James Corden | |
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.jpg) Corden at the 2015PaleyFest | |
| Born | James Kimberley Corden (1978-08-22)22 August 1978 (age 47) Hillingdon, London, England |
| Education | Holmer Green Upper School |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium | |
| Genres | |
| Subjects | |
| Signature | |
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James Kimberley Corden[1] (born 22 August 1978)[2] is an English actor, comedian, writer, producer, singer, and television host.[3] In the United Kingdom, he is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimedBBC sitcomGavin & Stacey. In the United States, he gained recognition as the host ofThe Late Late Show with James Corden, alate-night talk show that aired onCBS from 2015 to 2023.
Originally airing from 2007 to 2010, Corden co-wrote and co-starred with Welsh actressRuth Jones inGavin & Stacey, for which he won theBAFTA Television Award forBest Comedy Performance. He was featured, along withgrime artistDizzee Rascal, on the UK number one single "Shout". Corden created hisCarpool Karaoke sketch in 2011. He hosted theBrit Awards (2009, 2011 and 2014), theTony Awards (2016 and2019), and theGrammy Awards (2017 and2018). From 2010 to 2019, he presented thepanel showA League of Their Own onSky One.
Corden has acted in films, includingGulliver's Travels (2010),Kill Your Friends (2015), andPeter Rabbit (2018) and its2021 sequel (in which he voicedthe title character). He also acted in the musical filmsInto the Woods (2014),Cats (2019),The Prom (2020), andCinderella (2021).
In 2011, Corden starred in theNational Theatre showOne Man, Two Guvnors, which transferred from theWest End toBroadway, where Corden won theTony Award for Best Actor in a Play.[4] In 2015, he received theBAFTABritannia Award for British Artist of the Year.[5] Corden has been nominated for 29Primetime Emmy Awards, winning 12 in total, including forThe Late Late Show,Carpool Karaoke, and hosting the70th Tony Awards. He was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2015 New Year Honours for services to drama.[6]
Corden was born inHillingdon, Greater London,[7] the son of Margaret and Malcolm Corden. His father was a musician in theCentral Band of the Royal Air Force, and later became a salesman of Christian books and Bibles.[8][9] Corden's mother was a social worker.[10] He grew up inHazlemere,Buckinghamshire,[11] and attended Park Middle School andHolmer Green Upper School.[2] He has two sisters.[12]
Corden's first stage appearance was at the age of 18, with a one-line part in the 1996 musicalMartin Guerre.[13] His first TV reporter role was on the BBC'sGood Morning with Anne and Nick, interviewingMeat Loaf.[14] His early television work included Gareth Jones in the 1999 seriesBoyz Unlimited. He also starred inTango advertisements in 1998, had a role as a bookish student inTeachers, and in 2000 had a small part in an episode ofHollyoaks. Corden had guest appearances onLittle Britain andDalziel and Pascoe, both in 2004. Corden's early film credits includeWhatever Happened to Harold Smith? (1999),Mike Leigh'sAll or Nothing (2002),Heartlands (2002), andCruise of the Gods (2002).[15]
From 2000 to 2005, Corden starred on the British television seriesFat Friends as Jamie Rymer. He garnered a nomination for the 2000Royal Television Society Award for Network Newcomer On Screen for his work. Beginning in 2004, Corden played the role of Timms in the original London stage production ofAlan Bennett's playThe History Boys, as well as in theBroadway, Sydney,Wellington, and Hong Kong productions. He was also in the radio and2006 film adaptation versions of the play.[16][17][18] In 2006, he appeared in the filmStarter for 10.[15]
From 2007 to 2010, Corden co-starred in his own series, theBBC Three sitcomGavin & Stacey. He co-wrote the series with hisFat Friends co-starRuth Jones; Corden and Jones played the friends of the title characters, with Corden starring as Smithy. The series proved popular and was well-received critically. For the show, Corden won Best Male Comedy Performer andGavin & Stacey won Best New British Television Comedy at the 2007British Comedy Awards.[19] At the 2008 Television BAFTAs, Corden won theBAFTA forBest Male Comedy Performance, andGavin & Stacey won the BAFTA's Audience Award for Programme of the Year.[4][20] In December 2008, the show won Best TV Comedy in the 2008 British Comedy Awards.Gavin & Stacey also won the award for Most Popular Comedy Programme at theNational Television Awards in 2010.[21] In 2019,Gavin & Stacey returned for a Christmas special, which achieved the highest Christmas Day viewership in the UK for more than a decade.[22]
During the two year and seven months run ofGavin & Stacey, Corden's professional endeavours outside the successful series proved somewhat chequered.[13] He guest hostedBig Brother's Big Mouth, withGavin & Stacey co-starMathew Horne, in August 2007. In 2008, he appeared inthe film ofToby Young's 2001 autobiographyHow to Lose Friends & Alienate People. He collaborated again with Horne on a 2009 sketch show namedHorne & Corden, described by the BBC as a "traditional comedy entertainment show in the style ofMorecambe and Wise".[23] The show ran for only one series and was poorly received by the critics, with Corden later admitting "the absolute truth is I wasn't good enough."[24]
