Russell Brand Biography

RUSSELL BRAND

Date of Birth: June 4, 1975

Russell Brand started his career as a stand-up comedian and outrageous talk show host who was forced to resign after leaving obscene messages on Coronation Street actor Andrew Sachs' answering machine, which was later broadcast.

Since landing acting gigs on British TV shows such as Mud and The Bill, he has managed to slowly make his way onto the big screen with supporting roles in movies such as Penelope (2006) with Christina Ricci and James McAvoy and in the Disney film Bedtime Stories, starring Adam Sandler. His role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), written by and starring Jason Segel, was more substantial, playing Kristen Bell's rocker boyfriend, Aldous Snow.

In September 2008, Brand further cemented his fame in the U.S. when he hosted the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA). The year 2009 saw the U.S. release of Brand's writing debut, "My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs and Stand-Up." The autobiography, already a huge success in the United Kingdom, went on to stay on The New York Times' bestseller list for five weeks in a row. Continuing his stand-up tour in the U.S., Brand's third live DVD was released after originally airing on Comedy Central. The year 2009 ended on an even brighter note for Brand, when he assumed the role as host of the MTV Video Music Awards for the second year in a row and garnered the biggest VMA audience since 2004, with nearly nine million viewers.

In 2010, Brand reprised his out-of-control rock star persona, Aldous Snow, for the film Get Him to the Greek opposite Jonah Hill. He has also lent his voice to the role of Dr. Nefario in the 3D CGI film Despicable Me (2010), which also includes the vocal talents of Steve Carell and Jason Segel. Some of Brand's other films include the title role in the remake of Arthur (2011) and the part of Lonny in the big screen adaptation of the musical Rock of Ages (2012).

Brand spent time at a American rehabilitation center for sex addiction in April 2005. He told Playboy magazine that he came to realize that sleeping with a lot of women was "pointless and futile." He married singer Katy Perry on Saturday, October 23, 2010 in a very private and spiritual ceremony, attended by the couples' closest family and friends by a Christian minister in Northern India. He says, "I try to keep my relationship with her close to the chest. It's the first time in my life I've had something I cared about this much and wanted to protect." After just 14 months of marriage, Brand filed for divorce in December 2011 because of "irreconcilable differences." After reaching an agreement on financial issues, the split was finalized by a judge in February 2012 and will become effective as of July 2012.

A recovered heroin addict, Brand is a vegetarian and has two cats, Morrissey and Krusty. In November 2016, he announced the birth of his first child, a daughter named Mabel Brand, with girlfriend Laura Gallacher, whom he married in August 2017.

He's currently touring his stand-up show, Re:Birth, which will air on Netflix later this year.

Filmography:

Despicable Me 3 (2017)
Army of One (2016)
Trolls (2016)
Paradise (2013)
Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Rock of Ages (2012)
Arthur (2011)
Hop (2011)
The Tempest (2010)
Despicable Me (2010)
Get Him to the Greek (2010)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
St. Trinian’s (2007)
Penelope (2006)