James Corden

James Kimberley Corden was born on August 22, 1978, in Hillingdon, London, England, and raised in Buckinghamshire. His father, Malcolm Corden, was a musician in the Central Band of the Royal Air Force before becoming a salesman, and his mother, Margaret Collins, worked as a social worker. Corden developed an early interest in acting, studying drama at the Jackie Palmer Stage School. He made his screen debut in Shane Meadows’ film “TwentyFourSeven” in 1997. After gaining experience in various small television roles, he secured his first significant acting job as Jamie Rymer in the British TV comedy-drama “Fat Friends,” which aired from 2000 to 2005. During this period, he also featured in Alan Bennett’s play “The History Boys,” performing in its London production in 2004, and subsequently in its international tour and the 2006 cinema adaptation.

Corden’s career saw a significant turning point in 2007 when he co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC Three sitcom “Gavin & Stacey” with Ruth Jones, whom he met on “Fat Friends.” The show became a major success, earning him a BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Performance and the show itself a BAFTA for Best Comedy Show in 2007. The show’s popularity led to a Christmas special in 2019 that achieved the highest Christmas Day viewership in the UK in over a decade, and a final episode is set to air on Christmas Day 2024. In 2011, Corden achieved transatlantic success with his lead role in the acclaimed farce “One Man, Two Guvnors,” which moved from London’s West End to Broadway, where he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 2012. This stage triumph preceded his rise to global prominence as the host of CBS’s “The Late Late Show With James Corden” starting in 2015, a role that further solidified his status in entertainment, earning him multiple Primetime Emmy Awards. His hosting duties extended to prestigious events such as the Brit Awards, Tony Awards, and Grammy Awards.

Throughout his career, Corden has consistently engaged with diverse projects, showcasing his range as an actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He originated the popular “Carpool Karaoke” segment on “The Late Late Show,” which became a viral sensation and spawned an Apple TV+ series. While his work in musical films like “Cats,” “The Prom,” and “Cinderella” received mixed reviews, he continued to be a versatile presence in film, television, and theatre. In April 2022, Corden announced his departure from “The Late Late Show” in 2023, marking the end of an era for his late-night tenure. He has since returned to stage work, starring in the political drama “The Constituent” in London in 2024 and in a Broadway revival of the play “Art” in 2025. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for his contributions to drama.