Peter Serafinowicz
Encyclopedia
Peter Szymon Serafinowicz (icon; born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, comedian, writer, composer, voice artist and occasional director.
, England
. He attended Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Primary School and St Francis Xavier Secondary School
. He lived in the Gateacre
area of Liverpool until his early 20s, before moving to London.
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. 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 made a number of appearances in Channel 4
sitcom Spaced
, playing principal character Tim Bisley's (Simon Pegg
) arch-nemesis, Duane Benzie. He made another appearance in the series when it returned in 2001. In 2001 Serafinowicz took the lead in BBC2 sitcom World of Pub
, playing the same character as he had done in the show's run on Radio 4. He was also in The Junkies, the world's first Internet sitcom. In 2002 the critically acclaimed Look Around You
, a series of 10-minute 70s school science video spoofs, debuted on BBC2 in which Serafinowicz 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 tidy flatmate of principal characters Shaun and Ed. He also appeared in boxing movie 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 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. The series was also nominated for Best Comedy Programme at the 2009 BAFTA Television Awards
.
Serafinowicz had also made a number of 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 Marple
(2005). He has 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
(a non-speaking role) 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
. In 2009, he appeared in Universal Films' Couples Retreat
, directed by Peter Billingsley.
In 2010 Serafinowicz directed the music video for Hot Chip
's video I Feel Better, their second single from the album One Life Stand
.
It was announced early in 2010 that Serafinowicz would be playing Paul McCartney in the now-cancelled remake of the 1968 film Yellow Submarine
.
In 2010 Serafinowicz 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, but was cancelled by the network after 13 episodes.
in the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
. His voice overdubbed that of Ray Park
, who portrayed Darth Maul in costume. This appearance was referred to during the second series of Spaced, as well as when he provided the voice for Darth Chef in an episode
of South Park
in 2006. He also did voice work on the children's show Look and Read
, and more recently portrayed a cyber-terrorist on FX's Archer
.
Serafinowicz pretended to be Terry Wogan
in a 2003 Comic Relief spoof of Blankety Blank
, which led to Wogan inviting Serafinowicz on occasion to appear on Wogan's Radio 2 breakfast programme as a guest (including an appearance during the final week of Wake Up to Wogan
) and showcase said Wogan impersonation; Serafinowicz regularly utilises his array of impressions when performing.
On the BBC quiz show Would I Lie To You?
, he revealed that he overdubbed the voice of Pelé
in the English language version of his adverts to promote Viagra and raise the awareness of impotency.
, Coupling
, and Green Wing
actress Sarah Alexander
. Their first child, a son named Sam, was born in March 2007. They also have a daughter named Phoebe. Peter's brother, James, is a writer and director, and can be seen wearing his Liverpool Blue Coat School
uniform at the beginning and end of each episode of the first series of Look Around You
and is the person who always gets choked by the robot talk-show host Michael-6 during the Michael-6: The Robot Talk Show Host sketches of The Peter Serafinowicz Show
. His sister Helen is married to Graham Linehan
writer of Father Ted
, Black Books
, Big Train
and The IT Crowd
.
His grandfather, Szymon Serafinowicz Sr., was the first person charged in the UK under the 1991 War Crimes Act
, for alleged acts committed during the Second World War
in his native Belarus
. He was not convicted of any crime, as the jury ruled him unfit for trial on grounds of dementia.
Early life
Serafinowicz was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He attended Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Primary School and St Francis Xavier Secondary School
St. Francis Xavier's College (Liverpool)
St. Francis Xavier's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school and sixth form college located in Woolton, Liverpool, England. Year 7 to Year 11 are male only, whereas the Sixth Form are coeducational....
. He lived in the Gateacre
Gateacre
Gateacre is a district of Liverpool, England, located approximately from the city centre. It is bordered by Childwall, Woolton and Belle Vale...
area of Liverpool until his early 20s, before moving to London.
Acting and writing
Serafinowicz made his broadcasting debut in 1993 on Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show The Knowledge, a spoof documentary about the music industry. From there he went on to perform in Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
shows Week Ending
Week Ending
Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch, and was originally hosted by Nationwide presenter Michael Barratt.The show's title was always announced as...
, Harry Hill's Fruit Corner
Harry Hill's Fruit Corner
Harry Hill's Fruit Corner was a radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom. It starred Harry Hill. Hill achieved his big breakthrough in 1992 when he won the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe...
