Tim Minchin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tim Minchin
Minchin in 2024
Birth name	Timothy David Minchin
Born	(1975-10-07) 7 October 1975 (age 49) Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
Years active	1998–present
Spouse	Sarah Minchin ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Comedy rock
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards accordion guitar
Labels	BMG

Timothy David Minchin AM (born 7 October 1975) is an Australian actor, writer, musician, poet, composer, songwriter, and comedian. He is known for his funny songs and stage shows, where he often plays the piano.

Tim has released several CDs and DVDs of his live comedy shows, performing all over the world. He has also appeared on TV in Australia, the UK, and the US. His show Darkside made him famous after it was a big hit at comedy festivals in 2005.

Beyond comedy, Tim has a background in theatre. He has acted in many stage plays and had small roles on Australian TV. A movie about him, Rock N Roll Nerd, came out in 2008. He wrote the music and lyrics for the award-winning musicals Matilda the Musical and Groundhog Day The Musical. In 2013, he played a rock star on the TV show Californication. Later, in 2019, he helped write and starred in the TV series Upright.

Tim has received special honorary degrees from universities for his amazing work in the arts. In 2020, he was given the title Member of the Order of Australia for his important contributions to performing arts and the community.

Tim Minchin's Early Life and Education

Timothy David Minchin was born in Northampton, England, on 7 October 1975. His parents, Ros and David Minchin, were Australian. He has both Australian and British citizenship. His father and grandfather were both surgeons in Perth, Australia. Tim is also related to R. E. Minchin, who started the Adelaide Zoo.

Tim moved back to Perth, Australia, with his parents when he was young. He grew up there with his older brother, Dan, and two younger sisters, Katie and Nel.

He started piano lessons at age eight but stopped after three years. He got interested in the piano again when he began writing music with his brother, Dan, who played guitar. Tim went to Christ Church Grammar School in Perth. He studied English and theatre at the University of Western Australia, graduating in 1996. In 1998, he earned a diploma in contemporary music from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Tim Minchin's Musical Comedy Style

Minchin playing the piano on stage

Tim calls his shows "funny cabaret." He sees himself more as a musician and songwriter whose songs "just happen to be funny." He once said he's a good musician for a comedian and a good comedian for a musician, but not great at either alone.

His theatre background influences his unique stage look. He usually performs barefoot with wild hair and heavy eye makeup. This contrasts with his neat suit and tails and a grand piano. Tim likes going barefoot because it makes him feel comfortable. The eye makeup helps his expressions be seen by the audience while he plays the piano. He says his look is about making fun of himself while still wanting to be a famous figure.

His shows feature his funny songs and poems. These often talk about society and his own dreams of being a rock star. Between songs, he does short stand-up comedy routines. Many of his songs discuss religion, a topic he is "a bit obsessed" with. As an atheist, he believes religion should be open to satire because it is a powerful force. He enjoys performing "Peace Anthem for Palestine," which shares his thoughts on religious conflict. His comedy also tackles other sensitive topics. For example, his song "Prejudice" jokes about the power of simple words. In 2010, he became a supporter of the British Humanist Association.

Starting His Comedy Journey (1998–2007)

Minchin performing in April 2007

After finishing his studies in 1998, Tim began writing music for documentaries and plays. In 2000, he wrote and starred in a musical called Pop. He released a CD, Sit, with his band Timmy the Dog in 2001, but it wasn't very successful. In 2002, he moved to Melbourne to find more acting work.

Tim had a tough start; he couldn't find an agent for a year. Record companies liked his music but weren't sure how to sell his mix of funny and serious songs. He decided to put all his funny songs into one live show to "get the comedy stuff off my chest."

Tim says he got into comedy "naively," having never even seen a live comedy show before performing one himself. His big break came with Darkside in 2005. It won an award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This led to a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he won the Perrier Comedy Award for Best Newcomer. His 2006 show So Rock was nominated for a top award. In 2007, he won Best Alternative Comedian at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival.

Live recordings of his 2005 and 2006 shows, Darkside and So Rock, were released as CDs. In 2007, he released a DVD called So Live, recorded at the Sydney Opera House. In 2008, he released So F**king Rock Live in the UK, with similar material.

Ready for This? Tour (2008–2010)

In August 2008, Tim launched his third solo show, Ready for This?, at the Edinburgh Fringe. He then toured it across the UK.

A live recording of this show from London was released as an album in 2009. An Australian DVD came out in 2009, followed by a UK release in 2010.

In 2009, it was announced that one of Tim's poems, "Storm," would become a short animated movie. The full movie was released on YouTube in April 2011. In the movie, he talks about alternative medicine, saying: "Do you know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? Medicine."

