Reece Shearsmith

Biography

Reeson Wayne Shearsmith, born on August 27, 1969, is a prominent British actor, comedian, writer, and magician. He gained fame as a member of the acclaimed dark comedy troupe The League of Gentlemen, alongside Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. Together with Pemberton, Shearsmith co-created, wrote, and starred in the hit sitcom Psychoville and the acclaimed anthology series Inside No. 9. His notable performances also include appearances in the cult classic Spaced and the film The World’s End.

Originating from Kingston upon Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Shearsmith was educated at Andrew Marvell High School before attending Bretton Hall College of Education, where he formed lasting friendships with Gatiss and Pemberton.

The League of Gentlemen began as a stage performance in 1995, which progressed to a Radio 4 series, On the Town with The League of Gentlemen, in 1997, before making its television debut on BBC Two in 1999. This successful series earned Shearsmith and his collaborators multiple accolades, including a British Academy Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award, and the prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux. Following the series' success, Shearsmith appeared in various comedy shows, including Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere and the villainous role of Tony in Catterick.

In 2014, he reunited with Pemberton to launch Inside No. 9 on BBC2, with each episode set in a different ‘No. 9’ location. Additionally, he portrayed Malcolm Webster in the true crime drama The Widower that same year.