The Life and Career of Russell Brand

The rocky road to fame of Comedian and Actor Russell Brand He’s a Brit who loves to provoke controversy, and has been hailed as both the Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of comedy. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the rocky road to fame of comedian and actor, Russell Brand. Russell Edward Brand was born on June 4th, 1975 in Grays, Essex, England. Despite his comedic personality, his childhood was plagued by tragedy. Brand was an only child, and his parents divorced when he was only 6-years-old. Shortly after, he was sexually abused by his tutor. As if things couldn’t get any worse, his mother contracted uterine and breast cancer. Forced to stay with relatives while she underwent treatment, he spent his childhood isolated and alone. He then contracted the eating disorder bulimia, and further dealt with his emotions through the use of recreational drugs like cannabis, LSD and ecstasy. He also ended up suffering from sex addiction. Brand then made his way to Grays School Media Arts College. There, he made his stage debut in a school play at the age of 15. This positive experience influenced him to pursue a career as an actor. He later studied at the Italia Conti Academy but was kicked out due to his worsening drug habit ad extreme antics. Following this, he went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Drama Centre London. Shockingly he was expelled again, this time after he stabbed himself in the chest and arms upon hearing criticism of his performance. Brand then abandoned drama and decided to focus on stand-up comedy, and he used his stand-up to talk about his addictions. He undertook a number of comedy tours, and eventually became a VJ on MTV Europe in 2000. He was eventually fired for bringing his drug dealer to work, and for showing up dressed as Osama bin Laden the day after the 9-11 attacks. Despite this, he was given his own British documentary and comedy program called “Re:Brand,” and it focused on cultural taboos. He went on to appear in the TV shows “Cruise of the Gods” and “White Teeth,” hosted “Big Brother” and played the role of Tommy in the BBC sitcom “Blessed.” He simultaneously launched a radio career, but was fired after reading pornographic material over the air. This didn’t faze him though: he landed a small role in the film “Penelope,” and recaptured the airwaves with his own highly rated radio talk series called “The Russell Brand Show.” Brand finally landed his first major part as Flash Harry in 2007’s “St. Trinian’s” and its sequel. However, his breakthrough into Hollywood came about the next year in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and 2008’s “Bed Time Stories,” opposite Adam Sandler. Next, he reprised his “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” role of Aldous Snow in the buddy comedy “Get Him to the Greek,” co-starring Jonah Hill. That same year he voiced the character of Dr. Nefario in the animated project “Despicable Me,” and played the part of Trinculo in “The Tempest.” In 2011, the comedian-turned actor lent his voice to the children’s film “Hop,” and took on the appropriate role of playboy boozer “Arthur,” in the remake of the 1980s classic of the same name. Russell Brand is a talent that emerged from a highly dysfunctional childhood, and went on to a bizarre adulthood within the Hollywood spotlight. He has won the “Shagger of the Year” award three years in a row, and married musical superstar Katy Perry in 2010. He is a multi-faceted talent who has also become well-known for presenting a variety of awards, and for becoming an outspoken protestor of political issues.