Peter Serafinowicz
Peter Serafinowicz | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor, comedian, writer |
Years active | 1993–present |
Spouse | Sarah Alexander |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Graham Linehan (brother-in-law) |
Peter Szymon Serafinowicz (/ˌsɛrəˈfɪnəwɪtʃ/ SERR-ə-FIN-ə-witch; born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, voice actor, comedian and writer. Appearing in a large variety of film roles, his most well-known are as Pete in Shaun of the Dead (2004) and as Garthan Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
Serafinowicz has appeared in many British and American comedy series. He currently stars as the title character in the live-action adaptation of The Tick, and has been praised for his political satire parody videos where he voices a posh version of Donald Trump.
Early life
Serafinowicz was born 10 July 1972 in Liverpool.[1] He is of Belarusian and Polish descent. He attended Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School and St Francis Xavier Secondary School.[2]
Career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2017) |
Serafinowicz made his broadcasting debut in 1993 on Radio 1 show The Knowledge, a spoof documentary about the music industry. From there he went on to perform in Radio 4 shows Week Ending, Harry Hill's Fruit Corner, Grievous Bodily Radio, The Two Dannys and A Whole New Ball Game.
On 1 May 1997, he appeared in The Election Night Armistice as Moz Bingham, the fictional press secretary to the then shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, who verbally abuses the BBC's Nick Robinson in a spoof phone call over the politician's news coverage. In 1998 he appeared on TV in Comedy Nation and You Are Here. He also had a role in the Simon Nye-penned sitcom How Do You Want Me?.
In 1999, he had a few guest appearances in the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced, playing protagonist Tim Bisley's (Simon Pegg) nemesis, Duane Benzie. He made another cameo appearance in the series when it returned in 2001.
In 2001, he took the lead in BBC Two sitcom World of Pub, playing the same character as he had done in the show's run on Radio 4. He appeared in The Junkies, an Internet sitcom. In 2002, the critically acclaimed Look Around You, a series of 10-minute 1970s school science video spoofs, debuted on BBC Two in which he played a scientist. He co-wrote the show alongside Robert Popper, whom he met on the set of Spaced. The show returned in 2005 as a spoof of the 1980s show Tomorrow's World, with Serafinowicz playing Peter Packard, one of the presenters.
In 2003, he appeared in another Nye-written sitcom, Hardware, in which he played the affable Kenny. He reprised this role in the second series in 2004. Also in 2004 he appeared in British rom-zom-com (romantic-zombie-comedy) Shaun of the Dead, playing Pete, the uptight flatmate of principal characters Shaun and Ed. He appeared in boxing film The Calcium Kid.
In Sixty Six, the 2006 British film about a Jewish boy whose bar mitzvah is scheduled for the same day as the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, Serafinowicz plays Uncle Jimmy. In the week before the 2006 Academy Awards a video circulated on the Internet of a fake news item (called "O! News", a parody of E! News) about a new Oscar statue, in which Serafinowicz imitated Alan Alda, Paul McCartney and Al Pacino.
A second "O! News" video later appeared, parodying the 2006 Apple Corps v. Apple Computer lawsuit. This attracted the interest of the BBC, and a pilot was commissioned for The Peter Serafinowicz Show. A full series was broadcast on BBC Two in 2007 (with a Christmas special in 2008). For his performance, Serafinowicz was presented with the Best Entertainer prize at the 2008 Rose d'Or ceremony.[3] The series was also nominated for Best Comedy Programme at the 2009 BAFTA Television Awards.[4]
Serafinowicz made guest appearances on television, including the comedy shows Smack the Pony and Hippies (both 1999), Black Books (2000), I'm Alan Partridge (2002) and Little Britain (2003), comedy-drama Murder Most Horrid (1999) and ITV drama series Agatha Christie's Marple (2006).
