Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais
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Name:
Ricky Gervais
Real name:
Ricky Dene Gervais
Who is:
, , ,
Birth date:
(64 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Reading, Berkshire, England
Height:
5'8 ft ()
Weight:
198 lb (90 kg)
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:

Ricky Gervais' biography

Ricky Gervais is a British actor, comedian, and television producer. He's best known for creating and starring as the hilariously cringe-worthy boss in the British mockumentary sitcom The Office, and is often referred to as a modern-day Charlie Chaplin. In 2019, fans got to see Ricky in his dark comedy Netflix series After Life. Net worth: $140 million.
Pictured: Ricky Gervais
Pictured: Ricky Gervais

Early years

Ricky Dene Gervais was born on June 25, 1961, in Berkshire to Lawrence Raymond Gervais, a laborer, and Eva, who devoted herself to raising their four children.

Ricky was the youngest of four kids in a working-class but close-knit, happy family. According to the actor, he inherited his sense of humor and optimistic view of life from his parents. Ricky spent most of his childhood and graduated high school in Whitley, a Reading suburb. His parents couldn't afford higher education, so he worked as a gardener before eventually enrolling at University College London. He graduated with a degree in philosophy.
Childhood picture of Ricky Gervais
Childhood picture of Ricky Gervais
Just before graduating in 1982, Ricky and college friend Bill Macrae formed the new wave pop duo Seona Dancing. Macrae wrote the music and played the keyboard, while Gervais wrote lyrics and sang. Despite landing several TV appearances, Seona Dancing never really took off. They released a couple of singles heavily influenced by Joy Division before calling it quits in early 1985.
New wave pop duo Seona Dancing: Ricky Gervais and Bill Macrae
New wave pop duo Seona Dancing: Ricky Gervais and Bill Macrae
True to form, Ricky didn't see Seona Dancing's breakup as a failure – instead, his time with the band helped him break into show business.

The beginning of Ricky's career

In 1988, Gervais met Brett Anderson, the flamboyant frontman of the then-unknown rock band Suede, and became their manager.
Ricky Gervais worked as the manager for Suede
Ricky Gervais worked as the manager for Suede
Soon Ricky landed a radio DJ gig where he hosted a music program, delivering witty remarks and flirting with callers between tracks. Though he stepped down as Suede's manager, he maintained a friendly relationship with the band, which shot to worldwide fame after releasing their debut album Dog Man Star just a couple of years later.

In 1997, Ricky Gervais got his own humor radio show and hired Stephen Merchant as his assistant. Karl Pilkington joined the duo soon after. The show eventually became the podcast The Ricky Gervais Show, featuring dialogue between two hosts (Ricky and Stephen) and their wonderfully weird guest (Karl). Each episode, Pilkington would share recent events from his life, and the hosts would playfully tease him about his naïve and eccentric ways. The show was later adapted as animated series and was aired on British television.
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington
According to Zoomboola.com, in the early 2000s, the young actor began to appear on numerous entertainment television programs regularly. The pilot episode of a mockumentary sitcom The Office premiered in the summer of 2001. The comedy series, often ridiculous and paradoxical to the point of absurdity, put Ricky's name on the map not only in Britain but far beyond its borders. The show was named Britain's best television series in 2001-2002, and Gervais was titled the most powerful person in TV comedy. The Office is the only British television series to receive a Golden Globes Award to this day.

Ricky Gervais portrayed David Brent, a white-collar middle-manager at a paper company who considers himself an awesome boss but is, in reality, impossibly pathetic. Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook, most widely known for their role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, also joined the cast of the legendary sitcom. Ricky was not only the leading actor but also a writer, director (alongside Stephen Merchant), and producer of the series.
On the set of The Office
On the set of The Office
In 2005, a notable American comedian Steve Carell made an adaptation of the original television series, which aired for nine seasons. Funnily enough, Ricky Gervais made a cameo in one of the episodes, where he competed for a regional manager position at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

The most influential person on BBC

Ricky Gervais' next project has only reinforced his status as the most influential artist on British television. He teamed up with Stephen Merchant once again to create another sitcom titled Extras. Ricky portrayed a failing actor, who as the show progressed, managed to become a B-list celebrity, while Merchant played his incompetent and bumbling agent.
Ricky Gervais in Extras
Ricky Gervais in Extras
Numerous well-known musicians and actors guest-starred on the show, such as David Bowie, Ian MacKellen, Brett Anderson, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, Madonna and countless others. Extras aired up until the end of 2007. For his brilliant portrayal of wannabe actor Andy, Ricky earned nominations for the most prestigious British awards, including BAFTA and Emmy Awards.

From 2008 to 2013, Gervais appeared in several feature films, with the fantasy comedy Ghost Town being one of his most notable roles. He was cast in the leading role of a misanthropic dentist who could talk to ghosts. Greg Kinnear also starred in the film.
Ricky Gervais in Ghost Town
Ricky Gervais in Ghost Town
He wrote, directed, and starred in a fantasy romantic comedy The Invention of Lying, and a coming-of-age comedy-drama Cemetery Junction.
Ricky Gervais has collected countless awards over the years
Ricky Gervais has collected countless awards over the years
In 2010, a travel documentary/road trip comedy television series An Idiot Abroad, created by Gervais and his long-time buddies Merchant and Pilkington, came out. The show ran for two years, following Pilkington's travels around the globe and the ridiculous situations he constantly found himself in.

The comedy-drama series Derek, starring, written, and directed by Gervais, premiered in 2013 and became another massive hit. Gervais portrayed a rather peculiar care worker at a home for the elderly. Kerry Godliman, Tim Barlow, Tony Rohr, David Earl, and Doc Brown all joined the cast.
Trailer for Derek
In 2016, Ricky wrote and directed a satirical comedy, Special Correspondents. Eric Bana co-starred in the film. By the end of that same year, the mockumentary music comedy David Brent: Life on the Road was released. The film followed David Brent, the hapless manager from The Office, as he traveled the country chasing his dream of rock stardom.

In 2018, Gervais participated in the filming of a Suede documentary. After all, he was with the band at the very beginning of their career and has been friends with Brett Anderson and Mat Osman for years.

Ricky Gervais' personal life

Ricky met Jane Fallon (born in 1960), his long-time friend and partner, during his time in college. They began dating in 1982 and moved in together by 1984, but never officially tied the knot. The couple chose not to marry or have children, believing the Earth is already overpopulated and there are too many kids who need help.
Ricky Gervais with Jane Fallon
Ricky Gervais with Jane Fallon
Ricky Gervais is one of the wealthiest actors in Britain, and he actively gives back to the community, supporting various charities and foundations.
Ricky Gervais is one of the most influential Londoners
Ricky Gervais is one of the most influential Londoners
The actor identifies as an atheist and is against the interference of religion into a person's private life. He is also a staunch supporter of the LGBT community. Gervais is a supporter of animal rights and has been actively involved in the prevention of animal abuse.
The artist, philanthropist, social activist and writer, Ricky Gervais was named one of the most influential Londoners in 2015.

Ricky Gervais today

A black comedy web television series, starring Gervais, After Life premiered in 2019. It follows Tony, who lost his wife to cancer, and decided to punish the whole world for her untimely death. He says and does the cruelest things possible, trying to become his worst self, but fails spectacularly. The cast of After Life includes Kerry Godliman, Tom Basden, Diane Morgan, and others.
Ricky Gervais in After Life
Ricky Gervais in After Life
In the same year, Ricky took part in the voice acting of the cartoon Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? along with Frank Welker, Gray Griffin, and Kevin Michael Richardson. In 2020, the actor also took part in the voice acting for The Willoughbys. Blazing Samurai is set to premiere in 2021, with Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Cera collaborating with Gervais on the project.

Ricky Gervais: latest news and articles

  • I haven`t met Ricky Gervais in films yet, but I was imbued with some kind of sympathy for him after reading the biography.
    2021-05-11 15:03:38
  • I agree with the opinion that Gervais was the best comedian in «The Office»!
    2021-05-04 19:28:40
  • Wow, it`s very interesting that Ricky turns out to be fond of music in his youth. A talented guy, in general.
    2021-04-29 15:20:23
  • I love the TV series «After Life» with Ricky Gervais. Very touching, with sharp humor and sadness from the loss of his beloved wife.
    2021-04-15 18:57:14
  • I watched The Office and I remember this dude. Anyway, the show is good. Recommend!
    2021-01-29 17:10:11
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