Editing Simon Pegg

{{Short description|English actor (born 1970)}}
{{redirect|Simon Beckingham|the British theorist|Simon Buckingham}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = 
| image              = Simon Pegg by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg
| caption            = Pegg in 2024
| birth_name         = Simon John Beckingham
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|02|14}}
| birth_place        = [[Brockworth]], [[Gloucestershire]], England
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| alma_mater         = [[University of Bristol]]
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* comedian
* screenwriter
* producer
}}
| years_active       = 1995–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Maureen McCann<br />|2005}}
| children           = 1
}}

'''Simon John Pegg''' ({{ne|'''Beckingham'''}}; born 14 February 1970) is an English actor, comedian and screenwriter. He came to prominence in the UK as the co-creator of the [[Channel 4]] sitcom ''[[Spaced]]'' (1999–2001), directed by [[Edgar Wright]]. He and Wright co-wrote the films ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' (2004), ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'' (2007), and ''[[The World's End (film)|The World's End]]'' (2013), known collectively as the [[Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy|''Three Flavours Cornetto'' trilogy]], all of which saw Wright directing and Pegg starring alongside [[Nick Frost]]. Pegg and Frost also wrote and starred in the sci-fi comedy film ''[[Paul (2011 film)|Paul]]'' (2011).

Pegg is one of the few performers to have achieved what ''[[Radio Times]]'' calls the "Holy Grail of [[Nerd|Nerd-dom]]", having played popular supporting characters in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' (2005), ''[[Star Trek]]'' as [[Scotty (Star Trek)|Montgomery "Scotty" Scott]] (2009–2016), and ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'' (2015). He currently stars as Benji Dunn in the [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|''Mission: Impossible'' film series]] (2006–present). He provided the voice of Buck in ''[[Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]'' (2009), ''[[Ice Age: Collision Course]]'' (2016), and ''[[The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild]]'' (2022).

==Early life==
Simon John Pegg was born Simon John Beckingham<ref name=remarried1>{{cite magazine |last =  Pegg   |  first = Simon   |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1846732,00.html |title=10 Questions for Simon Pegg |magazine=Time |date=2 October 2008 |archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709221128/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1846732,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,2005313,00.html|work=The Guardian|location=London|title=A fair cop|first=Carole|last=Cadwalladr|date=4 February 2007| archive-date = 16 December 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131216120433/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/feb/04/media.features |access-date=11 June 2022}}</ref> on 14 February 1970<ref name=independent1>{{cite news|last=Norman|first=Neil|title=Simon Pegg: A geek made good|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/simon-pegg-a-geek-made-good-434933.html|work=The Independent|access-date=11 December 2013|date=4 February 2007 | archive-date=28 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141228122853/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/simon-pegg-a-geek-made-good-434933.html | url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Brockworth, Gloucestershire]],<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/sep/17/lunch-with-simon-pegg | title=Simon Pegg: 'My daughter was a blank slate. This little life had never eaten an E-number'| first=Elizabeth |last=Day| work= [[The Guardian]] | date=17 September 2013 | access-date=22 June 2015 | quote=As a child growing up in the Gloucestershire village of Brockworth.... | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140801035850/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/sep/17/lunch-with-simon-pegg | archive-date=1 August 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVWW-2NTS Simon Pegg] at FamilySearch.org.</ref> the son of Gillian Rosemary (née Smith), a former civil servant, and John Henry Beckingham, a [[jazz]] musician and keyboard salesman.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/portal/2007/06/02/nosplit/ftdetective102.xml|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|title=Family detective|first=Nick|last=Barratt|date=2 June 2007|access-date=23 May 2010 | archive-date=23 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090123120826/http://telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3632781/Family-detective.html | url-status=dead}}</ref> His parents divorced when he was seven, and he took on his stepfather's surname "Pegg" after his mother remarried.<ref name="remarried1"/><ref name="Guardian"/> His brother, Mike (who starred in the 2020 film [[The Host (2020 film)|''The Host'']]<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Beckingham: My brother Simon Pegg is 'incredibly supportive' of my acting career |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/mike-beckingham-brother-simon-pegg-advice-a4427611.html |website=standard.co.uk |date=29 April 2020 |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref>), still uses Beckingham as his surname. He attended Castle Hill Primary School,<ref name="autobio">{{cite book|last=Pegg|first=Simon|year=2010|title=Nerd Do Well|location=London, UK|publisher=[[Random House]]|isbn=978-1-8460-5811-0}}</ref> [[Millbrook Academy|Brockworth Comprehensive Secondary School]],<ref name="autobio" /> and [[The King's School, Gloucester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/alumni/significant-former-pupils/ |title=Significant former pupils |publisher=[[The King's School, Gloucester]] |access-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622174439/http://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/alumni/significant-former-pupils/ |archive-date=22 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Pegg moved to [[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire]] when he was 16 and studied English literature and theatre at [[Stratford-upon-Avon College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stratford.ac.uk/AbouttheCollege/Alumni/SimonPegg.aspx|title=Simon Pegg profile|publisher=Stratford-upon-Avon College: About the College" Alumni|access-date=23 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513125612/http://www.stratford.ac.uk/AbouttheCollege/Alumni/SimonPegg.aspx|archive-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> He graduated from the [[University of Bristol]] in 1991 with a BA in theatre, film, and television,<ref name=independent1 /> titling his undergraduate thesis "A [[Marxist literary criticism|Marxist overview]] of popular 1970s cinema and [[cultural hegemony|hegemonic]] discourses".<ref name="Guardian"/> While there, he performed as a member of a comedy troupe called "[[David Icke]] and the Orphans of Jesus", alongside [[David Walliams]], [[Dominik Diamond]], and [[Jason Bradbury]].<ref name="autobio"/>

