Claim to Fame: Darrin Rose is one of Canada’s most popular comedians and a versatile entertainment professional recognized for his eight-season role as Bill on the hit CBC/Hulu sitcom Mr. D, his four-year hosting tenure on Match Game for the Comedy Network, and his recurring character Doc on the critically acclaimed series Letterkenny. With an eight-time appearance record at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, two appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS, and corporate event hosting experience for organizations including TD Bank, Loblaws, and Fidelity Investments, Darrin brings polished comedic entertainment combined with professional emcee skills to conferences, awards ceremonies, and corporate gatherings. He’s been called “one of the hottest comedians in Canada” by GQ magazine.
Unique formats and ways to connect with audiences.
Corporate Entertainment
Darrin delivers stand-up comedy as the entertainment portion of events.
Stand-Up Comedy Excellence
Darrin Rose's stand-up career reflects consistent achievement at the highest levels of Canadian comedy. An eight-time performer at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, he has appeared twice on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS and competed on NBC's Last Comic Standing. His half-hour stand-up special on CTV earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performance in a Comedy Series in 2013, and his current Family Pains tour is building momentum toward his second television special.
In 2014, Darrin won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Live Performance following his appearance at Just For Laughs. He has been nominated as Best Stand-Up Comic in Canada twice (2011 and 2016), reflecting sustained recognition within the Canadian comedy industry.
His international touring includes performances at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Borgata in Atlantic City, and venues across Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. His one-man show What's Potpourri? received four stars and was selected Best of the Fest at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2010.
The Family Pains show represents an evolution in Darrin's comedy approach—clean observational humor exploring marriage, parenthood, and intergenerational family dynamics that makes it particularly suitable for corporate events requiring broad audience appeal while maintaining authentic comedic voice.
Host/MC
Need a funny emcee for your event? An acclaimed comedian, Darrin will keep your crowd laughing and make your event memorable.
Corporate Event Hosting & Emcee Experience
Beyond stand-up comedy, Darrin Rose has established a reputation as a skilled corporate event host and awards ceremony emcee. His emcee work includes the Canadian Screen Awards, the KIRA Awards, the Canadian Cable System's Tuned In Canada Awards, The Crystals Radio Awards at Canadian Music Week, and the Bell Aliant CEO Excellence Awards.
Corporate clients have included Bell Media, Loblaws, ON-X Enterprise Solutions, Investor's Group, the Canadian Media Director's Council, the Kipling Group, and Medavie Blue Cross.
Event planners cite his ability to maintain energy throughout lengthy programs, his professionalism in adapting to last-minute changes, and his understanding that an effective emcee enhances rather than overshadows the event's core purpose.
His approach to corporate hosting draws from his Match Game experience—interactive audience engagement, reading room dynamics, and creating memorable moments without dominating the program. This skill set translates directly to conference keynotes, awards ceremonies, and corporate entertainment where professional polish combines with authentic comedic personality.
Audience reviews:
Darrin was an excellent MC for our conference, he was entertaining, funny and serious when he needed to be. Our audience of marketers and advertising agencies loved him, in part because he never tried to take over the show, he played a key role but also left room for others to shine – and that is the secret to being a smart, as well as a great, MC.
- Canadian Media Directors’ Council
Darrin was the host / entertainment for an annual awards gala and he knocked our socks off. He did an awesome job and the feedback from the attendees has been great. One attendee remarked he was the best host in the 18-year history of the event! They loved him, and so did I!
- The KIRA Awards
Pharmacists are a tough group at a conference to loosen up and enjoy themselves, but not only Darrin's comedic skills but his superb abilities as an MC got everyone involved, laughing and having a great time! He was the hit of the show!
- Loblaw’s Pharmacy Division
Your professionalism and flexibility really helped to make the event an exceptional experience for our clients and so many of them shared their feedback with us about how freakin' funny you are!
- On-X Enterprise Solutions
Darrin was great and the audience had nothing but positive things to say. I look forward to working with him again in the future.
Darrin Rose – Award-Winning Comedian, Event Host & Television Personality
2025 saw Darrin Rose touring North America with his stand-up show Family Pains with a clean, family-friendly performance that resonates with corporate and association audiences. Fresh off a European stand-up tour, his Family Pains show features what he describes as “hurtful, true stories about his family” along with hilarious observations about fatherhood, love, marriage, and why your parents will never respect you. The show’s success across Canada—with stops in Thunder Bay, Edmonton, Calgary, Sault Ste. Marie, Charlottetown, and Guelph—demonstrates his ability to connect with diverse audiences through relatable, observational humor.
