Simply put, this man is a living comedy icon. Known almost as much for his transvestitism and pro European stance as he is for his truly inspired social observations, Eddie Izzard is one of the most gleefully unpredictable performers to have sabotaged the stage and screen. Born in Yemen on February 7, 1962, Izzard grew up in Wales and Northern Ireland. Following his mother's death when he was six, Izzard found some degree of solace in comedy, particularly the works of Monty Python, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, and the early Benny Hill. He began doing stand-up at college and, after being ...
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Full Biography
Simply put, this man is a living comedy icon. Known almost as much for his transvestitism and pro European stance as he is for his truly inspired social observations, Eddie Izzard is one of the most gleefully unpredictable performers to have sabotaged the stage and screen.
Born in Yemen on February 7, 1962, Izzard grew up in Wales and Northern Ireland. Following his mother's death when he was six, Izzard found some degree of solace in comedy, particularly the works of Monty Python, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, and the early Benny Hill.
He began doing stand-up at college and, after being ingloriously kicked out of school, he took his act to the public -whether they liked it or not - as a street performer.
Izzard refined his material - which largely revolved around personal experiences, politics, and social issues - over the next decade, and in the early '90s, he finally began earning some measure of recognition with classic sets at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival.
As he toured extensively, his live acts became a massive seller on video and later DVD, the 'holy trinity' of Unrepeatable, Definite Article and Glorious still remaining essential viewing for all comedy fans.
As a staunch pro European supporter, he has even gone so far as to perform his routines on the continent, speaking in other languages such as French and German. Indeed, His stand-up work brought him British Comedy Awards in 1993 and 1996, as well as so much popular and critical approval that Izzard felt that it was time to pursue his other desire: acting.
Supporting roles in The Avengers and Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine (both 1998) were concurrent with his first internationally acclaimed tour, Dress to Kill.
The tour helped to establish him on both sides of the Atlantic, allowing Eddie to begin the new century on an exceptionally positive note. 2000 saw him co-starring in Shadow of the Vampire, a fictional depiction of the filming of the 1922 Nosferatu; he also appeared with Ben Stiller in Mystery Men and as Charlie Chapman alongside Kirsten Dunst in The Cat's Miaow.
His 2003 Sexie tour saw Eddie sell out at Wembley Arena but was met with decidedly mixed reviews. It has been argued that of late Eddie Izzard the actor has begun to take over, at the expense of Eddie Izzard the comic.
Izzard continued to pursue an acting career and landed plum role sin Oceans 12 and 13 alongside Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Matt Damon. Stardom had arrived and as all Hollywood stars do, Izzard did a voiceover for the UK recycling TV adverts.
2008 saw Izzard return to the stage for his Stripped tour, playing 23 dates at the Lyric Theatre in London.
Of late though, Izzard is renowned for completing the ludicrous task of running 43 marathons in 52 days over the length and breadth of Great Britain for Sport Relief. He raised well over a million pounds for the achievement.