, Grievous Bodily Radio, The Two Dannys and A Whole New Ball Game. In 1998 he appeared on TV in Comedy Nation and You are Here. He also had a role in the Simon Nye
Simon Nye
Simon Nye is an English comic television writer, best known for creating the hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly, writing all of the four ITV Panto, co-writing the 2006 film Flushed Away, co-writing Reggie Perrin and creating the latest adaption of William Brown in the Just William CBBC...
-penned sitcom How Do You Want Me?
How Do You Want Me?
How Do You Want Me? is a British television sitcom, produced by Kensington Films & Television, written by Simon Nye, and directed by John Henderson....
.
In 1999 he made a number of appearances in Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
sitcom Spaced
Spaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
, playing principal character Tim Bisley's (Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer, and director. He is best known for having co-written and stared in various Edgar Wright features, mainly Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the comedy series Spaced.He also portrayed Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film...
) arch-nemesis, Duane Benzie. He made another appearance in the series when it returned in 2001. In 2001 Serafinowicz took the lead in BBC2 sitcom World of Pub
World of Pub
World of Pub is a radio and television sitcom, set in a pub in the East End of London, written by Tony Roche and produced by Jane Berthoud....
, playing the same character as he had done in the show's run on Radio 4. He was also in The Junkies, the world's first Internet sitcom. In 2002 the critically acclaimed Look Around You
Look Around You
Look Around You is a British television comedy series devised and written by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, and, in the first series, narrated by Nigel Lambert...
, a series of 10-minute 70s school science video spoofs, debuted on BBC2 in which Serafinowicz played a scientist. He co-wrote the show alongside Robert Popper
Robert Popper
Robert Popper is a BAFTA winning comedy producer, writer and actor, best known as co-creator of the mock BBC documentary Look Around You, in which he also plays the part of Jack Morgan...
, whom he met on the set of Spaced
Spaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
. The show returned in 2005 as a spoof of the 1980s show Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
, with Serafinowicz playing Peter Packard, one of the presenters.
In 2003 he appeared in another Nye-written sitcom, Hardware
Hardware (TV series)
Hardware is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 2003 to 2004. Starring Martin Freeman, it was written and created by Simon Nye, the creator of Men Behaving Badly.The show's opening theme was A Taste of Honey by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass....
, 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
Shaun of the Dead
Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 British zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and written by Pegg and Wright. Pegg plays Shaun, a man attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he deals with his girlfriend, his mother and stepfather...
, playing Pete, the tidy flatmate of principal characters Shaun and Ed. He also appeared in boxing movie The Calcium Kid
The Calcium Kid
The Calcium Kid is a British mockumentary comedy film which was released in 2004. This film is presented in the style of a fictional documentary or a "Mockumentary". It stars Orlando Bloom as a milkman and amateur boxer. Billie Piper and Michael Peña are also featured...
. In Sixty Six
Sixty Six (film)
Sixty Six is a 2006 British biographical-comedy-drama film about a bar mitzvah which takes place in London on the day of the 1966 world cup final based on the true life bar mitzvah of director Paul Weiland.- Plot :...
, the 2006 British film about a Jewish boy whose Bar Mitzvah is scheduled for the same day as the 1966 World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
final, Serafinowicz plays Uncle Jimmy. In the week before the 2006 Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
a video circulated on the Internet of a fake news item (called "O! News", a parody of E! News
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
) about a new Oscar statue, in which Serafinowicz imitated Alan Alda
Alan Alda
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
. A second O! News video later appeared, parodying the 2006 Apple Corps v. Apple Computer
Apple Corps v. Apple Computer
Between 1978 and 2006 there were a number of legal disputes between Apple Corps and the computer manufacturer Apple Computer over competing trademark rights...
lawsuit. This attracted the interest of the BBC, and a pilot was commissioned for The Peter Serafinowicz Show
The Peter Serafinowicz Show
The Peter Serafinowicz Show was a BBC Two comedy sketch show written by and starring Peter Serafinowicz. The first series started on the 4 October 2007 at 21:30 as part of the newly launched "Thursdays Are Funny" brand on BBC2 and Thursdays on ABC2...