Tim was the subject of the winning painting by Sam Leach in the 2010 Archibald Prize, a major Australian portrait competition.

Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra (2010–2012)

Tim started a new tour called Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra in December 2010. This show was different because he performed with the Heritage Orchestra. It included new songs about prayer and logic, themes he often explores. Tim wanted to create a comedy show that would still be great in large arenas. The show toured the UK and Australia. It was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London and released on DVD and Blu-ray in November 2011.

In Australia, the show was called Tim Minchin vs. The Orchestras. He performed with the local city orchestra in each place.

BACK Tour and Apart Together Album (2019–Present)

On 30 August 2018, Tim announced he would return to touring with a new show called BACK. This was his first major tour since 2012.

The tour began in Australia and New Zealand in March and April 2019, then moved to the UK in October and November 2019. The show featured new songs like "Leaving LA" and "If This Plane Goes Down." It also included songs from his musicals, such as "When I Grow Up" from Matilda the Musical. Tim also introduced a new band that played with him throughout the show.

An encore tour of BACK started in Australia in March 2020 but was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. The tour restarted in Australia in June and July 2021, followed by a UK encore tour later that year. A recording of the final UK shows was shown in cinemas in November 2022 and released on DVD and Blu-ray in December 2022.

In March 2020, Tim signed a record deal with BMG. He released his first studio album, Apart Together, in November 2020. Before the album, he released music videos for several songs.

Apart Together came out on 20 November 2020, with a special online concert. Critics had mixed feelings about it. The Independent called it "crisply observed and tenderly considered." However, iNews said it was "nothing more than an hour-long vanity project."

In 2023, Tim announced informal solo concerts called An Unfunny Evening with Tim Minchin and His Piano. These shows feature a mix of songs from his albums, musicals, and early songwriting days. He toured these shows in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2024, he announced North American dates.

In December 2024, Tim announced five special shows with his band in Sydney in February 2025, called First at the Foundry.

Tim Minchin on Television and Radio

Tim has appeared on many Australian TV shows, including the ABC's Spicks and Specks. He has also been on Network Ten's Good News Week and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.

In the UK, Tim has been on BBC shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. On Jonathan Ross, he performed special songs he wrote for the show. In 2009, he sang "It's Like 1984" for The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. In August 2011, Tim hosted the first BBC Comedy Promenade Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

A shorter version of his So F**king Rock Live DVD has aired on British TV channel E4 several times. In May 2010, Tim's musical sitcom pilot Strings was broadcast on BBC Radio 2. It was well-received, but he decided not to make a full series.

In 2013, Tim played rock star Atticus Fetch in the TV series Californication. In 2015, he guest-starred in the Australian comedy No Activity and played Smasher in the mini-series The Secret River. In 2018, he acted in Squinters.

From 2019 to 2022, Tim starred as Lucky Flynn in the TV series Upright, which he also co-wrote. In 2020, he performed the opening and closing songs for the BAFTA awards. In 2023, Tim played Darius Cracksworth in the Australian series The Artful Dodger, a sequel to Oliver Twist. In 2024, he wrote a song for the Netflix series Eric.

Tim Minchin's Theatre Work

Early Acting Roles

Tim's background is in theatre, and he has acted in many stage productions. In 2006, he played the main role in Amadeus, a play about Mozart. He also played the main role in Hamlet in 2004. He has acted for various theatre companies in Australia. His musical theatre roles include Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha and Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Later Acting Roles

Tim played Judas Iscariot in the 2012 UK and Ireland arena tour of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. The tour was so popular it went to other countries, and a filmed version was released. He also performed this role in Australia in 2013.

In 2013, Tim made his debut with the Sydney Theatre Company in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. In 2016, he appeared in Shakespeare Live! From The RSC, celebrating William Shakespeare's birthday. He was in a sketch with famous actors like Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant.

Musical Theatre as Composer and Lyricist

Matilda the Musical

In 2008, the Royal Shakespeare Company asked Tim to write the music and lyrics for Matilda the Musical. This musical is based on the book by Roald Dahl. It turns out Tim had already tried to get permission to make a musical version of Matilda years earlier. The director, Matthew Warchus, approached Tim after seeing his Ready for This? tour.

The musical first opened in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010. It then moved to London's West End in 2011 and was a huge success. It won a record-breaking 7 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. In 2013, Matilda opened on Broadway in New York, earning 12 Tony Award nominations and winning 4. The musical has since been performed all over the world, winning many awards.

Groundhog Day

In 2015, it was announced that Tim would work again with director Matthew Warchus and the team from Matilda. He wrote the music and lyrics for the new musical Groundhog Day, based on the 1993 film. The musical first opened in London in 2016 before moving to Broadway in 2017. It was brought back to London in 2023.

