Ricky Gervais is one of the most important and influential comedians of all time. The often controversial and always hilarious star is responsible for hit shows like The Office and Extras .
As public a figure as Ricky is, there’s a lot that still remains unknown.
See for yourself and discover these 10+ facts about Ricky Gervais that fans didn’t know.
Ricky is technically half-Canadian!
Ricky’s right: half-Canadian means FULL Canadian as far as we Canucks are concerned. His dad also just so happens to be from my home town!
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I wonder if there’s a chance that we could be cousins?
He’s a big fan of reality TV, especially *Big Brother*. Ricky has even said he’d appear as a guest!
“I’d do it if I could go in, wind them all up, steal their fags and then leave before bedtime . That would be so much fun.”
He claims to have the beginnings for at least 20 different novels.
“I suppose I was always creative. I did start 20 novels , and then went, ‘Ah, too hard,’ and went to the bar.”
Can you imagine just how hilarious those stories are?
In 2008, Ricky was named as one of The Telegraph’s 100 Most Powerful People in British Culture.
The list also includes actress Keira Knightley, Tim Marlow, and even street artist Banksy.
Ricky’s in pretty good company , that’s for sure. Look at that face! It’s so cute!
Before he got his big break with *The Office*, Ricky hosted his own talk show.
The show was called Meet Ricky Gervais and it didn’t stick around for very long.
Ricky’s quintessential black humor musings were seen as offensive and the show was canned after only six episodes.
His podcast is in the *Guinness Book of World Records*.
Back in 2006, The Ricky Gervais Show was the most downloaded podcast in the world.
“The podcast is the thing we have most fun with at the moment – more than Extras , The Office , or The Simpsons ,” said Gervais in an interview.
Ricky is a lifelong musician and an incredibly talented guitarist/songwriter.
Fans of The Office (UK) don’t need to be told about Ricky’s prowess for the guitar.
If you haven’t seen him perform his hit power-ballad ‘Love Freeway’ you’re in for a surprise!
Ricky is an incredibly outspoken Agnostic Atheist.
Ricky debated the existence of God with Stephen Colbert. He argues that all of us are atheists to an extent: we no longer believe in the powers of Zeus or the all-seeing eye of Odin.
Some just choose to take it just one God further. He’s paraphrasing Richard Dawkins but his point is well met.
He’s a vocal advocate for animal rights.
Ricky was one of 30 named celebrities who penned an open letter to British Prime Minister, Theresa May, calling for an end to fur imports.
Ricky is also rumored to be a vegetarian.
Ricky is a huge fan of David Bowie’s and wrote a touching tribute upon the legendary musician’s passing.
“When I talked to people, I talked about this rock star who changed my whole outlook. He put my life in color. He made me believe: You can do anything; you’re a working-class kid in Reading; creativity is freedom.”
He holds the record for being the most-recurring host in the history of the Emmy Awards.
Gervais has hosted the show on five separate occasions (up until this point).
Hollywood must really be a sucker for punishment to keep coming back to that well.
Ricky was once the manager for the British band Suede.
Their name might not carry much sway on this side of the pond, but Suede was once one of the most popular bands in the entire UK.
He should join a band again.
Before they achieved international superstardom, Coldplay worked for Ricky Gervais.
Will Champion was hired to be the doorman at a bar Gervais was tending and the other members of the band, including Chris Martin, worked as cleaners!
Ricky loves to take baths and post incredibly creepy underwater selfies.
This has been going on for a while now and has slowly become a social media calling card of Gervais’.
A simple scroll of his Twitter or Instagram will show you a side of the comedian you’ve certainly never seen before.
Ricky was the lead singer in an ’80s New Wave band called Seona Rising.
Oh my goodness…look at how young Ricky looks! Those brows are immaculate. He looks like a Ken doll.
If you have a second, give their music a listen. It’s surprisingly not bad at all.