. 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
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
ceremony. The series was also nominated for Best Comedy Programme at the 2009 BAFTA Television Awards
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
.
Serafinowicz had also made a number of guest appearances on television, including the comedy shows Smack the Pony
Smack the Pony
Smack the Pony is a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 until 2003 on Channel 4. Its title was intended to sound like a euphemism for female masturbation; the working title was Spot the Pony. The main performers and writers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips...
and Hippies
Hippies (TV series)
Hippies is a six-part British television comedy series broadcast from 12 November to 17 December 1999. It was created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, the writing partnership most famous for Father Ted, but the scripts were written by Mathews alone.It starred Simon Pegg, Sally Phillips, Julian...
(both 1999), Black Books
Black Books
Black Books is a British sitcom television series created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan and produced by Nira Park, first broadcast on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2004...
(2000), I'm Alan Partridge
I'm Alan Partridge
I'm Alan Partridge is a BBC situation comedy starring Steve Coogan, of which two series of six episodes each were produced — the first in 1997 and the second in 2002...
(2002) and Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
(2003), comedy drama Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid is a BBC dark comedy anthology series starring comedian Dawn French. It ran for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999....
(1999) and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
Drama series Marple
Marple (TV series)
Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple and other murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It is also known as Agatha Christie's Marple. The title character was played by Geraldine McEwan from the first to third series, until her retirement from the role. She was replaced...
(2005). He has made a number of guest appearances on both television and radio panel shows. He regularly appeared on The 99p Challenge
The 99p Challenge
The 99p Challenge is a spoof panel game originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The show is presented by Sue Perkins and features a selection of regular panelists such as Armando Iannucci and regular writers Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Jon Holmes and Tony Roche...
and appeared on Have I Got News For You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
in 2005, 2006 and 2008 8 Out of 10 Cats
8 Out of 10 Cats
8 out of 10 Cats is a television comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for Channel 4. It was first broadcast on 3 June 2005. The show is based on statistics and opinion polls, and draws on polls produced by a variety of organizations and new polls commissioned for the programme, carried out by...
in 2005, and QI
QI
QI is a British comedy panel game television quiz show created and co-produced by John Lloyd, hosted by Stephen Fry, and featuring permanent panellist Alan Davies. Most of the questions are extremely obscure, making it unlikely that the correct answer will be given...
(a non-speaking role) in 2003. He also appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
on 19 October 2007, Would I Lie To You?
Would I Lie To You? (TV series)
Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards...
on 8 August 2008 and 30 July 2010, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
on 15 October 2009.
In 2008, Serafinowicz was working with Robert Popper
Robert Popper
Robert Popper is a BAFTA winning comedy producer, writer and actor, best known as co-creator of the mock BBC documentary Look Around You, in which he also plays the part of Jack Morgan...
on a new television series, as well as a website, based on a spoof religion "Tarvuism" for US network Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
. In 2009, he appeared in Universal Films' Couples Retreat
Couples Retreat
Couples Retreat is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Peter Billingsley with contributions to the script by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Dana Fox, Curtis Hanson, and Greg Beeman. Vaughn and Favreau star with Faizon Love, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, Malin Åkerman and...
, directed by Peter Billingsley.
In 2010 Serafinowicz directed the music video for Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
's video I Feel Better, their second single from the album One Life Stand
One Life Stand
One Life Stand is the fourth studio album by English electronic band Hot Chip, released digitally on 1 February 2010. The physical album was released in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2010 by Parlophone and in the United States the following week on 9 February 2010 by Astralwerks...
.
It was announced early in 2010 that Serafinowicz would be playing Paul McCartney in the now-cancelled remake of the 1968 film Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (film)
Yellow Submarine is a 1968 animated musical fantasy film based on the music of The Beatles. It is also the title for the film's soundtrack album, released as part of The Beatles' music catalogue. The film was directed by animation producer George Dunning, and produced by United Artists and King...
.
In 2010 Serafinowicz co-starred with Will Arnett
Will Arnett
William Emerson "Will" Arnett is a Canadian actor and comedian best known for his role as George Oscar "G.O.B." Bluth II on the Fox comedy Arrested Development. He is also known for his role as Devon Banks on the NBC comedy 30 Rock. Since his success on Arrested Development, Arnett has landed major...
in the FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
sitcom Running Wilde
Running Wilde
Running Wilde was an American comedy television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Network. It starred Will Arnett as Steve Wilde, a self-centered, idle bachelor and heir to an oil fortune...
