Josh Thomas

Joshua Michael Thomas was born on May 26, 1987, in Blackwater, Queensland, Australia. His early life included living in Chapel Hill and Westlake, Brisbane, and attending Kenmore State High School, from which he matriculated in 2004. He briefly pursued a Bachelor of Creative Industries at the Queensland University of Technology before dropping out. In 2005, at the age of 17, Thomas achieved significant recognition by winning the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s RAW Comedy Competition. This early success was followed by reaching the finals of the Edinburgh equivalent, “So You Think You’re Funny.” The subsequent year, he was selected for “The Comedy Zone,” a showcase for emerging Australian comedians at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In 2007, his first solo show, “Please Like Me,” earned him the Melbourne Airport Award for Best Newcomer at the MICF, establishing his presence in the comedy circuit.

Thomas further developed his career in television, becoming a regular and team captain for Generation Y on Network 10’s “Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation” from 2009 to 2012, appearing in 72 episodes. He also participated in “Celebrity MasterChef Australia.” His creative work expanded significantly with the development of the ABC2 (and later Pivot) television series “Please Like Me” (2013-2016), which he created, co-wrote, and starred in for 32 episodes. This series garnered critical acclaim and nominations, including an International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series in 2014 and an AACTA Award for Best Television Screenplay in 2015. Following this, Thomas created “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay” (2020-2021) for Freeform, serving as showrunner, writer, and star for 20 episodes. This show, focusing on a neurodiverse protagonist, further explored themes of identity and belonging.

Throughout his career, Thomas has continued to perform stand-up comedy, touring internationally. His later work includes the stand-up show “Let’s Tidy Up,” which he performed across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2024. He was also a contestant on the second season of “Taskmaster Australia.” Thomas has openly discussed his personal life, coming out as gay and later being diagnosed with ADHD at 28 and autism in 2021, experiences that have influenced his artistic endeavors and public persona.