Ali Hassan is a Canadian comedian and actor, 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] He also played "Delivery Doug" from the PBS/TVO Kids series "Odd Squad".
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 next one man show, Muslim, Interrupted, at the Just for Laughs Festival [5] and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In addition to his regular roles with CBC Radio, he is a frequent guest host of Q [6] and The Next Chapter .
In 2024, he is nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards: Best Guest Performance, Comedy in the show Sort Of , and Best Supporting Performer, Comedy in the show Run the Burbs . In 2021, he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Host in a Web Program or Series at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards, as cohost with Peter Keleghan of the National Canadian Film Day livestream. [7]
He has appeared in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , and had recurring roles in Hudson & Rex , Designated Survivor , Sort Of , and the CBC Television sitcom Run the Burbs , [8] and the CBC Gem web series You're My Hero .
