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Actors and comedians (NOC 5135)

Job titles

Nature of work

Actors and comedians perform roles in motion picture, television, theatre and radio productions to entertain a variety of audiences. They are employed by motion picture, television, theatre and other production companies. This unit group includes acting teachers employed by private acting schools.

Fields of interest

  • Creating, designing
  • Teaching, educating
  • Working in the arts, culture, music, or recreation

Main duties

  • Actors and comedians perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Study and rehearse lines, gestures and expressions to interpret a role
  • - Portray roles in video or motion picture productions, television shows, theatre productions, radio dramas, commercials and other productions or perform the narration
  • - Sing or dance as required by specific roles
  • - Perform comedy acts in nightclubs alone or as members of comedy troupes
  • - Improvise a role.
  • Acting teachers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Train students in interpretation of scripts, speech, movement, and dramatic theory
  • - Prepare acting students for specific auditions and performances.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Demonstrated ability, based on an audition or previous acting roles, is an important hiring criteria.
  • * Acting programs are offered at universities, colleges and private acting schools.
  • * Acting teachers usually require experience as actors.
  • * Membership in a guild or union may be required.

Skill type

  • Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

Skill level

  • Professional

Job titles - Classified elsewhere

Professional associations