- Chris O'Dowd
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Chris O'Dowd Born 9 October 1979
County Roscommon, IrelandAlma mater University College Dublin Occupation Actor, comedian, director Years active 2003–present Notable works The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids Home town Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland Height 6 ft 3 in Partner Dawn Porter Chris O'Dowd (born 9 October 1979)[1] is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd. He has also appeared in several Hollywood films, including Gulliver's Travels and Bridesmaids, the latter of which "has thrown him into the position as one of Hollywood's leading men almost overnight with the film making over $100 million dollars at the US box office."[2]
Contents
Early life
O'Dowd was born in Sligo and raised in Boyle, County Roscommon, in the West of Ireland. His mother is a counsellor and psychotherapist and his father is a graphic designer.[3][4] He studied politics and sociology in University College, Dublin (U.C.D.), and subsequently attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. O'Dowd did not obtain a degree from UCD, telling the UCD student newspaper the College Tribune in 2011, “I didn’t finish my degree. The politics part of it was fine, but I was doing sociology as-well and I could never bring myself to find an interest in it. “[5]
He contributed to The University Observer and was active in UCD Dramsoc and the Literary and Historical Society ('the L. & H.').[6]
Career
O'Dowd has starred in Britain in Channel 4's comedy The IT Crowd, BBC 2's Roman's Empire, Red Cap and the award-winning documentary-drama The Year London Blew Up. He has also appeared on Irish television, having starred in the RTÉ One drama The Clinic and the drama Showbands alongside Kerry Katona. O'Dowd has appeared in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People in a minor role.
O'Dowd has also had roles in a number of films including the 2005 film Festival where he played stand-up comedian Tommy O'Dwyer, a role for which he won a Scottish BAFTA award, and a small role in Vera Drake.
O'Dowd appears in Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, a comedy sci-fiction film with Marc Wootton, Dean Lennox Kelly and Anna Faris. He played one of the main characters ("Liam") in the 2007 German film Hotel Very Welcome.
He starred in the 2009 film The Boat That Rocked, released in Canada and the U.S. as Pirate Radio. The film is inspired by the story of offshore pirate broadcasters Radio Caroline. O'Dowd plays Simon, the station's breakfast DJ."The breakfast jock on Radio Caroline at the time was Tony Blackburn, so there's definitely an element of him in it,"[7] says O'Dowd of his character. "And then I called in different Irish DJs that would have been contemporaries of Tony Blackburn at the time, a guy called Larry Gogan and a couple of other people."[7]
O'Dowd also starred opposite Sienna Miller in the film Hippie Hippie Shake, which is about the groundbreaking '60s magazine, Oz. The publication was the precursor to a whole generation of lad mags. O'Dowd plays Felix Dennis, who would later become the publisher of Maxim. The story centers on the landmark indecency trial. In real-life, O'Dowd's character was defended by John Mortimer who went on to write Rumpole of the Bailey. In preparation for the role, O'Dowd met up with Dennis. "He was an incredibly charismatic man," O'Dowd stated."[7]
In April 2009 it was announced that O'Dowd has been cast in a remake of Gulliver's Travels as General Edward. The film stars Jack Black as Gulliver, Emily Blunt as the Princess, and Jason Segel as Horatio. "It's shooting in Pinewood from the end of April,"[7] said O'Dowd, shortly after his participation was announced. "I'm just going back to England to learn how to ride a horse...I'm a general in the army, so there's going to be a little bit of horse riding. I think it's going to be really fun though, we're all kind of learning together – Jason and Jack have to learn as well."[7]
O'Dowd appeared in the 2010 film Dinner For Schmucks, with Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis, and Paul Rudd, an American version of a French farce called Le Dîner de Cons.[8]
O'Dowd appeared on panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Season 21, episode 11).
He starred in a new ITV2 comedy series entitled FM, alongside Kevin Bishop and Nina Sosanya.
In 2010, O'Dowd took part in Sky Comedy's Little Christmas Crackers. He directed and wrote the 15-minute piece loosely based on his own childhood and events which took place at Christmas in his family home, from the years 1984 to 1988.
In April 2011, O'Dowd starred alongside Romola Garai in the BBC adaptation of The Crimson Petal and the White, as William Rackham.
O'Dowd appeared in the May 2011 release Bridesmaids, as Officer Nathan Rhodes, the love interest of Kristen Wiig's character.
