"". TheNutGraph. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- 1 2 Yap, Stephanie (9 January 2015). "5 Things You Should Know About Harith Iskander". Her World Malaysia. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ Diyana Rose Kamalludeen (2 April 2010). "Harith Iskandar Akhiri Zaman Bujang Julai Ini". mStar (in Malay). Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ "Harith Iskander in the running for the Funniest Person in the World". New Straits Times. 7 September 2016.