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He always wanted to be a comedian.
By Samantha Maffucci — Written on Jan 31, 2019
Comedians of the World on Netflix premiered on January 1st, and since then, audiences have had the pleasure of watching 30-minute stand-up routines from 47 comics. The comedians come from countries all over, including France, Canada, the UK, the Middle East, and Australia. And with topics ranging from marriage to sexism to homophobia, viewers have gotten a unique perspective about what life is like in different areas of the globe.
Luckily, Netflix provides subtitles for routines not performed in English. And one of the comedians you’ll need to do that for is Kaya Yanar. Considered a trailblazer for the acceptance of multicultural issues, he’s played with cultural stereotypes in his sketches and one-man shows. Of course, he proves that laughter is universal.
But who is Kaya Yanar? Here are six things to know about his personal life and his career in comedy.
1. He’s German.
Yanar was born in Frankfurt, though he is not of German descent. His parents were both Turkish immigrants from Antakya.
2. He was pursuing a different career.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled in Frankfurt University to study phonetics, American studies and philosophy. He left before graduating.
3. But he eventually made a name for himself in comedy.
Though Yanar is best known for his show Was guckst du?!, he’s also appeared on other television shows and movies: Agent Ranjid rettet die Welt, Die Kaya Show, Dekker & Adi, Schillerstraße, Stars bei der Arbeit, and Typisch Deutsch.
He’s toured Germany doing one-man shows, and his stand-up routines have been broadcast on television. He’s a member of the jury on Comedy Grand-Prix, which is an annual comedy contest to seek the “best German comedian.”
4. He’s an author.
In 2011, he released his memoir, Made in Germany. The book talks about how he slips into his roles as numerous characters, as well as strange stories and hi adventures over the years.
5. And he’s won numerous awards for his work.
He’s won the German Television Award for Best Comedy, Best Solo TV Program, and Best Comedian in 2001, 2013, and 2014. He’s also one a Romy for Best Program for Was guckst du?!, and the Comedy Award for Radio Regenbogen.
6. He’s vegan.
Formerly a pescatarian, Yanar is now a vegan, as well as an animal rights activist.
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.