Biography
Actor James Corden, known for British film and television, had an equally successful career performing in hit plays on London's West End, as well as on Broadway before making the unlikely segue into becoming a popular late night television host. His career began in the late 1990s when, after scoring numerous film and TV guest spots, he landed his breakout role as Jamie Rymer on the British drama series "Fat Friends" (ITV 2000-2005). The success of "Fat Friends" catapulted Corden into the national spotlight in Britain, and in 2004 he received further acclaim for his role as Timms in the coming of age drama play "The History Boys." "The History Boys" would go on to become an international smash, with Corden reprising his role in the 2006 film adaptation. Corden's string of good luck continued when in 2007 he rejoined three of his "Fat Friends" co-stars in the BBC sitcom "Gavin & Stacey" (2007-2010), which he wrote with his co-star Ruth Jones. In 2011, Corden built on his initial "History Boys" stage success in the States by starring in the widely successful comedy "One Man, Two Guvnors" on Broadway. For his grueling physical comedy work in the play, Corden was awarded the 2012 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, thus signaling that the vastly talented British actor had finally become a breakout star across the pond. Born in the Hillingdon section of London, Corden began appearing on stage at the age of 18 with a small part in the musical "Martin Guerre" (1996). Within a year he had already landed a part in the 1997 romantic comedy "24/7: Twenty Four Seven." Corden's next big role came in 1999 when he starred in the British TV comedy "Boyz Unlimited" (Channel 4 1999), a satirical take on the music industry. Corden continued to act regularly over the next few years, landing small parts in such films as "Whatever Happened to Harry Smith" (1999), "All or Nothing" (2002), and "Heartlands" (2002), before landing a series regular role on the ITV drama "Fat Friends." Corden starred as Jamie Rymer for four seasons on the show, becoming one of Britain's most visible TV actors in the process. Then in 2004 Corden was offered a role in Alan Bennett's "The History Boys." The play would go on to become a smash hit both in London and on Broadway, with Corden going on to reprise his role in the play's 2006 film adaptation. After "Fat Friends" ended in 2005, Corden and his co-star Ruth Jones created the series "Gavin and Stacey." That show, a humorous take on a long distance relationship based on the real-life romance of Corden's Essex-born friend Gavin and his Welsh girlfriend Stacey, debuted in May of 2007. A critical and commercial hit, the series ran for three seasons on the BBC, with Corden and Jones becoming the show's breakout stars in their roles as Gavin and Stacey's respective best friends, Smithy and Nessa. After "Gavin and Stacey" ended in 2010, Corden landed a supporting role in the blockbuster Hollywood fantasy "Gulliver's Travels" (2010), in addition to landing guest spots on various British television shows. However, nothing appeared to be lifting his profile any higher in America. With his screen career stagnant, Corden returned to the stage with a leading role in the 2011 comedy play "One Man, Two Guvnors." The show was a critical and commercial hit, first on London's West End, then on Broadway, with Corden eventually taking home the 2012 Tony Award for Best Actor. By 2013, Corden continued to raise his profile in America, having co-written and starred in the widely publicized Hulu action comedy series "The Wrong Mans" (2013-14), then as the lead in the David Frankel-directed dramedy film "One Chance" (2013). In August 2014, it was announced that Corden had been picked to take over "The Late Late Show" (CBS 1999- ) after host Craig Ferguson announced that he was leaving the show at the end of 2014. The show debuted in March 2015 and quickly gained attention for Corden's decision to bring out all of the evening's guests at once (a common tactic on British chat shows that was unusual in the U.S.). The show gained even more attention for a recurring filmed bit, "Carpool Karaoke," in which Corden would drive around Los Angeles with a celebrity while singing pop songs. The bit became so popular that it was spun off into its own online series, "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" (Apple Music, 2017- ).