O'Dowd has been announced as a cast member in the Knocked Up sequel This is Forty. He will play a co-worker of Paul Rudd.[9][10][11] He based his character, "a pretentious d***", on people in Hoxton who "all wear their skinny jeans and hate the world, which comes from inability to deal with women."[12] He described "fighting over Megan Fox in a pool" during filming as "one of the most fun things I've ever done."[13]
O'Dowd recently wrapped production on Wayne Blair's debut feature, Australian musical The Sapphires.[14] The musical powerhouse, based on a popular stage show, was shot across Australia and Vietnam and produced by Goalpost Australia.[15][16]
O'Dowd is to write and executive produce a new U.S. television comedy called Big Men.[17] NBC won the war.[18]
Personal life
He is in a relationship with writer and television presenter Dawn Porter.[4]
Filmography
Film
- Conspiracy of Silence (2003) – Fellow Student
- Vera Drake (2004) - Sid's Customer
- Festival (2005) – Tommy O'Dwyer
- Hotel Very Welcome (2007) – Liam
- How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) – Post Modern Review Staff
- The Boat That Rocked (2009) – "Simple" Simon Swafford
- Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009) – Ray
- Hippie Hippie Shake (2009) – Felix Dennis
- Dinner For Schmucks (2010) – Marco, Blind Swordsman
- Gulliver's Travels (2010) – General Edward
- Bridesmaids (2011) – Officer Nathan Rhodes
- Friends with Kids (2012) – Alex
- This is Forty (2012) - Unknown
- Sean Carlin Goes Crazy (2013) - Jenny Bendelow
Television
- Doc Martin (2006) – Jonathan Crozier (1 episode – Christmas Special "On the Edge")
- The IT Crowd (2006–Present) – Roy Trenneman
- Roman's Empire (2007) – Jase
- FM (2009) – Lindsay
- Little Crackers (2010)
- The Crimson Petal and the White (2011) - William Rackham
- Family Guy (2011) - Voice (1 episode - "Lottery Fever")
References
- ^ "IMDB biography".
- ^ Hegarty, Mandy. "Interview: Chris O'Dowd Talks 'Bridesmaids'". IFTN. 13 June 2011.
- ^ Barton, Laura. "Chris O'Dowd: From cult IT geek to Hollywood antihero". London Evening Standard. 17 June 2011.
- ^ a b Husband, Stuart (2011-06-20). "Chris O'Dowd Interview". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/8579986/Chris-ODowd-Interview.html. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ http://www.collegetribune.ie/index.php/2011/10/chris-o-dowd-talks-to-donie-o-sullivan/
- ^ http://www.collegetribune.ie/index.php/2011/10/chris-o-dowd-talks-to-donie-o-sullivan/
- ^ a b c d e "Chris O'Dowd: The IT Man From The IT Crowd". SuicideGirls.com. 9 May 2009. http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Chris+O%27Dowd%3A+The+IT+Man+From+The+IT+Crowd/. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ "Chris O'Dowd Interview". Sky TV.
- ^ "Chris O'Dowd for Knocked Up sequel". RTÉ Ten. 8 June 2011.
- ^ "'IT Crowd' star to join 'Knocked Up' spin-off". NME. 8 June 2011.
- ^ "O'Dowd joins Knocked Up spin-off". The Belfast Telegraph. 8 June 2011.
- ^ Smart, Gordon. "Chris O’Dowd is a little too honest". The Sun. 19 October 2011.
- ^ Smart, Gordon. "Chris O’Dowd’s pool frolics with Megan Fox: IT Crowd geek's scene with sexy star". The Sun. 21 September 2011.
- ^ "Chris O'Dowd Joins Aussie Musical 'The Sapphires'". IFTN. 16 August 2011.
- ^ "On location and finally acting the part". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 October 2011.
- ^ "O'Dowd heads to Vietnam for new movie ". RTÉ Ten. 16 August 2011.
- ^ "O'Dowd set for US comedy series". RTÉ Ten. 27 October 2011.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel. "NBC Wins Bidding War for Chris O'Dowd Comedy 'Big Men'". Reuters. 26 October 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1979 births
- Living people
- Alumni of University College Dublin
- Irish film actors
- Irish television actors
- Irish comedians
- People from County Roscommon
- People from County Sligo
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