---
name: "Ricky Gervais"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ricky-gervais"
fi1m_id: "ricky-gervais"
imdb_id: "nm0315041"
tmdb_id: 17835
wikidata_id: "Q23517"
roles: ["Actor","Writer","Director"]
born: "25 June 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T11:18:59.449506+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ricky Gervais

## Identity

Ricky Gervais

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ricky-gervais
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ricky-gervais
- **IMDb ID:** nm0315041
- **TMDB ID:** 17835
- **Wikidata ID:** Q23517
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Gervais, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23517, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0315041/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17835

Actor and writer. Born 25 June 1961 in Whitley, Berkshire, Reading, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer, Director
- **Born:** 25 June 1961, Whitley, Berkshire, Reading, England, UK
- **Active:** 1989–2014
- **Also known as:** ริกกี้ เจอร์เวส, Ricky Dene Gervais, Ρίκι Τζερβέιζ
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 10: 5 acting, 4 directing, 1 writing
- **Frequently works with:** [Stephen Merchant](https://film.one/person/stephen-merchant.md), [Charlie Hanson](https://film.one/person/charlie-hanson.md), [Ben Garant](https://film.one/person/robert-ben-garant.md), [Ben Stiller](https://film.one/person/ben-stiller.md), [Brent Forrester](https://film.one/person/brent-forrester.md), [Chris Columbus](https://film.one/person/chris-columbus.md), [Dan Greaney](https://film.one/person/dan-greaney.md), [Daniel Chun](https://film.one/person/daniel-chun.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (1), 1990s 86 (1), 2000s 75 (5), 2010s 63 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 62 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 4, Adventure 3, Family 3, Fantasy 2, Action 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $631m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Gervais, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23517, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0315041/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17835

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Simpsons*](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) (88), [*Muppets Most Wanted*](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md) (66), [*Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian*](https://film.one/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian.md) (54)
- **BritBox:** [*The Office*](https://film.one/tv/the-office.md) (89), [*Extras*](https://film.one/tv/extras.md) (81)
- **Peacock:** [*The Office*](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md) (77)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ricky Gervais

> Ricky Gervais writes people who cannot tell how badly a conversation is going, and films them like a documentary. With Stephen Merchant he made two comedies about embarrassment that hold up; the later series are gentler, and not everyone calls that progress.

David Brent tells a joke and nobody laughs, so he explains it, and somebody at the next desk looks at the camera. That look is the whole method of *The Office* (2001). Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant let a man carry on believing an encounter is going well long after everyone else has stopped, and they make the camera a witness whose opinion he minds about. We laughed at Brent and then felt mean about it, because those glances make us accomplices in watching him fail. Gervais has been writing versions of that moment ever since.

He came to television sideways, from music and from XFM, the radio station where he met Merchant. Together they created, wrote and directed *The Office* for BBC Two from 2001 to 2003 and *Extras* from 2005 to 2007, and the two series share a subject: people who want to be looked at and dread being looked at closely. Andy Millman in *Extras* is Brent with a little more self-knowledge and no more luck. The format travelled, and Gervais holds writing credits on the American *The Office* (2005) and on *The Simpsons*, though neither is where his stamp shows. Later came *The Invention of Lying* (2009), his first feature as writer-director, then *Life's Too Short* (2011), *Derek* (2012) and *After Life* (2019), which turn towards kindness and grief.

The mockumentary suits him because his best writing lives in the gap between how a man thinks he is coming across and how he is. Merchant's shared direction lets the cast look unprepared; a glance held a beat too long would announce the joke, and they usually stop a beat before. *Extras* adds a second trick, celebrities playing foolish versions of themselves, and Kate Winslet and Daniel Radcliffe take the humiliation as willingly as any of the regulars. What keeps that series from curdling is Ashley Jensen's Maggie Jacobs. We were more saddened than we expected by her fear that she was wasting her life, and it is to Gervais and Merchant's credit that they wrote her the space to feel it.

The weakness is stamina. Gervais will press an awkward passage past the point where it tells us anything new about Brent, and we start waiting for the next person to speak. The later series have the opposite problem: *Derek* and *After Life* are gentler, and *After Life* in particular has been called sentimental. We have not reviewed them and will not judge them at length here. Gervais has said, "I try and make it so that if anyone's offended, I can explain why they shouldn't be." A joke that needs explaining afterwards is a Brent joke, and Gervais knows that better than anyone.

Start with *The Office* and then *Extras*, in that order, and watch someone else's face while he speaks.

