NAME:Russell Brand BIRTH DATE:June 4, 1975 (Age: 38) PLACE OF BIRTH:Grays, Essex, England

Comedian Russell Brand was born on June 4, 1975, in Grays, England. A natural born troublemaker, Brand first discovered his enthusiasm for acting when he played a gangster in a school production, leading him to the Italia Conti stage school at the age of 16. Although praised for his talent by his drama teachers, Brand was ultimately kicked out for his uncontrollable emotions, especially his rage. The incident did little to deter Brand from becoming famous and in result, helped him discover his hidden talent for stand-up comedy.

In 2000, Brand was hired as an MTV host, but was fired a year later for his crude humor and poorly-thought-out decision to show up to work dressed as Osama bin Laden a day after the 9/11 attacks. He later admitted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he was taking a lot of drugs at the time. His drug use came into play again when he appeared in the failed series Re:Brand (2002) in which he participated in off-putting acts, like bathing with a homeless man. In result, Brand decided to go to rehab and used his recovery as material for his 2004 comedy act Better Now.

A year later, the stand-up comedian returned to rehab in hopes overcoming his sex addiction after sleeping with more than 2,000 women. He later used the journey in his debut book My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex Drugs, and Stand-Up (2010), followed by Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal (2010).

In 2008, Brand landed his breakthrough role in the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall alongside Jason Segel and gained even more attention when he was chosen to host the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, where he met his future girlfriend Katy Perry.

After marrying Perry in India in 2010, Brand returned to the performing spotlight in the comedy Get Him to the Greek (2010) opposite Jonah Hill and the animated blockbuster Despicable Me (2010), prior to starring in the remake of the Dudley Moore's comedy Arthur (2011) and the animated flick Hop (2011).

In 2011, Perry and Brand's marriage deteriorated and the two officially divorced in the 2012. Despite the blow to his heart, Brand continued expanding his career with a starring role alongside Tom Cruise in the musical Rock of Ages (2012).

Brand's upcoming projects include, a starring role in the comedy Untitled Diablo Cody (2013) with Holly Hunter, his reprised role in Despicable Me 2 (2013), the fantasy film The Hauntrepreneur and is currently in the talks of starring in the comedy Pierre Pierre (2013).