Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais

Date of birth: 25-06-1961

A late entrant to the world of comedy, Gervais only started to try to tap his talent for making people laugh in 1998, at the age of 36.

Before that, he had spent seven years spent as an entertainments manager for a student union.

And his initial ambitions were musical, playing in a failed Eighties band called Seona Dancing.

He later, briefly, managed the band Suede, before landing a job on London's XFM radio station where he started developing a taste for comedy, and a character called Seedy Boss who would later become The Office's David Brent.

 

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© Netflix / Matt Crockett

Ricky Gervais makes the Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Comic gets the 2,813th star

Ricky Gervais will be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame  next week.

Netflix boss Ted Sarandos and comedy film-maker Christopher Guest will help unveil the star outside 1628 Vine Street, the 2,813th to be installed in LA. 

Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said: ‘The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honoured to welcome comedian Ricky Gervais to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Finally, a star that will give snarky commentary every time someone walks by…I always knew we needed a comedian's touch on our famed sidewalk!’

The news comes as Gervais tours his latest stand-up show Mortality around the globe. 

Around 30 names are added to the Walk Of Fame each year honouring professional achievement and longevity. Only celebrities who agree to  attend the dedication ceremony are chosen, and the star or their sponsors have to bay $75,000 (around £56,000) for the privilege.

Gervais’s  star will be unveiled on Friday  May 30, at 11:30am, and live-streamed at walkoffame.com

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Published: 21 May 2025

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