Trevor Noah: Education, Career, and Impact

Trevor Noah, a Swiss-South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host, was born on February 20, 1984, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is globally recognized for his comedic touch, often relating to life itself, and his experiences in South Africa and the world. His career trajectory, marked by diverse roles and significant achievements, reflects his adaptability and talent. He is best known as the host of The Daily Show, an American late-night talk show and satirical news program on Comedy Central from 2015 to 2022.

Early Life and Apartheid

Noah's birth occurred during the apartheid era in South Africa, a period of racial segregation and discrimination. Under apartheid legislation, Noah's mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, was classified as Black, while his father, Robert, was classified as White. Trevor himself was classified as Coloured. His parents' interracial relationship was illegal at the time of his birth, a fact he highlights in his autobiography, Born a Crime. Interracial sexual relations and marriages were decriminalized a year after his birth when the Immorality Act was amended in 1985. He grew up in a multicultural environment, reflecting both his White and Black heritage.

Education and Early Career

As a boy, Noah attended Maryvale College, a private Catholic school. While information about Trevor Noah's formal college education is scarce, his upbringing and early experiences significantly shaped his worldview and comedic perspective. Noah was raised by his mother and maternal grandmother, Nomalizo Frances Noah, in the township of Soweto.

Noah began his career with a small role on the South African soap opera Isidingo in 2002. He later hosted his own radio show, Noah's Ark, on Gauteng's leading youth-radio station, YFM. From 2004 to 2006, Noah hosted an educational TV program, Run the Adventure, on SABC 2. In 2007, he hosted The Real Goboza, a gossip-themed show on SABC 1, and Siyadlala, a sports show also on the SABC. In 2008, Noah co-hosted, alongside Pabi Moloi, The Amazing Date (a dating game show) and was a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in the fourth series. In 2009, he hosted the 3rd Annual South Africa Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) and co-hosted alongside Eugene Khoza on The Axe Sweet Life, a reality competition series.

Transition to Comedy

When he was 21 years old, his friends dared him to perform a comedy routine at a nightclub. He entertained the audience with humorous stories about his friends and his life. He quickly became a strong presence in the South African comedy scene, performing in festivals such as The Blacks Only Comedy Show, the Heavyweight Comedy Jam, and the Cape Town International Comedy Festival.

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Move to the United States

In 2011, Noah moved to the United States. In January 2012, Noah became the first South African stand-up comedian to appear on The Tonight Show; and in May 2013, he became the first to appear on Late Show with David Letterman. Noah was the subject of the 2012 documentary You Laugh But It's True. The same year, he starred in the one-man comedy show Trevor Noah: The Racist, which was based on his similarly titled South African special That's Racist. In August 2012, he performed Trevor Noah: The Racist to sold-out crowds at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In September 2012, Noah was the Roastmaster in a Comedy Central Roast of South African Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr. In October 2012, he was the first comedian to premiere on the second season of Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution.

Hosting The Daily Show

In December 2014, Noah appeared as a contributor on the American satirical news show The Daily Show. In 2015, Noah replaced Jon Stewart as the host of The Daily Show. After Noah took over from Stewart, viewership dropped 37%, and its Nielsen ratings fell below those of several other shows hosted by Daily Show alumni; however, according to Comedy Central's president, the Daily Show under Noah was the number-one show for millennials. James Poniewozik of The New York Times praised him and the show's writers, saying, "Mr. Noah's debut was largely successful, it was also because of the operating system-the show's writing-running under the surface". Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times described him as "charming and composed-almost inevitably low-key compared with the habitually antic and astonished Stewart." Other critics gave him less favourable reviews, with Salon writing, "Jon Stewart created a national treasure.

During each 30-minute episode, Noah has a comic monologue on current news, holds scripted mock discussions with show contributors, and interviews invited guests. Three new members also joined the Daily Show news team: Roy Wood Jr., Desi Lydic, and Ronny Chieng.

Other Projects and Appearances

In April 2017, Noah began developing a talk show for Jordan Klepper: The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, which premiered in September and ran for one season. Noah also executive-produced Klepper, a primetime weekly docuseries, beginning in May 2019. In March 2018, Noah signed a multiyear contract with Viacom giving them first-look rights to any future projects by him.

In 2024, he acted in the Jennifer Lopez romantic drama This Is Me…

Born a Crime

Born a Crime is the first book written by Trevor Noah, who is better known as a comedian and actor. The comedic memoir was first published in November 2016. Other than the author, his mother has a central role in the book, while his father is mentioned only occasionally. It became a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, Newsday, Esquire, NPR, and Booklist. It was announced that a film adaptation based on the book would star Lupita Nyong'o as his mother.

Social Commentary and Activism

Noah's May 2020 video "George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper" has close to 10 million views on the Daily Show channel on YouTube. Noah stated that "The social contract is a contract that we sign as human beings with a society" and it grants citizens protection from each other and the government. Noah connects the idea of a broken contract to the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, the disproportionate impact the coronavirus had on Black communities, and the viral video of Amy Cooper in Central Park. Shortly after Noah's video on the social contract, writer and activist Kimberly Jones also made a video on the "broken" contract.

In October 2022, after Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Noah claimed that there was a racist backlash in the UK against someone of Indian heritage taking that role.

What Now? with Trevor Noah

In June 2023, it was announced that Trevor Noah would launch a weekly Spotify original podcast going over various topics. The podcast was released in November that year and is called What Now? with Trevor Noah. In each episode Noah has a special guest with him. It is his second podcast after one that he hosted for Luminary in 2019 and 2020.

Comedic Influences

In 2013, Noah said of his comedic influences, The kings are indisputable. Richard Pryor, [Bill] Cosby; for me personally I didn't know of him before I started comedy but Eddie Murphy changed my view on the thing and I definitely look up to him as a comedic influence. Chris Rock in terms of the modern black comedian and Dave Chappelle. The most amazing thing that Jon did was he didn't give me a mandate. He didn't say, 'You need to make my show.' He specifically said: 'Make your show.'

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Personal Life

Noah's relationship with his father is very complex. In his book, Born a Crime, Noah talks about the challenges within South African culture with a white father and mixed race child. Noah's mother did not want his father, Robert, and Noah to have a relationship and wanted to raise him independently. Robert wanted a relationship with Noah but the relationship was kept private. Noah recounts a story of him running towards Robert yelling "Daddy, daddy." Robert began to walk toward him, drawing public attention. Noah at the time thought that he wanted to play a game of tag. After that day Robert and Noah only met in Robert's apartment.

In 1992, Noah's mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo, married Ngisaveni Abel Shingange and they had two sons together. Shingange physically abused both Trevor and his mother, and the couple legally divorced in 1996. In 2009, after Patricia married Sfiso Khoza, Shingange shot her in the leg and through the back of her head. In 2011, Shingange was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced the following year to three years of correctional supervision. Noah stated that he hoped the attention surrounding the incident would raise awareness of the broader issue of domestic violence in South Africa: "For years my mother reached out to police for help with domestic abuse, and nothing was ever done. This is the norm in South Africa.

The Trevor Noah Foundation

In April 2018, Noah launched The Trevor Noah Foundation, a youth development initiative that works to provide access to high-quality education. Trevor created the foundation to support South African communities believing that education is seed in which everything grows.

Awards and Recognition

Over his career he has received two Primetime Emmy Awards as well as nominations for four Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

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