Debra DiGiovanni

Debra DiGiovanni (born March 21, 1972) is a Canadian stand-up comedian originally from Tillsonburg, Ontario.

She is a frequent guest on the CBC Radio program The Debaters, for which she earned a Canadian Comedy Award nomination for writing. Her previous work includes being a regular contributor to Much’s Video on Trial series and its spinoff Stars on Trial, and has a fraternal twin sister. She grew up in Tillsonburg, Ontario. In 2003, NOW Magazine named her headline show as the 3rd Best of the Year. In 2005, she made her first appearance at the Just for Laughs Festival where she was invited on a cross-Canada tour opening for Russell Peters. In 2007, 2009, and 2011, she won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up.

She was previously a contributor on the popular Much show Video on Trial

In 2007, she appeared in the fifth season of Last Comic Standing. By winning an audition in Montreal, she was selected to participate in a semifinal qualifying round in Hollywood, making it to the top 10 finalist. She participated in the show until she was eliminated and placed 8th.

Also that year, she hosted the Canadian New Media Awards and the Canadian Comedy Awards. In July 2008, she appeared on eTalk, interviewing contestants on the sixth season of Canadian Idol. She also hosted the Genie Awards alongside Sandra Oh, as well as one night of the Gemini Awards in 2008.

From 2010, she was a permanent panelist on The Comedy Network’s Canadian revival of Match Game.

In 2019, her comedy album Lady Jazz received a Juno Award nomination for Comedy Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2019.

In 2022, she was a contestant on LOL: Last One Laughing Canada.

In 2025, she performed on The Tonight Show hosted by Jimmy Fallon, and later in the year received the award for the Best Comedy Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2025.

She is presently a frequent guest on the CBC Radio program The Debaters, for which she earned a Canadian Comedy Award nomination for writing.

Filmography

Television

Comedy specials

Awards

2001: Nominated for Cream of Comedy award 2002: Canadian Comedy Award for the Best Stand-up Newcomer in Stand Up. 2003: NOW Magazine named her headline show as the 3rd Best of the Year. 2005: Nominated in the Canadian Comedy Awards 2007, 2009, & 2011: Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up. 2009: Gemini Award for best individual comedy performance 2019: Her comedy album Lady Jazz received a Juno Award nomination for Comedy Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2019. 2025: Winner of the Comedy Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2025 for her album Honourable Intentions.