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 (born 14 February 1970) is a famous English actor, comedian, and writer. He became well-known in the UK for creating the TV show Spaced (1999–2001) with Edgar Wright.

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright also wrote and starred in three popular movies: Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World's End (2013). These films are often called the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. In all these movies, Edgar Wright was the director, and Simon Pegg starred alongside his friend Nick Frost. Pegg and Frost also wrote and acted in the sci-fi comedy film Paul (2011).

Simon Pegg is known for playing characters in big science fiction movies. He appeared in Doctor Who (2005), played Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the Star Trek movies (2009–2016), and was in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). He also played Benji Dunn in six Mission: Impossible films, starting with Mission: Impossible III (2006). He also voiced Buck in the Ice Age animated movies, including Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) and Ice Age: Collision Course (2016).

Early Life and Education

Simon John Pegg was born Simon John Beckingham on 14 February 1970. His birthplace was Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England. His mother was a civil servant, and his father was a jazz musician. When Simon was seven, his parents divorced. He later took his stepfather's last name, Pegg, after his mother remarried.

When he was 16, Simon moved to Stratford-upon-Avon. There, he studied English literature and theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon College. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Bristol. He earned a degree in theatre, film, and television. While at university, he was part of a comedy group.

Acting Career Highlights

Pegg in New York City, July 2008

Simon Pegg started his career with appearances in various TV shows. These included Six Pairs of Pants (1995), Asylum, and Big Train. He also appeared in the World War II mini-series Band of Brothers.

Creating Spaced and Shaun of the Dead

In 1999, Simon Pegg created and co-wrote the TV show Spaced for Channel 4. He worked on it with Jessica Stevenson. Edgar Wright directed the series. Pegg wrote the character of Mike Watt specifically for his friend Nick Frost. For his work on Spaced, Pegg was nominated for a British Comedy Award.

The idea for the movie Shaun of the Dead came from a fantasy scene in Spaced that featured zombies. Pegg and Wright co-wrote this "romantic zombie comedy" film. It was released in April 2004. Pegg also starred in the movie. Later, Pegg and Wright even had small roles in George A. Romero's zombie film, Land of the Dead.

Pegg at a premiere for Star Trek in April 2009

Joining Mission: Impossible

After Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg joked about not wanting to leave British films for Hollywood blockbusters like Mission: Impossible III. However, he later joined the cast of Mission: Impossible III as Benji Dunn. Benji is a technician who helps Tom Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt.

Simon Pegg has continued to play Benji Dunn in many Mission: Impossible movies. These include Ghost Protocol (2011), Rogue Nation (2015), Fallout (2018), and Dead Reckoning Part One (2023).

More Films with Nick Frost and Edgar Wright

Edgar Wright, Pegg, and Nick Frost (pictured in 2013) worked together on the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy

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

In 2011, the film Paul was released. Pegg co-wrote the script for this movie. It's about two young men who meet a funny extraterrestrial alien during a road trip. In Paul, Nick Frost plays the main hero, and Pegg plays his sidekick, which is a change from their usual roles.

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

Star Trek and Star Wars Roles

Simon Pegg played the engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 film Star Trek. He returned as Scotty in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016). He also helped write the script for Star Trek Beyond.

In 2015, he appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He played Unkar Plutt, a junkyard dealer on the planet Jakku.

Pegg also voiced Professor Phineas Nigellus Black in the 2023 video game Hogwarts Legacy.

Activism and Interests

Simon Pegg supports various causes. In 2014, he announced his support for the feminist campaign HeForShe. He has also been an activist for Greenpeace since 2021. He protests against overfishing and supports their campaigns for a better future.

Simon Pegg is good friends with Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin. He even appeared in Coldplay's 2010 music video "Christmas Lights". He is also godfather to Chris Martin's daughter, Apple. In return, Chris Martin is godfather to Simon Pegg's daughter.

Awards and Recognition

Simon Pegg has received several awards and nominations for his work.

In 2008, the University of Gloucestershire gave Simon Pegg an honorary fellowship.

See also

In Spanish: Simon Pegg para niños