Born:
February 14, 1970
in
Brockworth, Gloucestershire
Best Known For:
Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Star Trek.
Early-life:
Born Simon John Beckingham in Gloucester on February 14, 1970, to a civil servant and a jazz musician. He took the surname of his stepfather. In 1991, he graduated from Bristol University with a degree in theatre, film and TV - David Walliams was in the year below him. Simon ditched any musical ambitions to follow his alternative dream of becoming a comedian. He started out doing stand-up at various clubs in Bristol before heading for London in 1993.
Career:
Pegg quickly gained a fanbase and performed his acclaimed one-man show at major venues in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. His first TV appearance was in 1995's Six Pairs of Pants, followed by Saturday Live and a two-year stint in ITV sitcom Faith in the Future. Other early projects include Big Train and Is It Bill Bailey? He co-wrote cult, award-winning sitcom Spaced with friend Jessica Stevenson. He has since reinforced his standing as one of Britain's leading performers with appearances in Band of Brothers, 24 Hour Party People (2002), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Mission: Impossible III (2006) and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), Hot Fuzz (2007), Run Fatboy Run (2007), Star Trek (2009) and its sequel Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Paul (2011) and The World's End (2013).
Quote:
"Comedy has got a lot more self-reflexive in the past 15 years. Our lives are so heavily constructed by the media, how could you not talk about it?"
Trivia:
He was the drummer in a band when he was 16.