Matthew Holness
Biography
Born in Whitstable, Kent in 1975, Matthew Holness is an English comedian, actor, writer and director. He is best known for his comic creation, the fictional horror novelist Garth Marenghi. He read English at Trinity College, Cambridge and was vice-president of the Cambridge Footlights. His contemporaries included Footlights president, David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman and his Marenghi co-writer Richard Ayoade. Holness first appeared on television as a cast-member of the 2000 BBC Choice TV series Bruiser, which starred Mitchell, Webb, Colman and Martin Freeman. In that same year he won the Perrier at the Edinburgh Fringe for Garty Marenghi's Fright Night, which was transferred to UK television in the guise of the 2004 Channel 4 horror comedy Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Other credits include 2006's Man to Man with Dean Learner, several productions with Ricky Gervais such as The Office, Life's Too Short and Cemetery Junction, and the 2017 Channel 4 sitcom Back which starred Mitchell and Webb. In 2018 he made his feature length directorial debut with the film Possum, having previously helmed short films The Snipist and A Gun For George.
Known For
The Office
2001
The Haunting of Bly Manor
2020
The Russell Howard Hour
2017
Friday Night Dinner
2011
Toast of London
2013
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
2004
We Are Lady Parts
2021
Life's Too Short
2011
Year of the Rabbit
2019
Back
2017
Toast of Tinseltown
2022
Time Trumpet
2006
Filmography
The Office
as Simon · 2001
The Haunting of Bly Manor
as Dominic Wingrave · 2020
The Russell Howard Hour
as Garth Marenghi · 2017
Friday Night Dinner
as Chris Parker · 2011
Toast of London
as Max Gland · 2013
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
as Garth Marenghi / Dr. Rick Dagless M.D. · 2004
We Are Lady Parts
as Gameshow host · 2021
Life's Too Short
as Ian · 2011
Year of the Rabbit
as Hector, Crown Prince of Bulgaria · 2019
Back
as Laurie · 2017
Toast of Tinseltown
as Richard Chickentoss · 2022
Time Trumpet
· 2006
Man to Man with Dean Learner
as Garth Marenghi · 2006
Man to Man with Dean Learner
as Steve Pising · 2006
Man to Man with Dean Learner
as Glynn Nimron · 2006
Man to Man with Dean Learner
as Merriman Weir · 2006
Man to Man with Dean Learner
as Amir Chanan · 2006
Man to Man with Dean Learner
as Randolph Caer / Garth Marenghi / Glynn Nimron / Steve Pising / Amir Chanan · 2006
Cemetery Junction
as Band Leader · 2010
Bruiser
· 2000
Free Agents
· 2009
2004: The Stupid Version
as Himself · 2004
Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of Squirrel
as Self · 2021
Festival
as Roger - Lighting Man · 2005
Darkplace Illuminatum
as Garth Marenghi · 2006
A Gun for George
as Terry / George / The Reprisalizer · 2011
Horrificata Illuminata
as Garth Marenghi · 2006
Dodger Special: Bad Egg
as Sir Denholm Havers · 2023
Backstage... at the Cambridge Footlights
as Self · 1997
Italia Violenta
· 2015