Peter Szymon Serafinowicz(/ˌsɛrəˈfɪnəwɪtʃ/SERR-ə-FIN-ə-witch;[citation needed]born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. His film roles include the voice ofDarth MaulinStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace(1999), Pete inShaun of the Dead(2004), Garthan Saal inGuardians of the Galaxy(2014), the voice of Big Daddy inSing(2016) andSing 2(2021), and The Sommelier inJohn Wick: Chapter 2(2017).
Peter Serafinowicz | |
|---|---|
 Serafinowicz in 2014 | |
| Born | 10 July 1972 Liverpool,England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse | Sarah Alexander |
| Children | 2 |
On television, Serafinowicz created and starred in the comedy showsLook Around You(2002–2005) andThe Peter Serafinowicz Show(2007–2008). He also voiced characters and worked as a creative consultant onSouth Park(2006–2015), portrayed Edgar Covington inParks and Recreation(2013–2015), voiced the Fisher King inDoctor Who(2015), and starred as thetitle characterin the live-action adaptation seriesThe Tick(2016). His other television work includes voicing characters in animated series such asArcher,Bob's Burgers,Rick and Morty,The Simpsons,andAmerican Dad!
Serafinowicz has voiced characters in video games such asDark Souls II(2014),LittleBigPlanet 3(2014), andDeus Ex: Mankind Divided(2016). He has also directed music videos for acts such asHot Chipand wentviralin 2016 forpolitical satirevideos in which he dubbed over videos ofDonald Trumpwith a "sassy"voice, aCockney accent,and aposh English accent.
Early life
editPeter Szymon Serafinowicz was born into aCatholicfamily in Liverpool'sGateacresuburb on 10 July 1972,[1][2][3]the son of post office worker Catherine (née Geary) and scaffolder Szymon Serafinowicz Jr.[4]His father was born and raised inSurreyto a Polish mother and Belarusian father and later moved to Liverpool as an adult.[4]Serafinowicz has a brother named James, who became a film producer, and a sister named Helen, who became a writer and was married to Irish comedy writerGraham Linehanfrom 2004 to 2020.[5]
At the age of three, Serafinowicz moved with his family to theBelle Valedistrict of Liverpool, where he attended Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School.[6]The family moved back to Gateacre when he was 14, and he attendedSt Francis Xavier's Collegein the neighbouringWooltonsuburb.[7]He later said, "I had a very happy childhood, but Belle Vale was very rough. I was only about three when we moved there, but I can still remember it looking very shiny, and it was all landscaped. But it was a very poor area, and it became scruffy quite quickly. [...] Gateacre is traditionally seen as one of the posh areas of Liverpool [but] it wasn't really that much posher!"[6]
Career
editThis section of abiography of a living personneeds additionalcitationsforverification.(October 2017) |
Serafinowicz made his broadcasting debut in 1993 onRadio 1showThe Knowledge,a spoof documentary about the music industry. From there he went on to perform inRadio 4showsWeek Ending,Harry Hill's Fruit Corner,Grievous Bodily Radio,The Two Dannys,andA Whole New Ball Game.
On 1 May 1997, he appeared inThe Election Night Armisticeas Moz Bingham, the fictional press secretary to the-then shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerGordon Brown,who verbally abuses theBBC'sNick Robinsonin a spoof phone call over the politician's news coverage. In 1998, he appeared on TV inComedy NationandYou Are Here.He also had a role in the sitcomHow Do You Want Me?,writtenbySimon Nye.
In 1999, he had several guest appearances in theChannel 4sitcomSpaced,playing protagonist Tim Bisley's (Simon Pegg) nemesis, Duane Benzie. He made anothercameo appearancein the series when it returned in 2001.
In 2001, he took the lead inBBC TwositcomWorld of Pub,playing the same character as he had done in the show's run on Radio 4. He also appeared inThe Junkies,an internet sitcom. In 2002, the critically acclaimedLook Around You,a series of 10-minute spoofs of 1970s school science programmes, in which he played ascientist,were shown on BBC 2. He co-wrote the show withRobert Popper,whom he met on the set ofSpaced.The show returned in 2005 as a spoof of the BBC TV showTomorrow's World,with Serafinowicz playing Peter Packard, one of the presenters.
In 2003, he appeared in another sitcom written by Nye,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 romantic zombie comedyShaun of the Dead,playing Pete, the uptight flatmate of principal characters Shaun and Ed. He appeared in boxing filmThe Calcium Kid.
InSixty Six,the 2006 British film about aJewishboy whosebar mitzvahis scheduled for the same day as the1966 FIFA World Cup Final,Serafinowicz plays Uncle Jimmy. In the week before the 2006Academy Awardsa video circulated on the Internet of a fake news item (called "O! News", a parody ofE! News) about a new Oscar statue, in which Serafinowicz imitatedAlan Alda,Paul McCartneyandAl Pacino.
A second "O! News" video later appeared, parodying the 2006Apple Corps v Apple Computerlawsuit. This attracted the interest of the BBC, and a pilot was commissioned forThe 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 2008Rose d'Orceremony.[8]The series was also nominated for Best Comedy Programme at the 2009BAFTA Television Awards.[9]
Serafinowicz made guest appearances on television, including the comedy showsSmack the PonyandHippies(both 1999),Black Books(2000),I'm Alan Partridge(2002) andLittle Britain(2003), comedy-dramaMurder Most Horrid(1999),ITVdrama seriesAgatha Christie's Marple(2006) andParks and Recreation(2013).
He made a number of guest appearances on both television and radio panel shows. He regularly appeared onThe 99p Challengeand appeared onHave I Got News for Youin 2005, 2006 and 2008,8 Out of 10 Catsin 2005, andQIin 2003. He also appeared onFriday Night with Jonathan Rosson 19 October 2007,Would I Lie to You?on 8 August 2008 and 30 July 2010 andNever Mind the Buzzcockson 15 October 2009.
In 2008, Serafinowicz was working with Robert Popper on a new television series and website, based on a spoof religion "Tarvuism" for US networkAdult Swim.[10]In 2009, he appeared in Universal Films'Couples Retreatas Sctanley, the manager of the Eden Resort, directed byPeter Billingsley.
In 2010, Serafinowicz directed the music video forHot Chip's song "I Feel Better", their second single from the albumOne Life Stand.He followed this up in 2012 when he directed the music video for the band's song "Night & Day", the first single from their albumIn Our Heads.
On 28 July 2010, Popper and Serafinowicz added a new narration track to an episode of "Out Of Town" byJack Hargreavesin order to create the spoof film "Markets of Britain, a short film by Lee Titt"[11]
In 2010, he co-starred withWill Arnettin theFOXsitcomRunning Wilde,devised byArrested DevelopmentcreatorMitchell Hurwitz.It premiered on Fox on 21 September 2010,[12]but was cancelled by the network after 13 episodes.
In June 2013, Serafinowicz provided the English languageaudiobookrecording for theRoald DahlnovelDanny, the Champion of the World.[13]In July 2013, he made his film directing debut with the dark comedy filmI See What You Did There,[14]which he wrote, along withDanny Wallace.[15]
In 2014, it was announced that Serafinowicz would play the role of Crowley in the BBC Radio 4 adaption ofTerry PratchettandNeil Gaiman's novelGood Omens.[16]
That same year, he was featured inGuardians of the Galaxyplaying Garthan Saal, a Denarian ranking pilot of the Nova Corps. He appeared in Series 9 ofDoctor Whoas the voice of The Fisher King.[17]
During 2016, Serafinowicz created a series ofYouTubevideos entitled "Sassy Trump", in which he redubed speeches given byDonald Trumpwith acampvoice.[18]The videos were deleted from his YouTube channel in 2020, but have been re-uploaded by others. He has also created videos dubbing Trump with aCockney accentand aposh English accent.[19]
Due to Serafinowicz's impersonation ofPaul McCartney,Matt Berrysang a duet with him on Berry's 2009 albumWitchazel.The track in question was "Rain Came Down", where he was billed as Paul McCartney.[20]He stars in thetitle roleof Amazon'sThe Tick,the pilot for which premiered on 19 August 2016.[21]In 2020 Serafinowicz guest starred in the second season ofTBS'Miracle Workers.
In September and October 2023, Serafinowicz began touring the UK as his character Brian Butterfield fromThe Peter Serafinowicz Showin the(Placeholder Name) Tour.[22]The show toured the UK again in May and June 2024 asBrian Butterfield's Call of Now.In March 2024, Serafinowicz played Tommy Dixon in the crime seriesThe Gentlemen.
Personal life
editSerafinowicz met actressSarah Alexanderin 2002, when she was in a relationship with actorGerald Harper,who is 40 years older than her.[23]She left Harper for Serafinowicz and married him on an unknown date.[23]They live inWest Londonwith their son and daughter.[24]
In October 2007, Serafinowicz dropped his attempt to use theHuman Rights Actagainst national newspapers; he had been seeking to prevent the publication of information revealing that his Belarusian grandfather, Szymon Serafinowicz, was a member of theNazi-controlledBelarusian Auxiliary Police.
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Darth Maul,Battle Droids, Gungan Warrior | Voice[25] |
| 2001 | Calcium | Scientist | Short film Writer, producer |
| 2003 | Hello Friend | Email Voice-Over | Voice, short film |
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Pete | |
| The Calcium Kid | Dave King | ||
| 2005 | Ripley Under Ground | Nigel | |
| 2006 | Sixty Six | Uncle Jimmy, Mr. Reubens Sr., Football Commentator | |
| 2007 | Grindhouse | Screaming Man | FakeDon'ttrailer |
| Run Fatboy Run | Sports Commentator | ||
| 2008 | Tales of the Riverbank | Various Characters | Voice[25] |
| 2009 | Couples Retreat | Sctanley | |
| 2010 | The Best and the Brightest | Clark | |
| 2011 | Killing Bono | Hammond | |
| 2013 | Underdogs | Loco | Voice[25] |
| 2014 | SOS: Save Our Skins | Andrew | Voice |
| Food Club | Narrator | Voice, short film | |
| Pudsey the Dog: The Movie | Edward the Horse | Voice | |
| Muppets Most Wanted | Gulag Guard | Uncredited | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy | DenarianGarthan Saal | ||
| 2015 | Spy | Aldo | |
| 2016 | Sing | Big Daddy | Voice[25] |
| 2017 | John Wick: Chapter 2 | The Sommelier | |
| Going in Style | Murphy | ||
| An Ordinary Man | Miro | ||
| 2019 | Last Christmas | Theatre Producer | |
| 2020 | DC Showcase: The Phantom Stranger | ThePhantom Stranger | Voice, short film[25] |
| 2021 | Sing 2 | Big Daddy | Voice[25] |
| 2022 | The Bubble | Gavin | |
| The School for Good and Evil | Yuba | ||
| Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm | Neil, Big Neil | Voice, direct-to-video | |
| The Amazing Maurice | Death | Voice | |
| 2023 | Sumotherhood | Krzysztof | |
| Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget | Reginald Smith | Voice[26] | |
| 2025 | How to Train Your Dragon† | Post-production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Spitting Image | Jacques Chirac | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 1998 | Comedy Nation | Various Characters | |
| ITV Panto | Second Henchman | Episode: "Jack and the Beanstalk" | |
| Europigeon | Terry Wogan | Voice, television film | |
| Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round | Narrator | Voice, 6 episodes | |
| 1998–1999 | How Do You Want Me? | Dean Yardley | 9 episodes |
| 1999 | The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | George Fitzpatrck | Television film |
| Murder Most Horrid | Tony Frost | Episode: "Dinner at Tiffany's" | |
| Smack the Pony | 2 episodes | ||
| Sermon from St. Albion's | Alastair Campbell | 1 episode | |
| Hippies | Narrator, Robin | 2 episodes | |
| 1999–2001 | Spaced | Duane Benzie | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | Black Books | Howell Granger | Episode: "The Big Lock-Out" |
| The Junkies | Big Al, Narrator | Pilot | |
| 2001 | World of Pub | Garry, Various Characters | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | I'm Alan Partridge | Tex | Episode: "Never Say Alan Again" |
| 15 Storeys High | 2 episodes | ||
| What a Cartoon! | Butch | Voice, episode: "Colin Versus the World in" Mr. Lounge Lizard "[25] | |
| 2002–2005 | Look Around You | Scientist, Peter Packard | Creator, writer, producer |
| 2003 | Little Britain | Interviewer at Prime Minister's Questions | Episode: "Biggest House of Cards" |
| 2003–2004 | Hardware | Kenny | 12 episodes |
| 2006 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Walter Fane | Episode: "Sleeping Murder" |
| The IT Crowd | Newsreader, Lift, Voice-Over | 3 episodes | |
| 2006–2015 | South Park | Various Characters | Voice; also creative consultant |
| 2007–2008 | The Peter Serafinowicz Show | Various Characters | Creator, writer, producer |
| 2009 | Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle | Narrator | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Whitechapel | DCI Torbin Cazenove | 3 episodes |
| Driver Dan's Story Train | Driver Dan | Voice, 103 episodes | |
| 2010–2011 | Running Wilde | Fa'ad Shaoulian | 13 episodes |
| 2011 | This is Jinsy | Eric Dunt | Episode: "Cupboards" |
| Funny or Die Presents | Puppet | Voice, episode: "The Terrys" | |
| 2011–2013 | Archer | George Spelvin, Benoit, James Mason | Voice, 3 episodes |
| NTSF:SD:SUV:: | S.A.M., Sagan | 21 episodes | |
| 2012 | The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | Tito the Cycling Lawyer | 1 episode |
| The Secret Policeman's Ball 2012 | Paul McCartney | Special | |
| Watson & Oliver | Various | 2 episodes | |
| Bad Sugar | Rolph Cauldwell | Pilot | |
| Childrens Hospital | Michael Caine | Voice, episode: "British Hospital" | |
| American Dad! | Goran the Mutilator | Voice, episode: "Killer Vacation" | |
| 2013 | It's Kevin | Bill Grundy | 1 episode |
| Fit | Brian Butterfield | 13 episodes | |
| Playhouse Presents | Roger | Episode: "Hey Diddly Dee" | |
| Father Figure | Karl | Episode: "Chin Chin" | |
| Anatole's Island | Narrator | Voice, television film | |
| 2013–2015 | Axe Cop | Various Characters | Voice, 8 episodes |
| Parks and Recreation | Edgar Covington | 3 episodes | |
| 2014 | Mr. Sloane | Ross | 6 episodes |
| The Britishes | Lord British | 4 episodes | |
| Adventure Time | Lumpy Space Prince | Voice, episode: "The Prince Who Wanted Everything"[25] | |
| Gravity Falls | Blind Ivan | Voice, episode: "Society of the Blind Eye"[25] | |
| 2015 | Moonbeam City | Nocturne von Groff | Voice, episode: "The Strike Visualizer Strikes Again" |
| Doctor Who | Fisher King | Voice, episode: "Before the Flood" | |
| Hunt the Truth | Black Box | 6 episodes | |
| Long Live the Royals | Frederick, Demonic Hare | Voice, 3 episodes[25] | |
| 2015–2016 | The Adventures of OG Sherlock Kush | OG Sherlock Kush | Voice, 20 episodes |
| TripTank | Various Characters | Voice, 5 episodes | |
| 2016–2019 | The Tick | The Tick | Also producer |
| 2017 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Turtleneck Man | Episode: "Making Love" |
| Mickey and the Roadster Racers | Agent Chauncey Chips, Dr. Waddleton Crutchley | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| People of Earth | Eric the Cube | Voice, 8 episodes | |
| Rick and Morty | Agency Director Pavel Bartek | Voice, episode: "Pickle Rick" | |
| Neo Yokio | Various Characters | Voice, 6 episodes | |
| 2018 | The Simpsons | Corporate CEO | Voice, episode: "Krusty the Clown" |
| 2019 | Bob's Burgers | Scottjohn Dansteve | Voice, episode: "Bed, Bob & Beyond"[25] |
| His Dark Materials | Iofur Raknison | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Miracle Workers | King Cragnoor | |
| Sassy Justice | Fred Sassy | Voice | |
| 2023 | White House Plumbers | William F. Buckley Jr. | |
| Rick and Morty | Oxygen-S / 8 / Infinity | Voice, episode "Rise of the Numbericons: The Movie" | |
| What If...? | Garthan Saal | Voice, episode "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?" | |
| 2024 | The Gentlemen | Tommy Dixon | 2 episodes |
| Creature Commandos | Victor Frankenstein | Voice |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Z: Steel Soldiers | Lassar | |
| 2003 | Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior | Space Marine Captain Ardius | |
| 2013 | Lego City Undercover | Forrest Blackwell, Cornelius Burns, Jethro Hayes | |
| 2014 | Dark Souls II | Mild-Mannered Pate[25] | |
| LittleBigPlanet 3 | Dr. Maxim, El Jeff, Papal Mâché[25] | ||
| 2016 | Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | Duncan MacReady[25] | |
| 2017 | Lego Worlds | Narrator | |
| Lego Dimensions | Cornelius Burns, Forrest Blackwell, Jethro Hayes | ||
| Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 | Kang the Conqueror[27] |
Audio
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Seneschal: A Rebel Moon Story | Bartholomew | Main role |
References
edit- ^"In Conversation with Peter Serafinowicz at St. Georges Hall".SevenStreets.17 March 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2020.
- ^Raphael, Amy (14 October 2007)."A comedy giant in the making".The Observer.
- ^Philby, Charlotte (30 August 2008)."My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz, Actor and comedian, age 36".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 26 May 2022.Retrieved14 October2019.
- ^ab"BBC star's grandfather faced Nazi war crimes trial".Evening Standard.London, UK. 20 October 2007.Retrieved13 July2017.
- ^"TV writer Graham Linehan: How my transgender views cost me my marriage".Belfast Telegraph.ISSN0307-1235.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2021.Retrieved15 May2021.
- ^abJones, Catherine (25 March 2011)."Peter Serafinowicz on his Liverpool childhood and how he'd like to play all four Beatles in an animation".Liverpool Echo.
- ^"Exclusive Interview – Peter Serafinowicz".HeyUGuys.com.29 September 2011.Retrieved14 October2019.
- ^"Rose d'Or Winners 2008"(PDF).Rose d'Or AG.6 May 2008. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 30 May 2008.Retrieved7 May2008.
- ^"Television Awards Nominations in 2009".BAFTA.Archived fromthe originalon 21 November 2010.Retrieved29 March2009.
- ^"Say 'Hebbo' to Tarvuism!".Chortle.14 October 2008.Retrieved14 October2019.
- ^Boing Boing Video."Markets of Britain, a short film by Lee Titt".Youtube.Boing Boing.Retrieved19 June2023.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (11 July 2010)."Peter Serafinowicz Joins 'Running Wilde'".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved12 July2010.
- ^"Danny, the Champion of the World".Penguin Books.Retrieved20 November2015.
- ^Anderton, Ethan (15 July 2013)."Peter Serafinowicz Moves to Directing with 'I See What You Did There'".Firstshowing.net.Retrieved17 July2013.
- ^White, James (16 July 2013)."Peter Serafinowicz Directing I See What You Did There".Empire Online.Archived fromthe originalon 19 December 2014.Retrieved17 July2013.
- ^Brown, Brigid (5 September 2014)."BBC Radio Brings Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens to Life".BBC America.Retrieved6 September2014.
- ^McEwan, Cameron K. (26 September 2015)."Peter Serafinowicz joins Doctor Who – more Star Wars actors who have done the same".Metro.Retrieved28 February2016.
- ^Flint, Hanna (14 August 2016)."Sassy Trump is the internet's favourite version of Donald".Metro.Retrieved14 October2019.
- ^"Peter Serafinowicz has dubbed a Donald Trump speech with a cockney accent and it's hilarious".The Poke.Retrieved6 October2017.
- ^Berry, Matt (2011).Witchazel(Liner notes). UK: Acid Jazz Records. AJXCD251.
- ^Goldman, Eric (18 August 2016)."The Tick: 'Pilot' Review".IGN.Retrieved18 August2016.
- ^Guide, British Comedy (14 June 2023)."Brian Butterfield tour confirmed".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved26 September2023.
- ^abScott, Peter (6 August 2002)."New Man For Coupling Star".Daily Mirror.Retrieved31 May2020– viaThe Free Library.
- ^"Mutual Friends: Sarah Alexander plays Liz".BBC Press Office(Press release). 13 August 2008.Retrieved14 October2019.
- ^abcdefghijklmn"Peter Serafinowicz (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.Retrieved3 November2023.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^Ritman, Alex (5 September 2023)."Mrs. Tweedy Returns for More Fowl Play in 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget' Teaser".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved3 November2023.
- ^Parsons, Arthur (7 September 2017)."arthur parsons sur Twitter:" Correct!… "".Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2021.Retrieved6 November2023.
External links
edit
- Peter SerafinowiczatIMDb
- "Peter Serafinowitz".British Film Institute.Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2017.