Jim Jefferies

Jefferies was born Geoff James Nugent in Sydney, Australia in February 1977.{{cite web |title=Jim Jefferies, comedian news : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/j/400/jim_jefferies/news |website=Chortle |access-date=13 January 2020}}{{Cite press release |url=https://calgaryherald.com/Five+facts+about+Jefferies/10317847/story.html |title=Five facts about Jim Jefferies |first=Jon |last=Roe |publisher=Swerve Management via Calgary Herald |date=23 October 2014 |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018230229/http://www.calgaryherald.com/Five+facts+about+Jefferies/10317847/story.html |url-status=live|quote=Jim Jefferies (born Geoff James Nugent) is a 37-year-old Australian comedian.}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://art19.com/shows/the-jim-jefferies-show-podcast/episodes/be389a38-5e0b-4be6-b819-8da074c45ce7 |title=The Jim Jefferies Show Podcast - Kaepernick, Chickens & Fisting |time=31:29 |website=ART19 |date=27 September 2017 |access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909000317/https://art19.com/shows/the-jim-jefferies-show-podcast/episodes/be389a38-5e0b-4be6-b819-8da074c45ce7 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/theater-and-arts/sf-jim-jefferies-hard-rock-live-interview-20170317-story.html|title=Jim Jefferies: 'I'm just trying to hold it together'|first=Phillip|last=Valys|newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel| date=20 March 2017|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-date= 13 January 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113151620/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/theater-and-arts/sf-jim-jefferies-hard-rock-live-interview-20170317-story.html|url-status=live|quote=When Jim Jefferies turned 40 in February...}} His mother worked as a substitute teacher and his father was a cabinet maker and maintenance worker from Roma, Queensland. Jefferies grew up in Sydney before moving to Perth to study musical theatre and classical music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts,{{Cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/controversial-comic-jim-jefferies-promises-to-offend-20150325-1m75ah.html |title=Controversial comic Jim Jefferies promises to offend |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |last=Northover |first=Kylie |date=25 March 2015 |access-date=26 August 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/comedian-jim-jefferies-finally-finds-success-at-home/news-story/b6c2c95c9219a65227e950c24730c6ca |title=Comedian Jim Jefferies finally finds success at home |work=The Australian (paywalled) |last=Bodey |first=Michael |date=12 April 2014 |access-date=26 August 2017}} though he left several months before graduating.{{Cite web |url=http://themusic.com.au/interviews/all/2015/03/26/jim-jefferies-steve-bell/ |title=At Least A Million People In Australia Fucking Hate Me! |work=themusic.com.au |last=Bell |first=Steve |date=26 March 2015 |access-date=26 August 2017 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104150742/https://themusic.com.au/interviews/all/2015/03/26/jim-jefferies-steve-bell |url-status=dead }} He has two older brothers: Scott, an investment banker,{{Cite web |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-gossip/funnyman-jim-jefferies-turns-best-man-for-brothers-big-day-ng-b881035918z |title=Funnyman Jim Jefferies turns best man for brother's big day |date=December 2018 |publisher=The West |access-date=28 October 2019}} and Daniel, an inspector in the New South Wales Police Force's Public Order and Riot Squad.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlLbEYT0m14 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/KlLbEYT0m14 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Going on a Ride-Along with the Australian Police - The Jim Jefferies Show |time=01:30 |website=YouTube |date=23 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}

Jefferies began his stand-up comedy career after dropping out of university, initially returning to his native Sydney before relocating to the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/jim-jefferies-hated-going-to-school-with-his-mother/ |title=Jim Jefferies Hated Going to School with His Mother |work=Vice |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |date=22 June 2017 |access-date=26 August 2017}} He took the stage name "Jim Jeffries", but amended the last name to "Jefferies" to avoid confusion with a similarly named American performer. He initially began performing stand-up with one-liners. He changed to anecdotal humour when he began doing hour-long sets.{{cite book |last1=Frances-White |first1=Deborah |last2=Shandur |first2=Marsha |year=2016 |title=Off The Mic:The World's Best Stand-Up Comedians Get Serious |publisher=Bloomsbury |page=86 |isbn=978-1-4725-2638-0 |quote=I learned to tell stories...[prior to this,] I did little jokes}} One of his early UK appearances was in October 2003 when he performed at Birmingham's Glee Club, as a part of Birmingham Comedy Festival.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=A Brum do : News 2003 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2003/08/30/1399/a_brum_do |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}