He made a number of guest appearances on both television and radio panel shows. He regularly appeared on The 99p Challenge and appeared on Have I Got News for You in 2005, 2006 and 2008, 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2005, and QI in 2003. He also appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 19 October 2007, Would I Lie to You? on 8 August 2008 and 30 July 2010 and Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 15 October 2009.
In 2008, Serafinowicz was working with Robert Popper on a new television series, as well as a website, based on a spoof religion "Tarvuism" for US network Adult Swim.[5] In 2009, he appeared in Universal Films' Couples Retreat as Sctanley, the manager of the Eden Resort, directed by Peter Billingsley.
In 2010, Serafinowicz directed the music video for Hot Chip's song "I Feel Better", their second single from the album One Life Stand. He followed this up in 2012 when he directed the music video for the band's song "Night & Day", the first single from their album In Our Heads.
In 2010, he co-starred with Will Arnett in the FOX sitcom Running Wilde, devised by Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz. It premiered on Fox on 21 September 2010,[6] but was cancelled by the network after 13 episodes.
In June 2013, Serafinowicz provided the English language audiobook recording for the Roald Dahl novel Danny, the Champion of the World.[7] In July 2013, he made his film directing debut with the dark comedy film I See What You Did There,[8] which he wrote, along with Danny Wallace.[9]
In 2014 it was announced that Serafinowicz would play the role of Crowley in the BBC Radio 4 adaption of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's novel Good Omens.[10]
That same year, he was featured in Guardians of the Galaxy; playing Garthan Saal, a Denarian ranking pilot of the Nova Corps. He appeared in Series 9 of Doctor Who as the voice of The Fisher King.[11]
Beginning in 2016 during the presidential campaign, Serafinowicz frequently posts a series of YouTube videos entitled "Sassy Trump", in which he redubs speeches from Donald Trump with a camp voice.[12] He has also created parodies dubbing Trump with a Cockney accent, and with a posh English accent.[13]
Due to his impersonation of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, Matt Berry sang a duet with him on Berry's 2009 album Witchazel. The track in question was "Rain Came Down", where he was billed as "Paul Mcartney" (sic).[14]
He stars in the title role of Amazon's The Tick, the pilot for which premiered on 19 August 2016.[15]
Personal life
Serafinowicz is married to actress Sarah Alexander.[16] His brother James is a film producer[17] and writer; his sister Helen is a writer, and is married to writer-director Graham Linehan. [18]
In October 2007, Serafinowicz dropped his attempt to use the Human Rights Act against the national newspapers. He had sought to prevent the publication of details revealing that his grandfather, Szymon Serafinowicz, was the first man in the UK to have been tried under the War Crimes Act.[19] His grandfather was charged with direct involvement in three murders and personal involvement in the destruction of the Jewish populations of Mir and Minsk, but found unfit for trial on grounds of dementia in 1997 and died later that year, aged 86.[20]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Darth Maul (voice) | |
2001 | Calcium | Scientist | Short film; also writer and producer |
2003 | Hello Friend | Email Voice-over | Short film |
2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Pete | |
The Calcium Kid | Dave King | ||
2005 | Ripley Under Ground | Nigel | |
2006 | Sixty Six | Uncle Jimmy, Mr. Reubens Sr., Football Commentator | |
2007 | Grindhouse | Screaming Man | Fake Don't trailer |
Run Fatboy Run | Sports Commentator | ||
2008 | Tales of the Riverbank | Various Voices | |
2009 | Couples Retreat | Sctanley | |
2010 | The Best and the Brightest | Clark | |
2011 | Killing Bono | Hammond | |
2013 | The World's End | Knock-a-Door Run Home Owner | Uncredited |
