Dereje Haile

"In the realm of Ethiopian comedy, one name stands out as an emblem of laughter, friendship, and unwavering resilience: Dereje Haile. Over the course of his illustrious career,Dereje’s comedic brilliance has resonated throughout time, transcending mere entertainment to become a tapestry interwoven with friendship, loss, and enduring love. Alongside his dear friend Habte, Dereje has carved out a legacy that remains etched in the hearts of many. Seventeen years ago, the comedic world was plunged into darkness with the untimely passing of Habte. The news of his departure sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving Dereje and countless fans grappling with an overwhelming sense of grief. The tight-knit friendship, the laughter they conjured, and the profound togetherness that defined their partnership were shattered, leaving a void that seemed insurmountable. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Habte lives on. Each time he takes the stage, Dereje invokes the name of his departed friend, serving as a poignant reminder of an enduring friendship that transcends the realms of mortality. The impact of their collaboration is an everlasting legacy—a beacon of connection and joy that remains imprinted in the annals of Ethiopian comedy history. Dereje Haile’s continued success as a respected expert in the Ethiopian comedy scene is a testament to his resilience and dedication. He carries forward the torch of laughter that he and Habte once lit, illuminating the path for aspiring comedians and ensuring that the legacy of their partnership endures. Through his performances, Dereje not only brings joy to audiences but also honors the memory of his dear friend, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of all who have the privilege of witnessing his comedic genius.  His journey in comedy is a testament to the power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit. From the genesis of “Dereje and Habte” to the heart-wrenching loss of his dear friend, Dereje has navigated the comedic landscape with grace, humor, and an unwavering commitment to honoring the legacy they created together. His expertise, respect, and resilience have solidified his place as a pillar in the Ethiopian comedy scene, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences and fellow comedians alike.

Additional information:

The Search Form


About the Movie Section

Most data and links to images for the Movies section come from TheMovieDB (TMDB).

Additional data for Film Titles come from The Open Movie Database (OMDb).

At least one plug-in comes from IMDb.

Data are -- hey, it's a plural -- subject to the limitations of their sources. (For example, TMDB search results currently max out at 20.) I am limiting myself to free data sources for now. (No, a "free trial" is not free.)

While much of the above data are retrieved directly from outside APIs and other such sources, data from American Film Institute (AFI) and British Film Institute (BFI) were manually entered the old fashioned way into a MySQL database. Re BFI I took the following liberties:

  • I added "runners up" to Top 10 lists, treating them as ties where applicable and numbering them accordingly at the bottom of each list.
  • Regarding those polls wherein "franchise" movies were submitted as one project until BFI's policy changed to regard them separately, I treated them as ties and renumbered the affected lists accordingly (e.g. the Godfather films).

Regarding profile removals and data corrections:

  • If you would like your profile removed from this site, please contact the source of this data directly, TheMovieDB. My assumption is: once it's gone from their site, it should soon be gone from this site.
  • If you would like to correct movie data on this site, please contact the source of this data directly, TheMovieDB. My assumption is: once it's corrected on their site, it should soon be corrected on this site.
  • For additional corrections and profile removals, please e-mail The Open Movie Database (OMDb).

Filtering is applied here to film projects flagged as "adult" by TheMovieDB. Pending "popular demand" I am contemplating a login and profile system with preferences (such as whether to allow adult images to appear) and permissions (such as data entry).

Whereas the overall purpose of this website is to serve as a personal demo/portfolio/workshop of web and data skills, this Movies section is not meant to compete with or substitute for far more definitive movie websites.

Whether or not he still clings to an award which he won in 1986 as a film critic for his college's newspaper, Jeffrey Hartmann is not responsible for the texts of overviews and biographies supplied by external data sources.