, devised by Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz
Mitchell Hurwitz
Mitchell D. Hurwitz is an American television writer and producer. He is best known as the creator of the television sitcom Arrested Development as well as the co-creator of The Ellen Show, and a contributor to The John Larroquette Show and The Golden Girls.-Birth and early life:Hurwitz was born...
. It premiered on Fox on 21 September 2010, but was cancelled by the network after 13 episodes.
Voice artist
Serafinowicz has done many adverts and voice-overs and is a talented impressionist. His highest profile role as a voice artist was as Darth MaulDarth Maul
Darth Maul is a fictional character in the science fiction saga Star Wars. He is one of the main antagonists of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by martial artist Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz....
in the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...
. His voice overdubbed that of Ray Park
Ray Park
Raymond Park is a Scottish actor, stuntman and martial artist, best known for his playing the physical part of Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Toad in X-Men, Snake-Eyes in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and Edgar on Heroes.-Early life:Park was born in Glasgow, Scotland...
, who portrayed Darth Maul in costume. This appearance was referred to during the second series of Spaced, as well as when he provided the voice for Darth Chef in an episode
The Return of Chef
"The Return of Chef" is the first episode of the tenth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 140th episode overall. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 22, 2006. It was advertised as the tenth season premiere. The episode was the first after the...
of South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
in 2006. He also did voice work on the children's show Look and Read
Look and Read
Look and Read is a BBC television programme for primary schools, aimed at improving children's literacy skills. The programme presents fictional stories in a serial format, the first of which was broadcast in 1967 and the most recent in 2004, making it the longest running nationally broadcast...
, and more recently portrayed a cyber-terrorist on FX's Archer
Archer (TV series)
Archer is an American animated television series created by Adam Reed for the FX network. A preview of the series aired on September 17, 2009. The first season premiered on January 14, 2010. The show carries a TV-MA-LSV rating....
.
Serafinowicz pretended to be Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
in a 2003 Comic Relief spoof of Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the 1977–1978 Australian game show Blankety Blanks ....
, which led to Wogan inviting Serafinowicz on occasion to appear on Wogan's Radio 2 breakfast programme as a guest (including an appearance during the final week of Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan was the most listened to radio show in the United Kingdom and the flagship breakfast programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The show was presented by Sir Terry Wogan who fronted WUTW from 4 January 1993; he had previously presented the breakfast show between 1972 and 1984, but the...
) and showcase said Wogan impersonation; Serafinowicz regularly utilises his array of impressions when performing.
On the BBC quiz show Would I Lie To You?
Would I Lie To You? (TV series)
Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards...
, he revealed that he overdubbed the voice of Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
in the English language version of his adverts to promote Viagra and raise the awareness of impotency.
Composer
As a composer and musician, Serafinowicz produced virtually all of the music for Look Around You, under the pseudonym Gelg.Personal life
Serafinowicz is married to Smack the PonySmack the Pony
Smack the Pony is a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 until 2003 on Channel 4. Its title was intended to sound like a euphemism for female masturbation; the working title was Spot the Pony. The main performers and writers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips...
, Coupling
Coupling (UK TV series)
Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from May 2000 to June 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating and sexual adventures and mishaps of six friends in their thirties, often depicting the three women and the three...
, and Green Wing
Green Wing
Green Wing is a British sitcom set in the fictional East Hampton Hospital. It was created by the same team behind the sketch show Smack the Pony, led by Victoria Pile, and stars Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt....
actress Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander is an English actress, known for her roles in various British comedy series such as Armstrong and Miller, Smack the Pony, Coupling, The Worst Week of My Life and Green Wing....
. Their first child, a son named Sam, was born in March 2007. They also have a daughter named Phoebe. Peter's brother, James, is a writer and director, and can be seen wearing his Liverpool Blue Coat School
Liverpool Blue Coat School
The Liverpool Blue Coat School is a voluntary aided secondary school located in Wavertree, Liverpool and is Liverpool's only Grammar School. The school was for many years a boys' school but as of September 2002 it has reverted to its original coeducational remit.The Blue Coat School holds a...
uniform at the beginning and end of each episode of the first series of Look Around You
Look Around You
Look Around You is a British television comedy series devised and written by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, and, in the first series, narrated by Nigel Lambert...
and is the person who always gets choked by the robot talk-show host Michael-6 during the Michael-6: The Robot Talk Show Host sketches of The Peter Serafinowicz Show
The Peter Serafinowicz Show
The Peter Serafinowicz Show was a BBC Two comedy sketch show written by and starring Peter Serafinowicz. The first series started on the 4 October 2007 at 21:30 as part of the newly launched "Thursdays Are Funny" brand on BBC2 and Thursdays on ABC2...