In 2009, Corden starred in the filmLesbian Vampire Killers, which was unsuccessful. That year he playedClem Cattini in theJoe Meek biopicTelstar, and likewise in the animatedPlanet 51 along with Mathew Horne.[15][23] In February 2009, he co-presented theBrit Awards with Horne andKylie Minogue.[25] In March 2009, he appeared in a sketch for the UK charity telethonComic Relief giving theEngland football team a motivational talk, and later presented a section with Horne showing their best bits of comedy from the previous two years along with highlights from the night.[23]
In March 2010, Corden began hosting theSky 1 comedy/sportspanel showA League of Their Own alongside team captainsAndrew Flintoff andJamie Redknapp.[26] In March 2010, he presentedSport Relief 2010 alongsideDavina McCall and others,[27] contributing a "sequel" to the 2009 England football team sketch, this time giving a motivational talk to various sports stars includingDavid Beckham and motor racing driverJenson Button.[28][29]
In March 2010, Corden took part inChannel 4's Comedy Gala, abenefit show held in aid ofGreat Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at theO2 Arena in London. On 5 June 2010, he performed his England World Cup single withDizzee Rascal on the finale ofBritain's Got Talent. The proceeds from the single went to London'sGreat Ormond Street Hospital.[30]
In June 2010, Corden played Craig Owens in theDoctor Who episode "The Lodger", in whichthe Doctor moved in with him. Corden returned as Owens in "Closing Time" in the sixth series.[31][32] In December 2010,This IsJLS, an hour-long Christmas special featuring the boyband andThe X Factor runners-up, was aired onITV1, with Corden writing and producing some of the sketches featured in the special. In 2010, he was in the main cast of the filmGulliver's Travels.[15] In December 2010, he was part of an ensemble voice cast in the English dub of the German animated filmAnimals United alongsideJim Broadbent,Jason Donovan,Joanna Lumley,Billie Piper,Andy Serkis and others.[33]
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In February 2011, Corden presented the2011 Brit Awards. In March, Corden reprised hisGavin & Stacey role as Smithy in aRed Nose Day sketch for the charity telethon Comic Relief. The sketch included appearances by then UK Prime MinisterGordon Brown,JLS,Paul McCartney, andJustin Bieber. The show also featured the first appearance of hisCarpool Karaoke sketch, in which he sang songs with pop starGeorge Michael while driving around London.[34] In 2011, he appeared inThe Three Musketeers.[15]
Starting in June 2011, Corden played the lead role in the hit comedy playOne Man, Two Guvnors. The play was cinecast worldwide as part of theNational Theatre Live cinecasts, and transferred from theNational Theatre to theWest End after touring. The show received universal critical acclaim and won Best Play at theEvening Standard Theatre Awards for 2011.[16][35]The Guardian deemed it "A triumph of visual and verbal comedy. One of the funniest productions in the National's history."[36] TheDaily Telegraph described it as "the feelgood hit of the Summer";[37] whileThe Independent called it a "massive hit",[38] and theEvening Standard "a surefire hit".[39]
Corden made a cameo appearance in the music video for the single "Mama Do the Hump" byRizzle Kicks, released in December 2011, which reached No. 2 in the charts. In April 2012,One Man, Two Guvnors transferred toBroadway, with Corden continuing to play the lead. In June 2012, he won theTony Award forBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance.[4]
In February 2012, Corden hosted theBrit Awards for the third time. Corden starred as the Baker in theDisneyfilm adaptation of the musicalInto the Woods (2014).[40] In 2015, Corden narratedRoald Dahl's Esio Trot, a BBC television film adaptation ofRoald Dahl's classicnovel. Adapted byRichard Curtis and co-starringDustin Hoffman andJudi Dench, it was broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2015.[41] In 2016, he appeared in the animated comedy filmTrolls as Biggie, a chubby friendly Troll.[42]
For his next project, Corden teamed up with friend and fellowGavin & Stacey starMathew Baynton to create, write, and star inThe Wrong Mans, a six-part comedy-thriller forBBC Two. The premiere was in September 2013.[43] The series was co-produced by online television providerHulu in the United States, and it began airing in November 2013.[44]
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In March 2015, Corden succeededCraig Ferguson as host of the Americanlate-night talk showThe Late Late Show.[45][46][47] Corden's most popular comedic segments included "Drop the Mic", "Fill Your Guts or Spill Your Guts", "Crosswalk the Musical", and "Carpool Karaoke".[48]
Talking toDavid Tenant on his BBC PodcastDavid Tennant Does a Podcast With..., Tenant asked how much ofThe Late Late Show was him and how much was acting, to which Corden replied: "...I would hope it's a close strain to me, I would hope that I am someone looks for the joy in things and stuff, you're not [pause] ever really being your ...self"[49]
Corden'sCarpool Karaoke through the streets of London with pop singerAdele, a sketch that was featured on his talk show in January 2016, was the biggest viral video on YouTube in 2016.[50] Corden did numerous editions of Carpool Karaoke with singers such as SirElton John,Stevie Wonder,Mariah Carey,Madonna,Jennifer Lopez,Harry Styles, andKaty Perry.[51]Apple TV+ adapted the segment into a streaming seriesCarpool Karaoke: The Series.
