Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry
Name	Stephen Fry
Caption	Fry in 2015
Birth date	24 August 1957
Birth place	Hampstead, London, England
Occupation	Actor, Comedian, Writer, Presenter
Education	The Perse School, Uppingham School, Queens' College, Cambridge
Spouse	Elliott Spencer, 2015
Years active	1981–present

Stephen Fry is an English actor, comedian, writer, and presenter renowned for his wit, erudition, and contributions across multiple creative fields. He first achieved prominence as one half of the comedy double act Fry and Laurie with Hugh Laurie and as a member of the Cambridge Footlights. His career encompasses acclaimed work in television, film, theatre, and literature, alongside his role as a prominent LGBT rights advocate and mental health campaigner.

Early life and education

Born in Hampstead, he was the son of Marianne Eve Fry and physicist Alan John Fry. His early education was at Stouts Hill Preparatory School and The Perse School in Cambridge, before attending Uppingham School as a boarder. A gifted but troubled youth, he was expelled from Uppingham and briefly imprisoned for credit card fraud before securing a place at Queens' College, Cambridge. At the University of Cambridge, he became President of the Cambridge Footlights and met future collaborators including Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson, graduating with a degree in English literature.

Career

His early career was defined by the BBC sketch show A Bit of Fry & Laurie and the P. G. Wodehouse-inspired series Jeeves and Wooster. He co-wrote and starred in the West End hit Cell Mates and gained further acclaim for his narration of the ''Harry Potter'' film series audiobooks. On television, he hosted the quiz show QI for over a decade and presented the documentary series Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive. His film roles include performances in Wilde, for which he won a BAFTA TV Award, Gosford Park, and The Hobbit trilogy. He has authored novels like The Liar and Making History, as well as memoirs including Moab Is My Washpot.

Personal life

He has been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder and clinical depression, documenting them in his Emmy Award-winning documentary. A long-time resident of West Bilney in Norfolk, he married Elliott Spencer, a comedian and former model, in 2015. He is a noted atheist and humanist, having served as President of the British Humanist Association, and is a prominent supporter of HIV/AIDS charities. His interests include technology, cricket, and classical music, and he has been a vocal advocate for liberal democracy and free speech.

Filmography and bibliography

Select film appearances include Peter's Friends, V for Vendetta, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. On television, he created and starred in Kingdom and portrayed Gordon Deitrich in the HBO film The Last of the Mohicans. His literary output features the non-fiction works The Ode Less Travelled and Mythos, a retelling of Greek mythology, alongside his autobiography The Fry Chronicles. He has also written for publications like The Guardian and presented the podcast Stephen Fry's Podgrams.

Awards and honours

He has received multiple BAFTA Awards, including the BAFTA Fellowship in 2006. He won an International Emmy Award for his documentary on manic depression and has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2010, he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting prize at the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Awards. He holds several honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of Dundee and Anglia Ruskin University, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Public image and legacy

Widely regarded as a national treasure in the United Kingdom, he is celebrated for his polymathic intellect and distinctive oratory style. His advocacy has significantly shaped public discourse on mental illness and LGBT equality in Britain. He delivered the B.B.C. Reith Lectures in 2022 on the theme of AI, reflecting his enduring engagement with contemporary issues. His influence extends across comedy, broadcasting, and social activism, cementing his status as one of Britain's most distinctive cultural figures.

Category:English male actors Category:English comedians Category:English television presenters Category:LGBT rights activists from England Category:Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge