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Famous Bristolians
Bristol has its fair share of famous people who either have been born in Bristol or spent a large part of their life in bristol. I have listed all the famous Bristolians that i'm aware of. If anyone is aware of any more please send me a message.
- Banksy
- Cary Grant
- Cathy Barry
- David Prowse
- Derren Brown
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel
- John Cabot
- John Atyeo
- Justin Lee Collins
- Massive Attack
- Stephen Merchant
- Tricky
- Wallace and Gromit (& creator Nick Park)
- Wurzels
The Wurzels
Banksy
Banksy is a world renowned, Bristol-based graffiti artist whose artwork is often political and/or humorous in nature.
His street art, which combines graffiti with a distinctive stenciling technique, has appeared throughout London and in cities around the world. Publicity in the media has made his name well known to many people.
Bristol also has one of the best nightlife scenes in the southwest with an abundance of clubs, pubs, restaurants and bars.
Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist, then he discovered the art of stenciling and soon became noticed for his art.[1] Anarchist rat by Banksy Banksy's stencils feature a wide range of striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. The overall message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment or pro-freedom. Subjects include animals such as monkeys and rats, policemen, soldiers, children and the elderly. He also makes stickers (the Neighbourhood Watch subvert) and sculpture (the murdered phone box), and was responsible for the cover art of Blur's 2003 album Think Tank. ¥official siteback to top
His street art, which combines graffiti with a distinctive stenciling technique, has appeared throughout London and in cities around the world. Publicity in the media has made his name well known to many people.
Bristol also has one of the best nightlife scenes in the southwest with an abundance of clubs, pubs, restaurants and bars.
Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist, then he discovered the art of stenciling and soon became noticed for his art.[1] Anarchist rat by Banksy Banksy's stencils feature a wide range of striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. The overall message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment or pro-freedom. Subjects include animals such as monkeys and rats, policemen, soldiers, children and the elderly. He also makes stickers (the Neighbourhood Watch subvert) and sculpture (the murdered phone box), and was responsible for the cover art of Blur's 2003 album Think Tank. ¥official siteback to top
Cathy Barry
Cathy Barry (born September 28, 1973 in Bristol, England) is an actress in pornographic movies. She is known for her large breasts. Barry is often referred to as the UK's top porn star.
She has starred along with other West Country porn stars Taylor Morgan and Melissa Walker. She has also dated British rock singer, Joe Breakdown.
Her most recent performance in the film "The Affair" with Omar Williams, has earned her the Industries critical acclaim.¥official siteback to top
She has starred along with other West Country porn stars Taylor Morgan and Melissa Walker. She has also dated British rock singer, Joe Breakdown.
Her most recent performance in the film "The Affair" with Omar Williams, has earned her the Industries critical acclaim.¥official siteback to top
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach (January 18, 1904 – November 29, 1986), better known by his screen name, Cary Grant, was an English film actor. With his distinctive Mid-Atlantic accent, he was perhaps the foremost exemplar of the debonair leading man, not only handsome, but also witty and charming. He was named the second Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute.
Archibald Leach was born in Horfield, Bristol, England. An only child (before he was born his parents had had another son who died in infancy), Leach had a confused and unhappy childhood. His mother, Elsie, was placed in a mental institution when he was nine. His father (who later had a relationship with another woman, with whom he had a son) told him that she was dead, and he only learned in 1935 that she was still alive, in an institution.
After some success in light Broadway comedies, he came to Hollywood in 1931, where he acquired the name Cary Grant.
Grant starred in some of the classic screwball comedies, including The Awful Truth with Irene Dunne (the pivotal film in the establishment of Grant's screen persona), Bringing Up Baby with Katharine Hepburn, His Girl Friday with Rosalind Russell and Arsenic and Old Lace with Priscilla Lane. These performances solidified his appeal, and The Philadelphia Story, with Hepburn and James Stewart, presented his best-known screen role: the charming if sometimes unreliable man, formerly married to an intelligent and strong-willed woman who first divorced him, then realized that he was — with all his faults — irresistible.¥en.wikipedia.orgback to top
Archibald Leach was born in Horfield, Bristol, England. An only child (before he was born his parents had had another son who died in infancy), Leach had a confused and unhappy childhood. His mother, Elsie, was placed in a mental institution when he was nine. His father (who later had a relationship with another woman, with whom he had a son) told him that she was dead, and he only learned in 1935 that she was still alive, in an institution.