. His sister Helen is married to Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan is an Irish television writer, actor, comedian and director who, often in partnership with Arthur Mathews, has written or co-written a number of popular television comedies...
writer of Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
, Black Books
Black Books
Black Books is a British sitcom television series created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan and produced by Nira Park, first broadcast on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2004...
, Big Train
Big Train
Big Train is a surreal British television comedy sketch show created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, writers of the successful sitcom Father Ted...
and The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry...
.
His grandfather, Szymon Serafinowicz Sr., was the first person charged in the UK under the 1991 War Crimes Act
War Crimes Act 1991
The War Crimes Act 1991 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It confers jurisdiction on courts in the United Kingdom to try people for war crimes committed in Nazi Germany or German-occupied territory during the Second World War by people who were not British citizens at the time, but...
, for alleged acts committed during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in his native Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. He was not convicted of any crime, as the jury ruled him unfit for trial on grounds of dementia.
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Doppelganger Doppelgänger In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune... |
Additional voices | Short, promotional film for Reebok Reebok Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle... |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | Voice of Darth Maul Darth Maul Darth Maul is a fictional character in the science fiction saga Star Wars. He is one of the main antagonists of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by martial artist Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz.... |
|
| 2003 | Hello Friend Hello Friend Hello Friend, sometimes written as Hello, Friend, is a short comedy horror film directed and written by Graham Linehan. The film was Linehan's directorial debut. The film stars Martin Savage as a man, John Ward, but credited as the "Subject", who buys some new internet software for his computer,... |
Additional voices | Short film |
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead Shaun of the Dead Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 British zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and written by Pegg and Wright. Pegg plays Shaun, a man attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he deals with his girlfriend, his mother and stepfather... |
Pete | |
| The Calcium Kid The Calcium Kid The Calcium Kid is a British mockumentary comedy film which was released in 2004. This film is presented in the style of a fictional documentary or a "Mockumentary". It stars Orlando Bloom as a milkman and amateur boxer. Billie Piper and Michael Peña are also featured... |
Dave King | ||
| 2006 | Sixty Six Sixty Six (film) Sixty Six is a 2006 British biographical-comedy-drama film about a bar mitzvah which takes place in London on the day of the 1966 world cup final based on the true life bar mitzvah of director Paul Weiland.- Plot :... |
Uncle Jimmy Mr. Rubens Snr. Football commentator |
|
| 2007 | Run, Fat Boy, Run | TV commentator | |
| 2008 | Tales of the Riverbank Tales of the Riverbank Tales of the Riverbank, sometimes called Hammy Hamster, is a Canadian children's television show starring Hammy Hamster and other animals.... |
Various characters | |
| 2009 | Couples Retreat Couples Retreat Couples Retreat is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Peter Billingsley with contributions to the script by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Dana Fox, Curtis Hanson, and Greg Beeman. Vaughn and Favreau star with Faizon Love, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, Malin Åkerman and... |
Sctanley | |
| 2010 | The Best and the Brightest | Clark Janowitz | |
| 2011 | Killing Bono Killing Bono Killing Bono is a 2011 comedy film directed by Nick Hamm, based on Neil McCormick's 2003 memoir Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelgänger.... |
Hammond |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Second henchman | Televised pantomime |
| Comedy Nation | Various characters | ||
| Europigeon John Shuttleworth (character) John Shuttleworth is a fictional singer-songwriter and radio presenter, created by English comedy actor and musician, Graham Fellows in 1986. Shuttleworth is in his late 40s and is from Walkley in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He has a quiet manner and slightly nerdish tendencies... |
