Stephen Merchant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephen Merchant
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Stephen James Merchant
24 November 1974 Bristol, England
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| Alma mater | University of Warwick |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Partner(s) | Mircea Monroe (2018–present) |
Stephen James Merchant (born 24 November 1974) is an English comedian, writer, director, and actor. He is famous for working with Ricky Gervais to create the popular British TV comedy series The Office.
Together, Merchant and Gervais also created the shows Extras and Life's Too Short. With their friend Karl Pilkington, they hosted The Ricky Gervais Show on radio and as a popular podcast.
Many people know Merchant as the voice of the robot Wheatley in the video game Portal 2. He also acted in movies like Logan, where he played the mutant Caliban, and Jojo Rabbit, where he played a Gestapo leader. In 2019, he wrote and directed the movie Fighting with My Family. More recently, he created and starred in the comedy series The Outlaws.
Merchant has won many awards for his work, including Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Contents
Early Life and School
Stephen James Merchant was born in Bristol, England, on 24 November 1974. His mother, Jane, was a nursery nurse, and his father, Ronald, was a plumber and builder. He went to Hanham Secondary School.
From 1993 to 1996, Merchant studied at the University of Warwick. He earned a degree in Film and Literature. While at university, he worked as a film reviewer for the student radio station, which was his first step into broadcasting.
Merchant was a big fan of the comedian John Cleese from Monty Python. He said Cleese inspired him to get into comedy.
Career
Getting Started
Merchant started his career doing stand-up comedy at a club in Bristol. He also had a few other jobs, like being a DJ for a radio station.
In 1997, he got a job that changed his life. He was hired as an assistant to Ricky Gervais at the radio station XFM London. Gervais and Merchant started hosting a radio show together on Saturday afternoons. This was the beginning of their famous partnership.
After leaving XFM, Merchant took a course at the BBC. For a project, he made a short film and asked Gervais to star in it. This film gave them the first idea for what would become The Office.
The Office and TV Success
In 2001, the first series of The Office was shown on BBC Two. Merchant and Gervais wrote and directed it together. At first, not many people watched it, but it soon became a huge hit. The show is a "mockumentary," which means it's filmed like a real documentary but is actually a comedy.
Merchant and Gervais also returned to radio with The Ricky Gervais Show, where they worked with producer Karl Pilkington. The show became a very popular podcast, setting a world record for the most downloads.
In 2005, an American version of The Office was created. Merchant and Gervais were executive producers, and they helped guide the show to become a massive success in the United States.
Acting and Other Shows
In 2005, Merchant and Gervais created another successful sitcom called Extras. Merchant played Darren Lamb, the clumsy agent of an aspiring actor played by Gervais. For this role, Merchant won a British Comedy Award for Best TV Actor.
Merchant also hosted his own radio show on BBC 6 Music called The Steve Show, where he played his favorite music. He returned to stand-up comedy with a successful tour called Hello Ladies. This tour was later turned into an HBO TV series of the same name.
Famous Roles in Movies and Games
Merchant is well-known for his voice acting. In 2011, he voiced the character Wheatley in the video game Portal 2. Fans and critics loved his performance as the funny and slightly evil robot.
He has also appeared in many movies. He had small parts in films like Hot Fuzz and The Invention of Lying. He played the mutant Caliban in the superhero movie Logan (2017). In 2019, he played a Nazi captain in the award-winning film Jojo Rabbit.
In 2019, he wrote and directed Fighting with My Family, a movie about the life of professional wrestler Saraya Bevis (also known as Paige). The film was a success and received good reviews.
From 2021, he has co-written, directed, and starred in the TV series The Outlaws. The show is a comedy-drama about a group of people doing community service in his hometown of Bristol.
Personal Life
Stephen Merchant is known for his tall, lanky appearance, standing at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters). His friends often joke about his height and his unique dance moves.
Since 2018, he has been in a relationship with American actress Mircea Monroe. They live in Los Angeles, California. Merchant also owns a home in London.
Selected Work
Here are some of Stephen Merchant's most well-known projects.
Film
- Hot Fuzz (2007) - Actor
- The Invention of Lying (2009) - Actor
- Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) - Voice of Paris
- Logan (2017) - Actor (Caliban)
- Sherlock Gnomes (2018) - Voice of Paris
- Fighting with My Family (2019) - Director, Writer, and Actor
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) - Actor (Captain Deertz)
- A Boy Called Christmas (2021) - Voice of Miika the Mouse
Television
- The Office (2001–2003) - Co-creator, Co-writer, Co-director
- Extras (2005–2007) - Co-creator, Co-writer, Co-director, Actor (Darren Lamb)
- The Ricky Gervais Show (2010–2012) - Himself (voice)
- Life's Too Short (2011–2013) - Co-creator, Co-writer, Co-director, Actor
- Hello Ladies (2013–2014) - Creator, Writer, Director, Actor (Stuart Pritchard)
- The Big Bang Theory (2015) - Actor (Dave Gibbs)
- The Outlaws (2021–2024) - Co-creator, Co-writer, Director, Actor (Greg)
- Four Lives (2022) - Actor (Stephen Port)
Video Games
- Portal 2 (2011) - Voice of Wheatley
- Lego Dimensions (2015) - Voice of Wheatley
See also
In Spanish: Stephen Merchant para niños