<blockquote>"When I graduated from university where I studied theater, film and television, I went into stand-up because comedy was something I enjoyed but also because it offered me a certain autonomy that I wouldn't have if I was sitting and waiting for the phone to ring as an actor. Then, I drifted into comedy acting through doing stand-up, and that was something that I really enjoyed. But, it wasn't the only thing I ever wanted to do. There was a time when I was younger where I just wanted to be at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simon Pegg on Getting Dark in 'Inheritance' and 'Mission: Impossible' Updates|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/simon-pegg-inheritance-mission-impossible-7-arc-1295722|  last1 = Davids    | last2=  Pegg   | first1 = Brian | format = Interview | first2 = Simon | access-date=15 June 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200606165219/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/simon-pegg-inheritance-mission-impossible-7-arc-1295722|  archive-date = 6 June 2020 | date=22 May 2020}}</ref></blockquote>

==Career==
[[File:Simon Pegg 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Pegg in New York City, July 2008]]
Pegg's early appearances in TV series and films include ''Six Pairs of Pants'' ([[ITV Meridian|Meridian]] & [[ITV Anglia|Anglia]], 1995),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Six Pairs of Pants - TheTVDB.com|url=https://www.thetvdb.com/series/six-pairs-of-pants|access-date=10 July 2020|website=www.thetvdb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Nick|date=20 May 2000|title=Interviews - Edgar Wright|url=http://www.spaced-out.org.uk/about-spaced/interviews/edgar/house.shtml|access-date=10 July 2020|website=Spaced Out}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pegg, Simon (1970-) Credits|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1191016/credits.html|access-date=10 July 2020|website=[[BFI]] Screenonline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Six Pairs of Pants (1995-10-13)|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7eb60d14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321030856/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7eb60d14|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 March 2018|access-date=10 July 2020|website=[[BFI]]}}</ref>  ''[[Asylum (1996 TV series)|Asylum]]'', ''[[Faith in the Future (TV series)|Faith in the Future]]'', ''[[Big Train]]'' and ''[[Hippies (TV comedy)|Hippies]]''. Between 1998 and 2004, Pegg was regularly featured on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[The 99p Challenge]]''. Pegg's other credits include appearances in the World War II [[mini-series]] ''[[Band of Brothers (TV miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]''; the television comedies ''[[Black Books]]'', ''[[Brass Eye]]'' and ''[[I'm Alan Partridge]]''; and the films ''[[The Parole Officer]]'', ''[[24 Hour Party People]]'', and ''[[Guest House Paradiso]]''. He played various roles during the tour of [[Steve Coogan]]'s 1998 live stage show ''The Man Who Thinks He's It''.<ref name="autobio" />
[[File:SimonPeggApr09.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Pegg at a [[premiere]] for ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' in April 2009]]

