Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg (born Simon John Beckingham, 14.2.1970)

Simon Pegg is a British comedian, actor, writer and director. His career hit a high with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, though he had previously gained a following from the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced.

Simon Pegg: Childhood

Simon Pegg was born to Gillian and John Beckingham, in Brockworth, Gloucestershire. His father was a keyboard salesman and jazz musician and his mother a civil servant. John and Gillian divorced when Simon was seven years old and he took the surname Pegg when his mother re-married.

After attending a number of primary and secondary schools, Simon Pegg attended Stratford-Upon Avon College in order to study English literature and performance studies. He then graduated with a degree in drama from the University of Bristol. Whilst in Bristol, he appeared in a production of Victory by Howard Barker, alongside the playwrights Sarah Kane and David Greig.

Simon Pegg: Career

Simon Pegg moved to London in 1993, where he started performing on the stand-up comedy circuit. Two years later, he went to the Edinburgh festival with his one-man show. As a result, he was invited to perform around Australia and New Zealand in 1996 and 1997.

Pegg's stand-up performances also led to him appearing in Asylum, for the Paramount Comedy Channel, along with Jessica Stevenson, Julian Barrett and Edgar Wright. He also appeared in Six Pairs of Pants, Faith in the Future, Big Train (with Mark Heap and Kevin Eldon) and Hippies (with Sally Phillips).

During this time in his career, Simon Pegg also wrote for the Radio 4 show The 99p Challenge.

Pegg created and co-wrote the sitcom Spaced with Jessica Stevenson from 1999. Pegg's close friend Nick Frost was brought in to the show, which also starred Julia Deakin and Mark Heap.

Along with the Spaced director, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg went on to co-write Shaun of the Dead, a comedy zombie film. The film starred Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Peter Serafinowicz and Dylan Moran. Out of respect, the notorious horror movie director George A. Romero invited Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright to make cameo appearances in his film Land of the Dead.

Simon Pegg has also had a number of small roles in a variety of TV shows, including the comedy Black Books, starring Bill Bailey and Dylan Moran. He also had a minor role in 24 Hour Party People, playing the journalist Mick Middles. The film also starred Steve Coogan.

Following the success of Shaun of the Dead, Pegg started working in Hollywood. He appeared in Mission Impossible III, with Ethan Hawke and Tom Cruise. In 2006, Pegg worked alongside David Schwimmer in Big Nothing. That same year, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright finished their second feature film together. Entitled Hot Fuzz, the film starred Nick Frost once more, as well as Pegg, Jim Broadbent and Timothy Dalton.

The next film to star Simon Pegg was the 2007, David Schwimmer-produced Run, Fatboy Run, which also starred Thandie Newton and Hank Azaria.

2009 was another pivotal year for Simon Pegg, as he played the role of Scotty in Star Trek. The film also featured Chris Pine, Zachary Pinto and Karl Urban and was directed by JJ Abrams.

Simon Pegg: Personal Life

Simon Pegg and Maureen McCann married in 2005 in Glasgow. They have a daughter named Minnie, born in 2009.

Simon Pegg is godfather to Chris Martin (of Coldplay)'s daughter, Apple.