Arj Barker
Born: 1974-08-12
Known For: Acting
Biography
Arjan Singh Āulakh (born August 12, 1974), known by the stage name Arj Barker, is an American comedian and actor from San Anselmo, California. He has toured in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. He was born to an engineer father and artist mother. His father is of Indian Punjabi Sikh descent and his mother is of European descent. Barker started his career in comedy after graduating from high school in 1989. His first gigs were at a café called Caffe Nuvo in downtown San Anselmo where he hosted stand-up night every Sunday throughout the early 1990s. Barker appeared on Premium Blend in 1997, followed by appearances on the shows Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Glass House. He twice hosted Comedy Central Presents, first on September 20, 2000, and again on March 31, 2006. Barker was featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. He appeared on the Australian show Thank God You're Here on October 18, 2006, September 19, 2007, and June 17, 2009. Barker co-wrote and performed in The Marijuana-Logues, an Off-Broadway show in New York City, with Doug Benson and Tony Camin. The title of the show was a parody of The Vagina Monologues. NBC gave Barker the lead role for sitcom Nearly Nirvana, originally scheduled for 2004. However, Barker was replaced in the lead role by the show's creator, Ajay Sahgal, and the show never aired Barker appeared in the HBO sitcom Flight of the Conchords, playing Dave. Barker has been successful in Australia for a number of years since first appearing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2000, and presently resides there. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, he won Best Comedy Release for Organic. During the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Barker attracted widespread media attention in Australia for, while on stage in front of a live audience, demanding a mother breastfeeding her 7-month-old baby to leave and have her ticket refunded. Barker claimed the baby was interrupting his train of thought.
Filmography
2025
- Jim Jefferies and Friends as Self
2019
- What We Do in the Shadows as Werewolf Leader
- Standing Up for Sunny as Himself
2018
2017
- Arj Barker: Get In My Head as Himself
2016
- The Comedy Club as Self
2015
- Arj Barker: Go Time as Self
2013
- Have You Been Paying Attention? as Self - Panellist
- Arj Barker: Heavy as Himself
2012
- Arj Barker: Joy Harvest as Himself
2010
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival - The Great Debate as Self
- Arj Barker: LYAO as Himself
- Arj Barker: Forever as Himself
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala as Self
2009
2008
- Arj Barker: Balls as Himself
2007
- Flight of the Conchords as Dave
- Super High Me as Self
- Electric Apricot as The Cube
2006
- Thank God You're Here
- Robins as Self - Guest
- Car Babes as Jimmy
- Arj Barker: Live as Himself
2004
- My Coolest Years as Himself
2003
- Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
2000
- BattleBots as Self
1999
- Rove as Self
- Shooting the Past as Garnett
1997
1996
- Good News Week as Self
1993
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Musical Guest