What English comedian, who celebrates a birthday today, is known for characters such as Ali G, Borat, and Bruno, and will be starring as Freddie Mercury in an upcoming Queen movie?
"Ali G Alistair Leslie Graham, better known as Ali G, is a satirical fictional character created and performed by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Originally appearing on Channel 4's ""The 11 O'Clock Show"", and subsequently as the title character of Channel 4's ""Da Ali G Show"" in 2000 and on HBO in 2003–2004, he is also the title character of the film ""Ali G Indahouse"". In December 2007, in an interview with ""The Daily Telegraph"", Baron Cohen announced that Ali G, along with Borat, had been retired. However, Ali G returned at the 2012 British Comedy Awards to accept Baron"
"Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 194624 November 1991) was a British singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. He is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music, and was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Mercury was born of Parsi descent in Zanzibar, and grew up there and in India before moving with his family to Middlesex, England, in his late teens. He formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Mercury wrote numerous"
"McCormack (as the character Will Truman) on ""Will & Grace"" in the October 2018 episode titled ""Tex and the City"". Will once wanted to be Freddie Mercury in a talent show when he was little, but his mother forbade it leading to Will dressing as Mercury at the end of Jack's grandson's talent show in Texas. Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 194624 November 1991) was a British singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. He is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of popular"
"Al Murray Alastair James Hay Murray (known as Al) (born 10 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor and writer. Murray's career began working with Harry Hill at BBC Radio 4. He received acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, before launching his ""Pub Landlord"" persona (which he describes as a ""know-all know-nothing blowhard who knows the answer to every question even though he hasn't been asked any of them""). This in turn led to the 2000 Sky TV sitcom ""Time Gentlemen Please"". Oxford educated, Murray's comedy is often hard edged social and political satire. He continues to perform as a"
"Khalid Gonçalves Khalid Gonçalves (Arabic: خالد Khālid, Portuguese: ɡõˈsaɫvɨʃ) (born Paul Pires Gonçalves; September 8, 1971 in New York City) is a Portuguese American Muslim actor and musician who is best known for his portrayal of British rock icon Freddie Mercury in the Off Broadway play """". He is also the co-founder of NahNotOutsideMyHouse! Productions. One of Gonçalves' earliest professional stage appearances was in December 1996, when he was a member of the Waterloo Bridge Theatre Company. He appeared in two plays in one evening: Oscar Wilde's ""The Importance of Being Earnest"" and Anton Chekhov's ""The Bear"". In ""Earnest"", he"
"in """". In a September 2010 BBC interview, Brian May announced in that Sacha Baron Cohen was to play Mercury in a biographical film about the band. ""Time"" commented with approval on his singing ability and visual similarity to Mercury. However, in July 2013, Baron Cohen dropped out of the role due to ""creative differences"" between him and the surviving band members. In December 2013, it was announced that Ben Whishaw, known for playing Q in the James Bond film ""Skyfall"", was a possible replacement for Baron Cohen in the role of Mercury, but Whishaw pulled out a few months"
"Ronald Forfar Ronald Forfar (born 1939, in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK ) is a British actor who has appeared in many roles since the 1970s, including the role of Freddie Boswell in Carla Lane's comedy ""Bread"". Other parts include a tax inspector, Costello The Second, in Alan Bleasdale's ""The Muscle Market"" (a Boys from the Blackstuff prequel) and The Soothsayer in Herbert Wise's BBC television adaption of ""Julius Caesar"". Shakespearian roles include Bates in ""Henry V"" and First Officer in Laurence Olivier's version of ""King Lear"". He has also appeared in The Sweeney, Tutti Frutti, Chucklevision (as 'Professor Frimley'), The"
"portrayed by actor James Floyd. He was played by actor John Blunt in ""The Freddie Mercury Story: Who Wants to Live Forever"", first broadcast in the UK on Channel 5 in November 2016. Although the programme was criticised for focusing on Mercury's love life and sexuality, Blunt's performance and likeness to the singer did receive praise. In 2018, David Avery portrayed Mercury in the ""Urban Myths"" comedy series in an episode focusing on the antics backstage at Live Aid, and Kayvan Novak portrayed Mercury in an episode titled ""The Sex Pistols vs. Bill Grundy"". He was also portrayed by Eric"