In 1999, he created and co-wrote the [[Channel 4]] sitcom ''[[Spaced]]'' with [[Jessica Hynes|Jessica Stevenson]]. The series was directed by [[Edgar Wright]], with whom Pegg and Stevenson had previously worked on ''Asylum'', and Pegg wrote the character of Mike Watt specifically for his friend [[Nick Frost]].<ref name="autobio" /> For his performance in this series, Pegg was nominated for a [[British Comedy Awards|British Comedy Award]] as Best Male Comedy Newcomer.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/523406.stm |title=Entertainment &#124; Royle flush in comedy shortlist |work=BBC News |date=17 November 1999 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> The experience of making a ''Spaced'' fantasy sequence featuring [[zombie (fictional)|zombies]] led to Pegg and Wright co-writing the "romantic zombie comedy" film ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'', released in April 2004, in which Pegg also starred.<ref name="autobio" /> At [[George A. Romero]]'s invitation, Pegg and Wright made cameo appearances in Romero's zombie film, ''[[Land of the Dead]]''.<ref name="autobio" /> In 2004, Pegg guest-starred in a spin-off of the television show ''[[Danger! 50,000 Volts!]]'' called ''Danger! 50,000 Zombies!'', in which he played a zombie-hunter named Dr. Fell.

He played [[mutant (fiction)|mutant]] [[bounty hunter]] Johnny Alpha, the [[Strontium Dog]], in a series of [[Big Finish Productions]] [[radio drama|audio play]]s based on the character from British comic ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]''. Pegg also appeared in Big Finish Productions' ''[[Doctor Who]]'' audio story ''[[Invaders from Mars (Doctor Who audio)|Invaders From Mars]]'' as Don Chaney, and appeared in the ''Doctor Who'' television series, playing [[List of Doctor Who villains#Editor|the Editor]] in the 2005 episode "[[The Long Game]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Simon Pegg plays The Editor (Press release)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/05_may/04/who.shtml|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=31 July 2016|date=4 May 2005}}</ref> He also narrated the first series of the "[[making-of]]" documentary series ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Do you think Doctor Who Confidential should have been cancelled?|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-09-28/do-you-think-doctor-who-confidential-should-have-been-cancelled| publisher =  Immediate Media Company Limited      |work=[[Radio Times]]|	issn = 0033-8060 | archive-date = 12 November 2011 | last1 = Cole   | first1 = Tom| archive-url =  https://web.archive.org/web/20111112160952/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-11-09/doctor-who-rare-archive-footage-of-tom-baker-unearthed |access-date=16 June 2022|date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

Upon completion of ''Shaun of the Dead'', Pegg was questioned as to whether he would be abandoning the British film industry for Hollywood, and he replied, "It's not like we're going to go away and do, I don't know, ''Mission: Impossible III''", picking the title of an imaginary [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]]. When the film ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]'' was subsequently made, Pegg appeared in it as Benji Dunn, an [[Impossible Missions Force|IMF]] technician who assists [[Tom Cruise]]'s character [[Ethan Hunt]].<ref name="Guardian" /> He has reprised the role in four further ''Mission: Impossible'' sequel films: ''[[Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol|Ghost Protocol]]'' (2011), ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation|Rogue Nation]]'' (2015), ''[[Mission: Impossible – Fallout|Fallout]]'' (2018), and ''[[Mission:_Impossible_–_Dead_Reckoning_Part_One|Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' (2023), and will appear in ''[[Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning]]'' in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|last1 =   Sciretta | first1= Peter    |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2010/07/18/simon-pegg-returns-for-mission-impossible-4|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910162832/http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/07/18/simon-pegg-returns-for-mission-impossible-4|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2012| access-date = 16 June 2022 |date = 18 July 2010 |website = slashfilm.com  | title=Simon Pegg Returns for Mission: Impossible 4}}</ref>

