Simon Pegg bio, age, height, daughter, wife, net worth, doctor who 2025

Simon Pegg's Biography

Simon Pegg is one of Britain's most beloved comedy actors, best known for his starring roles in the "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy—including box office smashes "Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz," and "The World's End"—plus his memorable turns in the "Star Trek" franchise and "Mission: Impossible" action series.

British comedian, screenwriter, and actor Simon Pegg

Pegg champions brainy comedy with a taste for the wonderfully absurd. Case in point: at Bristol comedy clubs, he'd perform stand-up routines built on paradox and nonsense—all from the perspective of a goldfish he actually brought on stage.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost – a unique creative duo

Alongside best friend and fellow actor Nick Frost, he crafted the persona of an endearingly comedic everyman. This marked a departure from Britain's tradition of prickly, off-putting comedians like John Cleese's character in the classic sitcom "Fawlty Towers."

Childhood

The future comedian was born on Valentine's Day—February 14, 1970—in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, to a middle-class family. His father, John G. Beckingham, was a jazz musician, and his mother, Gillian Rosemary, née Smith, was a civil servant. Their marriage didn't last—it ended in 1977. Later, they both remarried, giving Simon a half-sister, Katy Pegg, and from his father's side, two brothers, Mike and Stephen John Beckingham.

The cult classic "Star Wars" made a massive impact on young Pegg, shaping his future career path. As a kid, he collected action figures from the saga and even kissed a picture of Princess Leia before bedtime. When "The Phantom Menace" hit theaters in 1999, adult Simon actually flew to New York to catch it two months before its UK release.

Pegg attended Castle Hill Primary School and later Brockworth and Gloucester secondary schools. From the age of 16, he studied drama and English literature at Stratford-upon-Avon College. There, he got involved in youth theater, played drums and harmonica in a band called "God's Third Leg," and got his first taste of audience attention. The young man then entered the University of Bristol's Faculty of Drama, Film, and Television. While studying, participating in comedy shows, and performing in plays, he also worked part-time as a sales assistant at the Debenhams department store.

Acting Career

In 1991, Pegg graduated from college with honors and started performing with a comedy troupe that included future stars David Walliams and Jason Bradbury. Two years later, he moved from Bristol to London, where he dove deeper into his favorite comedic styles: parody, improv, and situational comedy.

Six Pairs of Pants 1996 Simon Pegg & Jessica Hynes Sketch Show

In 1995, Pegg made his television debut. He was invited to participate in the sketch show "Six Pairs of Pants." He went on to appear in comedy series like "Faith in the Future," "Big Train," "Hippies," and "Psychiatric Hospital." On set, he met director Edgar Wright, who would become his creative partner in writing the scripts for his most famous comedy trilogy "Blood and Ice Cream" (also known as "The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy").

Simon Pegg began his creative journey as a comedian

From 1998 to 2004, he appeared on BBC Radio 4's "The 99p Challenge," acted in the miniseries "Brass Eye," and starred in films "Guest House Paradiso" and "24 Hour Party People."

Spaced - Phantom Menace Sucked

From 1999 to 2001, Edgar Wright's new sitcom "Spaced" aired, following young people who pretend to be a couple to secure affordable housing. Pegg, who played one of these tenants, was also a co-writer of the show with Jessica Stevenson. For this work, Simon was nominated for a British Comedy Award as Best Newcomer.

Pegg shot to fame in 2004 with the release of the zombie comedy "Shaun of the Dead." In the film, he plays an ordinary sales consultant. When a zombie epidemic hits his town, he fights to survive alongside friends and family while avoiding becoming one of the undead himself. The film earned him and Edgar Wright the Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay, along with the British Independent Film Award (BIFA) and the prestigious Evening Standard British Film Award.

Simon Pegg looks back at Shaun of the Dead

His breakout performance in "Shaun" caught the eye of major Hollywood directors. In 2005, he played the Editor in "Doctor Who," and in 2006, J.J. Abrams tapped him for the blockbuster "Mission: Impossible III." According to Pegg, his character – tech expert Benji Dunn – was designed to provide comic relief alongside Tom Cruise's intense Ethan Hunt.

During the same period, Simon, in collaboration with Edgar Wright and partnered with Nick Frost, finished work on the second parody film (this time on a police drama) from "The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy" – "Hot Fuzz."

Hot Fuzz – one of the best films with Simon Pegg

In 2007, the romantic comedy "The Good Night" premiered at Sundance, featuring Simon alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Penelope Cruz, Martin Freeman, and Danny DeVito. He also co-wrote the screenplay and starred in the British comedy "Run Fatboy Run."

