Nik Rabinowitz is a South African stand-up comedian, actor, author, TV presenter, and podcast host, known for his multilingual comedy and social commentary.
He's appeared in various television shows, feature films, and has performed stand-up comedy internationally, including on the British panel show Mock the Week.
He lives in Cape Town with his wife and three children, and continues to work in the entertainment industry both locally and internationally.
Early life
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Rabinowitz was raised on the farm Eagles Nest, in Constantia, Cape Town, to parents Jenifer (a former architecture student and interior designer) and potterHym Rabinowitz.
He grew up in a secular Jewish family [1][2][3] and learned to speak isiXhosa growing up on the farm,[4] where he developed the multilingual abilities that would later become a distinctive feature of his comedy.
Rabinowitz began his comedy career in the early 2000s, quickly establishing himself in the South African comedy scene. His comedy often draws on his Jewish heritage, his observations of South African society, and his ability to mimic various South African accents and languages. His multilingual capabilities, especially his fluency in isiXhosa, have become a notable aspect of his performances. One man specials include:
Pension Killer (2024)
Rambunctious (2023)
Unmuted (2022)
Late Bloomer (2019)
Dry White (2018)
Fortyfied (2016)
Power Struggle (2016)
Acting Beyond stand-up comedy, Rabinowitz has appeared in several films and TV productions:
Just Now Jeffrey (2024) - Narrator & Moshik
The Shakedown (2024) - Horse Racing Commentator
Tali's Baby Diary (2021) - Auctioneer
Material (2012) - Dave Gold
Khumba (2013) - Frikkie/Percy
I Now Pronounce You Black and White (2010) - Twasa
Rabinowitz's comedy frequently explores South African identity, politics, and cultural differences. He is known for his ability to navigate sensitive social issues through humor and has been praised for his unique perspective on South African society. His comedy often challenges stereotypes while highlighting the absurdities of life in post-apartheid South Africa. As a Jewish comedian who speaks English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa, Rabinowitz occupies a unique space in South African comedy, using his cross-cultural experiences to bridge divides through humour.
Numerous voices (including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Gareth Cliff, Victor Matfield, Ninja (Die Antwoord), Pieter De Villiers, Vladimir Putin, Bashir Al Assad, Patricia de Lille, Benni McCarthy, Carlos Perreira, Sepp Blatter, Danny Jordaan, The Pope, and Oscar Pistorius)
In 2009, Nik married Dr Debbie Rabinowitz, a general practitioner, transformational coach and Woman Within International facilitator. Together they have three children, Benjamin (born 2009), Adam (born 2012) and Sophie (born 2016).[4]
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