[[File:Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg & Nick Frost (9348868070).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Edgar Wright]], Pegg and [[Nick Frost]] (pictured in 2013) collaborated on the ''[[Three Flavours Cornetto]]'' trilogy of British comedy films between 2004 and 2013]]
In 2006, he played Gus in ''[[Big Nothing]]'' alongside [[David Schwimmer]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bradshaw|first1=Peter|title=Big Nothing|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/dec/01/comedy1|access-date=31 July 2016|date=1 December 2006|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> The same year, Pegg and Wright completed their second film, ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'', released in February 2007. The film is a police-action movie homage and also stars Nick Frost, in which Pegg plays Nicholas Angel, a London policeman transferred to rural Sandford, a fictional village where grisly events take place.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chilton|first1=Martin|title=Hot Fuzz, review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11099304/Hot-Fuzz-review.html|access-date=31 July 2016|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=19 September 2014}}</ref> In 2007, Pegg starred in ''[[The Good Night]]'' (directed by [[Jake Paltrow]]) and ''[[Run Fatboy Run]]'' directed by David Schwimmer and co-starring [[Thandie Newton]] and [[Hank Azaria]]. In 2008, he wrote the dialogue for an English language re-release of the cult 2006 animated Norwegian film, ''[[Free Jimmy]]''. Pegg received screenwriting credit for this, and also voiced one of the main characters in the English-language version, which has an international range of actors including [[Woody Harrelson]].

Pegg co-wrote the script for a film called ''[[Paul (2011 film)|Paul]]'', about two young men who encounter a comedic [[extraterrestrial alien]] during a road trip across the US.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=130146&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|access-date=26 May 2009|date=31 March 2008|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|title=Pegg set for road trip flick}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2009/04/01/simon_pegg_exclusive|work=[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]|access-date=26 May 2009|date=1 April 2009|title=Simon Pegg Exclusive|first=Nick|last=Setchfield}}</ref> The completed script appeared on the 2008 "Brit List", a film-industry-compiled survey of the best unproduced British screenplays, inspired by the American [[Black List (survey)|Black List]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Thomas, Archie|title=Brit List brings scripts to light|url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/brit-list-brings-scripts-to-light-1117993429/|work=Variety|date=3 October 2008|access-date=9 October 2008}}</ref> In those films and in ''Spaced'', Pegg typically plays the leading hero while Frost plays the sidekick. However ''Paul'' reverses this dynamic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/2006-simon-pegg-and-nick-frost-do-america.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107163827/http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/2006-simon-pegg-and-nick-frost-do-america.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 January 2009|title=Simon Pegg and Nick Frost Do America|publisher=JustPressPlay.net|access-date=3 January 2011|date=20 September 2007}}</ref> The film was released in 2011.<ref>{{cite news| title=Calm Down, People; He Comes in Peace | date=17 March 2011 | first=Manohla |last= Dargis| author-link= Manohla Dargis| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/movies/paul-he-comes-in-peace-review.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826050217/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/movies/paul-he-comes-in-peace-review.html |archive-date=26 August 2015 | access-date=22 October 2022 }}</ref>

