Interview with The Umbrella Academy actor Ken Hall: 'My character subverts the powers that be'

Hmm.... Wow. Hard to say. As one half of 2-MAN NO-SHOW I've being really lucky to find my own style and so I don't have a particular person I embody when I perform - it's like I've been a sponge and have absorbed and been influenced by so many and still do to this day! I see someone perform and they do something that makes me laugh I love that it still has an impact on me and that I'm always learning and seeking ways to learn more. 

Growing up I was very influenced by physical comedians, i.e. John Ritter from Three's Company was an incredible talent in my books. And I loved the speed and surprise (and heart) of Robin Williams and the clever dry wit and manic abilities of John Cleese, the rawness of Chris Rock etc and numerous others. There was also a show here in Canada called SCTV that was very influential for me and that had an impressive array of improv / sketch heroes i.e. Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, John Candy, etc. Comedy greats in their own way - and that show was so weird now that I think about it. And that really fits with my brand of humour. I love absurdity and all things kinda weird. I've made a career from being a bit of an oddball and I really like that I'm unique in a lot of ways. I never felt like I fit in anywhere in my life until I discovered improv, clown and comedy and since then it's being the lifeline to be who I am in an unapologetic way. 

An Italian comic and actor I really love is Roberto Benigni.  I remember seeing Life is Beautiful and being so moved by his acting.  He is such a great clown too and I admire his abundant playful energy  - I still remember him climbing over the chairs at The Oscars when Life is Beautiful won and thinking I want to feel the same joy he feels.  Fast forward 10 years later I've lost count how many audiences Isaac and I have climbed over! And that's just in our intro!!