After some success in light Broadway comedies, he came to Hollywood in 1931, where he acquired the name Cary Grant.
Grant starred in some of the classic screwball comedies, including The Awful Truth with Irene Dunne (the pivotal film in the establishment of Grant's screen persona), Bringing Up Baby with Katharine Hepburn, His Girl Friday with Rosalind Russell and Arsenic and Old Lace with Priscilla Lane. These performances solidified his appeal, and The Philadelphia Story, with Hepburn and James Stewart, presented his best-known screen role: the charming if sometimes unreliable man, formerly married to an intelligent and strong-willed woman who first divorced him, then realized that he was — with all his faults — irresistible.¥en.wikipedia.orgback to top
David Prowse
David Prowse MBE (born July 1, 1935) is an English body-builder from Bristol, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for his role as the physical form of Darth Vader. At his peak, he stood 6ft 7in (201cm) tall and weighed 265lb (120kg).
Arguably, Prowse is most famous for playing the physical form of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Although he spoke the dialogue during the production of the films, James Earl Jones overdubbed the character's voice in post-production, a fact over which Prowse bears some resentment towards Star Wars creator George Lucas particularly since he was never told that his voice was going to be dubbed. Perhaps partly in response to this, Prowse has developed the habit of signing his autographs "David Prowse IS Darth Vader." However, Lucas claims he wanted a "darker voice" (not in an ethnic term. Lucas has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice.) that Prowse simply could not provide and never intended to use his voice. In the 2004 documentary, Empire of Dreams, actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia Organa in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent.¥official site back to top
Arguably, Prowse is most famous for playing the physical form of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Although he spoke the dialogue during the production of the films, James Earl Jones overdubbed the character's voice in post-production, a fact over which Prowse bears some resentment towards Star Wars creator George Lucas particularly since he was never told that his voice was going to be dubbed. Perhaps partly in response to this, Prowse has developed the habit of signing his autographs "David Prowse IS Darth Vader." However, Lucas claims he wanted a "darker voice" (not in an ethnic term. Lucas has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice.) that Prowse simply could not provide and never intended to use his voice. In the 2004 documentary, Empire of Dreams, actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia Organa in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent.¥official site back to top
Derren Brown
Derren Brown (born 27 February 1971) is an English psychological illusionist and skeptic of paranormal phenomena. He was born in Croydon, Surrey, and while studying Law and German at the University of Bristol he attended a show by the hypnotist Martin S. Taylor who was also a Bristolian. The show inspired him to turn to illusion and hypnosis as a career. Around 1994 he worked as a conjurer, practising the traditional skills of close-up 'magic'. In 1996, he started performing stage hypnosis shows at the University of Bristol under his then stage name of Darren V. Brown. In September 1997 he attended a Neuro-Linguistic Programme course with Richard Bandler, Paul McKenna and Michael Breen[citation needed].
Two years later, Brown started getting interested in mind-reading through his friend Ian Rowland[citation needed]. Shortly after, he got commissioned to do the first pilot of Mind Control. Brown's psychological illusions are skillfully performed and are enhanced by his personality and showman's flair to influence and misdirect. Some observers have commented, however, that most of Brown's act consists of standard magic tricks and that little psychology or suggestion is actually used.
Other than his main work, Derren is also an artist who paints caricatures of famous people. His work has also been exhibited. His paintings can be viewed via his website.¥
official site back to top
Two years later, Brown started getting interested in mind-reading through his friend Ian Rowland[citation needed]. Shortly after, he got commissioned to do the first pilot of Mind Control. Brown's psychological illusions are skillfully performed and are enhanced by his personality and showman's flair to influence and misdirect. Some observers have commented, however, that most of Brown's act consists of standard magic tricks and that little psychology or suggestion is actually used.
Other than his main work, Derren is also an artist who paints caricatures of famous people. His work has also been exhibited. His paintings can be viewed via his website.¥
official site back to top
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard was born in Portsmouth, educated at Hove, near Brighton and studied for two years at the College Henri Quatre, Paris, after which, in 1823, he rejoined his father in England. After his work on the Thames Tunnel, Isambard planned the Clifton Suspension Bridge, over the River Avon, which was completed posthumously in 1864 using chains from his own Hungerford Suspension Bridge.
