Ismo Leikola is a Finnish comedian, musician, author, screenwriter, and YouTuber, born on January 22, 1979, in Jyväskylä, Finland. He began his comedy career in 2002 in Finland, where he wrote and starred in his own sitcom, ISMO, and released several DVD specials between 2008 and 2016.
Leikola gained international recognition after winning the "Funniest Person in the World" competition at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood in 2014, which marked his U.S. debut. Following this success, he moved to Los Angeles in 2015 and has since performed regularly at prominent comedy clubs such as the Laugh Factory and Comedy & Magic Club. He was the first Finnish comedian to appear on the American talk show Conan in 2018, where his stand-up clip about the English word "ass" became one of the most-watched segments in the show's history, amassing over 70 million views by 2019 and over 135 million views later on.
Leikola has toured extensively, performing internationally at major comedy festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe, Just for Laughs, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and New Zealand International Comedy Festival. He also collaborated with Merriam-Webster to create videos exploring the quirks of the English language. In 2022, he opened for Gabriel Iglesias at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, performing before 45,000 people.
Before his comedy career, Leikola studied physics and philosophy at the University of Jyväskylä. He is known for his observational humor and unique outsider perspective, which allows him to find comedy in everyday life and cultural norms.
In summary, Ismo Leikola is a highly successful Finnish comedian with a global presence, known for his sharp wit, international tours, and record-breaking comedy performances on American television