Corden's specialCarpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney, Live From Liverpool with SirPaul McCartney was a viral and critical success earning aPrimetime Emmy Award nomination and win forOutstanding Variety Special.[52] In the special, Corden and McCartney sang the Beatles songs "Drive My Car", "Penny Lane", and "Let It Be". The pair stopped by aPenny Lane street sign, which McCartney signed. McCartney pointed out various Liverpool landmarks, includingSaint Barnabas Church, where he had been a choir boy, and also visited his childhood home. The special ended with McCartney and his band surprising a small group of locals atLiverpool's Philharmonic Pub with a 13-song set that included "A Hard Day's Night", "Back in the U.S.S.R" and his new single, "Come On to Me".[53][54]
Corden hosted theTony Awards in2016 and2019,[55][56][57] and theGrammy Awards in2017 and2018.[58][59] In 2018, theSeatbelt Psychic television series was produced by Corden and his production companyFulwell 73 forLifetime platform.[60][61]
In 2019, Corden starred inTom Hooper's feature film adaptation ofAndrew Lloyd Webber's popular musicalCats asBustopher Jones,[62] which received widespread negative attention. The film also featuredJennifer Hudson,Idris Elba,Taylor Swift,Ian McKellen, andJudi Dench. Some critics called it one of the worst films of the year due to its poorly conceivedCGI and off kilter comedic performances fromRebel Wilson and Corden.[63][64] For his performance, Corden received theRazzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor of the year.[65] Lloyd Webber was a vocal critic of the film, specially criticizing Corden's performance, adding he "begged for it to be cut".[66]
Corden's leading role in the 2020 musical comedy filmThe Prom received negative reviews, and was named "one of the worst performances of the 21st century" byVanity Fair'sRichard Lawson.[67][68][69] Lawson elaborated, writing: "Corden, flitting and lisping around in the most uninspired of caricatures, misses all potential for nuance, and thus never finds even a hint of truth in the role". His portrayal of a gay man while he himself is straight was deemed offensive by many film critics and members of theLGBTQ community, with critics adding that the performance perpetuated and capitalized on stereotypes of gay white men.[70] Corden received an even larger amount of backlash when this performance earned him aGolden Globe Award nomination forBest Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film.[71][72][73]
Corden also received negative reviews for his performance in the 2021 adaptation ofCinderella, which he produced. Clarisse Loughrey ofThe Independent wrote: "James Corden has made a #Girlboss fairytale only a voracious capitalist could love".[74]
In 2021, theLate Late Show segment "Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts" was criticised for its "racist" use of Asian cuisine, such asbalut andchicken feet. Celebrity guests were made to eat foods that Corden had judged to be "horrific" and "disgusting" or answer a difficult personal question.[75] Corden later agreed to change the foods used.[76]
In April 2022, Corden announced that he would be leavingThe Late Late Show in 2023.[77]
On 20 March 2024, it was announced that Corden would make his return to theatre, starring as Alec in a new political drama byJoe Penhall calledThe Constituent, oppositeAnna Maxwell Martin and directed byMatthew Warchus. The play ran atThe Old Vic in London from 13 June to 10 August 2024.[78] Once again teaming up with Ruth Jones, together they wrote and starred in the final episode ofGavin & Stacey, airing on Christmas Day 2024 on BBC One, 17 years after the show was first broadcast.