He was responsible for the design of several famous ships. The Great Western, launched in 1837, was the first steamship ever to engage in transatlantic service. The Great Britain, launched in 1843, was the world's first iron-hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner. The Great Eastern, launched in 1859, was designed in cooperation with John Scott Russell, and was by far the biggest ship ever built up to that time, but did not in the end turn out to be a successful venture commercially. Brunel was also responsible for the redesign and construction of many of Britain's major docks, including Bristol, Monkwearmouth, Cardiff and Milford Haven. ¥
en.wikipedia.orgback to top
Isambard was born in Portsmouth, educated at Hove, near Brighton and studied for two years at the College Henri Quatre, Paris, after which, in 1823, he rejoined his father in England. After his work on the Thames Tunnel, Isambard planned the Clifton Suspension Bridge, over the River Avon, which was completed posthumously in 1864 using chains from his own Hungerford Suspension Bridge.
He was responsible for the design of several famous ships. The Great Western, launched in 1837, was the first steamship ever to engage in transatlantic service. The Great Britain, launched in 1843, was the world's first iron-hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner. The Great Eastern, launched in 1859, was designed in cooperation with John Scott Russell, and was by far the biggest ship ever built up to that time, but did not in the end turn out to be a successful venture commercially. Brunel was also responsible for the redesign and construction of many of Britain's major docks, including Bristol, Monkwearmouth, Cardiff and Milford Haven. ¥
en.wikipedia.orgback to top
John Cabot
Italian-born explorer who sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland on the Matthew in 1497. May have lived in St Nicholas Street. Cabot statues can be seen outside the Arnolfini and the Council House. The Cabot Tower was erected on Brandon Hill in 1897 in commemoration of his voyage.
A 105 feet high tower built in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot's voyage from Bristol and the sighting of North America four hundred years earlier. It was designed by the Bristol architect William Venn Gough and paid for by public subscription. The tower is built from red sandstone covered with cream Bath stone. ¥en.wikipediback to top
A 105 feet high tower built in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot's voyage from Bristol and the sighting of North America four hundred years earlier. It was designed by the Bristol architect William Venn Gough and paid for by public subscription. The tower is built from red sandstone covered with cream Bath stone. ¥en.wikipediback to top
John Atyeo
Peter John Walter Atyeo (February 7, 1932 - June 8, 1993) was an English football striker. He was signed from under the noses of League Champions Portsmouth in 1951 by Bristol City. He won six England caps from 1955 to 1957, scoring five goals. Despite offers from Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool that could have made him the most expensive player in England, he stayed with City throughout his career, making 647 appearances and scoring 350 goals by the time he retired in 1966. The new stand that replaced the Park End at Ashton Gate in 1994 is named the Atyeo Stand after him.¥
en.wikipediaback to top
en.wikipediaback to top
Justin Lee Collins
Justin Lee Collins (born 28 July 1974) is a Bristolian comedian, radio and television presenter, often known as 'The JLC'. His catchphrases include, "I love it!", "Rock On!", "Rock and roll!" and "Good Times!". He is known to be a big fan of classic Rock music and can often be seen wearing T-Shirts depicting his favourite bands, for example Whitesnake, Ramones, KISS, Guns N' Roses and Tom Petty. He is often seen offering high-5s. He is also a huge film buff, and it is rumored that he models himself on Jeff Bridges's character The Dude in The Big Lebowski.
Collins presents The Friday Night Project with Alan Carr for Channel 4. He has also hosted a clutch of Bring Back... shows in which he aims to reunite groups, normally who are associated with TV or music. Previous shows included the 1980s cast of Grange Hill and The A-Team. The Bring Back series also included Bring Back The Christmas #1 and Bring Back The One Hit Wonder.
He was also one of the presenters of Channel 4 and Paramount's Flipside TV, and has also presented his own weekend show on London alternative station XFM.
