Famous Actors and Performers from Bristol

Famous comedians such as Justin Lee Collins, Lee Evans and writer/comedian Stephen Merchant were born in Bristol, as was Hollywood actor Cary Grant.

Patrick Stewart, Jane Lapotaire, Pete Postlethwaite, Jeremy Irons, Greta Scacchi, Miranda Richardson, Helen Baxendale, Daniel Day-Lewis and Gene Wilder are amongst the many actors who learnt their craft at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, opened by Laurence Olivier in 1946.

Comedian John Cleese was a pupil at Clifton College, Hugo Weaving studied at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School, and David Prowse (Darth Vader, Star Wars) attended Bristol Grammar School.