Short Biography

Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English comedian, actor, columnist and presenter of radio and television. Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK for presenting a Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother`s Big Mouth, and for his radio show, among other television series and award ceremonies. He has also appeared in a number of films, including the romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, St Trinian`s, and Bedtime Stories.

Brand is noted for his flamboyant style, and he has described himself as resembling "an S&M Willy Wonka". He is also noted for various controversies that have surrounded him in the British media, such as the 2008 prank calls that led to his resignation from the BBC.

Early life
Brand was born in Grays, Essex, England, the only child of Barbara Elizabeth (née Nichols) and Ronald Henry Brand, a photographer. His parents separated when Brand was six months old. His mother brought him up on her own, giving Brand a somewhat isolated and lonely childhood

Brand made his theatrical debut at age 15 as "Fat Sam" in a school production of Bugsy Malone, which prompted him to become an actor. He began working as an extra and applied to study at the Italia Conti Academy. He was accepted, and Essex council funded his tuition for an introductory year, with potential funding for three additional years. Brand joined the academy in 1991. During this time he began smoking marijuana, became bulimic, and eventually took LSD. Brand was expelled during his introductory year for his behaviour. Afterward, Brand had small acting roles in the children`s show Mud and in The Bill.

In 1995, Brand applied for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Drama Centre London and was accepted to Drama Centre. By this point he was a heroin addict and an alcoholic. He was expelled in the final term of his last year for smashing a glass over his head and then stabbing himself in the chest and arms because of poor reactions to one of his performances. After leaving Drama Centre, Brand decided to focus on comedy and began writing material with Karl Theobald, whom he met at Drama Centre. They formed a short-lived double act, Theobald and Brand on Ice.


Career

Stand-up
Brand`s first significant stand-up appearance was at the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year final in 2000. Although he finished fourth, his performance attracted the attention of an agent, Nigel Klarfeld of Gagged and Bound Comedy Ltd. That year, he also made his Edinburgh debut as one-third of the stand-up show Pablo Diablo`s Cryptic Triptych, alongside ventriloquist Mark Felgate and Anglo-Iranian comic Shappi Khorsandi.

In 2004, he also took his first one-man show, the confessional Better Now, to the Edinburgh Festival, giving an honest account of his heroin addiction. He returned the following year with Eroticised Humour. He launched his first nationwide tour, Shame, in 2006. Brand drew on embarrassing incidents in his own life and the tabloid press`s treatment of him since he became famous. The show was released on DVD as Russell Brand: Live. His second nationwide tour, in 2007, was called Russell Brand: Only Joking and released on DVD as Russell Brand: Doin` Life.

Brand appeared in a sketch and performed stand-up at the 2006 Secret Policeman`s Ball. In March 2007, he co-hosted an evening of the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs with Noel Fielding. In December 2007, Brand performed for HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip as a

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Joby Harte [Friend]

Courtney Love [Friend]

David Walliams [Friend]

Ross Lee [Friend]

Jimmy Carr [Friend]

Matt Morgan [Friend]

Noel Fielding [Friend]

Jonathan Ross [Friend]

Noel Gallagher [Friend]

Pets

Morrisey Cat

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