‘Investigative Humourist’ Dan Ilic is one of Australia’s most prolific comedy voices, known for his work across TV, film, radio and stage.

Known for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to shame the Australian Government’s record on climate action in Times Square, New York City before the Glasgow climate talks in 2021.

Host of the popular podcast and live comedy show A Rational Fear, Dan brings together industry leaders, journalists, comedians and politicians, to use comedy to explore big issues such as climate change, press freedom and the intersection of culture and the internet. A Rational Fear won Best Comedy Podcast at the Australian Podcast Awards in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Starting his career on TV shows including The Ronnie Johns Half Hour (TEN), Hungry Beast (ABC) The Feed (SBS), Can of Worms (TEN), and Insiders (ABC). He rose to national fame for his satirical comedy fringe show Beaconsfield: A Musical In A-Flat Minor.

He has sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House, entertained with seasons on ABC Radio National, and performed stand-up under rocket fire in Kandahar.

As a journalist, in 2008 Dan scooped the world to the news of Heath Ledger’s death and covered US election for Fairfax Media, In 2015 was appointed the senior satire producer of Al Jazeera’s youth publisher AJ+ and in 2016 he covered the US election while Executive Producer of Satire for Fusion/Gizmodo Media Group in the USA.

He landed back in Australia as the Executive Producer and Showrunner of the daily satirical TV show Tonightly with Tom Ballard (ABC), then more recently, the AACTA nominated At Home Alone Together (ABC), a coronavirus comedy lifestyle show.

He also co-wrote, performed, and directed the narrative comedy series Riot Act for Audible which won a Webby Honouree in 2019, and went on to secure television development funding from Create NSW. He has recently performed in The Office (BBC Studios) and Play Dirty (Amazon Prime).

Dan was recognised by the Obama Foundation in 2019 as an Obama Foundation Leader Asia Pacific for his work in satire and climate change activism and was a 2020 and 2021 Bertha Foundation Fellow.

In 2023 Dan founded Not A Real Media Company Pty Ltd as a vehicle to make smart stupid things. With a focus on creating work with comedians, and science communicators with a point of view. Not A Real Media Company Pty Ltd is currently developing narrative comedy, animation and factual series for web, television, and streaming.

AWARDS / MERITS

AUSTRALIAN PODCAST AWARDS Winner – Best Comedy, A Rational Fear (2020) (2021) (2022) (2023)
BERTHA FOUNDATION Fellow (2020) (2021)
WEBBY AWARDS Honouree – Riot Act (2019)
OBAMA FOUNDATION Leader Asia-Pacific (2019)

TELEVISION

GOOD COP BAD COP
Role: Carl. Dir: Various. Jungle Entertainment | Stan, 2024
THE OFFICE
Role: Tony. Dir: Jackie Van Beek, BBC Studios | Amazon Prime Video, 2024
INSIDERS
Regular Guest Panellist |ABC TV 2018-2023
BUMP (Series 3)
Role: Paul. Dir: Kriv Stenders, Roadshow Rough Diamond | Stan, 2022
WOLF LIKE ME
Performer. Stan 2021
AT HOME ALONE TOGETHER
Showrunner / Writer Performer | ABC TV 2020
THE DRUM
Panellist |ABC TV 2020
TONIGHTLY WITH TOM BALLARD
Showrunner / Director | ABC TV 2018-2019
FUSION/GIZMODO (USA)
Satire EP / Performer |Fusion TV 2016-2018
WHAT GOING ON CANBERRA
Director | ABC TV 2016
TWITCHIKE
Presenter / Producer |ABC TV 2016
AJ PLUS (USA)
Satire Producer / Performer | Al Jazeera 2015
STAND-UP BELLA UNION
Performer | SBS 2014
BACKSEAT DRIVER
Performer | ABC TV 2014
THE FEED
Writer /Performer | SBS 2013-2015
HAMSTER WHEEL
Guest Performer | ABC TV 2012
AD/BC
Guest Performer | SBS 2012
EUROVISION QUIZ
Panellist | SBS 2014
CAN OF WORMS
Writer / Performer / Presenter | Network 10 2011-2013
HUNGRY BEAST
Writer / Performer / Producer | ABC TV 2009-2011
LOGIES: ROAD TO GOLD
Director | Nine 2008
THE MANSION
Director / Performer | Comedy Ch 2007
RONNIE JOHNS HALF HOUR
Writer / Performer | Network 10 2005-2006
ROMPER ROOM
Panellist | Seven 1986

RADIO / PODCAST

A RATIONAL FEAR
Host / Writer / Producer | ARF 2012-2023
ABC SYDNEY       
Radio Broadcaster | ABC Radio 2013-2018
THE CHASER PODCAST
Guest Host | Chaser Inc 2021
RIOT ACT
Showrunner / Writer / Performer | Audible 2019
FBI RADIO
Broadcaster | FBi Radio 2003-2007

FILM

PLAY DIRTY
Role: Blue Ford Owner. Dir: Shane Black. Amazon Studios | Amazon Prime Video, 2024
Y2GAY: SHORT

Writer / Director | Tropfest 2011

DIGITAL

THE STARTUP SHOW
Host | 2016
FOSSIL OF THE DAY (FRANCE)
Host / Writer | 2015
PLONK
Performer | 2014
GETUP: GAME OF SEATS
Writer / Director | 2011
51ST STATE         
Writer / Host | Fairfax Digital 2008

LIVE PERFORMANCE / THEATRE

SXSW: COMEDY FOR CHANGE
Panelist | SXSW, 2019
SEMI-PERMANENT
Panelist | SP 2018
UCB IMPROVE 200-400
Performer | UCB LA 2017
BRIAN REED S-TOWN         
Host | SOH 2017
COMEDY FOR CHANGE      
Panelist | The Onion 2017
THE NEW SATIRISTS #FODI
Host / Producer | SOH 2015
LEGALLY AMBITIOUS         
Writer / Performer | Theatre 2013
SIDEKICKS           
Performer | Theatre 2012
USB SKETCH 100
Writer | USB NYC 2010
BEACONSFIELD: THE MUSICAL
Writer / Performer | MICF 2008
THE 3RD DEGREE
Writer / Performer | Theatre 2003
THE BEATIFICATION OF NEWT BERTON
Performer | Theatre 2003
CUMBERLAND GANG SHOW
Writer / Performer / Producer | Theatre 1993-2001