Richard Gadd
Famous BisRichard Gadd is a Scottish comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for starring and writing the Netflix series Baby Reindeer (2024), which he based off his real-life experience with a stalker.
Richard grew up in a small town in Scotland. Growing up, he was very drawn to performance and storytelling. His passion for drama and comedy grew when he entered high school, and he participated in school plays and local play productions. After completing high school, Richard attended Madras College and studied English literature and Theater studies at the University of Glasgow. He later went on to train at the Oxford School of Drama in 2012.
His professional career began in the 2010s, although he initially struggled to find an audience in the comedy scene while performing stand-up shows. His early work explored a lot of complex themes and dark humor while introducing elements of theater and performance art. In 2016, he had a breakthrough with the show Monkey See Monkey Do, which won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Comedy show and was also nominated for a Total Theater Award for innovation. Later that year, he also won a Chortle Comedian’s Comedian Award, and was nominated for an Off West End Theater Award for Best Performer. His show had various sell-out runs at Soho Theater and toured the UK and Europe. In 2017, his show was broadcast on Comedy Central as part of the Soho Theater Live series.
After his comedy success, Richard started appearing in minor roles in television. In 2017, he played Eddie McNally in Against the Law, where his performance was noted for its depth and sensitivity, showcasing his versatility as a performer and actor. As a screenwriter, Richard worked for Netflix’s series Sex Education (2019-2023), The Last Leg (2012-), Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier (2018-2019), and most recently, has been praised for his work as a writer, producer, and protagonist of Baby Reindeer.
Richard’s next show, Baby Reindeer centered on his experiences with being stalked and groomed. It has won The Scotsman Fringe First Award and a Stage Award for Acting Excellence. In 2024, Netflix premiered a limited-run series based on his play of the same name.
Richard is openly bisexual. He mentioned in an interview with Attitude that his journey with his sexuality continues to be just that: a journey.
I sometimes change with the tide. I feel very strongly for both. I think we’re just learning to see the world in different ways and not be so rigid about it. And I feel like I’m constantly in a state of flux with my sexuality. Some days I feel a certain way and other days I feel other ways. But every time I land on one, my brain flies off to the other. It’s almost like a restlessness. But maybe that’s what bisexuality is…I used to say “Oh, you have to be one or the other.” And I believed it was going to be easier for me if I pick one. I tried to identify both ways in my time, and it never worked for me as much as bisexual, really.
He’s also been open about his mental health journey, including his experiences with trauma and anxiety. These themes are often featured in his work, and he tries to break down the stigmas associated with mental illness and health, while also normalizing and encouraging others to speak up. His ability to incorporate humor with serious and sometimes painful topics has distinguished his work and made him an influential figure in contemporary comedy.