He first achieved international attention in 2007, when he was attacked onstage while performing at the Manchester Comedy Festival.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2007/04/16/5226/comic_attacked_on_stage |title=Comic attacked on stage |publisher=Chortle.co.uk |date=16 April 2007 |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=29 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929180828/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2007/04/16/5226/comic_attacked_on_stage |url-status=live }}{{Cite podcast |url=http://wzlx.cbslocal.com/2011/09/16/jim-jeffries-how-i-got-a-scar-on-the-back-of-my-head/ |title=Jim Jeffries: How I got a scar on the back of my head |publisher=WZLX-FM |location=Boston, Massachusetts |date=6 September 2011 |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=10 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910191442/http://wzlx.cbslocal.com/2011/09/16/jim-jeffries-how-i-got-a-scar-on-the-back-of-my-head/ |url-status=live }} Footage of the incident was incorporated into his act and can be seen on his 2008 DVD Contraband. He became known in the United States in 2009, after the release of his debut HBO special I Swear to God.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hbo.com/comedy/jim-jefferies-i-swear-to-god/index.html |title=Jim Jefferies: I Swear to God |publisher=HBO |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=11 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511182730/http://www.hbo.com/comedy/jim-jefferies-i-swear-to-god/index.html |url-status=dead }}

Jefferies has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Just for Laughs, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Glastonbury Festival.{{Cite web |last=Ltd |first=Webwax |date=2024-05-01 |title=Comedians {{!}} Jim Jeffries |url=https://thecomedyclub.co.uk/comedians/jim-jeffries |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Comedy Club |language=en}} He has also performed routines on The World Stands Up, Comedy Blue and Edinburgh and Beyond for Comedy Central.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}

Following the release of his Netflix special Freedumb in July 2016, he began The Unusual Punishment Tour with all-new material,{{Cite web |url=http://jimjefferies.com/blog/427588/jim-jefferies-announces-the-unusual-punishment-tou |title=Jim Jefferies Announces The Unusual Punishment Tour |publisher=Jim Jefferies |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=8 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608123234/http://jimjefferies.com/blog/427588/jim-jefferies-announces-the-unusual-punishment-tou |url-status=dead }} and filmed his new special This Is Me Now at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in January 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/jim-jefferies-the-unusual-punishment |title=Jim Jefferies: The Unusual Punishment |website=Time Out London |date=9 October 2017 |access-date=2 November 2017}} On 17 December 2018, he completed his Night Talker Tour with the final performance in Melbourne.

At the 2019 Just for Laughs festival, in Montreal, he was honoured as Stand-up Comedian of the Year.{{Cite web |title=Jim Jefferies {{!}} OFFJFL |url=https://www.zoofest.com/en/artists/jim-jefferies |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.zoofest.com |language=en}}

April 2024 saw Jefferies start his Give 'Em What They Want tour in South Africa,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUaW4tASolo |title=Jim Jefferies - 'Give 'Em What They Want' Tour Announced! |language=en |access-date=2024-05-01 |via=www.youtube.com}} moving on to Australia in August.{{Cite web |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=2024-04-28 |title=Jim Jefferies Sets 'Give 'Em What They Want' Tour of Australia |url=https://au.variety.com/2024/more/news/jim-jefferies-give-em-what-they-want-tour-australia-13627/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Variety Australia |language=en-AU}} In September and October 2024, while Jefferies is in Canada, he will be joined by Jimmy Carr for what is being billed as The Charm Offensive Tour.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ae2v8mGSbc |title=The Charm Offensive Tour with #JimmyCarr & #JimJefferies is coming to Canada - tickets Friday! |language=en |access-date=2024-05-01 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-02 |title=Jim Jefferies, Jimmy Carr to co-headline Victoria show, Oct. 26 |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/jim-jefferies-jimmy-carr-will-co-headline-tour-coming-to-victoria-in-october-8690087 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}

In November 2024, it was announced Jefferies will host a standup series for the Seven Network in 2025 titled Jim Jefferies and Friends.{{Cite web |last=Knox|first=David|date=13 November 2024 |title=Upfronts: 2025 Seven Network|url= https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/11/2025-upfronts-seven-network-stranded-on-honeymoon-island-once-in-a-lifetime-jim-jefferies-friends.html |access-date=13 November 2024|website=TV Tonight}}

Jefferies' comedy series Legit premiered on 17 January 2013 on FX. A second season premiered on 26 February 2014, having been moved to FXX.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fxx.com/legit |title=Legit on FXX |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=7 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007010416/http://www.fxx.com/legit |url-status=dead }} The series received positive attention among the disabled community for its portrayal of people with mental and physical disabilities.{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |title=How FX's 'Legit' Became the Darling of the Disabled Community |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fxs-legit-jim-jefferies-embraced-430325 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=22 March 2013 |access-date=28 April 2013}} The series was cancelled after two seasons.{{cite magazine |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/fxxs-legit-fxs-chozen-cancelled-730594/ |title=FXX's 'Legit' & FX's 'Chozen' Cancelled |magazine=Deadline Hollywood |date=14 May 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014}}