## Biography

Ricky Gervais is an English comedian, actor, writer and director. He co-created, co-wrote, co-directed and starred as David Brent in the BBC series *The Office* (2001). He also wrote and appeared in an episode of *The Simpsons* (1989).

Gervais has appeared in films including the *Night at the Museum* series (2006–2014) and hosted the Golden Globe Awards in 2010 and 2011. He was born on 25 June 1961 in Whitley, Berkshire, England.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org, slashfilm.com, radiotimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), Fi1m 66, as Dominic Badguy — [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md)
- *Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* (2009), Fi1m 54, as Dr. McPhee — [page](https://film.one/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian.md)
- *Stardust* (2007), Fi1m 75, as Ferdy the Fence — [page](https://film.one/film/stardust.md)
- *The Office* (2005), Fi1m 77, as David Brent — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Spaced* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Dave — [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)

### Directed (4)

- *Life's Too Short* (2011), Fi1m 63, as Ricky Gervais — [page](https://film.one/tv/lifes-too-short.md)
- *Cemetery Junction* (2010), Fi1m 61, as Len Taylor — [page](https://film.one/film/cemetery-junction.md)
- *Extras* (2005), Fi1m 81, as Andy Millman — [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md)
- *The Office* (2001), Fi1m 89, as David Brent — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office.md)

### Wrote (1)

- *The Simpsons* (1989), Fi1m 88, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)

## Complete filmography (91)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Ricky Gervais Alley Cats* (2026), series, as Gus (voice) · Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Creator
- *La oficina* (2026), series, Original Series Creator
- *Ricky Gervais: Mortality* (2025), Writer
- *The Paper* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Original Series Creator
- *Dog Man* (2025), as Flippy (voice)
- *The Office* (2024), series, Original Series Creator
- *Ricky Gervais: Armageddon* (2023), Writer
- *7 Minutes* (2023), Executive Producer, Director
- *German Genius* (2023), series, as Ricky Gervais · Creator
- *The Office (SA)* (2022), series, Original Series Creator
- *Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank* (2022), as Ika Chu (voice)
- *Ricky Gervais: SuperNature* (2022), Writer, Original Music Composer
- *The Office PL* (2021), series, Original Series Creator
- *The Willoughbys* (2020), as The Cat (voice) · Executive Producer
- *The Office* (2019), series, Original Series Creator
- *Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?* (2019), series, as Ricky Gervais (voice)
- *After Life* (2019), series, as Tony · Executive Producer, Director, Writer, Creator
- *Ricky Gervais: Humanity* (2018), Writer, Executive Producer
- *Child Support* (2018), series, Executive Producer
- *The Office* (2017), series, Original Series Creator
- *David Brent: Life on the Road* (2016), as David Brent · Director, Writer, Producer
- *Special Correspondents* (2016), as Albert Finch · Director, Writer, Producer
- *The Little Prince* (2015), as The Conceited Man (voice)
- *Derek Special* (2015), as Derek · Director, Writer
- *Galavant* (2015), series, as Xanax
- *Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb* (2014), as Dr. McPhee
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Hedgehog at Orphanage (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), as Dominic Badguy — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md)
- *Learn Guitar with David Brent* (2013), series, as David Brent · Creator
- *The Office Retrospective* (2013), Creator
- *The Return of Brent* (2013), as David Brent · Director, Characters, Writer
- *Escape from Planet Earth* (2013), as Mr Bing (voice)
- *Derek* (2013), series, as Derek · Writer, Director, Creator
- *4funnies* (2012), series, Producer
- *The Office: Secret Santa Pack* (2012), Writer
- *Learn English with Ricky Gervais* (2012), Director
- *Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars* (2012), Original Music Composer
- *Life's Too Short* (2011), series, as Ricky Gervais · Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/lifes-too-short.md)
- *Spy Kids: All the Time in the World* (2011), as Voice of Argonaut
- *Brad & Gary* (2011), Book
- *Talking Funny* (2011), Executive Producer
- *Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2* (2010), Executive Producer, Writer
- *When Karl Met Warwick* (2010), Producer, Director
- *Ricky Gervais Live 4: Science* (2010), Director, Writer
- *An Idiot Abroad* (2010), series, Producer, Creator
- *The Office* (2010), series, Original Series Creator
- *HaMisrad* (2010), series, Creator
- *Louie* (2010), series, as Dr. Ben — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/louie.md)
- *Cemetery Junction* (2010), as Len Taylor · Director, Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/cemetery-junction.md)
- *The Ricky Gervais Show* (2010), series, Producer, Creator
- *Prequel: The Dawn of Lying* (2009), as Mark Bellison · Director, Screenplay
- *SpongeBob's Truth or Square* (2009), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- *The Invention of Lying* (2009), as Mark Bellison · Director, Writer, Producer
- *Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* (2009), as Dr. McPhee — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian.md)
- *Horne & Corden* (2009), series, Actor
- *Ricky Gervais: Out of England* (2008), Writer, Executive Producer
- *How to Lose Friends & Alienate People* (2008), as Ricky Gervais (uncredited)
- *Ghost Town* (2008), as Dr. Bertram Pincus
- *Ricky Gervais Live 3: Fame* (2007), Writer
- *Stardust* (2007), as Ferdy the Fence — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/stardust.md)
- *Concert for Diana* (2007), as David Brent
- *Taping Nigel II: The Gimpening* (2007), Director, Camera Operator
- *Night at the Museum* (2006), as Dr. McPhee
- *For Your Consideration* (2006), as Martin Gibb
- *La Job* (2006), series, Creator
- *Le Bureau* (2006), series, Creator
- *Ricky Gervais Meets...* (2006), series, Creator
- *Taping Nigel* (2005), Director, Camera Operator
- *Finding Leo* (2005), Director
- *Pictoplasma: Characters in Motion, Vol. 1* (2005), as Audio Sample (Self)
- *Extras* (2005), series, as Andy Millman · Executive Producer, Director, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md)
- *Valiant* (2005), as Bugsy (voice)
- *The Office* (2005), series, as David Brent · Writer, Executive Producer, Original Series Creator, Teleplay — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show* (2005), series, Writer
- *Ricky Gervais Live 2: Politics* (2004), Writer
- *Meet Karl Pilkington* (2004), Director, Producer
- *Golden Years* (2003), series, as Clive Meadows · Writer
- *Ricky Gervais Live: Animals* (2003), Writer
- *Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe* (2002), as Penguin (voice)
- *Dog Eat Dog* (2001), as Bouncer
- *Alias* (2001), series, as Daniel Ryan — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/alias.md)
- *The Office* (2001), series, as David Brent · Director, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office.md)
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Ricky Gervais — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Bruiser* (2000), series, as Additional Writing
- *Spaced* (1999), series, as Dave — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)
- *The Jim Tavaré Show* (1999), series, as Various
- *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Billy Finn (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Seedy Boss* (1998), as David Brent
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Charles Heathbar (voice), Ricky Gervais (voice) · Writer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *The Wind in the Willows*, as Mole

