Simon Pegg

Simon John Pegg (born 14 February 1970) is an English stand-up comedian, writer and film and television actor, and a friend of Ricky's, Steve's and Karl's. He gained international success with the films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, both of which he co-wrote and starred in. Prior to his film work, he gained notoriety in the British sitcom Spaced. Much of his major work has been in collaboration with some combination of Jessica Stevenson, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost.

Pegg was born in Gloucester and studied drama at the University of Bristol. In 1993 he moved to London and gigged on the stand-up comedy circuit before breaking into television comedy. .

In 1999, he created and co-wrote the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced with Jessica Stevenson. In it, a twenty-something man and woman must pretend to be a couple in order to buy an apartment together. Pegg's best friend Nick Frost was a co-star. For his performance in this series, Pegg was nominated for a British Comedy Award as Best Male Comedy Newcomer. Ricky Gervais also made a cameo in the show as Dave, a letting agent who introduces Tim & Daisy (Simon & Jessica's characters) to their flat.

Pegg co-wrote (with Spaced director Edgar Wright) and starred in the popular "romantic zombie comedy" film Shaun of the Dead, released in April 2004. The film also became a cult hit in the United States.

In 2002, Karl Pilkington became friends with Simon and Nick at the Edinburgh Festival, and even did some guest spots on their radio show. Ricky called them Karl's "new best friends" because they believed in ghosts and humored Karl's fascination with the supernatural.

Most recently, Pegg co-wrote (again with Edgar Wright) and starred in Hot Fuzz, a film about a hot shot London cop who is transferred to a sleepy West country village. Nick Frost again appears in a supporting role. Stephen Merchant also has a small cameo in the film as a gentleman who has lost one of his swans.