Collins worked as a double glazing demonstrator before he won the New Comedy Competition at the 1997 Glastonbury Festival and reached the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival. He gave up doing stand-up comedy in 2002 to concentrate fully on presenting.¥
MySpace site back to top
MySpace site back to top
Massive Attack
Massive Attack is a successful and critically acclaimed band from Bristol, UK. They have released eight albums - four full studio albums, two movie soundtracks, one remix album, and a greatest hits collection. Their music is electronic and combines elements of jazz, hip hop, rock, and classical into music that is often named as trip-hop and other genres; lately darker, subtler forms of electronic music have been dominant influences.
Massive Attack are constant collaborators and have worked with a diverse mix of artists, from Sinéad O'Connor to reggae star Horace Andy to Madonna and they did a remix for Qawwali master, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Their work has also been used in many feature films, including The Matrix, Snatch, 187, Pi, and television shows, such as 24, The West Wing, This Life, CSI and Prison Break. Their song "Teardrop" is the title theme for the television series House. They also now own a members-only club, Nocturne, located in their hometown of Bristol.¥
official siteback to top
Massive Attack is a successful and critically acclaimed band from Bristol, UK. They have released eight albums - four full studio albums, two movie soundtracks, one remix album, and a greatest hits collection. Their music is electronic and combines elements of jazz, hip hop, rock, and classical into music that is often named as trip-hop and other genres; lately darker, subtler forms of electronic music have been dominant influences.
Massive Attack are constant collaborators and have worked with a diverse mix of artists, from Sinéad O'Connor to reggae star Horace Andy to Madonna and they did a remix for Qawwali master, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Their work has also been used in many feature films, including The Matrix, Snatch, 187, Pi, and television shows, such as 24, The West Wing, This Life, CSI and Prison Break. Their song "Teardrop" is the title theme for the television series House. They also now own a members-only club, Nocturne, located in their hometown of Bristol.¥
official siteback to top
Stephen Merchant
Stephen Merchant (born November 24, 1974 in Bristol, England) is a writer, director and actor. He is best known for his work with Ricky Gervais in the popular British sitcoms The Office and Extras, as well on Xfm London.
summer 2001, the first series of The Office was broadcast on BBC 2. Also in 2001, Merchant and Gervais were rehired by Xfm and soon discovered the unique "talents" of Karl Pilkington.
Merchant made a cameo appearance as Oggy (also known as "The Oggmonster", although his real name is Nathan), a friend of Gareth Keenan, in the second series of The Office in 2002. His father, Ron Merchant, also appears as a character named "Gordon", an office handyman who becomes transfixed by the pseudo-documentary cameras whenever he walks into shot.
In 2002 Merchant directed a one-off comedy called The Last Chancres for Channel 4's Comedy Lab strand. In 2003, he had a recurring role in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace as a chef. In 2004, he worked as a Script Associate on the Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker sitcom Nathan Barley, and had a cameo in Green Wing. Merchant is also an executive producer for the American version of The Office, which stars Steve Carell.
The most recent Merchant-Gervais sitcom, Extras, premiered on BBC2 on July 21, 2005. Merchant stars as Darren Lamb, the incompetent agent of Andy Millman (Gervais). ¥en.wikipedia.orgback to top
summer 2001, the first series of The Office was broadcast on BBC 2. Also in 2001, Merchant and Gervais were rehired by Xfm and soon discovered the unique "talents" of Karl Pilkington.
Merchant made a cameo appearance as Oggy (also known as "The Oggmonster", although his real name is Nathan), a friend of Gareth Keenan, in the second series of The Office in 2002. His father, Ron Merchant, also appears as a character named "Gordon", an office handyman who becomes transfixed by the pseudo-documentary cameras whenever he walks into shot.
In 2002 Merchant directed a one-off comedy called The Last Chancres for Channel 4's Comedy Lab strand. In 2003, he had a recurring role in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace as a chef. In 2004, he worked as a Script Associate on the Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker sitcom Nathan Barley, and had a cameo in Green Wing. Merchant is also an executive producer for the American version of The Office, which stars Steve Carell.
The most recent Merchant-Gervais sitcom, Extras, premiered on BBC2 on July 21, 2005. Merchant stars as Darren Lamb, the incompetent agent of Andy Millman (Gervais). ¥en.wikipedia.orgback to top
Tricky
Born in Knowle West, Bristol, England, as of 2006 Tricky is based in West Hollywood, California .