His television credits extend beyond his signature sitcom roles to include voice work as Dad/Will on the HBO Max series Home Sweet Rome!, writing contributions to the CBS sitcom Happy Together starring Damon Wayans Jr., and his award-winning short film One Last Last Heist, which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and led to a development deal with Sony Pictures. A Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Live Performance, Darrin has been twice nominated as Best Stand-Up Comic in the country and received Canadian Screen Award nominations for both his stand-up special and his supporting role on Mr. D.
“Pharmacists are a tough group at a conference to loosen up and enjoy themselves, but Darrin’s comedic skills and superb abilities as an MC got everyone involved, laughing and having a great time!” – Loblaw’s Pharmacy Division
Why Organizations Choose Darrin Rose
Event planners consistently select Darrin Rose for his proven ability to balance entertainment value with professional presentation standards. His corporate clients appreciate his flexibility in customizing material to specific industries, his skill at reading room dynamics, and his understanding that the emcee role requires supporting the event’s objectives rather than dominating the program. His 2025 Family Pains tour demonstrates continued relevance and active performance schedule—critical factors when booking entertainment for major events.
Darrin Rose brings:
– Tour experience with Family Pains show (2025) that delivers clean, engaging comedy for corporate audiences – Canadian Comedy Award winner with national television recognition (Mr. D, Letterkenny, Match Game) – Eight-time Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival performer with proven track record for large-scale entertainment – Corporate hosting experience for major brands including Bell Media, Investor’s Group, and Medavie Blue Cross – Award-show emcee credentials including Canadian Screen Awards and industry recognition events – International touring experience across Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, and Mexico – Professional writing background including Canadian Screenwriting Award winner and National Post contributor – Interactive performance style with audience involvement that creates one-of-a-kind experiences
Client Feedback:
“Darrin was the host/entertainment for an annual awards gala and he knocked our socks off. One attendee remarked he was the best host in the 18-year history of the event!” – The KIRA Awards
“Darrin was an excellent MC for our conference. Our audience of marketers and advertising agencies loved him, in part because he never tried to take over the show—he played a key role but also left room for others to shine. That is the secret to being a smart, as well as a great, MC.” – Canadian Media Director’s Council
“Your professionalism and flexibility really helped to make the event an exceptional experience for our clients, and so many of them shared their feedback with us about how freakin’ funny you are!” – On-X Enterprise Solutions
Current: Family Pains Tour & Active Performance Schedule
Darrin Rose acclaimed stand-up show Family Pains, marks a significant moment in his comedy career as he prepares for his second stand-up television special. Following a successful European tour, the Family Pains show has been captivating audiences across Canada throughout 2025 with performances in Thunder Bay, Edmonton, Calgary, Sault Ste. Marie, Charlottetown, Guelph, and additional cities.
The show’s content centers on relatable family dynamics—featuring what Darrin calls “hurtful, true stories” about his relationships with his mother, father, and brother, alongside observations about marriage, fatherhood, and the universal experience of seeking parental approval. His interactive performance style, which he describes as loving “to involve the audience to give each show a one-of-a-kind feel,” demonstrates his skill at adapting corporate event techniques to theatrical venues while maintaining clean comedy standards suitable for television broadcast.
This active touring schedule confirms Darrin’s continued relevance in the comedy market and his ability to maintain peak performance levels—essential considerations for event planners booking entertainment for conferences and corporate gatherings.
Television Career & Media Recognition
Darrin Rose’s television career spans multiple hit Canadian series and international productions. His eight-season portrayal of Bill the bartender on CBC’s Mr. D (2012-2018) earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2016. He’s also appeared as Doc on the Crave comedy series Letterkenny, a role that showcases his deadpan comedic timing within the show’s ensemble cast. In 2024, he voiced the character Dad/Will on HBO Max’s family series Home Sweet Rome!, demonstrating his range in both live-action and voice performance.
As the host of Match Game on the Comedy Network for four years, Darrin demonstrated his skill at interactive audience engagement and improvisation. His writing credits include contributions to the CBS sitcom Happy Together starring Damon Wayans Jr., and his original short film One Last Last Heist premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, leading to a television development deal with Sony Pictures.
