03 / THE STORY SO FAR
A wandering mind.
A very live wire.
Comedy took Pete around the world. Curiosity brought him back to the classroom. Neither seems likely to leave him alone.
THE COMIC
Canadian roots.
Global instincts.
Pete Johansson started performing in his teens and built his comedy across Canada before moving to the UK in 2008. Clubs, theatres and festivals became a way of seeing the world — and collecting its contradictions.
His work has appeared on Netflix, Comedy Central and the BBC. His 2009 Edinburgh show, Naked Pictures of My Life, earned a Best Newcomer nomination. The Comedy Store and Just For Laughs are part of a career built on live rooms and original points of view.
The thread through it all: socially curious, mischievous comedy that asks a good question and refuses to take the obvious route to the answer.
THE UNEXPECTED CHAPTER / 2024
Turns out, the mind
was worth another look.
In 2024, Pete graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.Sc. after studying computational cognition and psychology.
It followed a deliberate change of direction after years of touring. Returning to university meant making room for a different kind of work, with the support of his family and a willingness to begin again.
That chapter belongs to the same person who gets on stage: interested in why we do what we do, and rarely convinced the first explanation is the whole story.
Read Pete’s original graduation note ↗1996–2025 / THE STORY KEEPS MOVING
Quite a few stops.
No straight line.
- 1996
Montreal opens a door.
First Just For Laughs appearance on The Montreal Show, followed by a development deal with Warner Bros. Television.
- 1997
Screen time.
Stars in the feature film Mixed Signals with Brooke Langton and Jason London. Makes his US network debut on NBC’s Friday Night and appears in a JFL Gala.
- 1998
HBO comes calling.
Signs a development deal with HBO Independent Productions and performs at HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival.
- 1999
Another late night.
Appears on CBS’s The Late Late Show and signs a television deal with Castle Rock.
- 2000
Back to the gala.
Returns to Just For Laughs for another Gala appearance.
- 2003–04
Far beyond the usual circuit.
Tours Afghanistan, Japan and Korea.
- 2007
A different kind of partnership.
Gets married. A new chapter away from the microphone.
- 2008
Across the Atlantic.
Moves to the UK and begins a new chapter on the international comedy circuit.
- 2009
Edinburgh takes notice.
Naked Pictures of My Life earns an Edinburgh Best Newcomer nomination, alongside Jack Whitehall, Kevin Bridges and Carl Donnelly.
- 2010
The UK tunes in.
Nominated for Best New Act at the Chortle Awards. Makes his UK television debut on Best of the Fest.
- 2011
The other side of the world.
Performs at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
- 2012
A very full itinerary.
Appears on Showtime’s Red Light Comedy: Live from Amsterdam, hosted by Russell Peters, and joins the Snowed In Comedy Tour. Also: a JFL Gala, South Africa, headlining the LA Improv and Joe Rogan’s podcast.
- 2013
Good news, indeed.
Appears on the BBC’s Russell Howard’s Good News and returns for the Snowed In Comedy Tour.
- 2015
Snowed in. Back on the road.
Returns for another Snowed In Comedy Tour.
- 2016
Eighty countries. One special.
The Amsterdam-recorded You Might Also Enjoy Pete Johansson is released on Netflix in 80 countries.
- 2017
Stories take centre stage.
Appears on Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening, performs in a JFL Gala and brings solo shows to JFL Toronto.
- 2018
A new route into learning.
Performs on the Investors Group Comedy Tour and starts a bridging program for university admission.
- 2019
From Rotterdam to the classroom.
Tapes a special in Rotterdam and begins full-time studies at the University of Toronto.
- 2020
Still making room for the stage.
Performs at the Halifax and Winnipeg comedy festivals while pursuing his degree.
- 2023
Psychology meets the punchline.
His first psychology-themed Winnipeg Comedy Festival set airs, following its recording in 2022.
- 2024
A degree. More questions.
Graduates from the University of Toronto after studying computational cognition and psychology.
- 2025
The conversation continues.
Starts the Slow Learner Podcast with neuroscientist Dr. Paul Whissell.
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THE PLACES. THE PEOPLE. THE IN-BETWEEN.
A life
in comedy.
Big stages, good company and a life beyond the microphone.
London · Hammersmith Apollo
A life in comedy.
Big rooms. Small hours. A surprising amount of laundry.
Photographs from Pete’s personal collection.
WORD GETS AROUND
“One of the U.K.’s most in-demand standup acts.”
“The highlight of the evening.”
“This is the funniest first hour I have ever seen from a comic here in Edinburgh.”
“Usually the smartest guy in the room. Any room.”
“Supremely entertaining.”
“Provocative, surreal and moving.”
“A wonderfully funny storyteller.”