Arjan Singh Āulakh (born August 12, 1974), known by the stage name Arj Barker, is an American comedian and actor from San Anselmo, California. He has toured in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. He was born to an engineer father and artist mother. His father is of Indian Punjabi Sikh descent and his mother is of European descent.
Barker started his career in comedy after graduating from high school in 1989. His first gigs were at a café called Caffe Nuvo in downtown San Anselmo where he hosted stand-up night every Sunday throughout the early 1990s. Barker appeared on Premium Blend in 1997, followed by appearances on the shows Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Glass House. He twice hosted Comedy Central Presents, first on September 20, 2000, and again on March 31, 2006. Barker was featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. He appeared on the Australian show Thank God You're Here on October 18, 2006, September 19, 2007, and June 17, 2009.
Barker co-wrote and performed in The Marijuana-Logues, an Off-Broadway show in New York City, with Doug Benson and Tony Camin. The title of the show was a parody of The Vagina Monologues. NBC gave Barker the lead role for sitcom Nearly Nirvana, originally scheduled for 2004. However, Barker was replaced in the lead role by the show's creator, Ajay Sahgal, and the show never aired
Barker appeared in the HBO sitcom Flight of the Conchords, playing Dave. Barker has been successful in Australia for a number of years since first appearing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2000, and presently resides there. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, he won Best Comedy Release for Organic.
During the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Barker attracted widespread media attention in Australia for, while on stage in front of a live audience, demanding a mother breastfeeding her 7-month-old baby to leave and have her ticket refunded. Barker claimed the baby was interrupting his train of thought.
Known For

Shaun Micallef's Origin Odyssey
(1 episode)
2024

The Nut Farm
2024

Arj Barker: Comes Clean
self
2024
Arj Barker - We Need to Talk
2020

Standing Up for Sunny
Himself
2019

What We Do in the Shadows
Werewolf Leader · (1 episode)
2019

Arj Barker: Organic
2018

Arj Barker: Get In My Head
Himself
2017

The Comedy Club
Self
2016
Arj Barker: Go Time
Self
2015

Arj Barker: Heavy
Himself
2013

Have You Been Paying Attention?
Self - Panellist · (2 episodes)
2013

Arj Barker: Joy Harvest
Himself
2012

Arj Barker: Forever
Himself
2010
Melbourne International Comedy Festival - The Great Debate
Self
2010
Arj Barker: LYAO
Himself
2010

Just For Laughs: Over The Edge
Self
2009

Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
(1 episode)
2009

Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
Himself - Generation X guest · (1 episode)
2009

Flight of the Conchords: On Air
Self
2009

Arj Barker: Balls
Himself
2008

Electric Apricot
The Cube
2007

Super High Me
Self
2007

Flight of the Conchords
Dave · (22 episodes)
2007

Car Babes
Jimmy
2006

Robins
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2006

Thank God You're Here
(2 episodes)
2006

Arj Barker: Live
Himself
2006
My Coolest Years
Himself · (2 episodes)
2004

Real Time with Bill Maher
Self · (1 episode)
2003

BattleBots
Self · (50 episodes)
2000

Rove
Self · (1 episode)
1999

Shooting the Past
Garnett · (3 episodes)
1999

Comedy Central Presents
(1 episode)
1998

Premium Blend
(1 episode)
1997

Good News Week
Self · (1 episode)
1996

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1993