Terry Wogan Terry Wogan Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career... |
TV special | |
| Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round was a comedy sketch show which ran on BBC2 for a total of 6 episodes over one series in 1998.Alexei Sayle's final series was almost identical in format to The All New Alexei Sayle Show... |
Narrator | ||
| You Are Here | Dr. Phil Phillips | TV film | |
| 1998–1999 | How Do You Want Me? How Do You Want Me? How Do You Want Me? is a British television sitcom, produced by Kensington Films & Television, written by Simon Nye, and directed by John Henderson.... |
Dean Yardley | Appeared in twelve episodes |
| 1999 | Murder Most Horrid Murder Most Horrid Murder Most Horrid is a BBC dark comedy anthology series starring comedian Dawn French. It ran for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999.... |
Tony Frost | Episode 4.6: "Dinner at Tiffany's" |
| Smack the Pony Smack the Pony Smack the Pony is a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 until 2003 on Channel 4. Its title was intended to sound like a euphemism for female masturbation; the working title was Spot the Pony. The main performers and writers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips... |
Various characters | Appeared in two episodes | |
| Sermon from St Albion's | Alastair Campbell Alastair Campbell Alastair John Campbell is a British journalist, broadcaster, political aide and author, best known for his work as Director of Communications and Strategy for Prime Minister Tony Blair between 1997 and 2003, having first started working for Blair in 1994... |
Episode 2.1 | |
| The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns is a 1999 Hallmark Entertainment made-for-TV fantasy movie. It stars Randy Quaid, Colm Meaney, Kieran Culkin, Roger Daltrey, Caroline Carver and Whoopi Goldberg... |
George Fitzpatrick | TV film | |
| Hippies Hippies (TV series) Hippies is a six-part British television comedy series broadcast from 12 November to 17 December 1999. It was created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, the writing partnership most famous for Father Ted, but the scripts were written by Mathews alone.It starred Simon Pegg, Sally Phillips, Julian... |
Robin Narrator |
Appeared in two episodes | |
| 1999–2001 | Spaced Spaced Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour... |
Duane Benzie | Appeared in three episodes |
| 2000 | The Junkies The Junkies (pilot) The Junkies was a British sitcom pilot, produced in 2000 for a budget of just £3,500, and distributed over the Internet.The show was one of the first to be specifically made for download over the web. It was written by Jane Bussmann and David Quantick, and starred Peter Baynham, Sally Phillips,... |
Big Al Narrator |
Distributed via the Internet |
| Black Books Black Books Black Books is a British sitcom television series created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan and produced by Nira Park, first broadcast on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2004... |
Howell Granger | Episode 1.5: "The Big Lock-Out" | |
| 2001 | World of Pub World of Pub World of Pub is a radio and television sitcom, set in a pub in the East End of London, written by Tony Roche and produced by Jane Berthoud.... |
Garry Additional characters |
Appeared in all six episodes |
| 2002 | Ted and Alice | Mark | |
| I'm Alan Partridge I'm Alan Partridge I'm Alan Partridge is a BBC situation comedy starring Steve Coogan, of which two series of six episodes each were produced — the first in 1997 and the second in 2002... |
Tex | Episode 2.4: "Never Say Alan Again" | |
| 15 Storeys High 15 Storeys High 15 Storeys High is a critically acclaimed British sitcom, set in a tower block. The main characters are Vince Clark, a misanthropic, cynical recluse played by Sean Lock, and Errol Spears, Vince's exact opposite and whipping boy, played by Benedict Wong.... |
Unknown | Appeared in two episodes | |
| 2002–2005 | Look Around You Look Around You Look Around You is a British television comedy series devised and written by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, and, in the first series, narrated by Nigel Lambert... |
Scientist Peter Packard |
Appeared in all 15 episodes |
| 2003 | Little Britain Little Britain Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas... |
Interviewer at Prime Minister's Questions | Episode 1.5: "Biggest House of Cards"; uncredited |
| 2003–2004 | Hardware Hardware (TV series) Hardware is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 2003 to 2004. Starring Martin Freeman, it was written and created by Simon Nye, the creator of Men Behaving Badly.The show's opening theme was A Taste of Honey by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass.... |
Kenny | Appeared in all twelve episodes |
| 2006 | Our Thirties | Austin | |
| Agatha Christie's Marple | Walter Fane | Episode 2.1: "Sleeping Murder" | |
