Robert Webb (actor)

Infobox Actor
name= Robert Webb
birthname = Robert Webb


caption = Robert Webb
birthdate = birth date and age|1972|9|29|df=y
location = Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =
baftaawards = Best Comedy Programme or Series
2007 "That Mitchell and Webb Look"
awards = Royal Television Society Award for Comedy Performance
2007 "Peep Show"
spouse = Abigail Burdess (2007-)

Robert Webb (born 29 September, 1972) is an English comedian, actor and writer, and one half of the Mitchell and Webb double act, alongside David Mitchell.

Early life

Webb is originally from the village of Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. Webb's parents divorced when he was very young. As a child Webb was "hugely spoilt". He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Horncastle. [cite news|url=http://www.horncastlenews.co.uk/news/COMEDY-STAR-GOES-BACK-TO.1444740.jp|title=Comedy Star Goes Back to School|accessdate=2008-04-19|date=2006-04-14|publisher=Horncastle News] His older brothers went to a local secondary modern school. One became a bus fitter, and the other became a potato wholesaler. While Webb was in the lower sixth form preparing for his A-levels, his mother died of breast cancer, and he moved in with his father and re-sat his A-levels. He went to Robinson College, Cambridge at the age of 20 where he studied English and was a member of the Footlights. [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2005/dec/03/weekend7.weekend1|title=Q&A Robert Webb|accessdate=2008-04-19|date=2005-12-03|authr=Rosanna Greenstreet|publisher=The Guardian] He met Mitchell during a Footlights production of "Cinderella" in 1993.cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3303938.ece|title=Mitchell and Webb are back on TV|date=2008-02-09|accessdate=2008-04-19|publisher=The Times|author=Janice Turner] After university, he stayed in Cambridge and did part-time work as a theatre usher at the Lyric Hammersmith, waiting for Mitchell to graduate a year later.

Career

With Mitchell, he has appeared as Jeremy Usbourne in five series of the Channel 4 sitcom "Peep Show". He has written and starred in an episode of BBC Three's "Twisted Tales" (2005); the single series of Play UK's "The Mitchell and Webb Situation" (2001); three series of the Radio 4 sketch show "That Mitchell and Webb Sound" (2003, 2005 & 2007); two series of "That Mitchell and Webb Look", a sketch show with, among others, David Mitchell, Olivia Colman and James Bachman (2006 & 2008); starred in the film "Magicians"; and put on a number of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Both also wrote for and appeared in the BBC sketch show "Bruiser", Armstrong and Miller, and series two of "Big Train". They often appear with Olivia Colman, who was in "Peep Show", "That Mitchell and Webb Sound" and "Bruiser". He played 'Mac' in the UK version of Apple's 'Get a Mac' adverts.

Webb has also appeared in two series of the BBC Three sitcom "The Smoking Room" (2004) and the Radio 4 sketch show "Concrete Cow". In 2005 he appeared in the Ben Elton-scripted BBC One sitcom "Blessed" as Ardal O'Hanlon's 'perfect' counterpart.

He and Olivia Colman also featured as a naturist couple in "Confetti", a 2006 film about a competition for the most original wedding. Webb has since publicly criticised the film, saying "I had a miserable time making it and I think the finished film is an underwhelming mess."

A fifth series of "Peep Show" began on the 2nd May 2008 on Channel 4, with a sixth series commissioned for 2009.

In June 2008, Webb appeared as a celebrity guest in the culinary show, "Saturday Kitchen"

Also in 2008, Webb made his West End stage debut in the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's "Fat Pig", co-staring as Tom alongside Kris Marshall, Joanna Page and upcoming star Ella Smith. [cite news|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/20820/fat-pig|title=The Stage Review of Fat Pig|accessdate=2008-08-11|publisher=The Stage]

Personal life

Webb married fellow comedy performer Abigail Burdess in 2007. They live in Kilburn (as does Mitchell).

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0916267|name=Robert Webb