"Toby Williams (comedian) Toby Williams is a British actor, writer and award-winning stand-up comedian (performing both as himself and as Dr George Ryegold). He appears in the movies High-Rise, Paddington and The Drowning of Arthur Braxton. He has appeared in Holby City (BBC 1), Morgana Robinson's The Agency (BBC 2) and in the sitcoms Bull (UKTV GOLD), Raised By Wolves (Channel 4) and Trying Again (Sky Living) and is soon to appear in Carters Get Rich (Sky 1) and Benidorm (ITV). He appears in Island Queen – nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Short Film – and is known"
"Graham Moffatt Graham Victor Harold Moffatt (6 December 1919 – 2 July 1965) was an English character actor and comedian who was most active in the 1930s and 1940s. He is best known for a number of films where he appeared with Will Hay and Moore Marriott as 'Albert': an insolent, overweight, overgrown-schoolboy type character, loosely reminiscent of Billy Bunter. Born in Hammersmith, London, the son of Frederick Victor Moffatt (1896–1977) and Daisy Eleonora née Whiteside (1895–1969), both of whom outlived him. He was born on 6 December 1919, exactly 31 years after Will Hay, with whom Moffatt would become"
"been commemorated by plaques elsewhere, including those at Teddington Studios, BBC Television Centre and Blackpool Comedy Carpet. Harry Worth Harry Bourlon Illingsworth (20 November 1917 – 20 July 1989), professionally known as Harry Worth, was an English comedy actor, comedian and ventriloquist. Unlike the brash humour of other comedians at the time, Worth portrayed a charming, gentle and genial character, totally bemused by life, creating comedic confusion wherever he went. Worth was born in Hoyland Common, West Riding of Yorkshire, the youngest child of a miner. He had ten siblings. When he was only five months old his father died"
"In July 2013, Baron Cohen left the project due to creative differences. Allegedly, he had wanted a ""gritty R-rated tell-all"" focused on Mercury, while the band hoped for a PG-rated film about the band. May confirmed later in 2013 that Baron Cohen had left the project on good terms. Comments by May and Roger Taylor suggested that Baron Cohen was too well known as a comedian and prankster (due largely to his fictional personae Ali G and Borat), and that his presence in the film would be distracting. In March 2016, Baron Cohen spoke about misunderstandings with the surviving members"
"2012 due to the venue, technical and timing issues. Roy Chubby Brown Roy Chubby Brown (born Royston Vasey; 3 February 1945) is an English stand-up comedian, famous for his sarcastic blue humour. His free speaking style and lack of concern for political correctness has on occasion been controversial. Brown was born at 78 Broadway in Grangetown, North Riding of Yorkshire. He has a sister named Barbara. He left home at the age of 14, spent time living rough, and moved from job to job, at one point joining the Merchant Navy. He also spent time in a borstal and prison."
"in Greenwich, England. Frederick Hobson Leslie Frederick George Hobson, known as Fred Leslie (1 April 1855 – 7 December 1892), was an English actor, singer, comedian and dramatist. Beginning his career in operetta, Leslie became best known for starring in, and writing (under the pseudonym A. C. Torr, a pun on the word ""actor""), popular burlesque plays and other comic works of theatre. Leslie was born in Woolwich, London. He was the youngest son of Charles Hobson, a wealthy military outfitter, and Sarah Hobson, ""née"" Pye. Leslie was educated in Woolwich, Lewisham and Pas-de-Calais. As a young man, he performed"
"Frederick Hobson Leslie Frederick George Hobson, known as Fred Leslie (1 April 1855 – 7 December 1892), was an English actor, singer, comedian and dramatist. Beginning his career in operetta, Leslie became best known for starring in, and writing (under the pseudonym A. C. Torr, a pun on the word ""actor""), popular burlesque plays and other comic works of theatre. Leslie was born in Woolwich, London. He was the youngest son of Charles Hobson, a wealthy military outfitter, and Sarah Hobson, ""née"" Pye. Leslie was educated in Woolwich, Lewisham and Pas-de-Calais. As a young man, he performed in amateur plays"
"Bohemian Rhapsody (film) Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 biographical film about the British rock band Queen. It follows singer Freddie Mercury's life, leading to Queen's Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985. The film is a British-American joint venture produced by 20th Century Fox, New Regency, GK Films, and Queen Films, with Fox serving as distributor. Directed by Bryan Singer, it is written by Anthony McCarten, and produced by Graham King and former Queen manager Jim Beach. It stars Rami Malek as Mercury, with Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander and Mike Myers"
"Vincent Franklin Vincent Warren Franklin, (born 3 November 1966, Bradford, Yorkshire, England) is an English actor, best known for his roles in comedy television programmes. He has appeared in a number of feature films including the Mike Leigh films ""Mr Turner"", ""Vera Drake"" and ""Topsy-Turvy"", and the 2006 films ""Confetti"" and ""The Illusionist"", as well as ""The Bourne Identity"". He has had roles in many TV series including ""Five Days"", ""Doc Martin"", ""Being Human"", ""Grandma's House"", ""Happy Valley"" as DSI Andy Shepherd, as Rowan the trainer in ""The Office"", Nick Jowitt in ""Twenty Twelve"", PR guru Stewart Pearson in ""The"
