Jim Jefferies

Historically, Australian comedians have struggled to find success with American audiences, but stand-up performer Jim Jefferies bucked the trend with a popular HBO special and his own comedy series, "Legit" (FXX 2013-14). The comic's predilection for hot-button topics - his own avowed atheism and stories about various forms of chemical-induced misbehavior - made him a favorite on the college and festival circuits in the United Kingdom and America. A 2009 HBO comedy special solidified his rising popularity in the States, which was soon followed by his first television series, "Legit." The show, which followed a fictionalized version of Jefferies as he navigated the more eccentric corners of Los Angeles, offered plenty of raw drug- and sex-related gags, but surprised many with its unvarnished portrayal of characters with disabilities, many played by real-life actors with various physical and mental issues. The success of the show and Jefferies' continued rise on the international comedy scene indicated that his star had yet to reach its highest point in the entertainment industry.