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Ricky Gervais Biography

Birth Name:Ricky Dene Gervais

Birth Place:Whitley, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Composer, Script department, Music department

Fast Facts

  • Received the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy in 2016
  • Ricky Gervais broke a record in 2020 by hosting the Golden Globe Awards for the fifth time
  • Was listed in the Guinness World Record for having his podcast downloaded the most in 2007
  • In 2013, PETA named the former star of "The Office" their person of the year, and in 2015, he won the Human Society's Genesis Award
  • Named Person of the Year by PETA in 2013
  • Participated in a charity boxing match against Grant Bovey in 2002
  • Studied philosophy at London University
  • Managed the band Suede before gaining success on television
  • Quote: "To be honest, money gives me the creeps and mildly embarrasses me․ I get paid too much․ I hate waste․ Why buy a book when you can join a library, for instance? But it's all too much trouble for me․ It's probably because I'm fat and lazy and old․"
  • Quote: "I've never wanted to be an actor․ I never thought of myself as one․ Let's face it, I'm not a great actor, but I have fun doing it․ I'm still going to write, direct, and be in my own stuff․ It's such fun․ It's a great job․"
  • Best known for creating "The Office" in 2001
  • Both Ricky and Stephen Merchant were producers on the U․S․ version of the NBC comedy "The Office", which starred Steve Carell
  • Describes his upbringing as "much like 'The Waltons․'"
  • He began dating his long-term girlfriend, Jane Fallon, in 1982
  • In need of an assistant while working at a local radio station, the first job applicant he interviewed was fellow writer Stephen Merchant
  • Published the children's book "Flanimals" in 2004
  • Appeared in the video game "Grand Theft Auto IV" in 2008
  • His mother admitted that his father was drunk when he filled out the birth certificate and that is why his middle name of 'Dene' is so unusual
  • While off at college, he and friend Bill Macrae formed new age pop duo Seona Dancing, who were signed by London Records and gained brief fame in the Philippines

Awards

  • 2002BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy Performance: winner
  • 2002BAFTA TV Award-Situation Comedy Award: winner
  • 2002British Comedy Award-Best Comedy Actor: winner
  • 2002Writer's Award-: winner
  • 2002RTS Television Award-Best Actor - Male: nominated
  • 2003BAFTA TV Award-Situation Comedy Award: winner
  • 2003BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy Performance: winner
  • 2003Writer's Award-: winner
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2003RTS Television Award-Best Comedy Performance: winner
  • 2004BAFTA TV Award-Situation Comedy Award: winner
  • 2004BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy Performance: winner
  • 2004British Comedy Award-Best TV Comedy Actor: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: winner
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2004RTS Television Award-Best Comedy Performance: nominated
  • 2004TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 2005British Comedy Award-Best TV Comedy: nominated
  • 2005British Comedy Award-Best TV Comedy Actor: nominated
  • 2005British Comedy Award-Best New TV Comedy: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 2006BAFTA TV Award-Best Situation Comedy: nominated
  • 2006BAFTA TV Award-Best Writer: nominated
  • 2006Banff Rockie Award-Best Comedy Program: winner
  • 2006British Comedy Award-Best TV Comedy: nominated
  • 2006British Comedy Award-Best TV Comedy Actor: nominated
  • 2006Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Comedy/Entertainment: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006WIN Award-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 2006WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006WGA Award (TV)-New Series: nominated
  • 2007BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy Performance: winner
  • 2007BAFTA TV Award-Best Writer: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2007WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: winner
  • 2007Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best TV Comedy/Light Entertainment: nominated
  • 2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2008Banff Rockie Award-Best Comedy Program: winner
  • 2008British Comedy Award-Best Television Comedy Actor: winner
  • 2008Writer's Award-: nominated
  • 2008Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Comedy/Entertainment: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor: nominated
  • 2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2008PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2008Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2009Astra Award-Favourite International Personality or Actor: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Peter Sellers Award for Comedy-: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program: nominated
  • 2011Irina Palm-Worst British Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011TV Quick Award-Best Comedy Show: nominated
  • 2012Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Multichannel Programme: nominated
  • 2012National Television Award-Most Popular Factual Programme: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2017BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: winner
  • 2019Comedy.co.uk Award-Best New TV Sitcom: winner
  • 2019I Talk Telly Award-Best Comedy Performance: winner
  • 2020I Talk Telly Award-Best Returning Comedy: winner
  • 2020National Film Award-Best Actor in a TV Series: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): nominated
  • 2021Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2022TV Times Award-Favourite Comedic Performance: nominated