Ali Hassan (comedian)

Ali Hassan is a Canadian comedian best known as the host of CBC Radio One's weekly comedy program Laugh Out Loud[1] and as the moderator of CBC Radio's annual Canada Reads competition since 2017.[2]

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick and raised in Montreal, Quebec,[3] Hassan studied business administration at McMaster University before launching his comedy career.[3] Initially he ran his own catering business with the goal of becoming a television cooking show host, and began performing as a comedian to build his confidence.[4] After two years performing as a comedian in Montreal, he was invited to perform as an opening act for Russell Peters at the inaugural Amman Stand-up Comedy Festival in Amman, Jordan.[4] During this time, he also had supporting roles in the films Breakaway, French Immersion and Goon.[3]

After moving to Toronto, Ontario in 2011,[4] he began appearing regularly on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and continued performing as a touring comic.[5] In 2013, he recorded his first comedy DVD, From Zero to Hero, in Montreal.[3] In 2016, he performed his newest show, Muslim, Interrupted, at the Just for Laughs Festival.[5]

In addition to his regular roles with CBC Radio, he is a frequent guest host of Q.[6]