{{quote box|width=27%|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|align=right|quote="I've now done the ultimate nerd hat trick – Doctor Who, Star Wars and Star Trek."|source=—Pegg speaking on the BBC's ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'', January 2018.<ref name="hat-trick">{{cite news |title=Simon Pegg on doing "the ultimate nerd hat trick – Doctor Who, Star Wars and Star Trek" |       last =   Bley Griffiths   |  first = Eleanor|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-01-26/simon-pegg-on-doing-the-ultimate-nerd-hat-trick-doctor-who-star-wars-and-star-trek/ |access-date=11 June 2022   |   date  =   26 January 2018    |work=Radio Times  | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20210507232926/https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/simon-pegg-on-doing-the-ultimate-nerd-hat-trick-doctor-who-star-wars-and-star-trek/    |   archive-date  = 7 May 2021}}</ref>}}
Pegg played engineer [[Scotty (Star Trek)|Montgomery "Scotty" Scott]] in ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'', the eleventh film in the [[Star Trek (film series)|''Star Trek'' film series]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/simon-pegg-to-play-scotty-in-trek-1117973913/|title=Simon Pegg to play Scotty in 'Star Trek'|work=Variety|access-date=11 October 2007|date=12 October 2007|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel}}</ref> released 8 May 2009. He reprised the role in ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' (2013) and ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]'' (2016), also co-writing the latter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/may/09/star-trek-into-darkness-review|title=Star Trek Into Darkness – review|last1=Bradshaw |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Bradshaw|date= 9 May 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Ruchinka|last1=Upadhyaya|title=Simon Pegg teases the 'idea of the Federation', calls Star Trek Beyond a 'social commentary'|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/simon-pegg-teases-idea-federation-calls-star-trek-beyond-social-commentary-1571806|website=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=31 July 2016|date=21 July 2016}}</ref> In 2010 he appeared as [[Burke and Hare|William Burke]] in ''[[Burke & Hare (2010 film)|Burke & Hare]]'', a film directed by [[John Landis]] about two Ulstermen who were notorious murderers and bodysnatchers in early 19th-century [[Edinburgh]]. His likeness was also used for the character of Wee Hughie in the comic book series ''[[The Boys (comic book)|The Boys]]''; while this was done without Pegg's permission, he quickly became a fan of the title, and even wrote the introduction to the first bound volume.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ennis|first=Garth|author-link=Garth Ennis|title=The Boys Volume One: The Name of the Game (Introduction)| publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|year=2007}}</ref> He voiced [[Reepicheep]], the heroic mouse in ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader|Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weitzman |first1=Elizabeth |title='Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' review: Generic faith-based message bores |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/chronicles-narnia-voyage-dawn-treader-review-generic-faith-based-message-bores-article-1.472108 |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=Daily News |date=9 December 2010 | issn=2692-1251 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107182234/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/chronicles-narnia-voyage-dawn-treader-review-generic-faith-based-message-bores-article-1.472108 |archive-date=7 November 2012 |location=Jersey City, NJ |oclc= 9541172 |quote=When Narnia is threatened by an evil force that radiates from a mysterious island, the kids -- joined by Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), the mouse Reepicheep (Simon Pegg) and several recent recruits -- must locate and destroy it.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.narniaweb.com/2010/06/simon-pegg-replaces-bill-nighy-as-the-voice-of-reepicheep|title=Simon Pegg Replaces Bill Nighy as the Voice of Reepicheep|date=20 June 2010}}</ref>

Pegg and Wright completed the ''[[Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy]]'' (the first two films being ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' and ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'') with their 2013 film ''[[The World's End (film)|The World's End]]''.<ref>{{cite news | first1 =  Simon  | last1 = Pegg      | first2 =Genevieve      | last2 = Hassan |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7642129.stm|title=Interview with Simon Pegg| archive-date = 2 October 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002082929/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7642129.stm |access-date=1 October 2008|publisher=BBC|date=1 October 2008}}</ref> In July 2014, Pegg appeared on stage with [[Monty Python]] during their live show ''[[Monty Python Live (Mostly)]]'' held at [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]], London. He was the special guest in their "Blackmail" sketch.<ref>{{cite news |title='Monty Python Live (mostly) - One Down Five to Go' - Celebrity Blackmail|url=http://www.montypython.com/news_Celebrity-Blackmail/72 |access-date=20 August 2019 |agency=Monty Python.com}}</ref> In 2015 he appeared in ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'' as Unkar Plutt, the Junkyard dealer on Jakku.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/gallery/star-wars-easter-eggs-gallery/2418183_gallery-star-wars-force-awakens-2015-simon-pegg|title='Star Wars: The Force Awakens': A collection of cameos and Easter eggs: Simon Pegg|last=Breznican|first=Anthony|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=18 December 2015|access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

Pegg voiced Professor Phineas Nigellus Black in the 2023 video game ''[[Hogwarts Legacy]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hogwarts Legacy voiceover talent revealed with Simon Pegg confirmed as Headmaster Black|url=https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/simon-pegg-to-play-headmaster-black-in-hogwarts-legacy |access-date=20 March 2023 |website=Wizarding World}}</ref>

