National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

• 5 - Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport
• 53 - Occupations in art, culture and sport
• 531 - Occupations in art and culture
• 5312 - Occupations in creative and performing art

53121 - Actors, comedians and circus performers

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.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • acrobat
  • acting teacher - private or studio
  • actor/actress
  • circus performer
  • clown
  • comedian
  • drama teacher - private or studio
  • narrator

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • standardized patient

• Exclusion(s)

  • Announcers and other broadcasters (See 52114 Announcers and other broadcasters)
  • Dancers (See 53120 Dancers)
  • Drama professor - university (See 41200 University professors and lecturers)
  • Musicians and singers (See 51122 Musicians and singers)
  • Other performers (See 55109 Other performers)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  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

• Employment requirements

  • Demonstrated ability, based on an audition or previous acting or circus roles, is an important hiring criteria.
  • Circus performers and acrobats may require a period of study at a circus school.
  • Acting programs are offered at universities, colleges and private acting schools.
  • Acting teachers usually require experience as actors.
  • Membership in a guild or union may be required.