Craig Ferguson Biography
Born: May 17, 1962
Date of Birth: May 17, 1962
Craig Ferguson entered the world of late-night comedy following a diverse and eclectic career that encompasses film, television and the stage. Since he took the helm of The Late Late Show on January 3, 2005, the show has set all-time viewer records in the four years that it has been on the air.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ferguson got his start in the entertainment industry as a drummer for some of the worst punk bands in the U.K., a profession he held for several years. Following his musical stint, he began bartending in a local pub in Glasgow, where he was introduced to Michael Boyd, the artistic director of The Tron Theatre in Glasgow, who persuaded Ferguson to give acting a go. After several low-paying acting gigs, Ferguson discovered he had a knack for comedy and was soon the star of his own BBC television show, The Ferguson Theory.
Ferguson has written the feature films The Big Tease and Saving Grace. In 2003, he made his directorial debut with I'll Be There, which he also wrote and starred in. I'll Be There went on to receive the Audience Award for Best Film at the Aspen, Dallas, and Valencia Film Festivals. Ferguson was also named "Best New Director" at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Ferguson's other film credits include Niagra Motel, Lenny the Wonder Dog, Prendimi l'anima, Life Without Dick, Chain of Fools, Born Romantic and The Big Tease. Since coming into his own on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and earning his first Emmy nomination in 2006, Ferguson has seem to become the topic of conversation within the media and a growing trend of success in 2010. However, he continued to take on film roles, especially voice-overs. Some of his popular titles include How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Winnie the Pooh (2011) and Brave (2012).
In February 2008 he succeeded in becoming a US Citizen, mentioning that this is his home after thirteen years and "my heart is here." Soon after, Ferguson landed himself the biggest date of all: a date with President Bush hosting the White House Correspondence Dinner. Critics raved about his witty and comical deliverance speech to the 3,000 attendees who included political journalists, celebrities, and Washington's power players.
In Fall of 2009, Harper Collins published Ferguson's memoir America On Purpose, a book about why and how he became an American. The book was listed on the New York Times bestseller list and continues to sell well. Ferguson also serves on the board of the Lollipop Theater Network. The mission of the Lollipop Theater Network is to bring movies that are currently in theatrical release to hospitalized children facing chronic and life-threatening illness nationwide.
Ferguson is married to third wife Megan Wallace Cunningham. He has a son, Milo, from his second marriage.