Tricky was born on the 27th of January 1968 in Bristol, England. His father left the family before he was even born and his mother, Maxine Quaye, committed suicide when he was four. He named his first solo album after her - Maxinquaye - and once said that though he hardly knew her he feels like she's speaking through him with his words.
Adrian Thaws (born January 27, 1968), better known as Tricky, is an English rapper and musician important in the trip hop and British music scene (despite loathing the "trip hop" tag). He is noted for a whispering lyrical style that is half-rapped, half-sung. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound. Culturally, Tricky bridges white and black Britain, particularly in his fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop culture.¥official siteback to top
Tricky was born on the 27th of January 1968 in Bristol, England. His father left the family before he was even born and his mother, Maxine Quaye, committed suicide when he was four. He named his first solo album after her - Maxinquaye - and once said that though he hardly knew her he feels like she's speaking through him with his words.
Adrian Thaws (born January 27, 1968), better known as Tricky, is an English rapper and musician important in the trip hop and British music scene (despite loathing the "trip hop" tag). He is noted for a whispering lyrical style that is half-rapped, half-sung. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound. Culturally, Tricky bridges white and black Britain, particularly in his fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop culture.¥official siteback to top
Wallace and Gromit (& creator Nick Park)
wallace and grommit in
curse of the ware rabbit
The creator, Nickpark created the characters Wallace and Gromit in Bristol.
Wallace and Gromit appeared on our in the short animated movie Agrand day out.
The story was pure comic-book adventure - building a space rocket and blasting-off to the moon in search of cheese. The characters, however, were strongly delineated; the naive, somewhat inept Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) and the real brains behind the partnership, Gromit, whose facial expressions - wide, slightly mournful eyes - quickly register his despair, frustration or total incredulity.
Park's films work on many levels. Children respond to the broad character comedy, adults to the more sophisticated elements including the affectionate spoofing of movie genres such as horror films, thrillers, heist pictures, action movies and the deep shadows and crazy camera angles of film noir. This richness of character and relentlessly paced animation (the model train chase in The Wrong Trousers and the motorbike pursuit in A Close Shave) have carried clay animation to unprecedented heights."¥official siteback to top
wallace and grommit in
curse of the ware rabbit
Wallace and Gromit appeared on our in the short animated movie Agrand day out.
The story was pure comic-book adventure - building a space rocket and blasting-off to the moon in search of cheese. The characters, however, were strongly delineated; the naive, somewhat inept Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) and the real brains behind the partnership, Gromit, whose facial expressions - wide, slightly mournful eyes - quickly register his despair, frustration or total incredulity.
Park's films work on many levels. Children respond to the broad character comedy, adults to the more sophisticated elements including the affectionate spoofing of movie genres such as horror films, thrillers, heist pictures, action movies and the deep shadows and crazy camera angles of film noir. This richness of character and relentlessly paced animation (the model train chase in The Wrong Trousers and the motorbike pursuit in A Close Shave) have carried clay animation to unprecedented heights."¥official siteback to top
Wurzels
Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, renamed The Wurzels after Cutler's death, are a British Scrumpy and Western band.
The band is best known for its 1976 number one hit The Combine Harvester but has a history stretching nearly 40 years, and still performs to this day.
In its heyday the band was very popular despite disdain from "serious" critics.
The name of the band came from the fodder beet Mangelwurzel. As can be determined from the subject matter of many of their songs, cider is very popular amongst Wurzels and their fans. Their particular "genre" of music has been named "Scrumpy And Western" (scrumpy is a name given to traditional cider).
The wurzuls are well know though-out bristol especially among Bristol city fans where the single 'Drink up me Zider' has become one the Bristol city's anthems. ¥official siteback to top
Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, renamed The Wurzels after Cutler's death, are a British Scrumpy and Western band.
The band is best known for its 1976 number one hit The Combine Harvester but has a history stretching nearly 40 years, and still performs to this day.
In its heyday the band was very popular despite disdain from "serious" critics.
The name of the band came from the fodder beet Mangelwurzel. As can be determined from the subject matter of many of their songs, cider is very popular amongst Wurzels and their fans. Their particular "genre" of music has been named "Scrumpy And Western" (scrumpy is a name given to traditional cider).
The wurzuls are well know though-out bristol especially among Bristol city fans where the single 'Drink up me Zider' has become one the Bristol city's anthems. ¥official siteback to top
¥ - Information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org.