In May 2023, Pegg was interviewed by [[Lauren Laverne]] on the long running [[BBC]] radio programme ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thorpe |first=Vanessa |last2= |date=14 May 2023 |title='I kept my alcoholism secret on Mission: Impossible set,' Simon Pegg reveals |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/may/14/alcoholism-mission-impossible-simon-pegg-bbc-desert-island-discs-drinking |access-date=8 August 2023 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref>

==Political views and activism==
In 2014, Pegg announced his support for the [[feminist]] campaign [[HeForShe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/russell-crowe-and-douglas-booth-among-male-celebs-tweeting-support-for-emma-watsons-heforshe-campaign-9753448.html|title=Russell Crowe and Douglas Booth among male celebs tweeting support for|author=Emma Powell|date=24 September 2014|work=London Evening Standard}}</ref>

In 2016, Pegg spoke of having respect for [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and believing in [[Britain Stronger in Europe]]'s ideas in relation to the [[European Union|EU]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Ann |title=Star Trek Beyond actor Simon Pegg has this piece of leadership advice for Theresa May |url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/07/12/star-trek-beyond-actor-simon-pegg-has-this-piece-of-leadership-advice-for-theresa-may-6003254/ |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=metro.co.uk |publisher=Daily Mail and General Trust plc |date=12 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716034821/https://metro.co.uk/2016/07/12/star-trek-beyond-actor-simon-pegg-has-this-piece-of-leadership-advice-for-theresa-may-6003254/ |archive-date=16 July 2016 |location=Northcliffe House, Kensington High Street |quote=Lead for the people, don’t forget anybody. Don’t just protect the people who are well off, look after everybody. There are a lot of people in this country who need to be looked after, who are so often forgotten.}}</ref>

In 2020, Pegg signed an open letter calling for the wealthiest in society to pay more tax in order to help fight inequality.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 January 2020 |title= Actor Simon Pegg demands higher taxes on the rich to combat inequality |url= https://www.itv.com/news/2020-01-23/actor-simon-pegg-calls-for-higher-taxes-on-the-rich/ |work= ITV News |access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

Pegg has been an activist for [[Greenpeace]] since 2021, protesting overfishing and supporting their "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow" campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Jake |date=24 September 2021 |title=Simon Pegg aides Greenpeace in fishing protests |url=https://marineindustrynews.co.uk/simon-pegg-aides-greenpeace-in-fishing-protests/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=Marine Industry News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomorrow |first=Don't Stop Thinking About |title=Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow |url=https://greenpeaceshop.co.uk/dont-stop-thinking-about-tomorrow/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=Greenpeace UK}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Pegg is an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref>{{cite tweet |author= Simon Pegg |user= simonpegg|number= 5237803503845376 |date= 18 November 2010 |title= As an atheist, I'd skip the prayer and go straight to the colonel, who is arguably the god of affordable, bucket housed fried chicken bits.|access-date= 4 February 2017}}</ref> He married his long-time girlfriend, music industry publicist Maureen McCann, in [[Glasgow]] on 23 July 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harvey|first=Chris|title=Simon Pegg: hyperspaced|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3561325/Simon-Pegg-hyperspaced.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London, England|access-date=11 December 2013|date=27 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Rick|last=Fulton|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/star-trek-star-simon-pegg-1021736|title=Star Trek star Simon Pegg on his new role as Scotland's most famous spaceman|newspaper=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|The Daily Record]]| location = One Central Quay, Glasgow | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012190046/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/martin%20paltrow%20name%20pegg%20as%20godfather_1043099 | archive-date = 12 October 2007 | access-date = 16 June 2022 |format = Squib | publisher = Media Scotland |date=9 September 2007}}</ref> They reside in [[Essendon, Hertfordshire]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 July 2016|title=Essendon's Simon Pegg On The Red Carpet At Star Trek Beyond Premiere|url=http://www.bobfm.co.uk/news/local-news/essendons-simon-pegg-on-the-red-carpet-at-star-trek-beyond-premiere/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714144548/http://www.bobfm.co.uk/news/local-news/essendons-simon-pegg-on-the-red-carpet-at-star-trek-beyond-premiere/|archive-date=14 July 2016|website=BOB fm}}</ref> [[Nick Frost]] was the [[best man]] at his wedding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/feb/05/paul-simon-pegg-nick-frost-interview|title=Simon Pegg and Nick Frost: Losers in love|magazine=[[Us Weekly]]|date=5 February 2011|last1=Hattenstone|first1=Simon}}</ref> The couple have one child together, born in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=Apodaca|first=Joseph|title=Simon Pegg talks 'World's End,' quitting drinking for daughter|url=http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Simon-Pegg-talks-Worlds-End--quitting-drinking-for-daughter-Video/9215519|website=On The Red Carpet|date=22 August 2013|access-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227165817/http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Simon-Pegg-talks-Worlds-End--quitting-drinking-for-daughter-Video/9215519|archive-date=27 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/2011/06/simon_pegg_book_interview.php |title=Simon Pegg's New Autobiography: Well Done, Nerd! |work=[[LA Weekly]] |first=Nicole |last=Campos |date=15 June 2011 |page=[http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/2011/06/simon_pegg_book_interview.php?page=2 2] |access-date=21 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822171604/http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/2011/06/simon_pegg_book_interview.php |archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref>

