Anthony Ackroyd

Anthony Michael Ackroyd (born 30 June 1958) is an Australian comedian, musician, actor, speaker and writer. He is currently the CEO of his company Creative Call which provides online courses, coaching and live presentations that help people to live their creative life and transform their creative dreams into reality.
Biography.
Ackroyd was born in Hobart, Tasmania and grew up in the suburb of Warrane. He graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature, European Literature and Philosophy.
Ackroyd began performing stand-up comedy at the Sydney Comedy Store in the 1980s. Television exposure followed with appearances on popular TV shows such as "The Video Comedy Store", "Hey Hey It's Saturday" and "The Midday Show". From 1989 to 1991 he was a cast member on ABC TV's pioneering live comedy show "The Big Gig". During the 1990s he appeared on TV shows including "Good News Week", "Tonight Live", "Mornings with Kerri-Anne", and "Pizza". He performed the critically acclaimed comedy monologue "Karma Comedian" on ABC's "The Smallest Room in the House", which detailed with great honesty many aspects of his life to that point. 
Ackroyd performed for many years as a clown doctor at the Sydney Children's Hospital as well as working as a humour therapist in aged care facilities. He currently teaches humour skills to people with PTSD and trauma issues at the Quest For Life Centre. 
Ackroyd's one man shows have included "Anthony Ackroyd in His Own Little World", "Ecstasy and How To Get It", "At Last The Truth About Everything", and "The Fruit of My Lions".
He has written for TV and film including the sketch show "The Comedy Company" and two years writing for an internet sitcom spin off for Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura character. He has workshopped material with writer-performers such as Billy Crystal and Rowan Atkinson.Ackroyd's articles have appeared in the "Sydney Morning Herald", "The Age", "Vogue", "Life Etc.", "Studio", "Eco Magazine", "Parenting", "Men's Stuff", the "Good Weekend" and "Good Taste". He has held the position of senior writer at Granada ITV. For 3 years he was the director of the "Bowral Of Laughs Comedy Festival" held in Bowral, NSW.
Ackroyd's film work includes roles in the movies "Reckless Kelly", "Gino", and "WillFull". He provided the voice of Dragon on the children's TV show "Magic Mountain".
Ackroyd became a frequent impersonator of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and hosted his own show "Political Bent".
At the 2014 by-election for the seat of Griffith, brought about following the retirement of Kevin Rudd from the Australian House of Representatives, Ackroyd contested the poll representing the Bullet Train party. He was also a candidate at the 2016 federal election for the seat of Wentworth, representing the Arts Party.
He is currently a cast member of the ABC local radio comedy show "Thank God It's Friday!'. "He is a senior tutor teaching the comedy and improvisation courses at Screenwise Acting School in Sydney.
Personal life.
Ackroyd is the father of two children, Michael and Brodie, and lives with his partner, Anna, in , on the NSW Southern Highlands.
He is an Ambassador for the Sydney Swans.