• Russell Brand is an English actor, comedian, and television and radio personality. He is known for his striking fashion style which he considers "S&M; Willy Wonka". In October of 2008, Brand resigned from his BBC Radio 2 program following a controversial prank call to actor Andrew Sachs that resulted in his suspension.BBC: Brand quits BBC over prank calls (October 29, 2008)

  Russell Brand returned to host the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards on September 13, 2009.http://www.mtv.ca/vma/2009/article.jhtml?id=20288

• 1. Full name: Russell Edward Brand
  2. Birthdate: June 4, 1975
  3. Birthplace: Essex, England
  4. Current residence: Hampstead, London
  5. Hosts Russell Brand radio show
  6. Wrote autobiography: My Booky Wook
  7. Known for striking fashion style
  8. Vegetarian
  9. Rumored to be romantically linked to Phoebe Price
  10. Hosted the MTV Video Music Awards September 7, 2008
  11. Called George W. Bush a "retarded cowboy"
  12. October 2008: Investigated for prank calls made to actor Andrew Sachs by Brand and Jonathan Ross during his radio showBBC: Russell Brand prank calls (October 28, 2008)
  13. Signed on to portray Captain Jack Sparrow's brother in the fourth installment of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series.Stuff.co.nz: Is Russell Brand a Pirate?

• Acting Career

  At the age of fifteen years, Russell made his first theatrical appearance as "Fat Sam" in Bugsy Malone. His first stand-up appearance was in 2000 at the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year. Since then he has made many TV and movie appearances. He can be seen in the 2008 film Penelope and the upcoming Adam Sandler film Bedtime Stories.

• "Booky Wook"

  In June, 2009, Brand announced he would be pushing the release of his follow-up book until autumn of 2009. My Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal, follows tabloids, scandals and Hollywood as Brand seeks a contentment that fame has yet to offer him. It is a sequel to his 2007 memoir.http://www.thebookseller.com/news/89697-brands-booky-wook-sequel-postponed-until-2010.html

• Controversy

  It was announced on April 3, 2009, BBC was fined $220,000 for airing two episodes of Brand's radio show were he left abusive phone messages Andrew Sachs phone. Britain's broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom, reported that the "scale of its fine reflected the 'extraordinary nature and seriousness' of the BBC’s failures." Top official, Lesley Douglas, resigned and apologized for it happening on her watch.CNN: Radio host’s prank calls earn BBC $220,000 fine(April 3, 2009)

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