Mike King - Comedian - International

Right from primary school, Mike King knew he was funny guy. Although his two man stand up routine at Whenuapai Primary was brought to an abrupt halt when his partner changed schools, Mike continued on as a solo performer, single-handedly bringing school assemblies to an end. After leaving school at 15, Mike started an apprenticeship as a chef. While working for one of New Zealand’s first licensed restaurant chains, he saw Billy T James perform - a performer who provided him with a huge source of inspiration.

At 19 he joined the Merchant Navy, travelling the world, but still harbouring a desire to be a comedian. However, had it not been for a broken leg in 1994, Mike King’s comedy may have continued only being outed at friends’ parties and cousins’ weddings.

Mike King 

At the time he broke his leg Mike was working as a chef on one of the Cook Strait ferries. While recovering from his injury, he went to a comedy club and saw some “amazing” talent. Returning there again and again over the next six weeks, he saw the same jokes being trotted out, and reassessed his opinion of the performers.

Betting the barman $400 if he got no laughs, Mike King did a six minute stint on stage and received a standing ovation from the audience. Returning back into the audience after his gig, he met an Englishman who argued with him about whether this was really his first time on stage. In the end the Englishman told him “If that’s your first time, you’re going to be famous”. It turned out that Mike had been arguing with none other than Ben Elton, well known writer and comedian.

However, there is much more to Mike King than just straight comedy.

Mike King

Mike has been through a lot in the past couple of years and these experiences have really shown Mike that life’s too short to be taken for granted. After suffering a life threatening stroke, Mike finally understood that money can’t buy you the most important thing in life – time. Time with family and friends and time doing things that truly make you happy and fulfilled. He states that “you can buy your children all the toys, cars, houses they want but those aren’t the things that they remember you for – it’s the time you spent or didn’t spend with them”. It was thanks to this stroke that Mike took on a new lease of life giving up smoking and drinking and paying more attention to his health. When he is not working he focuses on spending time with family and friends and has even delved into new outlets of life such as becoming a wedding celebrant.

Mike is also looking for ways to share his new life approach with the people he cares about, and is helping many suffering from mental illness and drug addictions. Mike’s unique brand of humour plus his personal experiences give him a very special talent to help people in need.

And Mike has not saved these skills for just people! On discovering the awful conditions that many pigs farmed in New Zealand were under, Mike was so moved that he has campaigned strongly for their welfare.

In November 2010 Mike became the subject of New Zealand’s first MTV “Roast” in honour of his achievements as one of NZ’s premier comedians.

Mike has an ability to deliver complex corporate messages in a language that function attendees understand. He manages to motivate whilst humouring and appeals to audiences from all walks of life. Basically, Mike is a man that has “been there, done that” and it’s thanks to this that he can interact with any audience and give them what they came for – entertainment.

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Mike King - Comedian - International