Bio
Mark Banks is a South African comedian and actor who has been a stalwart of South African comedy since the 1980s and is known for his political satire and comedic commentary on the lives of the rich and famous.
Since his inception to comedy in the 1980s, Mark has continuously played to packed houses nationwide. Notoriously un-PC, Mark claims to have started performing at the age of 11 when he was "able to balance an entire Zulu rondavel and its contents on his chin while singing 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing' by the then New Seekers."
His constant banter and uncontained one-liners have often lent him praise as MC for award ceremonies, corporate functions, banquets and conferences, whereby he casually digs in to all and sundry with his potent brand of Banks humour.
Mark represented South Africa at the 1996 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, his first one-man show - Stars of South Africa - received critical reviews, and he performed in the memorable We're Not On Top... We're Inside (a play on a famous television commercial for Cremora in the 1980s - "It's not inside... it's on top!").
Other one man shows include the content-based Ek's 'n Doos from South Africa (pronounced exodus). Loosely translated, it pokes fun at locals living abroad, and is a raucous laugh a minute as well as "Laughing all the way to the Banks", to name a few.
His productions have played to packed houses nationwide and Mark is widely recognised in comedic circles. He has also appeared regularly on TV as presenter or interviewee, as well as having featured in several adverts.
Critics have both praised and slated him for his content over the years, but Mark's feeling of indifference to such inanity has merely pushed and influenced his repertoire.
In 2014 he was one of the team captains of the e.tv game show I Love South Africa.