Biography
Who is David Walliams?
Early life and education
Born David Edward Williams on August 20, 1971, the performer arrived at St Teresa's Maternity Hospital in Wimbledon, London. His mother, Kathleen, worked as a laboratory technician, while his father, Peter, was an engineer for London Transport. The family lived in the Nork area of Banstead, Surrey, with his sister, Julie. Education began at Collingwood Boys' School in Wallington, followed by Reigate Grammar School in Surrey.
He later attended the University of Bristol from 1989 until 1992, living at Manor Hall while studying for his Bachelor of Arts in Drama. While on a university break in 1990, he joined the National Youth Theatre and first encountered Matt Lucas. When he eventually joined the Equity union, he chose the stage name David Walliams because another member already held his birth name.
Television career and comedy work
Much of his early television work involved comedy sketches and audio productions. He performed in the Doctor Who audio play Phantasmagoria during 1999. In the late 1990s, he collaborated with Matt Lucas on various projects, including the sketch show Rock Profile and the spoof documentary series Sir Bernard's Stately Homes. The pair gained significant fame for their BBC sketch program Little Britain, which broadcast between 2003 and 2009. He portrayed characters such as Emily Howard and Ray McCooney in the show.
Following that success, he created and starred in the BBC sitcom Big School alongside Catherine Tate. In 2015, he played Tommy Beresford in the BBC drama Partners in Crime and launched his sketch series Walliams and Friend. His television credits also include hosting the National Television Awards in 2020.
Talent judge and charity efforts
From 2012 to 2022, David Walliams served as a judge on the ITV talent competition Britain's Got Talent, working alongside Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden. He received recognition at the National Television Awards for his role on the program in 2015, 2018, and 2019. In 2022, he joined the panel for the tenth season of Australia's Got Talent on the Seven Network. That same year, he left the British version of the show following an investigation into leaked disparaging comments he made about contestants.
Beyond television, he has engaged in well-known charity work, including swimming the English Channel, the River Thames, and the Strait of Gibraltar to raise funds for the BBC event Sport Relief. In 2017, he received the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the arts and charity.
Writing children's books
David Walliams began his career as a novelist in 2008 after securing a publishing contract with HarperCollins. His debut children's book, The Boy in the Dress, featured illustrations by Quentin Blake. Over the years, his literary work expanded significantly, and his stories were translated into 53 languages. He achieved global sales figures exceeding 50 million copies. Critics and readers often compared his writing style to that of Roald Dahl. Several of his stories received television adaptations, often featuring the author himself.
However, in 2025, HarperCollins ended their contract with him following an internal investigation regarding allegations of inappropriate behavior toward junior staff. By 2026, the publisher confirmed it would cease selling and reprinting his older titles.
Birthday and age
David Walliams was born on August 20, 1971, which makes David 55 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. David shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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