Television Guide called him “hilarious!” while GQ magazine named him “one of the hottest comedians in Canada.” The Globe & Mail described his performance as “impeccable.”
Stand-Up Comedy Excellence
Darrin Rose’s stand-up career reflects consistent achievement at the highest levels of Canadian comedy. An eight-time performer at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, he has appeared twice on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS and competed on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. His half-hour stand-up special on CTV earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performance in a Comedy Series in 2013, and his current Family Pains tour is building momentum toward his second television special.
In 2014, Darrin won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Live Performance following his appearance at Just For Laughs. He has been nominated as Best Stand-Up Comic in Canada twice (2011 and 2016), reflecting sustained recognition within the Canadian comedy industry.
His international touring includes performances at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Borgata in Atlantic City, and venues across Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. His one-man show What’s Potpourri? received four stars and was selected Best of the Fest at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2010.
The Family Pains show represents an evolution in Darrin’s comedy approach—clean observational humor exploring marriage, parenthood, and intergenerational family dynamics that makes it particularly suitable for corporate events requiring broad audience appeal while maintaining authentic comedic voice.
Corporate Event Hosting & Emcee Experience
Beyond stand-up comedy, Darrin Rose has established a reputation as a skilled corporate event host and awards ceremony emcee. His emcee work includes the Canadian Screen Awards, the KIRA Awards, the Canadian Cable System’s Tuned In Canada Awards, The Crystals Radio Awards at Canadian Music Week, and the Bell Aliant CEO Excellence Awards.
Corporate clients have included Bell Media, Loblaws, ON-X Enterprise Solutions, Investor’s Group, the Canadian Media Director’s Council, the Kipling Group, and Medavie Blue Cross. Event planners consistently cite his ability to maintain energy throughout lengthy programs, his professionalism in adapting to last-minute changes, and his understanding that an effective emcee enhances rather than overshadows the event’s core purpose.
His approach to corporate hosting draws from his Match Game experience—interactive audience engagement, reading room dynamics, and creating memorable moments without dominating the program. This skill set translates directly to conference keynotes, awards ceremonies, and corporate entertainment where professional polish combines with authentic comedic personality.
Writing & Creative Development
Darrin Rose won a Canadian Screenwriting Award in 2012, with additional nominations in 2009 and 2010. His writing experience includes humor articles for the National Post, contributions to the CBS sitcom Happy Together, and his Tribeca-selected short film One Last Last Heist, which led to television development opportunities with Sony Pictures.
This writing background informs his comedy approach, allowing him to craft material that combines observational humor with structured storytelling—a skill that translates effectively to corporate keynote presentations and customized event content. His ability to develop the Family Pains tour material demonstrates continued creative productivity and relevance in the comedy market.
Background & Career Path
Born in Oshawa, Ontario, Darrin Rose graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Before pursuing comedy full-time, he worked in marketing as a brand manager at Heinz and owned a software company. His transition to comedy came after watching Jerry Seinfeld’s documentary Comedian, which inspired him to begin performing at amateur nights at Toronto’s Yuk Yuk’s comedy club at age 26.
His breakthrough came in 2005 when he joined MuchMusic’s Video on Trial as a regular panelist, a role he held through 2012. This exposure led to his casting on Mr. D and subsequent television opportunities.
Darrin appeared in his first film role in Disney’s The Swap (2016) as Coach Malloy, and in 2024 appeared in the film Athazagora. He continues to tour internationally with his Family Pains stand-up show while maintaining his television presence on Letterkenny.
Media Coverage & Industry Recognition
Darrin Rose’s media appearances span print, television, and radio. Print coverage includes features in the Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, Globe & Mail, National Post, Ottawa Sun, Calgary Herald, Winnipeg Free Press, Vancouver’s Georgia Straight, Edinburgh’s The Scotsman, and national coverage in Metro newspaper.
Television appearances include George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, the Marilyn Denis Show, CTV’s The Social, CP24 Breakfast, CTV Morning Live, Global TV’s The Morning Show, CityTV’s Breakfast Television, MTV Live, and Much’s New.Music.Live. He has been interviewed on major morning radio shows across Canada, building name recognition that enhances his value for corporate event bookings.
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