In September 2025, Corden returned toBroadway at theMusic Box Theatre playing Yvan in the revival ofYasmina Reza's playArt oppositeBobby Cannavale andNeil Patrick Harris for a limited season, direct byScott Ellis.[79]
In a 2016 "Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts" segment with Jimmy Kimmel, Corden was unable to name two of his regular camera operators despite daily collaboration, drawing criticism for apparent disregard for crew members.[80]
In October 2022, Corden's monologue included a joke nearly identical to one from Ricky Gervais's 2018 Netflix specialHumanity, prompting accusations of plagiarism.[81][82] Corden called it "inadvertent", and Gervais suggested it was likely a writer's error.[82]
During his tenure hostingThe Late Late Show, Corden faced several controversies. In April 2019, television writer Jack Allison accused Corden of attending a Writers Guild of America meeting without his staffers—accompanied only by an executive producer—to advocate for a new lower pay grade for entry-level writers below union minimums.[83][84][85] Allison noted that internships and writers' assistant positions already existed as pipeline opportunities, and characterized the proposal as skeptical given the show's staff were already among television's lowest-paid writers.[85][83] Corden responded that he sought to "explore whether talented people could get a better opportunity" through 13-week writers' assistant contracts even though these would bypass existing union protections and minimum rates,[84][83] denying any intent to pay writers less than they deserved.[84] The Writers Guild rejected the proposal as it would have undercut established union minimum rates negotiated in the MBA.[83][85]
In October 2017, while hosting the amfAR Inspiration Gala in Los Angeles amid emerging allegations of sexual misconduct againstHarvey Weinstein, Corden made multiple jokes referencing Weinstein, including one about him requesting massages in his hotel room.[86] The remarks drew groans from the audience and criticism from figures including Rose McGowan; Corden later apologised on Twitter, stating "sexual assault is no laughing matter" and that his intent was to shame Weinstein, not his victims.[87]
In October 2022, Corden was banned from the New York restaurantBalthazar by proprietorKeith McNally, after reportedly being "abusive" and "extremely nasty" to staff. The ban was later rescinded after Corden apologised to McNally in private and in public, admitting that he had been "ungracious".[88][89] Keith McNally described James Corden as a "tiny cretin" and the "most abusive customer" to his servers in 25 years, citing incidents where Corden berated staff over food errors.[90]
Corden has said that his comedy influences areGraham Norton,Chris Evans,Jonathan Ross,[91]Conan O'Brien,[92]David Letterman,[93] andStephen Colbert.[94]
Corden shared a flat withThe History Boys co-starDominic Cooper for several years.[95] Cooper introduced Corden to his future wife Julia Carey, whom Cooper had known for years.[96][97] Corden married Carey on 15 September 2012.[98] The Cordens have three children.[99][100][101] Corden is a supporter ofPremier League football clubWest Ham United.[102]
Corden was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire in the2015 New Year Honours for services to drama.[103][104] He received the honour fromPrincess Anne during a ceremony atBuckingham Palace in June 2015.[105]
Corden resides in Los Angeles with his family.[106] He maintains a home inBelsize Park, London,[107] and Templecombe House atWargrave inBerkshire.[108]
In April 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Corden paid the salaries of furloughed employees on theLate Late Show.[109] He also launched a fundraising campaign with theNBA to benefitFeed the Children.[110] In January 2022, Corden announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was fine and already fullyvaccinated and boosted.[111]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Out of Tune | Lee | Episode: "1.1" |
| 1998 | Renford Rejects | Razor #1 | Episode: "Don Bruno" |
| 1999 | Boyz Unlimited | Gareth | 6 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Hollyoaks | Wayne | Episode #1.524 |
| 2000–2005 | Fat Friends | Jamie Rymer | 20 episodes |
| 2001 | Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story | Bran the Giant's son | TV movie |
| 2001–2003 | Teachers | Jeremy | 9 episodes |
| 2002 | Cruise of the Gods | Russell | TV movie |
| 2004 | Little Britain | Dewi Thomas | Episode: "2.3" |
| Dalziel and Pascoe | Ben Forsythe | Episode: "The Price of Fame" | |
| 2007–2010, 2019, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Neil "Smithy" Smith | 22 episodes; also creator, writer, associate producer |
| 2009 | Horne & Corden | Various characters | 6 episodes; also writer |
| 2009 Brit Awards | Himself (co-host) | TV special | |
| The Gruffalo | Mouse (voice) | TV special | |
| 2010 | James Corden's World Cup Live | Himself (host) | 14 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | Doctor Who | Craig Owens | 2 episodes: "The Lodger" and "Closing Time" |
| 2010–2019 | A League of Their Own | Himself (host) | Series 1–14 |
| 2011 | Little Charley Bear | Narrator (voice) | 22 episodes |
| 2011 Brit Awards | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| The Gruffalo's Child | Mouse (voice) | TV special | |
| 2012 | Stella | Steven | Episode: "1.10" |
| 2012 Brit Awards | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| 2013 | 2013 Brit Awards | Himself (host) | TV special |
| 2013–2014 | The Wrong Mans | Phil Bourne | 8 episodes; also creator, writer |
| 2014 | 2014 Brit Awards | Himself (host) | TV special |
| 2015 | Roald Dahl's Esio Trot | Narrator | TV movie |
| 2015–2023 | The Late Late Show with James Corden | Himself (host) | 1,197 episodes; also writer and producer |
| 2016 | 70th Tony Awards | Himself (host) | TV special |
| Beat Bugs | Morgs the Stick Bug (singing voice) | Episode: "I'm a Loser" | |
| Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch | Guest | Series 2 Episode 4[112] | |
| 2017 | 59th Annual Grammy Awards | Himself (host) | TV special[113] |
| Trolls Holiday | Biggie (voice) | Christmas special | |
| 2017–2019 | Drop the Mic | Himself | Also executive producer; appeared in 3 episodes as a guest |
| 2017–2023 | Carpool Karaoke: The Series | Himself | 75 episodes; also executive producer; appeared in 3 episodes as a guest |
| 2018 | 60th Annual Grammy Awards | Himself (host) | TV special |
| Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Himself (guest announcer) | Episode #15.3[114] | |
| Happy Together | Himself | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Us & Them | — | 7 episodes; executive producer | |
| Seatbelt Psychic | Producer / Creator | Worked on all of 2 seasons | |
| 2019 | The World's Best | Himself (host) | 12 episodes; also executive producer |
| 73rd Tony Awards | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| Saturday Night Live | Boris Johnson / Himself | Episode: "Jennifer Lopez/DaBaby"[115] | |
| 2020 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| 2020 | Game On! | Himself | Episode: "James Corden andLandon Donovan"; also executive producer |
| 2021 | Friends: The Reunion | Himself (host) | TV special[116] |
| 2022 | Mammals | Jamie | 6 episodes; also executive producer[117] |
| 2023 | 2023 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony | Himself (host) | TV special |
| 2024 | 2024 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony | Himself (host) | TV special |
| 2025 | 2025 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony | Himself (host) | TV special |
| Year | Title | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Martin Guerre | (bit part) | Prince Edward Theatre, West End |
| 2004 | The History Boys | Timms | Lyttelton Theatre,Royal National Theatre, London |
| 2006 | Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong | ||
| St James,Wellington | |||
| Sydney Theatre, Sydney | |||
| 2007 | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | ||
| A Respectable Wedding | Friend | Young Vic,South Bank, London | |
| 2011 | One Man, Two Guvnors | Francis Henshall | Lyttelton Theatre,Royal National Theatre, London |
| Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury | |||
| Theatre Royal, Plymouth | |||
| Lowry Theatre, Salford | |||
| New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham | |||
| King's Theatre, Edinburgh | |||
| Adelphi Theatre, West End | |||
| 2012 | Music Box Theatre, Broadway | ||
| 2024 | The Constituent | Alec | The Old Vic, London |
| 2025 | Art | Yvan | Music Box Theatre, Broadway |
| Year | Title | Voice |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Fable II | Monty |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Happy Now" | Take That |
| "Mama Do the Hump" | Rizzle Kicks | |
| 2013 | "Queenie Eye" | Paul McCartney |
| 2016 | "Can't Stop the Feeling! (First Listen)" | Justin Timberlake |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tango TV Ad | Bullying Victim |
| 2012 | Windows Phone (Microsoft) | N/a |
| 2014 | Cadbury's Free the Joy | N/a |
| 2015 | Samsung Galaxy Note Edge | Alter-ego Wilf |
| 2016 | Apple Music | N/a |
| Sainsbury's | N/a | |
| 2016–2018 | Confused.com | Himself |
| Source:[118] | ||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRL [119] | |||
| "Shout" (as Shout for England withDizzee Rascal) | 2010 | 1 | 41 | Non-album single |
| "Only You" (withKylie Minogue) | 2015 | — | — | Kylie Christmas |
| "The Greatest Gift" (withBret McKenzie) | 2016 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "I Promise You" | 2018 | — | — | |
| "Percy's Pressure" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | ||||
| Title | Year | Album | Other artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town" | 2019 | Cats: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack | N/a |
| "The Kind of Friend I Need" | 2020 | Music Played by Humans | Gary Barlow |
BBC One comedyGavin and Stacey won most popular comedy programme
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Host ofThe Late Late Show 2015–2023 | |
