Matthew Holness

Matthew Holness, born in 1975 in Whitstable, Kent, is a multifaceted English comedian, actor, writer, and director, widely recognized for his satirical character Garth Marenghi, a fictional horror novelist. He pursued his English studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he served as vice-president of the Cambridge Footlights, alongside notable peers such as David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman, and Richard Ayoade, with whom he co-created Marenghi.

Holness made his television debut in the 2000 BBC Choice series Bruiser, which featured a talented ensemble including Mitchell, Webb, Colman, and Martin Freeman. His portrayal of Garth Marenghi earned him the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe that same year, leading to the adaptation of his character into the cult classic horror comedy, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, which aired on Channel 4 in 2004.

His extensive body of work includes appearances in 2006's Man to Man with Dean Learner and collaborations with Ricky Gervais on projects like The Office, Life's Too Short, and Cemetery Junction. Additionally, he was involved in the 2017 sitcom Back, featuring Mitchell and Webb. In 2018, Holness expanded his creative repertoire by making his feature film directorial debut with Possum, following his earlier short films, The Snipist and A Gun For George.