Stephen Merchant

Stephen James Merchant is an English comedian, actor, director, and writer, born on November 24, 1974. He is particularly known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais; together they co-wrote and co-directed the British TV comedy series The Office, and co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in Extras and Life's Too Short. They also hosted The Ricky Gervais Show in its radio, podcast, audiobook, and television formats; the radio version was awarded a bronze Sony Award. Aside from this, Merchant provided the voice for the character Wheatley in the 2011 video game Portal 2 and co-developed a travel documentary series called An Idiot Abroad. Another notable venture is Lip Sync Battle which he co-created.

Merchant has had an active stand-up comedian career, leading to his starring role the HBO series Hello Ladies, based on his stand-up material. He has also made his mark in the field of filmmaking by writing and directing Cemetery Junction and Fighting with My Family. In acting, he portrayed the mutant Caliban in the superhero film Logan, a Nazi Gestapo leader in the comedy-drama film Jojo Rabbit, and the serial killer Stephen Port in the 2022 television drama Four Lives. Known for his award-winning works, Merchant has received a Peabody Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three BAFTA Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four British Comedy Awards, and the Rose d'Or.