Other Musicals

Before Matilda, Tim wrote music and lyrics for other musicals. These included adaptations of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and Love's Labour's Lost. He also wrote original musicals like This Blasted Earth (2004) and Somewhere...The Magical Musical of Penrith (2005).

In 2017, Tim mentioned he was interested in adapting the novel Stardust into a musical. He also said he probably wouldn't do another family musical. In a Twitter Q&A, Tim revealed he is working on a new biographical musical that is planned to open in Australia.

Tim Minchin's Film Work

Tim played Tom in the film Two Fists, One Heart, released in 2009. He also wrote a song for the movie's soundtrack.

In 2013, Tim moved to Los Angeles to work on Larrikins. This was an Australian-themed animated musical film for DreamWorks Animation. He wrote the songs and was going to co-direct it. Famous Australian actors like Hugh Jackman were set to voice characters. However, the project was cancelled in 2017. Tim said this was "unbearable" because he had turned down many other projects during those four years.

Tim co-starred as Friar Tuck in the 2018 American film Robin Hood.

In 2021, he did voice work for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and Back to the Outback. For Back to the Outback, he also wrote and performed the song "Beautiful Ugly."

In 2021, it was announced that a film version of Matilda the Musical would be made for Netflix. Tim wrote additional music and songs for this movie. The film was released in the UK and Ireland in November 2022 and on Netflix worldwide in December 2022. In 2023, he voiced Chihoohoo in Scarygirl.

Tim Minchin's Views on Atheism and Skepticism

Tim Minchin often talks about his views on atheism and skepticism in his performances. He believes his style allows him to discuss topics that might otherwise be difficult. He says that when people are laughing, their defenses are down, making it easier to talk about things like "moral hypocrisy" or prejudice.

As the son and grandson of surgeons, Tim often discusses claims about alternative medicine. He emphasizes that unbiased tests are key to knowing if something works. He explains that the big breakthrough for humanity was learning how to make decisions without personal bias. He asks, "Do you understand how powerful that is?"

Tim has always been an atheist and a realist. He has never believed in ghosts or psychics. He uses Occam's Razor, which means choosing the simplest explanation. For example, he asks, "Is it more likely that souls do circus tricks, or more likely that they're talking to dead people?" He believes that understanding why science is powerful is a step towards being "boring at dinner parties."

When asked about life in the universe, Tim said the chances of intelligent alien life are "infinitely higher than the chance there being a creator god." He gets upset by "special pleading" from people who say there's "no harm" in paranormal beliefs. He agrees there's little harm in something like reiki, but asks, "where do you draw the line?" when real evidence is needed. He believes that if you question everything, religion seems like a fantasy.

Tim Minchin's Personal Life

Tim Minchin and his wife, Sarah, married in 2001. They have a daughter and a son. They moved back to Australia from Los Angeles in December 2017 and now live in Sydney.

In 2013, the University of Western Australia gave Tim an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. This recognized his amazing work as a composer, lyricist, actor, writer, and comedian. In 2015, he received a second honorary degree, and a third in 2019. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2020. Tim supports charities like the WA Youth Theatre Company and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity.

Tim Minchin's Discography

Albums

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Singles

As Featured Artist

DVDs

• So Live (2007)
• So ... Rock Live (2008)
• Ready for This? (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra (2011)
• Back - Live (2022)

Tim Minchin's Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Stage Roles

Tim Minchin's Tours

• So Rock Tour (2007-8)
• Ready for This? Tour (2008-9)
• Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra Tour (2010-11)
• BACK: Old Songs, New Songs, F*** You Songs Tour (2019-21)
• An Unfunny Evening with Tim Minchin and His Piano Tour (2023-24)

Tim Minchin's Awards and Nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards celebrate Australian composers and songwriters each year.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards for excellence in Australian music.

Grammy Awards

Theatre Awards

• 2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Directors' Choice Award for Dark Side
• 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Perrier Comedy Award, Best Newcomer
• 2007 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, Best Alternative Act
• 2009 Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer for Tim Minchin – Ready For This?
• 2012 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical for Matilda The Musical
• 2013 What's On Stage Awards, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Jesus Christ Superstar
• 2013 Tony for Best Original Score for Matilda (Nominated)
• 2016 Logie Award, Most Outstanding Supporting Actor for The Secret River
• 2017 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical for Groundhog Day The Musical
• 2017 Tony for Best Original Score for Groundhog Day The Musical (Nominated)
• 2019 Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert for Tim Minchin: Back
• 2021 Richard Dawkins Award

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See also

In Spanish: Tim Minchin para niños