Pegg is close friends with [[Coldplay]] lead singer [[Chris Martin]], and appears as a violin-playing [[Elvis Presley|Elvis]] impersonator in the video for Coldplay's 2010 single "[[Christmas Lights (song)|Christmas Lights]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Mallon|title=12 Great Coldplay Songs You Probably Don't Know|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/12-great-coldplay-songs-you-probably-dont-know-20140820|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=18 December 2017}}</ref> Along with [[Jonny Buckland]], Pegg is godfather to Martin and [[Gwyneth Paltrow]]'s daughter Apple.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/martin%20paltrow%20name%20pegg%20as%20godfather_1043099|title=Chris Martin&nbsp;– Martin + Paltrow Name Pegg As Godfather|magazine=[[Contact Music]]|date=9 September 2007|access-date=3 January 2011}}</ref> In return, Martin is godfather to Pegg's daughter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=660|title=Simon Pegg Q&A: "If I don't get recognised, I say I'm in Coldplay"|publisher=Coldplay.com|date=29 October 2010|access-date=3 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110717154333/http://coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=660|archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> In a video interview with British ''[[GQ]]'' magazine in July 2018, Pegg stated that his daughter has sung backing vocals for Coldplay onstage at the [[Glastonbury Festival]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd70uRdjNHw “Simon Pegg plays Would You Rather?”]. ''British GQ'' 17 July 2018. YouTube. Retrieved 2 November 2019. Archived by the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190604171744/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd70uRdjNHw Wayback Machine] on 4 June 2019.</ref> Pegg is also godfather to the son of actor and friend [[Martin Freeman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crazyformartinfreeman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/rough-transcript-from-hitchhikers-guide.html|first1 = Martin  | first2  =Dan | last1 = Freeman | last2 =Slevin | work = Crazy for Martin Freeman |format = Interview transcript |title=The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Q&A|publisher=blogspot.co.uk| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170216062109/http://crazyformartinfreeman.blogspot.com/2013/07/rough-transcript-from-hitchhikers-guide.html | archive-date = 16 February 2017   | access-date=16 June 2022|date= 8 July 2013}}</ref> Pegg's parents and sister briefly appeared in ''[[Spaced]]'', while his mother appeared in both ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' and ''[[Hot Fuzz]]''.

