Anthony Ackroyd

Anthony Michael Ackroyd (born 30 June 1958) is an Australian comedian, writer, speaker, musician, actor, coach, and teacher.

Biography Ackroyd was born in Hobart, Tasmania and grew up in the suburb of Warrane. He graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature, European Literature and Philosophy. Television exposure followed with appearances on popular TV shows such as The Video Comedy Store, Hey Hey It's Saturday and The Midday Show. From 1989 to 1991 he was a cast member on ABC TV's pioneering live comedy show The Big Gig. During the 1990s he appeared on TV shows including Good News Week, Tonight Live, Mornings with Kerri-Anne, and Pizza. He performed the critically acclaimed comedy monologue "Karma Comedian" on ABC's The Smallest Room in the House, which detailed with great honesty many aspects of his life to that point. Between 1996–2021 he was a cast member of the ABC radio current events comedy show Thank God It's Friday!

Ackroyd performed for many years as a clown doctor at the Sydney Children's Hospital and hosted his own show Political Bent.

At the 2014 by-election for the seat of Griffith, brought about following the retirement of Kevin Rudd from the Australian House of Representatives, Ackroyd contested the poll representing the Bullet Train party. He was also a candidate at the 2016 federal election for the seat of Wentworth, representing the Arts Party.

Ackroyd was a senior tutor teaching the Advanced Diploma comedy and improvisation courses at Screenwise Acting School in Sydney.

Ackroyd has been CEO of his companies Feel Betterer, Creative Call, Write My Fire, Story Of You, and The Laughter Advantage. He is currently active as a comedian, writer, speaker, and coach. He currently heads his company Elevate Your Life.

Personal life Ackroyd is the father of two children, Michael and Brodie, and lives with his partner, Anna, in , on the NSW Southern Highlands.

He is an Ambassador for the Sydney Swans.