Ricky Gervais' Real Name: Richard Dene Gervais

Quick answer: Ricky Gervais' real name is Richard Dene Gervais. He was born on June 25, 1961, in Reading, Berkshire, England. "Ricky" is a nickname for Richard.

Ricky Gervais' real name

Gervais was born Richard Dene Gervais, the youngest of four children of Lawrence "Jerry" Gervais, a French Canadian laborer who settled in England after World War II, and Eva Sophia House (Britannica). He has worked professionally as Ricky Gervais throughout his career.

Early life and music

Gervais grew up in the working-class Whitley area of Reading. He studied philosophy at University College London, graduating in 1983. In the early 1980s he was half of the new-wave pop duo Seona Dancing, which released singles but did not chart in the UK. He later managed the band Suede early in its career and worked as an entertainment manager at a University of London student union (Britannica).

The Office

In 1997 Gervais hired Stephen Merchant as an assistant at London radio station XFM. The two co-wrote and co-directed The Office (BBC, 2001–2003), a mockumentary about a Slough paper company, with Gervais starring as the cringeworthy boss David Brent. The show won BAFTAs and two Golden Globes, including best actor in a TV comedy for Gervais, and spawned the hit U.S. remake starring Steve Carell. He returned to Brent in the film David Brent: Life on the Road (2016).

Extras, podcasts and stand-up

Gervais and Merchant followed with Extras (2005–2007), which won Gervais an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series in 2007 (Television Academy). With Karl Pilkington they made The Ricky Gervais Show podcast, which set early download records, and the travel series An Idiot Abroad.

His stand-up specials include Animals, Politics, Science, Humanity, SuperNature and Armageddon.

Golden Globes host and Hollywood

Gervais hosted the Golden Globe Awards five times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2020), becoming known for his sharp jokes at the stars' expense. His film roles include Night at the Museum (2006) and its sequels, Ghost Town (2008) and The Invention of Lying (2009), which he co-wrote and co-directed.

After Life

He wrote, directed and starred in Netflix's After Life (2019–2022), playing a widower struggling with grief.

Personal life

Gervais has been with writer and producer Jane Fallon since the 1980s. He is an outspoken atheist and animal-rights advocate.

The Office: The Complete Series (UK) DVD Flanimals by Ricky Gervais (book)