In a July 2018 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Pegg spoke about his battle with [[Major depressive disorder|depression]] and [[alcoholism]], and how [[Rehabilitation counseling|rehab]] helped him recover from the latter. He stated: "When I watch ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]'', I can see where I was then, which was fairly lost, and unhappy, and an alcoholic [...] I'm not ashamed of what happened. And I think if anyone finds any relationship to it, then it might motivate them to get well. But I am not proud of it, either{{snd}}I don't think it's cool, like I was Mr. Rock 'n' Roll, blackout and all that shit. It wasn't, it was just terrible."<ref name = "Jonze"/> Pegg checked into a [[drug rehabilitation|rehab]] facility shortly before production of ''[[Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol]]''. He hid his recovery from the [[Tabloid journalism|tabloids]] through court orders, although some journalists went so far as to call the clinic pretending to be his mother. Pegg attended [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] meetings and has remained sober since.<ref name = "Jonze">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/jul/09/simon-pegg-alcoholic-addiction-rehab-fatherhood-tom-cruise|title = Simon Pegg: 'I was lost, unhappy and an alcoholic'| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180728215439/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/jul/09/simon-pegg-alcoholic-addiction-rehab-fatherhood-tom-cruise | archive-date = 28 July 2018 | quote = And then he sits down to talk about depression. And alcoholism. And how he spent years trying to hide it, and how he nearly lost everything, and how he is lucky to even be alive. "It was awful, terrible," he says. "It owned me." Suddenly, this roof terrace in east London doesn't seem so sunny. |access-date = 16 June 2022  | last1 = Jonze |  first1 = Tim | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] |date = 9 July 2018}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{main|Simon Pegg filmography}}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Nominated work
! Award
! Result
!Ref.
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Big Train]]''
| [[British Comedy Awards|British Comedy Award for Best Male Comedy Award]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
| rowspan="2"|''[[Spaced]]''
| [[British Academy Television Awards#Categories|BAFTA TV Situation Comedy Award]] <small>(shared with [[Edgar Wright]], [[Nira Park]] and [[Jessica Hynes]])</small>
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| [[British Comedy Award]] for Best Male Comedy Newcomer<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="6"|2004
| rowspan="6"|''[[Shaun of the Dead]]''
| [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay]] <small>(shared with [[Edgar Wright]])</small>
|{{won}}
|
|-
|[[British Independent Film Award]] for Best Screenplay <small>(shared with [[Edgar Wright]])</small>
|{{won}}
|
|-
|[[Evening Standard British Film Awards#2004|Peter Sellers Award for Comedy]]
|{{won}}
|
|-
| [[Empire Award for Best British Actor]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| [[London Film Critics' Circle|London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Screenwriter of the Year]] <small>(shared with [[Edgar Wright]])</small>
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay]] <small>(shared with [[Edgar Wright]])</small>
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Hot Fuzz]]''
| [[Empire Award for Best Actor]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5"|2009
| rowspan="4"|''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]''
| [[Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast]]
|{{won}}
|
|-
| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award]] for Best Cast
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| [[15th Critics' Choice Awards|Critics' Choice Award]] for Best Acting Ensemble
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| [[2009 Scream Awards|Scream Award]] for Best Ensemble
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|''[[Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]''
| [[Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature]] <small>(shared with [[Peter de Sève]])</small>
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|2013
|rowspan="4"|''[[The World's End (film)|The World's End]]''
| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in a Comedy]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best Fight]]  <small>(shared with [[Nick Frost]], [[Paddy Considine]], [[Martin Freeman]], & [[Eddie Marsan]]) </small>
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Writing]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actor]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation]]''
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Lost Transmissions]]''
| [[Prague Independent Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prague-film-festival.com/winners-2020.html|title=PIFF 2020 Winners|website=Prague-film-festival.com|access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|
|}

==Honours==
Pegg was awarded an honorary [[fellow]]ship by the [[University of Gloucestershire]] on 4 December 2008.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3549147/Actor-Simon-Pegg-receives-honorary-university-fellowship-for-contribution-to-arts.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208055819/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3549147/Actor-Simon-Pegg-receives-honorary-university-fellowship-for-contribution-to-arts.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2008|title=Actor Simon Pegg receives honorary university fellowship for contribution to arts|date=4 December 2008|access-date=4 December 2008|location=London}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Simon Pegg}}
*{{IMDb name|670408}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box|title=Narrator of [[Doctor Who Confidential]]|before=none|after=[[Mark Gatiss]]|years=2005}}
{{S-end}}
{{Simon Pegg}}
{{Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pegg, Simon}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century English comedians]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol]]
[[Category:English atheists]]
[[Category:English feminists]]
[[Category:English film producers]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male screenwriters]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:English screenwriters]]
[[Category:English television writers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:British male feminists]]
[[Category:People associated with the University of Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:People educated at The King's School, Gloucester]]
[[Category:People from Brockworth, Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Haringey]]
[[Category:Comedians from Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:People from Crouch End]]
[[Category:Male actors from Stratford-upon-Avon]]
[[Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Haringey]]
[[Category:Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival award winners]]