Nigel Planer

Nigel Planer
Planer after receiving his Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Edinburgh Napier University in 2011
Born	Nigel George Planer (1953-02-22) 22 February 1953 (age 63) Westminster, London, England
Occupation	Actor, comedian, novelist, playwright
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Anna Lea (1988–95) Frankie Park (1999–2003) Roberta Planer (2013–present)

Nigel George Planer (born 22 February 1953) is an English actor, comedian, novelist and playwright who is best known for his role as Neil in the cult BBC comedy The Young Ones and as Ralph Filthy in Filthy Rich & Catflap. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including original casts of Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He has also appeared in Hairspray. He won a BRIT award in 1984 and has been nominated for Olivier, TMA, What's On Stage, and BAFTA awards.

Planer was born in Westminster, London. He was educated at King's House School and Westminster School and then studied at the University of Sussex and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

A founding member of the London Comedy Store and original member of The Comic Strip - pioneers of the alternative comedy movement in the UK. Planer appeared with Peter Richardson as part of the double act 'The Outer Limits'. Planer and Richardson also wrote the That's Life! parody on Not The Nine O'Clock News. Over the next 20 years he went on to star in film, theatre and television. With Christopher Douglas he created the spoof actor character Nicholas Craig, who appears in book, radio, TV and articles as well as live; most recently at the Festival Hall, London in Stewart Lee 's At Last the 1984 show. Planer is also the author of several books, plays, radio plays, and TV scripts as well as a small volume of poetry. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Edinburgh Napier University in June 2011.