"pure and simple"". In interviews, Sacha Baron Cohen has stated that Westwood, including his accent, was an inspiration for his fictional Ali G character. Westwood has been accused in the media of giving false statements about his age and background. In 2000, at the age of 43, Westwood insisted to a ""Guardian"" journalist that he was aged 27. Tim Westwood Timothy William Westwood (born 3 October 1957) is an English DJ and presenter of radio and television. He is often referred to by other DJs and artists appearing on his shows simply as Westwood. He presented the MTV UK show"
"Julian Barratt Julian Barratt Pettifer (born 4 May 1968), known professionally as Julian Barratt, is an English comedian, actor, musician, music producer and member of surreal comedy troupe The Mighty Boosh known for his partnerships with fellow comedian and ""Boosh"" member Noel Fielding. He played Howard Moon in their cult-comedy BBC sitcom of ""the same name""""."" Alongside Fielding, he has starred in ""Unnatural"" ""Acts"", ""Nathan"" ""Barley"" and ""Garth Marenghi's Darkplace"". Barrett also co-wrote and starred in the 2017 film ""Mindhorn"". He currently stars in the critically acclaimed Channel 4 black-humour sitcom ""Flowers."" Barratt was born in Leeds. He adopted his"
"Harry Worth Harry Bourlon Illingsworth (20 November 1917 – 20 July 1989), professionally known as Harry Worth, was an English comedy actor, comedian and ventriloquist. Unlike the brash humour of other comedians at the time, Worth portrayed a charming, gentle and genial character, totally bemused by life, creating comedic confusion wherever he went. Worth was born in Hoyland Common, West Riding of Yorkshire, the youngest child of a miner. He had ten siblings. When he was only five months old his father died from injuries resulting from an industrial accident. He left school at 14 and was a miner for"
"Barry Humphries John Barry Humphries, (born 17 February 1934) is an Australian comedian, actor, satirist, artist, and author. He is best known for writing and playing his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. He is also a film producer and script writer, a star of London's West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer, and an accomplished landscape painter. For his delivery of dadaist and absurdist humour to millions, biographer Anne Pender described Humphries in 2010 as not only ""the most significant theatrical figure of our time … [but] the most significant comedian to emerge"
"Dec 1st 2016, Wyburn created a red glitter portrait of singer & Queen icon, Freddie Mercury, who died of the disease in 1991. Throughout March and April 2017, the Welsh language channel S4C, aired 7 consecutive art segments featuring 7 unique artworks being created by Wyburn. These included a painting of Gareth Bale with his feet, Sam Warburton with mud, Zoella with glitter and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow created using sand and seaweed on Barry Island beachfront. In May 2017, Wyburn created a celebratory image of Skepta for the British music company The Famous Company by using images"
"Equity register already. John Sessions John Gibb Marshall (born 11 January 1953), better known by the stage name John Sessions, is a British actor and comedian. He is known for comedy improvisation in television shows such as ""Whose Line Is It Anyway?""; as a panellist on ""QI""; and as a character actor in numerous films, both in the UK and in Hollywood. Sessions was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. He has a twin sister, Maggie, and an older brother. Sessions was educated at Bedford Modern School, an independent school for boys (now co-educational), and Verulam School, St Albans, followed by"
"another draft of the script. On 4 November 2016, it was announced that Rami Malek would star as Freddie Mercury. The producers saw his work on ""Mr Robot"". He had to do a pre-recording at Abbey Road Studios, which was sent to Queen members for approval. On 21 August 2017, additional cast members were announced, including Ben Hardy as drummer Roger Taylor, Gwilym Lee as lead guitarist Brian May, and Joseph Mazzello as bass guitarist John Deacon. On 30 August 2017, it was reported that Allen Leech had been cast in the film to play Mercury's personal manager, Paul Prenter,"
"is that Baron Cohen is fiercely private: ""...according to the UK press, his publicists denied not only that he attended a party for the London premiere of ""Borat"", but also that a party even occurred."" In September 2010, representatives for Cohen confirmed that he was set to play Freddie Mercury in a biopic about the rock singer. He dropped out of the project in July 2013, citing ""creative differences"" between him and the surviving members of Queen. Queen guitarist Brian May later said that even though the band and Baron Cohen were on good terms, they felt that Cohen's presence"
