Steve Coogan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Coogan
Coogan in 2017
Born	Stephen John Coogan (1965-10-14) 14 October 1965 (age 59) Middleton, Lancashire, England
Citizenship	United Kingdom Ireland
Education	Manchester Metropolitan University (BA)
Occupation	Actor comedian screenwriter producer
Years active	1988–present
Title	Co-founder and creative director of Baby Cow Productions
Spouse(s)	Caroline Hickman ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2005)​
Partner(s)	Anna Cole (1992–1996)
Children	1
Relatives	Brendan Coogan (brother) Martin Coogan (brother) Aidan McArdle (cousin)

Stephen John Coogan (born 14 October 1965) is a famous English-Irish actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He has won many awards, including four BAFTA Awards and three British Comedy Awards. He was also nominated for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

Coogan is best known for his character Alan Partridge. Alan is a funny media personality who often says the wrong thing. Coogan created Alan Partridge with Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris. This character appeared in TV shows like I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002) and the movie Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013).

Coogan started his career in the 1980s. He did voices for the puppet show Spitting Image and for TV ads. He became more famous in movies after starring in The Parole Officer and 24 Hour Party People in 2002. He also played himself with Rob Brydon in the The Trip TV series and movies.

In 1999, Coogan started his own production company, Baby Cow Productions, with Henry Normal. In 2013, he helped write, produce, and star in the film Philomena. This movie earned him nominations for major awards like the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Academy Awards. Coogan has also acted in serious roles, such as Marie Antoinette (2006). He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for playing Stan Laurel in Stan & Ollie (2018).

Early Life and Education

Stephen John Coogan was born on 14 October 1965 in Middleton, Lancashire. His mother, Kathleen, was a housewife, and his father, Anthony, worked for IBM. He grew up with four brothers and one sister. His family was Roman Catholic and believed that education was very important.

Coogan's older brother, Martin, is a musician. His younger brother, Brendan, is a TV presenter. Coogan's mother is from County Mayo, Ireland. His father was born in Manchester to Irish parents who moved there before the First World War.

Coogan went to St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School and Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School. He was good at doing impressions (copying people's voices and actions). He wanted to go to drama school. After trying five times, he got a place at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama. There, he met John Thomson, who he would work with later.

Career Highlights

Becoming Alan Partridge

Coogan as Alan Partridge signing copies of his spoof autobiography

Coogan began his career as a comedian and impressionist. He did voice work for TV ads and the funny puppet show Spitting Image. In 1992, he won the Perrier Award for his comedy show with John Thomson.

During his time on the Radio 4 comedy show On the Hour, Coogan created Alan Partridge. Alan is a funny character who makes fun of British sports presenters. Coogan described Alan as someone who loves England, has old-fashioned ideas, and sometimes has bad taste. Alan often says awkward things and thinks he is more important than he is.

In 1992, Alan Partridge got his own Radio 4 show called Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. On the Hour then became a TV show called The Day Today in 1994. Later that year, Knowing Me Knowing You also became a TV show.

In 1997, Coogan starred as Alan Partridge in the BBC sitcom I'm Alan Partridge. This show followed Alan's life working at a small radio station. The show won two BAFTAs. A second series was made in 2002. Many people love Alan Partridge. Vanity Fair called him a "British national treasure".

Other characters Coogan created include Tommy Saxondale and Tony Ferrino. Coogan and his writing partner Henry Normal started Baby Cow Productions in 1999. They have produced many popular shows like The Mighty Boosh, Gavin & Stacey, and the Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa movie.

Film Roles and Stand-up Comedy

Coogan starred in the film 24 Hour Party People (2002), playing the real-life record label boss, Tony Wilson. In 2006, he had a small role in the Little Britain Christmas special. Coogan has also played himself in movies, like in Jim Jarmusch's 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes. In 2006, he starred with Rob Brydon in A Cock and Bull Story.

The first movie Coogan co-wrote with Henry Normal was The Parole Officer. He also acted in this film. Coogan played Octavius, a miniature Roman general, in the Night at the Museum movies. He acted alongside Owen Wilson, who played a miniature cowboy. In 2007, Coogan appeared in the TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In 2008, Coogan went on his first stand-up comedy tour in ten years. The tour was called "Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and other less successful characters." He brought back some of his old characters, including Paul Calf and Alan Partridge. The show got better as the tour went on, and many people enjoyed it.

The Trip and Philomena

Coogan (left) and Rob Brydon at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival

In 2010, Coogan worked again with Rob Brydon and Michael Winterbottom on the BBC2 show The Trip. In this show, he and Brydon travel around northern restaurants. This show was so popular that it was followed by movies: The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2017), and The Trip to Greece (2020).

Alan Partridge also returned in 2010 with short online videos called Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge. He also released two funny memoirs, I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan (2011) and Nomad (2016). The movie Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa came out in 2013. Coogan said that making Alpha Papa was the hardest he had ever worked.

Coogan's most praised work is the film Philomena (2013). He co-wrote, produced, and starred in it with Judi Dench. He played journalist Martin Sixsmith, who helps a former nun, Philomena Lee, find her son after many years. The movie was very popular and earned great reviews. Coogan won the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for this film. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.

Coogan (left) with Stephen Frears at a screening for Philomena

In 2018, Coogan played the comedian Stan Laurel in the movie Stan & Ollie. He acted alongside American actor John C. Reilly, who played Oliver Hardy. Critics praised Coogan's performance. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. In 2019, Alan Partridge returned to the BBC with This Time with Alan Partridge.

Recent Work

In April 2022, Coogan started a new Alan Partridge tour called Stratagem. Critics noted that Coogan now seems to really enjoy playing Partridge. Coogan also starred in the 2022 film The Lost King. He played the husband of writer Philippa Langley, who found the bones of King Richard III.

Coogan played Jimmy Savile in the BBC One series The Reckoning (2023). Coogan said he thought carefully about taking on this role. He felt the story, though difficult, needed to be told. His acting in the series was mostly praised by critics. He was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. Coogan also appeared in the 2024 film Joker: Folie à Deux.

Filming for the next Alan Partridge project, And Did Those Feet... With Alan Partridge, began in early 2024. Coogan is also starring in a London play version of the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove. The play opened in October 2024.

Personal Life

Coogan has lived in East Sussex, England, for many years. He married Caroline Hickman in 2002, and they divorced in 2005. He has one daughter from a previous relationship.

Coogan was raised Catholic but is now an atheist. He enjoys cars and used to own several Ferraris. In March 2023, he gained Irish citizenship. He has said he is "half-Irish."

Political Views

Coogan has supported different political parties in the UK, including the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party. He believes that the Conservative Party looks down on ordinary people. In 2013, he said he supported getting rid of the British monarchy.

In August 2014, Coogan was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter. The letter hoped that Scotland would vote to stay part of the United Kingdom in the Scottish independence referendum.

Coogan supported the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 general election. He spoke at a rally for Corbyn. In November 2019, he signed another letter supporting Corbyn in the 2019 general election.

In September 2023, Coogan said he would vote for the Liberal Democrats in the 2024 general election. He said this was because they were "best placed to kick the Tories out." In June 2024, he supported the Green Party.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Awards and Nominations

Coogan's show Steve Coogan in character with John Thomson won the Perrier Award in 1992. He has won many awards for his TV work, including British Comedy Awards and BAFTAs. In 2003, The Observer newspaper listed him as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In 2005, other comedians voted him among the top 20 greatest comedy acts ever.

Stand-up Tours

Images for kids

• 

  Partridge at the Hollywood Cinema

See also

In Spanish: Steve Coogan para niños

• List of British Academy Award nominees and winners
• Martin Brennan (character)