## Gallery

- ![Ricky Gervais](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-69481fbbf72e.jpg) Ricky Gervais — Thomas Atilla Lewis at https://www.flickr.com/people/51761894@N00, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Ricky_Gervais_2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![GervaisBlooms021218-10 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-956224801613.jpg) GervaisBlooms021218-10 (2018) — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/GervaisBlooms021218-10_%2844341159970%29.jpg/1280px-GervaisBlooms021218-10_%2844341159970%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![GervaisBlooms021218-11 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-e7ae06989a89.jpg) GervaisBlooms021218-11 (2018) — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/GervaisBlooms021218-11_%2846107511282%29.jpg/1280px-GervaisBlooms021218-11_%2846107511282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![GervaisBlooms021218-12 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-dabfc7460fd1.jpg) GervaisBlooms021218-12 (2018) — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/GervaisBlooms021218-12_%2844341159930%29.jpg/1280px-GervaisBlooms021218-12_%2844341159930%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ricky Gervais](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-87e32bc046d1.jpg) Ricky Gervais — Image via TMDB
- ![Ricky Gervais](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-ceae9402bb37.jpg) Ricky Gervais — Image via TMDB
- ![Ricky Gervais](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-014ae9d3bb83.jpg) Ricky Gervais — Image via TMDB
- ![GervaisBlooms021218 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-f9b761d71642.jpg) GervaisBlooms021218 (2018) — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/GervaisBlooms021218_%2844341160150%29.jpg/1280px-GervaisBlooms021218_%2844341160150%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![GervaisKentish031120-10 (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/60155/gallery-b9239743e563.jpg) GervaisKentish031120-10 (2020) — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/GervaisKentish031120-10_%2850563889568%29.jpg/1280px-GervaisKentish031120-10_%2850563889568%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2007: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (won), for *Extras*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Richard Dawkins Award 2019: Richard Dawkins Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ricky-gervais