Graham norton show stephen fry biography
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Though there was much anticipation when he agreed to co-star in Simon Gray's West End drama "Cell Mates" (1995), the actor caused quite a stir after apparently quitting the production after three days once it opened to poor reviews. His latest work “The Stars’ Tennis Balls” was published in 2000. An early comment about his sexuality embodies his wry humour: "I suppose it all began when I came out of the womb.
With renewed purpose he buckled down with his studies and earned a scholarship to Cambridge, where he began coming into his own as an actor and writer. Memorable outings for the Fry comic juggernaut included Blackadder, A Bit of Fry & Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster. Though a curious child who constantly sought knowledge - he reportedly memorized the Guinness Book of World Records - his education proved troublesome.
From the frank discussions of his early struggles with homosexuality, to his recent documentary about his fight with manic depression, Fry’s extraordinary honesty about his personal battles has made us love him even more. Eventually he was caught and jailed for a few months before receiving probation. The busy performer also managed to squeeze in writing a column for The Daily Telegraph, while him and Laurie launched a second successful comedy, "Jeeves & Wooster" (BBC, 1990-93), adapted from the P.G.
Wodehouse stories.
In features, Fry actually began his career as a screenwriter contributing to "Gossip" (1983) before moving in front of the cameras to turn in insightful bits in "The Good Father" (1986) and "A Handful of Dust" (1988).
Having already been an established published author with works novels like The Liar (1991), The Hippopotamus (1994) and Making History (1998), as well as a memoir Moab is My Washpot (1997), Fry became a powerful wielder of social media with his well-followed Twitter account, where he generated a huge amount of traffic with his pithy observations.
He had one of his best performances in years as a police inspector called to a countryside manor to investigate a murder in Robert Altman's upstairs-downstairs satire, "Gosford Park" (2001).
After appearing in the flatulence-laced children's comedy "Thunderpants" (2002), Fry made his directorial debut with "Bright Young Things" (2003), a sophisticated seriocomedy set in the 1930s that follows the romantic entanglements of a group of young talented aristocratic bohemians.
Stephen’s next book “A Peruvian Diary”, detailing his endeavours to save the ‘spectacled bear’ from extinction, is due for launch in October of this year.
A resumé that every day grows into Stephen’s angst-ridden statement made at the age of 17: “My whole life stretched out gloriously behind me.”
Stephen Fry
The multi-talented Stephen Fry first made a name for himself alongside fellow Cambridge chum Hugh Laurie on popular British comedies like "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" (BBC2/BBC1, 1989-1995), while also co-starring opposite Rowan Atkinson in the "Blackadder" series.
Fry was found in Europe, copped to suffering a nervous breakdown as a result of bipolar disorder and underwent psychiatric counseling.
Most Renowned For
Fry’s sharp wit and linguistic prowess have made him a master of the one-liner. Back on the screen, he went on to portray the sniveling Lord Melchett, the bitter enemy of Rowan Atkinson's Lord Blackadder, in "Blackadder II" (BBC, 1986), a role he reprised as General Melchett in the final segments of "Blackadder Goes Forth" (BBC, 1989).Born in London in 1957 and raised in Norfolk, Fry attended Cambridge University where his successful comic partnership with Hugh Laurie began. Two years later, he garnered acclaim and earned millions for adapting the book of the musical "Me and My Girl," which teamed Robert Lindsay and Emma Thompson in London. He also trod the boards with the likes of Emma Thompson and Tony Slattery in the Footlights, performing in over 30 plays and even finding time to write his own – “Latin!” – which toured the country and won an award.
Pleasingly for an actor, critical acclaim was followed by popular appeal with the move to television.
He next logged an appearance in "A Civil Action" (1998) before delivering a finely tuned comic turn in Robert Altman's "Gosford Park" (2001). Featuring run-ins with celebrities like Morgan Freeman and billionaire Ted Turner, Fry's six-part documentary series proved to be a huge ratings earner for the BBC. Returning to the big screen, Fry voiced the Cheshire Cat in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" (2010), before taking a stab at stand-up comedy with a performance at The Royal Albert Hall in September 2010.
As a member of the famed Footlights Theater Group at Cambridge, he debuted as a playwright with "Latin" (1980) while meeting future collaborators Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie.
After graduation, Fry, Thompson, Laurie and Robbie Coltrane joined the short-lived sketch comedy series "Alfresco" (ITV, 1983-84).
Biography
From his birth in 1957 to his arrival at Queens’ College, Cambridge, 20 years later, Stephen Fry has enjoyed brushes with authority and being the centre of attention in almost equal measure.
From an education including – but not limited to – Stouts Hill prep, Uppingham School, The Paston School, Norfolk College of Arts and Technology, Pucklechurch Prison, Norwich City College and Queens’ College, Cambridge, Stephen Fry has honed his skills as a consummate performer, both on and off stage.
Halcyon Days
At Cambridge he met Hugh Laurie, so beginning an enduring creative partnership.
He had already provided the correct answer before the options were listed.
Sandwiched between were three seasons of "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" (BBC2/BBC1, 1989-1995), a sketch show featuring complicated wordplay and irreverent humor a la "Monty Python" that Fry co-wrote with co-star Hugh Laurie.