Mark Critch

Mark Critch, comedian, actor, writer (born at St. John's, Nfld 1974). Mark Critch's career in sketch comedy began in St. John's when he was 15. He rented the well-regarded LSPU Hall and soon began to compose and perform his own material; his first televised performance as a standup comedian was at the Halifax Comedy Festival.

Shortly after its inception in 1996, CBC Radio One's touring talk show Madly Off In All Directions invited Mark Critch to appear as a guest commentator on several segments. In 2002 he appeared on the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, broadcast on CBC Radio and the Comedy Network.

His permanent role as anchor and reporter for the CBC's satirical This Hour Has 22 Minutes began in 2003 after several appearances; his affection for Maritime politics and its unique cultural identity within Canada (specifically as applied to Newfoundland and Labrador) made him a logical choice for the long-running series. Critch's dauntless talent for putting politicians and the occasional flabbergasted celebrity on the spot and his talents as a performer and staff writer resulted in Gemini Award nominations for best writing in a comedy series and best ensemble performance in a comedy series (winning the latter in 2006 and 2010). Along with his 22 Minutes writing partners, Mark Critch won a screenwriting award from the Writer's Guild of Canada in 2008 for variety television writing as well as a 2003 Canadian Comedy Award for the series' writing team.

Mark Critch has served as host of the CBC's Halifax Comedy Special since 2004 and as a staff writer on Just for Laughs. He has played dramatic roles, in the period drama miniseries Above and Beyond (2006) and as Ned Bishop in the detective series Republic of Doyle. He has lent his skills as a comedian to several worthwhile causes including Comedians for Climate Project-Canada and Stand Up in Kandahar.