Trevor Noah is a South African stand-up comedian, writer, producer, actor and TV host. He is known for his stand-up specials such as Trevor Noah: African American (2013), Trevor Noah: Lost in Translation (2015), and Trevor Noah: Son Of Patricia (2018) and for hosting the satirical news show, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’ (2015-2022).
Wiki/Biography
Trevor Noah was born on Monday, 20 February 1984 (age 40 years; as of 2024) in Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng), South Africa. His zodiac sign is Pisces. He studied at Maryvale College, a private Catholic school for primary and secondary education in Johannesburg. He studied there up to sixth grade and then moved to a government school, H. A. Jack Primary. He moved to Sandringham High School, Johannesburg, in eighth grade.
A childhood picture of Trevor Noah
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 11″
Weight (approx.): 70kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Trevor Noah is of mixed heritage. His father, Robert Noah, is a white Swiss-American and his mother, Patricia Noah, is a black Xhosa. They never got married as South Africa was going through apartheid when they met and interracial relationships were illegal. In an interview, Trevor talked about the rebellious nature of his mother and how she went to prison to be with Robert and said,
She was arrested many times for daring to be with him. She was very rebellious and kept going back. I think it was less to do with the strength of their relationship and more about her not wanting someone to dictate to her. She’s a big part of who I am as a person and as a comedian.”
Young Trevor Noah with his mother
He further talked about how his father had to walk separately from the rest of the family during the apartheid in the same interview and said,
When we went out as a family, Dad had to walk on the other side of the road. Inter-racial relationships didn’t become legal until 1994.”
Trevor Noah with his father
In 1992, Patricia married Ngisaveni Abel Shingange, with whom she has two sons, Andrew and Issac Shingange.
Trevor Noah (Right) with Andrew Shingange
They got divorced in 1996 and Patricia married her second husband, Sfiso Khoza in 2009.
Relationships/Affairs
Trevor Noah dated Dani Gabriel, a physiotherapist based out of South Africa, from 2014 to 2015.
Trevor Noah with Dani Gabriel
In 2015, he started dating singer and model, Jordyn Taylor, for four years before splitting up with her in 2018.
Trevor Noah with Jordyn Taylor
In 2020, Trevor started dating Minka Kelly. They broke up in 2022.
Trevor Noah with Minka Kelly
Religious Views
Although Trevor Noah was raised as a Roman Catholic, he doesn’t follow any religion. In a radio podcast, he claimed that he is a spiritual person.
Signature/Autograph
Trevor Noah signature
Career
Early Career
Trevor Noah started working when he was a high school student for his friend, Andrew, who had a bootleg CD business. He taught Trevor how to burn CDs and sell them in ninth grade. Eventually, Andrew handed his business to Trevor. Trevor soon started to mix music on his CDs and sell them. After his friend’s suggestion, he started to blend two songs into one and sell them. One of his customers noticed this and helped him realise he was DJing. He then started working as a DJ, touring various parts of South Africa.
Television
Trevor Noah has appeared in many South African and American TV shows. In 1997, he made his debut on TV with a South African-Canadian drama show, ‘Ekhaya: A Family Chronicle.’
Ekhaya
In 2002, Trevor Noah appeared in the South African TV show, ‘Isidingo.’ In 2008, he was a runner-up of the South African dance reality show, ‘Strictly Come Dancing.’
Trevor Noah in a still from Strictly Come Dancing
He hosted the South African talk show, ‘Tonight With Trevor Noah’ in 2010. In 2012, he appeared in an episode of the American TV show, ‘Stand Up Revolution.’
Trevor Noah in a still from Stand Up Revolution
He wrote and hosted ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’ from 2015 to 2022. He was also the executive producer of the show. In 2023, he hosted the ’65th Annual Grammy Awards.’
Trevor Noah hosting the 65th Annual Grammy Awards
Radio Show & Podcast
After finishing his schooling, Trevor Noah debuted with his radio show, ‘Noah’s Ark’ in 2004, on South Africa’s YFM radio channel. Trevor Noah began ‘The Trevor Noah Podcast’ in 2019, and later launched ‘What Now? with Trevor Noah’ on Spotify in 2023.
What Now With Trevor Noah
Stand-Up Comedy
In 2009, Trevor Noah debuted with a stand-up special titled ‘Trevor Noah: The Daywalker’ at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre, South Africa.
In 2011, he filmed ‘Trevor Noah: Crazy Normal’ at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 2018, he shot ‘Trevor Noah: Son Of Patricia’ for Netflix.
A still of Trevor Noah in a still from Son of Patricia
In 2023, he released a comedy special for Netflix, ‘Trevor Noah: Where Was I.’ In the same year, he toured India as part of his comedy special, ‘Off The Record,’ and visited Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. His show was cancelled in Bengaluru due to technical difficulties, which left the fans furious. He later issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter) and promised to refund the money to the audience.
Trevor Noah in a still from Off The Record in Mumbai
Films
In 2011, he made his debut in films by starring in the film, ‘You Laugh But It’s True.’ In 2012, he appeared in the South African comedy film, ‘Mad Buddies.’ In 2021, he appeared in ‘Coming 2 America’ as Totatsi Bibinyana.
