Matthew Holness
Born in Whitstable, Kent in 1975, Matthew Holness is an English comedian, actor, writer and director. He is best known for his comic creation, the fictional horror novelist Garth Marenghi. He read English at Trinity College, Cambridge and was vice-president of the Cambridge Footlights. His contemporaries included Footlights president, David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman and his Marenghi co-writer Richard Ayoade. Holness first appeared on television as a cast-member of the 2000 BBC Choice TV series Bruiser, which starred Mitchell, Webb, Colman and Martin Freeman. In that same year he won the Perrier at the Edinburgh Fringe for Garty Marenghi's Fright Night, which was transferred to UK television in the guise of the 2004 Channel 4 horror comedy Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Other credits include 2006's Man to Man with Dean Learner, several productions with Ricky Gervais such as The Office, Life's Too Short and Cemetery Junction, and the 2017 Channel 4 sitcom Back which starred Mitchell and Webb. In 2018 he made his feature length directorial debut with the film Possum, having previously helmed short films The Snipist and A Gun For George.
Known For
Credits
- 2023 ยทDodger Special: Bad Eggas Sir Denholm Havers
- 2022 ยทToast of Tinseltownas Richard Chickentoss
- 2021 ยทFriday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of Squirrelas Himself
- 2021 ยทWe Are Lady Partsas Gameshow host
- 2020 ยทThe Haunting of Bly Manoras Dominic Wingrave
- 2019 ยทYear of the Rabbitas Hector, Crown Prince of Bulgaria
- 2017 ยทThe Russell Howard Houras Garth Marenghi
- 2017 ยทBackas Laurie
- 2015 ยทItalia Violentaas
- 2013 ยทToast of Londonas Max Gland
- 2011 ยทLife's Too Shortas Ian
- 2011 ยทA Gun for Georgeas Terry / George / The Reprisalizer
- 2011 ยทFriday Night Dinneras Chris Parker
- 2010 ยทCemetery Junctionas Band Leader
- 2009 ยทFree Agentsas
- 2006 ยทMan to Man with Dean Learneras
- 2006 ยทTime Trumpetas
- 2005 ยทFestivalas Roger - Lighting Man
- 2004 ยทThe Mighty Booshas Bob Fossil
- 2004 ยทGarth Marenghi's Darkplaceas Garth Marenghi / Dr. Rick Dagless M.D.
- 2001 ยทThe Officeas Simon
- 2000 ยทBruiseras
- 1997 ยทBackstage... at the Cambridge Footlightsas Self