Nazeem Hussain

Nazeem Hussain is an Australian comedian, actor, television and radio presenter.^[1]

Nazeem Hussain
Hussain in 2015
Born	(1985-04-21) 21 April 1985 (age 39) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Medium	Stand-up television radio film
Nationality	Australian
Notable works and roles	Salam Café, Legally Brown, Orange Is the New Brown, "Hy-larious Hyena"
Website	https://www.jubileest.com/nazeem-hussain

He is best known as the creator and star of two television comedy shows, Legally Brown and Orange Is the New Brown. He has also has multiple comedy specials including Nazeem Hussain: Public Frenemy (2019) on Netflix and 'Hussain in the Membrane' (2022) on Youtube.^{[citation needed]} He also appeared as a correspondent for both seasons of the hit Netflix series ‘Bill Nye Saves the World’ with American scientist and TV personality Bill Nye (popularly known as ‘Bill Nye the Science guy’).^{[citation needed]}

Hussain released his first children’s book series, Hy-larious Hyena, through Scholastic Australia, in 2022.^{[citation needed]}

Early life

Hussain was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, to parents of Sri Lankan descent. He attended Ashburton Primary School, Melbourne High School, and later graduated from Deakin University.^[2]

Career

Stand-up comedy

As a stand up comic, Hussain was awarded the Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2008.^[3] He has twice been nominated for the Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer.^[4] His stand up shows include 'Nazeem Hussain: Legally Brown', 'Hussain in the Membrane', 'Hussain That?', 'Nazeem Hussain: Party Animal', 'Nazeem Hussain: Public Frenemy', 'Basic Idiot'.^{[citation needed]}

Hussain has performed around the world, including sold-out tours at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London's Soho Theatre,^[5] as well as New Zealand, Paris, Belgium, China, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, and a special homecoming show in Colombo, Sri Lanka to 2,500 people.^{[citation needed]}

Hussain's Netflix comedy special, titled Nazeem Hussain: Public Frenemy, filmed at Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival, began streaming worldwide in 2019.^[6] This garnered him a significant number of new fans and received positive reviews from critics. Both Funny Or Die and Chortle included Hussain's special among their top picks.^[7]

‘This was my first time seeing Hussain’s stand up, and I can tell you it absolutely will not be the last. Nazeem has incredible stage presence and really has command of the room.’ – Funny or Die (2019)^[8]

He opened for Dave Chappelle in New York City, and across Australia on his national tour.^[9] Hussain also opened for Aziz Ansari in Sydney in 2019. Hussain was invited to perform at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, as a part of Kevin Hart's LOL Network.^{[citation needed]}

Television

Hussain has appeared in many Australian and international comedy TV shows and reality TV programs.

Hussain performed as Calvin Khan - the 'Very Foreign Correspondent'^{[citation needed]} on the Balls of Steel Australia on the Comedy Channel.^[10] He also starred and co-wrote on the cult-hit show 'Salam Café' on SBS, which received a Logie Award nomination in 2009.^[11]

He is best known for his work as the creator and lead of the popular TV show 'Legally Brown', which aired on SBS Television for two seasons in 2013 and 2014.^[12] The show gained significant attention for its daring and provocative content, earning critical acclaim from various sources. It was nominated in the Most Outstanding Comedy category at the prestigious 2015 Logie Awards.^{[citation needed]}

In 2017, Hussain became a household name on season 3 of the Australian version of 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'. He reached the Grand Finale after 46 days spent in the South African jungle. His campmates included Dane Swan, Steve Price, Casey Donovan and Natalie Bassingthwaighte.^[13] Hussain chose InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Domestic Violence as his charity.^{[citation needed]}

In October 2018, Hussain's popular TV comedy series titled 'Orange Is The New Brown' aired on Channel 7 at prime time.^[14] It received rave reviews and viewer numbers. Hussain created and starred in the show. Other cast members included Claudia Karvan, Tim Minchin, Urzila Carlson, and Kat Stewart. Many of the sketches from the series have gone viral, with some clips receiving over 10 million views.^[15]

Hussain was an official correspondent for both seasons of the widely popular Netflix series Bill Nye Saves the World,^[16] alongside renowned American scientist and television personality Bill Nye, famously known as 'Bill Nye the Science Guy.' Hussain's fellow correspondents included: Karlie Kloss, Derek Muller, Emily Calandrelli and Joanna Hausman.^[17]

Hussain placed third on the Amazon Original comedy series 'Last One Laughing', where Rebel Wilson served as the host, alongside some of Australia's most popular comedians, in a high-stakes competition to make each other laugh while maintaining a straight face.^[18]

In 2024, Hussain was named in the cast for ABC series The Role of a Lifetime.^[19]

Other media

Hussain's first podcast 'Burn Your Passport' won iTunes Best Comedy Podcast in 2016 and is ranked in the top 20 most-listened podcast in Australia.^[20] He is also the host of the ABC's Pineapple Project.^{[citation needed]}

Hussain created and starred in the Audible Original podcast 'Rogue Son,' a personal and humorous exploration of his relationship with his Sri Lankan heritage and the complexities of cultural identity.^[21] Rogue Son proved to be a major hit, with positive reviews from critics and listeners, ranking high on Audible's most popular podcasts.^[22]

In 2022, Nazeem released his first new children’s book series, Hy-larious Hyena, through Scholastic Australia.^[23] The second book in the series is soon to be released.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography and discography

Albums and TV specials

Solo albums and TV specials

Title	Release date	Debut medium
Comedians of the World – Public Frenemy	1 January 2019	Streaming TV (Netflix)
Hussain in the Membrane	5 November 2022	Streaming TV (YouTube)
Totally Normal	3 February 2025	Streaming TV (YouTube)

Collaborative albums and TV specials

Title	Release date	Debut medium
Fear of a Brown Planet	31 August 2011	DVD Video
Comedy in Color: Volume 3	10 December 2021	Audio streaming