Rodney Rude facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rodney Rude |
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Rude in 2020
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| Birth name | Rodney Malcolm Keft |
| Medium | Stand-up, music |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Years active | 1961–2006, 2011–2016, 2024–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Australian culture, current events, pop culture |
Rodney Rude (born Rodney Malcolm Keft, 29 January 1943 in Nowra, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian-born stand-up comedian, poet, writer, and musician.
Rude has been nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release nine times between 1987 and 2009, and has won two Mo Awards. He officially retired from performing live shows on 9 December 2016.
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Early career
Rude began his career performing with travelling tent shows on the showground circuit in the early 1960s, singing and playing guitar. His habit of altering the lyrics of songs to amuse himself and his audience prompted him to become a comedian. He left Australia in the mid-1960s to tour the world, and to live and work in the United States, Canada, and Europe under various stage names. In 1981, he was asked by Barry Wain to return to Australia to set up Sydney's Comedy Store, and started working as the club's compere.
Style
Rude's comedy is energetic and aggressive. Recurring stage props often included a small ukulele for short musical pieces, hats too small for his head, oversized clown shoes, metal tea strainers used to imitate a fly (insect) and material from his grandfather's joke album. Rude's interaction with his audiences is a key part of his act, including the famous 'limericks' toward the end of each show.
Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Rude has been nominated for ten awards.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Rude Rides Again | Best Comedy Release | Nominated |
| Highest Selling Album | Nominated | ||
| 1989 | Not Guilty | Best Comedy Release | Nominated |
| 1992 | A Legend | Nominated | |
| 1999 | More Grunt | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Ya Mum's Bum | Nominated | |
| 2003 | Rude ... | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Twice As Rude | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Frog Sack | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Rodney Rude Goes the Growl | Nominated |
Mo Awards
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Rodney Rude won two awards in that time.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
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| 1985 | Rodney Rude | Best Comedy Act of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | Outstanding Contribution to Australian Comedy | Won |