On 3 March 2017, Comedy Central announced The Jim Jefferies Show, a new ten-episode weekly series,{{Cite web |url=http://press.cc.com/press-release/2017/03/03/press-jim-jefferies-brings-inquisitive-and-international-point-of-view-to-comedy-central-in-new-weekly-late-night-series |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043925/http://press.cc.com/press-release/2017/03/03/press-jim-jefferies-brings-inquisitive-and-international-point-of-view-to-comedy-central-in-new-weekly-late-night-series |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 March 2017 |title=Jim Jefferies Brings Inquisitive and International Point of View to Comedy Central in New Weekly Late Night Series |publisher=Comedy Central Press |date=3 March 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017}} that premiered on 6 June 2017.{{Cite web |url=http://press.cc.com/press-release/2017/05/09/the-jim-jefferies-show-debuts-tuesday-june-6-at-1030-pm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513081715/http://press.cc.com/press-release/2017/05/09/the-jim-jefferies-show-debuts-tuesday-june-6-at-1030-pm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2017 |title=The Jim Jefferies Show Debuts Tuesday 6 June at 1030 PM |publisher=Comedy Central Press |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=10 May 2017}} Jefferies, hosting the show, takes a look on culture and politics behind his desk, and travels around the world to tackle the week's top stories and most controversial issues. On 25 July 2017, the first season was extended with ten additional episodes,{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/comedy-central-president-show-jim-jefferies-show-hasan-minaj-1202506006/ |title=Comedy Central Orders More 'President Show,' 'Jim Jefferies Show' |website=Variety |date=25 July 2017 |access-date=26 July 2017}} that completed airing on 21 November 2017. On 15 January 2018, Comedy Central renewed the series for a twenty-episode second season,{{Cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='The Jim Jefferies Show' Renewed For Second Season By Comedy Central |url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/the-jim-jefferies-show-renewed-second-season-comedy-central-1202243295/ |website=Deadline |access-date=15 January 2018 |date=15 January 2018}} which premiered on 27 March 2018.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/video/2018/02/14/video-a-valentines-day-message-from-jim-jefferies-season-2-of-the-jim-jefferies-show-premieres-march-27-on-comedy-central-189301/20180214comedycentral01/ |title=Video: A Valentine's Day Message from Jim Jefferies - Season 2 of "The Jim Jefferies Show" Premieres 27 March on Comedy Central |date=14 February 2018 |website=TheFutonCritic.com |access-date=14 February 2018}} The network renewed the show for a third season in January 2019, which premiered on 19 March 2019. The series concluded on 19 November 2019, after the end of its third season.{{cite web|last=Haring|first=Bruce|title='The Jim Jefferies Show' To End Run On Comedy Central After 3 Seasons|url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/the-jim-jefferies-show-to-end-run-on-comedy-central-after-3-seasons-1202779940/|website=Deadline |access-date=7 November 2019|date=6 November 2019}}

From November 2010 to November 2012, Jefferies co-hosted the podcast Jim and Eddie Talkin' Shit with his fellow comedian and former roommate, Eddie Ifft. Jefferies had to quit because of his busy work schedule.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jimjefferies/status/4650062802059264 |title=Jim Jefferies on Twitter - Starting Jim and Eddie Talkin' Shit |date=16 November 2010 |access-date=13 June 2017}}{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jimjefferies/status/274617270762872832 |title=Jim Jefferies on Twitter - Leaving Jim and Eddie Talkin' Shit |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=13 June 2017}}

Jefferies appeared on comedy panel shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, The Heaven and Earth Show and 8 Out of 10 Cats, the US comedy panel show The Green Room with Paul Provenza and Comedy Central's @midnight. He has also been featured on various radio programmes, including BBC Radio 5 Live's Saturday morning sports show, Opie and Anthony, and Fighting Talk.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/fightingtalk.shtml BBC Radio 5 live – Fighting Talk]. BBC Online. Retrieved on 5 April 2012.