"Graham Norton Graham William Walker (born 4 April 1963), known professionally as Graham Norton, is an Irish television and radio presenter, comedian, actor, and author based in the United Kingdom. He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for his comedy chat show ""The Graham Norton Show"" and an eight-time award winner, overall. Originally shown on BBC Two before moving to other slots on BBC One, it succeeded ""Friday Night with Jonathan Ross"" in BBC One's prestigious late-Friday-evening slot in 2010. He also presents on BBC Radio 2 and is the BBC television commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest, which"
"Duggie Brown Duggie Brown (born Barry Dudley; 7 August 1940 in Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English comedian and actor. He is the brother of actress and singer Lynne Perrie. Brown was a cabaret artist who also appeared on Granada Television's popular series ""The Comedians"". In 2012, ""The Comedians"" TV series celebrated 40 years with the release of a DVD ""The Original Comedians LIVE – 40th Anniversary Show"", recorded live during a summer gig in 2011 held at the Blackpool Grand theatre. The DVD featured new performances from Brown, along with Stan Boardman, Roy Walker and Mick Miller."
"three films built around Baron Cohen's characters from ""Da Ali G Show"" (2000–04): the first, ""Ali G Indahouse"", was released in 2002, and featured a cameo by Borat, and the third, ""Brüno"", was released in 2009. The film is produced by Baron Cohen's production company, Four By Two Productions (""Four By Two"" is Cockney rhyming slang for ""Jew""). The film was well received, both critically and commercially; it earned $262 million worldwide. Baron Cohen won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, as Borat, while the film was nominated for Best Motion"
"by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. On 30 September 2012, the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America unveiled a commemorative blue plaque to Karno at his former studios at 38 Southwell Road, Camberwell, in south London. Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott (26 March 1866 – 18 September 1941), best known by his stage name Fred Karno, was an English theatre impresario of the British music hall. As a comedian of slapstick he is credited with popularizing the custard-pie-in-the-face gag. During the 1890s, in order to circumvent stage censorship, Karno developed a form of sketch comedy without dialogue. Cheeky authority-defying"
"honour, with the etymology: ""I name this species after Freddie Mercury, artistic name of Farrokh Bulsara (1946–1991), superb and gifted musician and songwriter whose wonderful voice and talent still entertain millions of people around the world."" On 1 September 2016, an English Heritage blue plaque was unveiled at Mercury's home in 22 Gladstone Avenue in Feltham, west London by his sister Kashmira Cooke and Brian May. Attending the ceremony, Karen Bradley, the UK Secretary of State for Culture, called Mercury ""one of Britain's most influential musicians"", and added he ""is a global icon whose music touched the lives of millions"
"the United Kingdom: Barry Humphries John Barry Humphries, (born 17 February 1934) is an Australian comedian, actor, satirist, artist, and author. He is best known for writing and playing his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. He is also a film producer and script writer, a star of London's West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer, and an accomplished landscape painter. For his delivery of dadaist and absurdist humour to millions, biographer Anne Pender described Humphries in 2010 as not only ""the most significant theatrical figure of our time … [but] the most significant"
"the morning, with everyone else being drunk. Just make a bit of effort and you can get used to it."" He was named one of ""GQ""s 50 best dressed British men in 2015. As of late 2017 into early 2018, it was announced Fielding was expecting his first child with Lliana Bird. Lliana has confirmed on her Instagram page the couple had a child named Dali, reportedly named after Salvador Dali, but will be keeping her out of the public eye. Noel Fielding Noel Fielding (born 21 May 1973) is an English comedian, writer, actor, artist, musician and television presenter."
"in 2015 that his ex-boyfriends often resented the role they had to play in the public eye as his partner. Graham Norton Graham William Walker (born 4 April 1963), known professionally as Graham Norton, is an Irish television and radio presenter, comedian, actor, and author based in the United Kingdom. He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for his comedy chat show ""The Graham Norton Show"" and an eight-time award winner, overall. Originally shown on BBC Two before moving to other slots on BBC One, it succeeded ""Friday Night with Jonathan Ross"" in BBC One's prestigious late-Friday-evening slot in"