In 2009, he joined the sci-fi blockbuster "Star Trek," brought on by close friend and director J.J. Abrams.

In 2011, he starred in the comedy "Paul," which he co-wrote, following his character Graham Willy as he travels across the US with a sarcastic alien. He also took on a role in the action sequel "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." In the film, his character gets imprisoned for suspected involvement in the Kremlin explosion, then breaks free by outwitting an FSB agent.

In 2013, "The World's End" was released. In the comedy he co-created with Wright, Pegg played an alcoholic who gathers friends for an epic pub crawl that takes an unexpected turn.

THE WORLD'S END Interviews: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright

In 2015's "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation," Pegg's character helps Ethan Hunt battle a rogue organization of former special agents bent on reshaping the world order through terrorist attacks.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost working together on films

His next project was the sci-fi blockbuster "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which became the third highest-grossing film of all time (behind "Titanic" and "Avatar"). He played junk dealer Unkar Plutt, who possessed the legendary "Millennium Falcon."

Simon Pegg in 'Star Wars' is not so easy to recognize

Critics praise Pegg's incredible talent, which extends to voice work in animated films like "Ice Age," "Robot Chicken," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," and video games including Fable III, Spare Parts, and Star Trek.

Ice Age: Collision Course: Simon Pegg Behind the Scenes Voice Recording

He appeared in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," which premiered in December 2017. Alongside Margot Robbie, he starred in the dramatic thriller "Terminal" – about hitmen who take on a high-paying job from a mysterious client. The filming began in early 2016 in Budapest.

Simon Pegg and Margot Robbie will appear in the film 'Terminal'

In March of the same year, Pegg was confirmed for the role of Ogden Morrow in Steven Spielberg's "Ready Player One," based on the novel by Ernest Cline.

Simon Pegg in the comedy 'Absolutely Anything'. Clip

In summer 2016, the sci-fi film "Star Trek Beyond" hit theaters as the latest entry in the "Star Trek" franchise. Pegg co-wrote the screenplay and reprised his role as engineer Montgomery Scott.

Simon Pegg retained the role in 'Star Trek'

In April 2017, Pulse Films announced filming would begin on the rock 'n' roll drama "Lost Transmissions," with Pegg taking the lead role of a producer struggling with schizophrenia. He starred alongside Juno Temple and Alexandra Daddario. The premiere took place in April 2019.

Around the same time, Tom Cruise announced production on the sixth "Mission: Impossible" film featuring CIA agent Ethan Hunt. Simon once again joined the star-studded cast, among them Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson, and Henry Cavill.

In 2018, Simon Pegg appeared in the horror-comedy "Slaughterhouse Rulez," set at a British private school. He starred alongside Nick Frost, Michael Sheen, and young actors Finn Cole and Asa Butterfield.

Simon Pegg and Michael Sheen ('Slaughterhouse Rulez')

Since 2019, Simon has starred in "The Boys," a dark comedy set in an alternate world populated by real superheroes. But these supers aren't the "good guys" – most are corrupt and drunk on power. Pegg got a supporting role as the father of the main character Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid).

In 2020, Pegg appeared in Michael Sheen and David Tennant's "coronavirus" live-screen project "Staged" as himself and, in tandem with Nick Frost, wrote the script for the series "Truth Seekers," in which he also played an important role.

He took on a dramatic role in Vaughn Stein's thriller "Inheritance" (2020), playing a prisoner that Lily Collins' character discovers in a bunker belonging to her late millionaire father.

Simon Pegg's Personal Life

When he was 35, the comedian married his girlfriend Maureen McCann, a music journalist. Nick Frost served as his best man at the Glasgow ceremony.

The couple welcomed daughter Matilda in 2009. He also has two miniature schnauzers.

Pegg is a fan of horror movies, especially "Poltergeist". He's also a big fan of Nicolas Cage's "Raising Arizona" and enjoys TV shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The X-Files", and has praised Gillian Anderson's portrayal of Dana Scully. Growing up, he had celebrity crushes on Diane Keaton and Sigourney Weaver.

Simon Pegg Now

In 2023, Simon Pegg played the lead role in the fantasy detective movie "Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose". He plays a parapsychologist hunting for evidence of paranormal activity, specifically tracking down a talking mongoose named Jeff. His mission: determine if it's real or just an elaborate hoax.

A still from the movie 'Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose'

Pegg also returned to his role as Benji Dunn in the new installment of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, which was split into two parts: the first was released in 2023, with the premiere of the second scheduled for 2025.