Trevor Noah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Trevor Noah
Noah in 2024
Born	(1984-02-20) 20 February 1984 (age 41) Johannesburg, South Africa
Medium	Stand-up television film books podcast
Genres	Political/news satire observational comedy surreal humour racial humor insult comedy deadpan
Subject(s)	Mass media/news media/media criticism American politics South African culture current events race relations pop culture
Signature

Trevor Noah (born 20 February 1984) is a famous South African comedian, writer, and TV host. He was the host of The Daily Show, a popular American TV show that made fun of news, from 2015 to 2022. Trevor Noah has won many awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards.

In 2017 and 2018, The Hollywood Reporter magazine called him one of the "35 Most Powerful People in New York Media." In 2018, Time magazine also named him one of the hundred most influential people in the world.

Trevor Noah started his career in South Africa in 2002. He hosted several shows for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). In 2008, he was the runner-up in South Africa's Strictly Come Dancing. From 2010 to 2011, he hosted his own talk show called Tonight with Trevor Noah.

In 2014, Noah joined The Daily Show as a special reporter. In 2015, he took over from Jon Stewart as the main host. His book about his life, Born a Crime, came out in 2016. He has also hosted the Grammy Awards five times, from 2021 to 2025. He also hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2022.

Early Life and Background

Trevor Noah was born on 20 February 1984, in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father, Robert, is Swiss-German, and his mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is Xhosa.

During a time called apartheid in South Africa, laws separated people based on their race. Trevor's mother was classified as Black, and his father was classified as White. Trevor himself was classified as Coloured. At the time he was born, his parents' relationship was against the law. Trevor talks about this in his book. These laws changed a year after he was born.

Trevor was raised by his mother and grandmother in Soweto, a Black township. He went to a private Catholic school in Johannesburg. He grew up in a diverse environment, learning about both his White and Black heritage. His family was Christian, but he also learned about Jewish traditions when his mother became Jewish. He even had a bar mitzvah celebration when he turned 13.

Comedy Career and TV Shows

Starting Out (2002–2013)

Noah performing on his Loud and Clear tour in February 2019

In 2002, Trevor Noah had a small part in a South African TV show called Isidingo. He later hosted his own radio show called Noah's Ark. When he was 21, his friends dared him to try stand-up comedy at a club. He made the audience laugh with stories about his life. After that, he kept performing comedy and became well-known.

He stopped his radio show and acting to focus on comedy. He performed with many famous comedians from South Africa and other countries. He also opened shows for American comedian Gabriel Iglesias and Canadian comedian Russell Peters.

Noah hosted several TV shows in South Africa, including Run the Adventure (2004–2006) and The Real Goboza (2007). In 2008, he co-hosted The Amazing Date and was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. He also hosted the South African Music Awards in 2010.

His stand-up comedy shows in South Africa include The Daywalker (2009), Crazy Normal (2011), That's Racist (2012), and It's My Culture (2013).

In 2011, Trevor Noah moved to the United States. In 2012, he became the first South African comedian to appear on The Tonight Show. In 2013, he was also the first to appear on Late Show with David Letterman. He was featured in a 2012 documentary called You Laugh But It's True. He also performed a comedy special called Trevor Noah: African American in 2013.

Hosting The Daily Show (2014–2022)

In December 2014, Noah started appearing regularly on The Daily Show. In March 2015, it was announced that he would take over as host from Jon Stewart. His first show as host was on 28 September 2015.

After he was announced as the new host, some old jokes he had posted on Twitter were discussed. Trevor Noah explained that a few jokes do not show who he truly is. Comedy Central, the channel that airs The Daily Show, supported him. They said he is a talented comedian who pushes boundaries.

After Trevor Noah became host, the show's viewership changed. While overall numbers were lower than Jon Stewart's time, The Daily Show became very popular with younger audiences, especially millennials. Critics had mixed reviews, but many praised his calm and charming style. By 2017, Comedy Central extended his contract to host The Daily Show until 2022.

In 2018, after France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Noah made a joke about the team having many players of African heritage. The French Ambassador to the United States disagreed with his joke. Noah explained that he meant to celebrate their African heritage, not to say they weren't French.

Trevor Noah also helped create and produce other TV shows, like The Opposition with Jordan Klepper and Klepper. In 2018, he signed a deal with Viacom to develop new projects. He also started his own production company called Day Zero Productions.

His book Born a Crime was published in November 2016. It became a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller and was praised by many reviewers. The book focuses on his life and his mother's important role. A movie based on the book is planned, with Lupita Nyong'o playing his mother. In 2018, Noah and The Daily Show writers released The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library, a book of tweets.

Noah also made guest appearances in TV shows like Nashville (2017) and American Vandal (2018). He also had a voice role in the movie Black Panther (2018).

In September 2022, Trevor Noah announced that he would be leaving The Daily Show after seven years. He said he wanted to return to performing stand-up comedy around the world. His last show as host was on 8 December 2022.

After The Daily Show (2022–Present)

After leaving The Daily Show, Trevor Noah continued to host the Grammy Awards. He hosted them five times in a row, from 2021 to 2025. He also hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2022.

In June 2023, it was announced that Trevor Noah would start a weekly Spotify podcast. The podcast, called What Now? with Trevor Noah, began in November 2023. In each episode, he talks with a special guest. In 2024, he worked with Epic Fortnite to create JokeNite, a special island featuring stand-up comedy performances. In 2024, he also acted in the movie This Is Me... Now: A Love Story.

Influences and Style

Trevor Noah has mentioned several famous comedians who influenced him. He looks up to Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle. He also considers Jon Stewart, his predecessor at The Daily Show, a mentor. Stewart encouraged him to make The Daily Show his own.

Noah's comedy often draws from his mixed-race background and his experiences growing up in Soweto. He uses his observations about different cultures and people as main themes in his jokes.

Personal Life

Trevor Noah can speak several languages, including English, Southern Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, and Afrikaans. He lives in New York City.

In 1992, Trevor's mother married Ngisaveni Abel Shingange. They had two sons together. Shingange was abusive towards Trevor and his mother. They divorced in 1996. In 2009, after his mother remarried, Shingange shot her. She survived the shooting. Trevor Noah has spoken about this to raise awareness about domestic violence in South Africa.

Noah describes himself as a progressive person with a global view. He prefers not to be labeled as strictly right-wing or left-wing in politics.

In April 2018, Trevor Noah started The Trevor Noah Foundation. This organization helps young people by providing them with access to good education.

In 2021, Trevor Noah was chosen to speak at Princeton University's Class Day. He gave his speech online and became an honorary member of the Class of 2021.

Trevor Noah is a fan of the football club Liverpool FC.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stand-up Specials

Awards and Recognitions

Trevor Noah has received many awards throughout his career. These include two Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 2023, he won the Erasmus Prize, which is a very important award for people who have made great contributions to culture, society, or social science.

Books and Audio

• 2016: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Audible Studios, ISBN: 978-1531865047
• 2017: Afraid of the Dark, Netflix
• 2019: Son of Patricia, Netflix

Images for kids

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  Noah in 2024

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  Trevor Noah's signature

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  Noah performing on his Loud and Clear tour in February 2019

See also

In Spanish: Trevor Noah para niños