The New Canadians

Russell Peters - What Makes Him Tick?

What is it that propels this ordinary looking guy to stardom, and how does he manage to tickle so many of us to laughter?

He is the son of Indo-Canadian immigrant parents, born in Toronto and raised in Brampton, Ontario.  For a while, he was just a brown skinned kid in a white society, always on the outside. Today, he is a successful comedian playing on jokes about race, culture and class.  He bonds with his audience regardless of background.  He is extremely popular and well-received all around the world.   His Youtube videos are viewed by over 20 million people and his website receives 10,000 hits a day… nominated for over 4 Gemini awards.  His shows are always sold out.  In 2008, he was one of the few comedians performing at the Madison Square Gardens.  In April 2005, he performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York City, another sold-out show.  The audience just loves him.

Russell Peters was born in Toronto  to Eric and Maureen Peters (both of Anglo-Indian descent from India, whose ancestry were a mix of British and Indian as a result of British rule in India).  In his youth, he went to elementary and secondary schools in Brampton, Ontario, just like any other Canadian kids.

He always felt like the brown outsider watching from the sideline;  and he kept watching and observing.   Soon enough, what he had noticed, all  the small things  people do,  became his materials for his gigs.  Hilarious cultural observations from all ethnicities, Chinese, Koreans, Indians, Jamaicans, Jews, Italians, English……..

He’s not afraid to laugh at himself, at his own race, so it was okay when he laughs at others, and so, we simply all laugh together, realizing, underneath our skin, we are very much alike, with our dreams and aspirations, and disappointments and struggles.

Russell Peters - the son of Indo-Canadian immigrants.