| The IT Crowd The IT Crowd The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry... |
News reader Voice over |
Appeared in two episodes | |
| South Park South Park South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics... |
Darth Chef | Episode 10.1: "The Return of Chef" | |
| 2007–2008 | The Peter Serafinowicz Show The Peter Serafinowicz Show The Peter Serafinowicz Show was a BBC Two comedy sketch show written by and starring Peter Serafinowicz. The first series started on the 4 October 2007 at 21:30 as part of the newly launched "Thursdays Are Funny" brand on BBC2 and Thursdays on ABC2... |
Various characters | Appeared in all seven episodes |
| 2009 | Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle is a comedy series created by Stewart Lee.The BBC Two series debuted on 16 March 2009, and featured stand-up routines and sketches performed by Simon Munnery, Kevin Eldon and Paul Putner amongst others. Peter Serafinowicz recorded voice-over parts. The series is... |
Voiceover | Appeared in all six episodes |
| 2010 | Driver Dan's Story Train Driver Dan's Story Train Driver Dan's Story Train is a children's CGI animated story series. It is currently being shown by PBS Kids Sprout and ABC2 and CBeebies. It is produced by Twofour54 and Its first series was launched on CBeebies in January 2010.... |
Driver Dan | |
| Running Wilde Running Wilde Running Wilde was an American comedy television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Network. It starred Will Arnett as Steve Wilde, a self-centered, idle bachelor and heir to an oil fortune... |
Fa'ad Shaoulin | ||
| Whitechapel Whitechapel (TV series) Whitechapel is a three-part British television drama series produced by Carnival Films, which first broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and which dealt with the murders of Jack the Ripper.... |
DCI Cazanove | ||
| 2011 | Archer (TV series) Archer (TV series) Archer is an American animated television series created by Adam Reed for the FX network. A preview of the series aired on September 17, 2009. The first season premiered on January 14, 2010. The show carries a TV-MA-LSV rating.... |
George Spelvin | Season 2, Episode 6 |
| NTSF:SD:SUV:: | S.A.M. | Voice, recurring |
Video games
- Warhammer 40,000: Fire WarriorWarhammer 40,000: Fire WarriorWarhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior is a Warhammer 40,000 video game available for the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Kuju Entertainment and was released in October 2003....
(2003) - Captain Ardias - Star Wars: Battlefront IIStar Wars: Battlefront IIStar Wars: Battlefront II is a first/third-person shooter video game developed by Pandemic Studios, and published by LucasArts. The game is the sequel to the successful Star Wars: Battlefront and features new vehicles, characters, game mechanics, maps, and missions...
, Darth Maul
Radio
- The 99p ChallengeThe 99p ChallengeThe 99p Challenge is a spoof panel game originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The show is presented by Sue Perkins and features a selection of regular panelists such as Armando Iannucci and regular writers Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Jon Holmes and Tony Roche...
- Lee and HerringLee and Herring (radio series)Lee and Herring was a British radio series broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1994 and 1995, named after the comedy double act who hosted it, Lee and Herring.The show ran for three series and a total of nineteen hour-long episodes...
- Harry Hill's Fruit CornerHarry Hill's Fruit CornerHarry Hill's Fruit Corner was a radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom. It starred Harry Hill. Hill achieved his big breakthrough in 1992 when he won the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe...
- The Two Dannys
- Danny Baker's All Day Breakfast ShowAll Day Breakfast ShowThe All Day Breakfast Show was a daily podcast which was launched on 15 March 2007.Created by and starring Danny Baker, the show also featured Amy Lamé, Baylen Leonard and David Kuo...
- The Sofa of TimeThe Sofa of TimeThe Sofa of Time was a BBC Radio 4 comedy drama written by and starring Nick Frost and Matt King. It was first broadcast in 2002.Milford and Parker get sacked from their jobs in a soft furnishings factory in Crouch End. As they are clearing out their lockers, they fall into the magical world of...
, as the voice of Reamen Bod - People Like UsPeople Like UsPeople Like Us is a British comedy programme, a spoof on-location documentary written by John Morton, and starring Chris Langham as Roy Mallard, an inept interviewer...
External links
- Peter Serafinowicz's official website
- Peter Serafinowicz on Twitter
- Why I Steal Movies… Even Ones I'm In
- http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs-old/latest/2007/10/23/serafinowicz-exclusive-115875-19993359/