Reece Shearsmith is an English actor, comedian, and writer known for his work on popular sketch show “The League of Gentleman” and dark comedy series “Psychoville”. Born in Hull, England, Shearsmith studied at Bretton Hall College where he met his future collaborators. Together, they created “The League of Gentleman” which gained widespread acclaim and numerous awards. Shearsmith also wrote, created, and starred in “Psychoville” and has appeared in various films and TV shows. His recent work includes a role in the 2019 miniseries “Good Omens”. Shearsmith has been recognized with nominations for the Olivier Award and BAFTA Television Awards, winning twice.
Quick Facts
- Name: Reeson Wayne Shearsmith
- Age: 54 Years
- Gender: Male
- Spouse: Jane Shearsmith (m. 2001)
- Children: Danny Shearsmith, Holly Shearsmith
- Born Country: England
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm)
- Education: Bretton Hall College of Education
Career
Reece Shearsmith’s first important work was the series The League of Gentleman
, where he was an actor as well as a co-creator and a co-writer. It started out as a stage play in 1995, and in 1999, it came out as a television series. It aired for 22 episodes between 1999 and 2002. The series was hugely praised by critics as well as audience. The actors were listed in `The Observer’, as among the funniest acts in British comedy.
After the series ended, it was followed by a film named The League of Gentlemen
s Apocalypse’, as well as a stage production The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You!‘, both releasing in 2005. Meanwhile, he also appeared in several other works such as the British sitcom
Spaced’ in 2001, the sketch show Mash and Peas’ in 2003, the horror comedy film
Shaun of the Dead’ in 2004, and the comic horror film `The Cottage’, in 2008.
In 2009, he created, wrote and starred in `Psychoville’, a psychosocial dark comedy series that aired for fourteen episodes between 2009 and 2011. It revolved around various unusual characters from different locations of England. It received mostly positive reviews.
In 2010, he was seen in a supporting role in the black comedy film Burke & Hare’, which was directed by John Landis. The film was made on a budget of $ 10 million. It turned out to be a commercial failure, earning less than half its budget. The same year, he was seen in three other films
The First Men in the Moon’, The Bear
, and Good Boy
.
Other significant works in his career include ‘A Field in England’ and ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’, both released in 2013, and the 2014 miniseries The Widower’. The same year, he wrote, created and starred in the black comedy anthology series
Inside No 9’. It received huge appreciation from critics and audience and also earned several awards and nominations.
In 2015, he was seen in TV shows Doctor Who’ and in ‘Peter Kay
s Car Share’. In 2016, he was seen in the black comedy miniseries Stag’, in a supporting role. His most recent work is the 2019 miniseries
Good Omens’, where he was seen in the role of William Shakespeare.
Family & Personal Life
Reece Shearsmith was born as Reeson Wayne Shearsmith in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, in the UK. Not much is known about his childhood or parents. He attended Marvell High School and later went to Bretton Hall College of Education to pursue his higher studies. He is married to Jane Shearsmith. They have two children, Holly and Danny.