There was a time that Russell Brand was poised to be the next big comedy superstar. While already a controversial but well-known name in Britain, his role as rocker Aldous Snow in the Judd Apatow-produced Forgetting Sarah Marshall made him a star in North America. He was so popular that he got his own spin-off sequel, Get Him to the Greek, followed by an unsuccessful remake of Dudley Moore’s Arthur, which was critically reviled for stripping away the edge of the original. At this time, Brand, who was in danger of being best known for his personal life thanks to a high-profile marriage to Katy Perry, reinvented himself as a political activist and campaigner. His opinions have been controversial, particularly during the pandemic, but no one can deny that’s he a caring, careless campaigner, to the extent that his career took a backseat. In this episode of What Happened to this Celebrity, we look at Brand’s controversial early career and rise to fame in the U.S. and check in on what he’s up to now.
This episode of WTF Happened to This Celebrity is co-written and narrated by Taylor James Johnson with Brad Hamerly. Kier Gomes is the editor, Chris Bumbray produces, and Berge Gerabedian executive produces.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed