Johnny Vegas (real name Michael Pennington)
Born September 5, 1970 in Thatto Heath
Biography At the age of 11 Johnny joined a seminary but left 18 months later after deciding the priesthood was not for him.
After taking his A Levels at St Helens Carmel College, Johnny headed down to London to study his passion... pottery.
Despite having some his ceramics work displayed at the V & A Museum, London, Johnny finally decided on a career in comedy.
His first stand-up appearances were in 1997 and since then he has become a regular on the comedy circuit.
His role alongside 'Monkey' in the ITV2 digital TV ads led to numerous other small screen appearances, including the acclaimed Happiness. He has also enjoyed film success and written for radio.
Unfortunately, Johnny's personal life hasn't been as successful. In 2002 he married interior designer Kitty Donnelly after a whirlwind romance but the couple split a year later, shortly after the birth of their son.
Stand-up
2001 Edinburgh show, UK tour and Montreal Just For Laughs festival
2000 Edinburgh show, Melbourne Comedy Festival
1999 Montreal Just For Laughs festival
1997 Debut Edinburgh show
TV
2002 Shooting Stars - team captain on Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's madcap gameshow
2002 Tipping The Velvet - Gully Sutherland in the period lesbian love story
2002 Runaround - host of a celebrity revival of the children's quiz game for Sport Relief
2001-3: Happiness - Charlie Doyle in Paul Whitehouse's comedy-drama
2001 Attention Scum - 24 Hour News Man
Film
2004 The Sex Lives of the Potato Men
2003 Who's Ready For Ice Cream? (DVD / video)
2003 The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers
2003 Blackball
2003 Cheeky
2003 The Virgin of Liverpool
Other
2002 Radio - Night Class - wrote and starred in Radio 4 series as an ex-Redcoat teaching pottery classes
2000 Theatre - The Erpingham Camp at the Edinburgh Festival.
Awards
2001 British Comedy Awards - Best Newcomer (Happiness)
1997 Festival Critics Award (Edinburgh Festival)
Official Johnny Vegas website
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