Trevor Noah in a still from You Laugh But It’s True
Controversy
Made anti-semitic comments on Twitter
In 2015, when it was announced that Trevor Noah would take over The Daily Show from Jon Stewart, fans of the show started to go through Trevor’s social media to learn more about him as he wasn’t very well known. His tweet,
Almost bumped a Jewish kid crossing the road. He didn’t look b4 crossing but I still would hav felt so bad in my german car! South Africans know how to recycle like Israel knows how to be peaceful.”
was deemed anti-semitic by the fans. However, the Chairman of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), Mary Kluk, in an interview, said that Trevor’s remarks weren’t anti-semitic. She further said,
Negative stereotypes of all people are potentially offensive. However, the SAJBD believes that tweets made by Noah do not constitute anti-Jewish prejudice on his part. Trevor Noah’s style of humour is playful, and is intended to provoke a response.”
Trevor took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend himself and wrote,
To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn’t land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian”
Awards
2012
- Trevor Noah won the Comic of the Year at the South African Comics’ Choice Award.
2015
- Trevor Noah won the Personality of the Year at MTV Africa Music Awards.
2017
- Trevor Noah won the Zora Neale Hurston Award for his autobiography, ‘Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.’
- He won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the Biography/Auto-biography category for his autobiography, ‘Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.’
- He also won the NAACP Image Award, for Outstanding Literary Work in the Debut Author category for his autobiography, ‘Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.’
Trevor Noah with his NAACP Image Award
- He won the Thurber Prize for American Humor for ‘Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.’
- He won the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite African Star for the show, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
Trevor Noah with his Nickelodeon Award
- He won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode for the show, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Host for the show, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
Trevor Noah with his MTV Movie And TV Award
2019
- Trevor Noah won the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.
2020
- Trevor Noah won the Shorty Award for Best in Comedy category.
2021
- Trevor Noah won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He also won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short-Form Series – Reality/Nonfiction for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – Between the Scenes.’
- He won the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences award for Television Academy Honor for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He won the MTV Movie & TV Awards for Best Talk/Topical Show for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He won The Catalyst Award from the Elevate Prize Foundation.
2022
- Trevor Noah won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He also won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Talk Series award for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – Between the Scenes.’
2023
- Trevor Noah won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special) for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – Between the Scenes.
- He won the Favourite African Star at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
- He was awarded the Erasmus Prize by the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, for his inspired contribution to the theme ‘In Praise of Folly.’
King Willem awards the Erasmus Prize to Trevor Noah
2024
- He won the Astra Award for the Best Talk Series for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
- He won the Primetime Emmy Award for the Outstanding Talk Series for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’
Bike Collection
Trevor Noah owns a VanMoof Electrified X2 electric bike.
Trevor Noah riding his electric bike
Net Worth
Trevor Noah’s net worth is reported to be $100 million.
Favourites
- Comedians: Eddie Izzard, Kitty Flanagan, Ronny Chieng, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy
- Books: The Wonderful Story of Henrey Sugar and Six More (1977), Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), The Little Prince (1943), My Traitor’s Heart (1990), To Quote Myself: A Memoir (2015), Homegoing (2016), Born Standing Up (2007), Long Walk to Freedom (1994), But What if We’re Wrong? (2016), Native Life in South Africa (1916)
- TV Show: Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
Facts/Trivia
- Trevor Noah is a multi-lingual and speaks 8 languages, including English, Zulu, Xhosa, Tsonga, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Afrikaans, and German.
- In his 2009 stand-up special, ‘Trevor Noah: The Daywalker,’ Trevor Noah shared that his albino childhood friends nicknamed him ‘The Daywalker’ because he could walk outside during the day even though he looked like them.
- Trevor Noah’s mother, Patricia was shot by her husband, Abel, in 2009 after he found out that she had remarried. She didn’t receive any serious damage as the bullet hit her head and exited through her nostril.
- In 2016, he published his autobiographical book, ‘Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.’
- In 2017 and 2018, The Hollywood Reporter listed him as one of ‘The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media.’
- He was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018.
- The Daily Show with Trevor Noah opened The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library in June 2017, a museum for Trump’s tweets located near Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan.
- In 2018, he co-published a book titled ‘The Daily Show Presidential Twitter Library,’ which contained tweets from Donald Trump, when he was the President of America.
- He worked as the voice of A.I. system Griot in ‘Black Panther’ (2018).
- In an interview, he talked about his mother being a tough disciplinarian. He further said that she would often chase him around in the streets to punish him.
- He has been nominated 18 times for Primetime Emmy Awards, winning the award twice.
- Since 2021, he has been hosting the Annual Grammy Awards continuously for 4 years.
- He had a Lamborghini and a Porsche but sold them when he moved to New York.
- In an interview, while talking about the comedians who influenced him to take up comedy as a career, Trevor said that Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, and Jon Stewart were the ones who motivated him to take up comedy.
- He was rumoured to be dating singer Dua Lipa in September 2022 after being photographed with her by the paparazzi.
- He has access to several luxury cars at a time because of his membership in a luxurious car club.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education