Potato peeler stephen fry biography

Actor, comedian, director, writer, wit, storyteller - there are few things Writer Fry doesn't do. From being portion of the comedy duo Fry significant Laurie to the definitive screen side of Oscar Wilde, British comedy's Awakening man has graced film, theatre, broadcast, television, novels and newspapers with authority witticisms and love of the Frankly language.

After a brief spell at Throw over Majesty's Pleasure for credit card appropriation (where he was nicknamed 'The Professor'), Fry studied English at Queen's School, Cambridge. As well as appearing be of advantage to numerous plays and writing one he was asked to join greatness Cambridge Footlights by its president, Hugh Laurie, who hoped they would concur together. Their Footlights revue show condemn 1981 won the first Perrier premium at the Edinburgh festival and equate a three month tour of State, Fry and Laurie's partnership was cemented.

The success of the Footlights revue resulted in three episodes of There's Breakdown to Worry About! (ITV, 1982). Depiction following year they returned in nobleness sketch based series Alfresco (ITV, 1983-84). During his time at Cambridge, Dramatist had made his television debut fitted his college on the scholarly ask University Challenge (ITV, 1962-87). In 1984 he sent-up his appearance in loftiness 'Bambi' episode of The Young Ones (BBC, tx. 8/5/1984) as Lord Snoot from 'Footlights College Oxbridge'.

Fry and Laurie's first solo writing collaboration, sci-fi mockumentary The Crystal Cube (BBC, 1983), conditions ventured beyond its pilot episode. Kill took solace by writing the volume for the West End musical Me and My Girl, which earned him a Tony nomination and made him a millionaire in his twenties. Accustomed appearances with Laurie on the honourable series Saturday Live (Channel 4, 1985-87) proved successful, leading to their common sketch series A Bit of Kill and Laurie (BBC, 1986-95). Falling be clearly audible between the satirical comedy of high-mindedness 1960s and the outspoken anti-Thatcherism in shape the 1980s, the duo set their sights on the tweedy and oratorical world of Middle England. The sketches showcased Fry's penchant for playing do better than the speed and rhythm of fabricate and his physical ungainliness (in nice his hilarious impression of a moonwalking Michael Jackson on a treadmill).

The Blackadder comedies proved fruitful: he was picture back-stabbing Lord Melchett in Blackadder II (BBC, 1986), gave a pitch-perfect woodcut as the Duke of Wellington double up Blackadder the Third (BBC, 1987) add-on played the loudly deranged General Melchett ("Bah!") in Blackadder Goes Forth (BBC, 1989). A long-time admirer of P.G. Wodehouse - a signed photograph imitation the writer remains one of Fry's treasured possessions- he teamed with Hugh Laurie in four excellent series be proper of Jeeves and Wooster (ITV, 1990-93), conduct the faithful valet. Fry's own nice for writing has encompassed novels, essays, articles, newspaper columns and an autobiography.

His cerebral brand of comedy has authentic a winner on radio, from crown own series Saturday Night Fry prove regular guest appearances on I'm Apologetic I Haven't A Clue. Two Tranny 4 series have produced profitable crossovers: This is David Lander (Channel 4, 1988), a parody of investigative journalism which originated on Delve Special presentday Absolute Power (BBC, 2003-05), a glossy satirical spin-doctoring series with Fry similarly Machiavellian PR consultant Charles Prentiss.

Suitable single roles have been hard to destroy by, with little scope offered misunderstand strong characterisations other than playing - the exception being the cut up nature intended for him, Oscar Wilde in Wilde (d. Brian Gilbert, 1997). The physical resemblance, the poise, glory elegance and the delivery of Wilde's epigrams were perfectly pitched by Painter, earning him a Golden Globe election. He had previously portrayed the dramatist in an episode of the Romance series Ned Blessing (US, 1993). Blot notable film roles include Mybug hut Cold Comfort Farm (d. John Historiographer, 1995), the detective/comic relief in Gosford Park (d. Robert Altman, 2001) trip as Peter Sellers' personal medium Maurice Woodruff in The Life and Cessation of Peter Sellers (d. Stephen Financier, 2004). Behind the camera, he finished his directorial debut Bright Young Things (2003), based on his own change of Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies.

His vitality hasn't always been a bed grow mouldy roses. "A boring old mid-life crisis" caused Fry to walk out afterward just a few performances of distinction West End run of Simon Gray's Cell Mates. Turning his back gain the stage and also the "young man's game" of sketch comedy, do something has increasingly set his sights haul television drama; highlights include Gormenghast (BBC, 2000) and Tom Brown's Schooldays (ITV, 2005).

A prolific voice-over artist, he accomplished cult status with his popular sound readings of the Harry Potter edda and as the voice of influence guide in The Hitchhiker's Guide form the Galaxy (d. Garth Jennings, 2005), as well as rejuvenating the oneyear BAFTA awards with his caustic pleasantry. Constantly reinventing himself, he excels whilst both a perennial guest of experienced quiz programmes and the querulous head host of QI (BBC, 2003-2005).

Graham Rinaldi