In 2015, he starred in Australian film Me and My Mates vs the Zombie Apocalypse with comedians Greg Fleet and Alex Williamson.{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2846938 |title=Me and My Mates vs. The Zombie Apocalypse (2015) |date=14 April 2015 |work=IMDb}} It premiered on 25 July and was released on DVD and Vimeo in Australia and New Zealand in late 2015,{{Cite web |url=http://titanview.com/index.php/films/out-now/me-and-my-mates-vs-the-zombie-apocalypse/item/me-and-my-mates-vs-the-zombie-apocalypse |title=Me And My Mates vs The Zombie Apocalypse |publisher=Titan View |year=2015 |access-date=4 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228155927/http://titanview.com/index.php/films/out-now/me-and-my-mates-vs-the-zombie-apocalypse/item/me-and-my-mates-vs-the-zombie-apocalypse |archive-date=28 February 2016 |df=dmy-all}} and in the UK, Ireland, and the US in 2016.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In 2019, Jefferies and Suzanne Martin developed the sitcom Jefferies for NBC, in which Jefferies will star as a fictionalized version of himself.{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Rick |title=Jim Jefferies to Star in NBC Comedy |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jim-jefferies-star-nbc-comedy-1272409 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=23 January 2020}}

Jefferies has hosted the I Don't Know About That podcast alongside Kelly Blackheart, Forrest Shaw, and Jack Hackett since May 2020.{{Cite web |title=Podcast |url=https://jimjefferies.com/podcast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220510201307/https://jimjefferies.com/podcast |archive-date=2022-05-10 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Jim Jefferies |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=I Don't Know About That on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i-dont-know-about-that/id1502150789 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220510201727/https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i-dont-know-about-that/id1502150789 |archive-date=2022-05-10 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-AU}}

Jefferies began a new podcast 'At This Moment' with co-host Amos Gill on January 21, 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=At This Moment with Jim Jefferies and Amos Gill |url=https://www.jimjefferies.com/ |website=www.jimjefferies.com/}}

Jefferies lives in Studio City, California.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/aussie-comedian-jim-jefferies-upgrades-165508675.html|title=Aussie Comedian Jim Jefferies Upgrades to Brand New House in Studio City (Exclusive)|date=5 June 2018 }} He was previously in a relationship with actress Kate Luyben.{{Cite AV media |url=https://art19.com/shows/the-jim-jefferies-show-podcast/episodes/5b03c530-5d73-4979-ba8d-5aa479c0359f |title=The Jim Jefferies Show Podcast - Prohibition, Clowns & Dr. Zeus |time=24:38 |website=ART19 |date=4 October 2017 |access-date=10 October 2017 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713230737/https://art19.com/shows/the-jim-jefferies-show-podcast/episodes/5b03c530-5d73-4979-ba8d-5aa479c0359f |url-status=dead }} Their son was born in 2012.{{Cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/theatre/interview-jim-jefferies-comedian-1-2453023 |title=Interview: Jim Jefferies, comedian |last=Randall |first=Lee |date=6 August 2012 |work=The Scotsman |access-date=24 December 2017}} He married English actress Tasie Lawrence in September 2020.{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/perth-comedian-jim-jefferies-ties-the-knot-to-tasie-lawrence-ng-b881678022z|title=Perth comedian Jim Jefferies ties the knot to Tasie Lawrence|last1=Sanders|first1=Krystal|last2=Collins|first2=Simon|date=26 September 2020|work=The West Australian|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CFs713Lg0K3/ | title=Tasie Lawrence on Instagram: "Married my best friend ❤️" }} Their son was born in 2021.

Jefferies is an atheist.{{Cite tweet |number=679719178480189440 |user=jimjefferies |title=I'm an atheist who loves Christmas it's a very confusing time of year for me. |last=Jefferies |first=Jim |date=23 December 2015}} {{Dead link|date=December 2020}} He believes he is autistic and states he only found out at the age of 36.{{cite web | url=https://wrongplanet.net/comedian-jim-jefferies-autsim-diagnosis-vaccines/ | title=Comedian Jim Jefferies on his Autism Diagnosis and Vaccines | date=2 August 2016 }} In 2018, he became a naturalized American citizen.{{cite web |last1=Jefferies |first1=Jim |title=Jim Jefferies Writes About Becoming a U.S. Citizen for His Season Finale |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jim-jefferies-became-a-us-citizen-his-season-2-finale-1162855 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=20 November 2018 |access-date=21 March 2019 |ref=29}}

• 2008: Hell Bound (CD)
• 2008: Contraband (DVD)
• 2009: I Swear to God (video download)
• 2010: Alcoholocaust (DVD)
• 2012: Fully Functional (video download/DVD)
• 2014: Bare (video download)
• 2016: Freedumb (video download)
• 2018: This Is Me Now (Netflix)
• 2020: Intolerant (Netflix)
• 2023: High & Dry (Netflix)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.jimjefferies.com/ Official website]
• {{IMDb name|1812944|Jim Jefferies}}

{{Authority control}}

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