National Occupation Code (NOC): 53121

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

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Job Duties for Actors, comedians and circus performers

Actors and comedians

• 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

• Train students in interpretation of scripts, speech, movement, and dramatic theory
• Prepare acting students for specific auditions and performances.

Circus performers

• perform a variety of acts intended to amaze, thrill, and engage audiences
• conceptualize and choreograph original performances
• study and perform acrobatic and aerial skills required by specific circus shows
• may participate in the development of a director or ringmaster’s vision.

Alternate Job Titles

• Acrobat
• Acting Teacher - Private Or Studio
• Actor/actress
• Aerial Acrobat - Entertainment
• Circus Artist
• Circus Performer
• Clown
• Comedian
• Comic
• Contortionist
• Diction Coach
• Drama Actor
• Drama Coach
• Drama Teacher - Private Or Studio
• Dramatic Arts Teacher - Private Or Studio
• Dramatic Reader
• Entertainer
• Equilibrist
• Film Dubber
• High-wire Walker
• Humorist - Performing Arts
• Hypnotist
• Illusionist
• Impersonator
• Improviser
• Juggler
• Mime
• Mimic
• Movie Actor
• Narrator
• Performing Arts Extra
• Reader - Performing Arts
• Show Horse Rider
• Slack-rope Performer - Entertainment
• Standardized Patient
• Stand-in
• Stand-up Comedian
• Story Teller
• Straight Man
• Stunt Performer - Film And Theatre
• Trapeze Artist
• Voice Coach
• Voice-over Actor