Underdogs | Loco (voice) | U.K. version | |
2014 | Muppets Most Wanted | Gulag Guard | Uncredited |
SOS: Save Our Skins | Andrew (voice) | ||
Food Club | Narrator (voice) | Short film | |
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie | Edward the Horse (voice) | ||
Guardians of the Galaxy | Denarian Garthan Saal | ||
2015 | Spy | Aldo | |
2016 | Sing | Big Daddy (voice) | |
2017 | John Wick: Chapter 2 | The Sommelier | |
Going in Style | Murphy | ||
An Ordinary Man | Miro |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Spitting Image | Jacques Chirac (voice) | 6 episodes |
1998 | Comedy Nation | Various | |
Europigeon | Terry Wogan (voice) | Television film | |
Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round | Voice-Over | 6 episodes | |
ITV Panto | Second Henchman | Episode: "Jack and the Beanstalk" | |
1998–1999 | How Do You Want Me? | Dean Yardley | 9 episodes |
1999 | The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | George Fitzpatrck | Television film |
Murder Most Horrid | Tony Frost | Episode: "Dinner at Tiffany's" | |
Smack the Pony | 2 episodes | ||
Sermon from St. Albion's | Alastair Campbell | 1 episode | |
Hippies | Narrator, Robin | 2 episodes | |
1999–2001 | Spaced | Duane Benzie | 3 episodes |
2000 | Black Books | Howell Granger | Episode: "The Big Lock-Out" |
The Junkies | Big Al / Narrator | Pilot | |
2001 | World of Pub | Garry, Various | 6 episodes |
2002 | What a Cartoon! | Butch (voice) | 1 episode |
I'm Alan Partridge | Tex | Episode: "Never Say Alan Again" | |
15 Storeys High | 2 episodes | ||
2002–2005 | Look Around You | Scientist, Peter Packard | Also creator, writer and producer |
2003 | Little Britain | Interviewer at Prime Minister's Questions | Episode: "Biggest House of Cards" |
2003–2004 | Hardware | Kenny | 12 episodes |
2006 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Walter Fane | Episode: "Sleeping Murder" |
The IT Crowd | Newsreader, Lift, Voice Over | 3 episodes | |
2006–2015 | South Park | Darth Chef, British Announcer, Match Commentator (voices) | Also creative consultant |
2007–2008 | The Peter Serafinowicz Show | Various | Also creator, writer and producer |
2009 | Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle | Voice-Over | 6 episodes |
2010 | Whitechapel | DCI Torbin Cazenove | 3 episodes |
2010–2011 | Running Wilde | Fa'ad Shaoulian | 13 episodes |
2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Puppet (voice) | Segment: "The Terrys" |
This is Jinsy | Eric Dunt | Episode: "Cupboards" | |
2011–2013 | Archer | George Spelvin, Benoit, James Mason (voices) | 3 episodes |
NTSF:SD:SUV:: | S.A.M. (voice), Sagan | 21 episodes | |
2012 | The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | Tito the Cycling Lawyer | 1 episodes |
The Secret Policeman's Ball 2012 | Paul McCartney | Special | |
Watson & Oliver | Various | 2 episodes | |
Childrens Hospital | Michael Caine (voice) | Episode: "British Hospital" | |
American Dad! | Goran the Mutilator (voice) | Episode: "Killer Vacation" | |
Bad Sugar | Rolph Cauldwell | Pilot | |
2013 | It's Kevin | Bill Grundy | 1 episode |
Anatole's Island | Narrator | Short TV Film | |
Playhouse Presents | Roger | Episode: "Hey Diddly Dee" | |
Father Figure | Karl | Episode: "Chin Chin" | |
2013–2015 | Parks and Recreation | Edgar Covington | 3 episodes |
Axe Cop | Various Voices | 8 episodes | |
2014 | Adventure Time | Lumpy Space Prince (voice) | Episode: "The Prince Who Wanted Everything" |
Mr. Sloane | Ross | 6 episodes | |
Gravity Falls | Blind Ivan (voice) | Episode: "Society of the Blind Eye" | |
The Britishes | Lord British | 4 episodes | |
2015 | Moonbeam City | Nocturne von Groff (voice) | Episode: "The Strike Visualizer Strikes Again" |
Doctor Who | Fisher King (voice) | Episode: "Before the Flood" | |
Hunt the Truth | Black Box | 6 episodes | |
2015–2016 | The Adventures of OG Sherlock Kush | OG Sherlock Kush (voice) | 20 episodes |
TripTank | Various Voices | 5 episodes | |
2016–present | The Tick | The Tick | Also producer |
