Ray O'Leary
Comedian / Writer
Renowned for his deadpan humor and signature grey suit, Kiwi comedian Ray O'Leary has garnered consecutive nominations for Best Male Comedian by the New Zealand Comedy Guild. In 2022, he clinched victories for Best Joke and Best TV Comedy Performance, following three previous nominations for the latter. Twice, he's been a contender for the esteemed Billy T James Award at the New Zealand Comedy Festival.
Ray's sharp wit has graced stages on both sides of the Tasman, selling out runs in Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington as part of the New Zealand Comedy Festival. He's shared the stage with comedic luminaries like Flight of the Conchords and Rhys Darby.
Ray is a fixture on Australasian television, appearing on Ten's Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Cheap Seats, and SBS' Patriot Brains, hosted by the UK's Bill Bailey and Sue Perkins. He's also a regular writer for The Cheap Seats and Have You Been Paying Attention in Australia, and frequently contributes to 7 Days and other NZ shows.
Ray's voice extends beyond television, as he hosts the acclaimed philosophy podcast Socrates Walks Into A Bar, which secured the Best Comedy Podcast title at the NZ Podcast Awards in 2022. He's also a familiar presence on The Spinoff's popular Dungeons and Dragons podcast, Waterdeep Mountain High.
In 2023, Ray embarked on his Australian debut with the sold-out show Everything Funny All The Time Always, earning a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Continuing his streak of sold-out performances in New Zealand, he joined season 4 of Taskmaster NZ as a contestant.
Looking ahead to 2024, Ray is set to grace the live stage once again, touring the UK alongside Melanie Bracewell and bringing his new show, Your Laughter Is Just Making Me Stronger, to audiences across Australia and New Zealand.