Simon Pegg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Simon Pegg
Pegg in 2024
Born	Simon John Beckingham (1970-02-14) 14 February 1970 (age 55) Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England
Alma mater	University of Bristol
Occupation	Actor comedian screenwriter producer
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Maureen McCann ​ ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	1

Simon John Pegg was born Simon John Beckingham on 14 February 1970. He is an English actor, comedian, and writer. He became well-known in the UK for creating the TV show Spaced (1999–2001) with Jessica Hynes. This show was directed by Edgar Wright.

Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, and Nick Frost often work together. Pegg and Wright wrote the films Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World's End (2013). These three films are known as the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. Edgar Wright directed them, and Pegg starred alongside Nick Frost in all of them. Pegg and Frost also wrote and starred in the sci-fi comedy film Paul (2011).

Simon Pegg has played popular characters in many famous science fiction and fantasy stories. He appeared in Doctor Who (2005) and played Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the Star Trek films (2009–2016). He also had a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Since 2006, he has played Benji Dunn in the Mission: Impossible film series. He also provided the voice of Buck in the Ice Age animated movies.

Early Life and Education

Simon Pegg was born in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England. His mother, Gillian Rosemary, was a civil servant. His father, John Henry Beckingham, was a jazz musician. When Simon was seven, his parents divorced. He then took his stepfather's last name, "Pegg," after his mother remarried.

He went to Castle Hill Primary School and Brockworth Comprehensive Secondary School. He also attended The King's School, Gloucester. When he was 16, Simon moved to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. There, he studied English literature and theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon College. He later graduated from the University of Bristol in 1991. He earned a degree in Theatre, Film, and Television. While at university, he was part of a comedy group.

Acting and Writing Career

Simon Pegg in New York City, July 2008

Simon Pegg started his career with appearances in TV shows like Asylum, Faith in the Future, and Big Train. From 1998 to 2004, he was often heard on BBC Radio 4's The 99p Challenge. He also appeared in the World War II mini-series Band of Brothers.

In 1999, Simon Pegg created and co-wrote the TV comedy Spaced for Channel 4. He wrote the character of Mike Watt especially for his friend Nick Frost. For his acting in Spaced, Pegg was nominated for a British Comedy Award.

The Cornetto Trilogy

The idea for a film about zombies came from a fantasy scene in Spaced. This led Pegg and Edgar Wright to write Shaun of the Dead, a "romantic zombie comedy" film. It was released in 2004. Pegg also starred in the movie. Later, Pegg and Wright had small roles in George A. Romero's zombie film, Land of the Dead.

Simon Pegg at a premiere for Star Trek in April 2009

After Shaun of the Dead, people asked Pegg if he would move to Hollywood. He joked, "It's not like we're going to go away and do, I don't know, Mission: Impossible III." Later, he actually appeared in Mission: Impossible III as Benji Dunn. Benji is a technician who helps Tom Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt. Simon Pegg has played Benji in many Mission: Impossible films since then. These include Ghost Protocol (2011), Rogue Nation (2015), and Fallout (2018).

In 2006, Pegg and Wright finished their second film, Hot Fuzz. This movie is a police action comedy. Nick Frost also stars in it. Pegg plays Nicholas Angel, a London policeman who moves to a quiet village where strange things happen.

Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (pictured in 2013) worked together on the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy of British comedy films between 2004 and 2013

Pegg and Wright completed the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy with their 2013 film The World's End.

Other Film and Voice Roles

Simon Pegg co-wrote the script for a film called Paul. It is about two young men who meet a funny alien during a road trip in the US. The film was released in 2011. In Paul and the Cornetto trilogy, Pegg usually plays the main hero, and Frost plays his friend or sidekick.

Pegg played the engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 film Star Trek. He played Scotty again in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016). He also helped write Star Trek Beyond. He voiced Reepicheep, the brave mouse, in Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

In 2015, Simon Pegg appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Unkar Plutt. He was a junk dealer on the planet Jakku. In 2023, he voiced Professor Phineas Nigellus Black in the video game Hogwarts Legacy.

Personal Life

Simon Pegg married Maureen McCann, a publicist, on 23 July 2005. They live in Essendon, Hertfordshire. Nick Frost was the best man at their wedding. Simon and Maureen have one child, a daughter born in 2009.

Simon Pegg is good friends with Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin. He appeared in Coldplay's music video for "Christmas Lights" as an Elvis impersonator. Simon Pegg and Jonny Buckland are godfathers to Chris Martin's daughter, Apple. In return, Chris Martin is godfather to Simon Pegg's daughter. Simon Pegg's parents and sister have appeared briefly in his TV show Spaced. His mother also appeared in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Political Views and Activism

In 2014, Simon Pegg showed his support for HeForShe. This is a campaign that promotes gender equality.

In 2020, Simon Pegg signed an open letter. The letter asked for wealthier people to pay more taxes. This was to help fight inequality in society.

Since 2021, Pegg has been an activist for Greenpeace. He protests against overfishing and supports their campaigns for a better future.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Honours

The University of Gloucestershire gave Simon Pegg an honorary fellowship on 4 December 2008.

See also

In Spanish: Simon Pegg para niños