2017 | Mickey and the Roadster Racers | Agent Chauncey Chips, Dr. Waddleton Crutchley (voices) | 2 episodes |
People of Earth | Eric the Cube (voice) | 8 episodes | |
Rick and Morty | Agency Director (voice) | Episode: "Pickle Rick" | |
Neo Yokio | Various Voices | 6 episodes | |
At Home with Amy Sedaris | Turtleneck Man | Episode: "Making Love" | |
2018 | The Simpsons | Corporate CEO (voice) | Episode: "Krusty the Clown" |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Z: Steel Soldiers | Lassar | |
2003 | Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior | Space Marine Captain Ardius | |
2013 | Lego City Undercover | Forrest Blackwell, Cornelius Burns, Jethro Hayes | |
2014 | Dark Souls II | Mild-Mannered Pate | |
LittleBigPlanet 3 | Dr. Maxim, El Jeff, Papal Mâché | ||
2016 | Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | MacReady | |
2017 | Lego Worlds | Narrator | Uncredited |
Lego Dimensions | Cornelius Burns, Forrest Blackwell, Jethro Hayes | Lego City Undercover World | |
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 | Kang the Conqueror | [21] |
References
- ^ Philby, Charlotte (29 August 2008). "My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz, Actor and comedian, age 36". The Independent.
- ^ "Exclusive Interview – Peter Serafinowicz", heyuguys.com, 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Rose d'Or Winners 2008" (PDF). Rose d'Or AG. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Television Awards Nominations in 2009". BAFTA. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
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suggested) (help) - ^ Powder Blue Internet Business Solutions. "Say 'Hebbo' to Tarvuism!". chortle.co.uk.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (11 July 2010), "Peter Serafinowicz Joins 'Running Wilde'", Deadline Hollywood; retrieved 12 July 2010
- ^ "Danny, the Champion of the World", Penguin.co.uk; retrieved 20 November 2015
- ^ "Peter Serafinowicz Moves to Directing with 'I See What You Did There'". firstshowing.net. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Peter Serafinowicz Directing I See What You Did There". empireonline.com. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ Brown, Brigid (5 September 2014). "BBC Radio Brings Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens to Life". BBC America. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ^ Cameron K McEwan (26 September 2015). "Peter Serafinowicz joins Doctor Who – more Star Wars actors who have done the same". metro.co.uk. Metro News. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ^ Flint, Hanna (14 August 2016). "Sassy Trump is the internet’s favourite version of Donald". Metro.
- ^ "Peter Serafinowicz has dubbed a Donald Trump speech with a cockney accent and it's hilarious", ThePoke.co.uk; accessed 6 October 2017.
- ^ Berry, Matt (2011). Witchazel (Liner notes). UK: Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD251.
- ^ Goldman, Eric (18 August 2016). "The Tick: 'Pilot' Review", IGN.com, 18 August 2016.
- ^ Philby, Charlotte (30 August 2008). "My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz". The Independent. London, UK. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
- ^ "James Serafinowicz". IMDb. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ "The mother of all comedies - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ Luckhurst, Tim (2 September 2001). "Why won't Britain jail this war criminal?". London, UK: Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "BBC star's grandfather faced Nazi war crimes trial". London, UK: Evening Standard. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ [1]
External links
- 1972 births
- Male actors from Liverpool
- Comedians from Liverpool
- English male film actors
- English male television actors
- English male video game actors
- English male voice actors
- English people of Belarusian descent
- English people of Polish descent
- English male comedians
- English male writers
- Living people
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors