Simon Pegg

Simon John Pegg (born Simon John Beckingham on 14 February 1970) is an English actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He rose to prominence as co-creator of the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced (1999–2001). He is widely recognized for co-writing and starring in the Three Flavours Cornetto film trilogy—Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End—and the comedy Paul alongside Nick Frost. Pegg has also featured in major film franchises, playing Benji Dunn in the Mission: Impossible series, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in Star Trek, and Buck in the Ice Age series.

Born in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, Pegg is the son of Gillian Rosemary, a civil servant, and John Henry Beckingham, a musician and keyboard salesman. After his parents divorced, he adopted his stepfather's surname. He attended Castle Hill Primary School, Brockworth Comprehensive, and The King's School, Gloucester, before studying English literature and theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon College. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Bristol with a BA in theatre, film, and television, having performed with the comedy troupe "David Icke and the Orphans of Jesus."

Pegg began his career in stand-up comedy before moving into comedy acting. Early television and radio work included Six Pairs of Pants, Asylum, Big Train, Hippies, and BBC Radio 4's The 99p Challenge. He also made appearances in Band of Brothers, Black Books, and Steve Coogan's 1998 live stage tour. In 1999, he co-created and co-wrote Spaced with Jessica Stevenson, earning a British Comedy Award nomination for Best Male Comedy Newcomer.

The success of Spaced led Pegg and director Edgar Wright to co-write the zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead (2004). They completed the Cornetto trilogy with Hot Fuzz (2007) and The World's End (2013). Pegg also co-wrote and starred in Paul (2011). His additional work includes roles in Run Fatboy Run, Burke & Hare, Free Jimmy, Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and guest appearances on Doctor Who as well as Big Finish audio productions.

Pegg portrayed IMF technician Benji Dunn in six Mission: Impossible films starting with Mission: Impossible III (2006) through Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). He played Scotty in the Star Trek reboot trilogy (2009–2016), co-writing Star Trek Beyond. He appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) as Unkar Plutt, voiced Buck in the Ice Age franchise, played Hugh Campbell Sr in The Boys, and voiced characters in Hogwarts Legacy and Diabolical.

Pegg has supported political and social causes, including HeForShe in 2014, Britain Stronger in Europe in 2016, higher taxation for the wealthy in 2020, and Greenpeace since 2021. He married Maureen McCann in 2005, and they have one child. An atheist, Pegg has spoken publicly about his past struggles with depression and alcoholism, having achieved sobriety following rehabilitation prior to filming Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.