Ricky Dene Gervais was born on June 25, 1961, in Reading, Berkshire, England. He is a British national who initially pursued a career in music before turning to comedy in the late 1990s. Gervais gained widespread recognition with the creation of the British television series “The Office,” which he co-wrote and starred in. The show, which aired from 2001 to 2003, was a groundbreaking success and won numerous awards, including Golden Globe Awards. It also spawned successful adaptations in various countries, most notably the American version starring Steve Carell.