David Walliams Biography
David Walliams is a British comedian, actor, television personality, and children’s author best known for Little Britain and Britain’s Got Talent. He gained international recognition through comedy before becoming one of Britain’s bestselling children’s writers. However, recent developments involving his publishing career have brought renewed attention to his personal and professional life.
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David Walliams, whose real name is David Edward Williams, was born on August 20, 1971, in Wimbledon, London. Walliams developed an interest in performance before building a career across television, comedy, and literature.
He rose to prominence alongside comedian Matt Lucas through the BBC sketch comedy series Little Britain. The show established Walliams in British entertainment. He later reunited with Lucas for Come Fly with Me, another comedy series that attracted attention.
Beyond sketch comedy, Walliams appeared in films while expanding his career as a writer. In 2008, he published his first children’s novel, The Boy in the Dress. The book marked the beginning of a successful publishing career, followed by popular titles such as Mr Stink, Billionaire Boy, Gangsta Granny, and Ratburger. His children’s books have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide.
Walliams also became a familiar face on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, serving as a judge from 2012 until 2022. He left the programme after apologizing for disrespectful comments about contestants that emerged from a leaked recording. In 2017, he received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire award for services to charity and the arts.
His personal life included marriage to Dutch model Lara Stone, with whom he shares one son, Alfred. The couple divorced in 2015. In December 2025, HarperCollins announced it would no longer publish new books by Walliams following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
His spokesperson strongly denied wrongdoing. In September 2026, the publisher also confirmed it would stop publishing his back catalogue. Despite the controversy, Walliams remains known for his comedy work and children’s literature.
David Walliams Age: How Old Is David Walliams?
David Walliams is 55 years old as of October 2026. He was born on August 20, 1971, in Wimbledon, London, England. His zodiac sign is Leo. Over the years, Walliams has built a multifaceted career spanning comedy, acting, television presenting, and children’s literature. His breakthrough came through Little Britain, which he co-created and performed alongside Matt Lucas. Later, his work as a children’s author brought him substantial commercial success. His bestselling titles include Gangsta Granny, Mr Stink, and The Boy in the Dress.
David Walliams Height: How Tall Is David Walliams?
David Walliams stands approximately 6 feet 2½ inches (189 cm) tall. His height contributes to his distinctive physical presence in television appearances and comedy performances. Throughout his career, Walliams has used expressive acting and character transformations to create memorable roles. His work spans sketch comedy, television dramas, films, and children’s entertainment.
David Walliams Wife:Why did David Walliams’ wife leave him?
David Walliams is not currently married. He was previously married to Dutch model Lara Stone. The couple married in May 2010 and welcomed their son, Alfred, in 2013. However, they announced their separation in 2015, and their divorce followed that year. Since then, Walliams has generally kept details of his romantic relationships away from public attention. Lara Stone has continued her modelling career, while Walliams has focused on television, writing, and other entertainment projects.
David Walliams Son: Does He Have a Son?
David has one son, Alfred Walliams, whom he shares with his former wife, Dutch model Lara Stone. Alfred was born in 2013, during their marriage. However, Walliams and Stone separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce that year. Despite their separation, both parents have continued their lives while maintaining their son’s privacy. David Walliams rarely shares personal details about Alfred publicly. As a father, he keeps family matters largely separate from his career as a comedian, actor, and children’s author. Alfred remains his only publicly known child as of October 2026.
David Walliams Parents and Family
David Walliams was born to Peter Williams and Kathleen Williams on August 20, 1971, in Wimbledon, London, England. His father worked as a London Transport engineer, while his mother worked as a laboratory technician. Walliams grew up in Banstead, Surrey, alongside his sister, Julie Williams. His parents supported his upbringing before he pursued a career in entertainment. Later, he studied drama at the University of Bristol and developed his interest in comedy and acting. Although David Walliams became a prominent British entertainer, he generally keeps details about his parents and wider family private.
David Walliams Education
David Walliams attended Reigate Grammar School in Surrey, England, where he completed his secondary education. He later enrolled at the University of Bristol, studying drama and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his university years, Walliams developed his passion for acting, comedy, and performance. He subsequently joined the National Youth Theatre, gaining valuable experience in theatrical productions. There, he met comedian Matt Lucas, who later became his creative partner. Their friendship and shared interest in comedy eventually led to successful television projects, particularly Little Britain. His educational background helped establish the foundation for his career in entertainment.
David Walliams Ethnicity
Walliams is British by nationality and has English and Welsh ancestry. The comedian, actor, and children’s author was born David Edward Williams in Wimbledon, London, England. Regarding his ethnicity, Walliams has revealed that he is one-quarter Welsh, tracing this heritage to his Welsh grandfather. He has also expressed pride in his Welsh roots and connection to Wales. His original surname, Williams, reflects the family name he used before adopting Walliams professionally. He changed it after discovering another actor had registered the same name with the actors’ union. Therefore, David Walliams has English and Welsh family heritage.
David Walliams Religion
David Walliams has not clearly confirmed his current religious beliefs, so his religion remains publicly unconfirmed. However, he has discussed religion in past interviews. In 2009, he expressed a negative view of the Bible during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, declining to take the book onto the programme’s fictional island. This suggests he has expressed scepticism towards Christianity, although it does not establish his current religious affiliation. Walliams generally keeps his personal beliefs separate from his public career as a comedian, actor, and children’s author.
David Walliams Career: Comedy Shows, Acting and Latest Updates
David Walliams built a successful career as a British comedian, actor, television presenter, and children’s author. He first gained widespread recognition through his comedy partnership with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch show Little Britain. The programme won three BAFTA awards and achieved international popularity. Later, the pair created Come Fly with Me, further establishing their reputation in British television comedy. In 2008, he expanded his career by writing children’s books. His debut novel, The Boy in the Dress, launched a successful writing career.
Other popular titles include Gangsta Granny, Billionaire Boy, Demon Dentist, and The World’s Worst Children. His stories reached international markets and inspired television and theatrical adaptations. Walliams also served as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent from 2012 to 2022. During this period, he became a familiar television personality and won several National Television Awards. Additionally, he appeared in films, including Stardust and Murder Mystery, while voicing characters in animated productions.
Beyond entertainment, Walliams supported charitable causes through demanding swimming challenges, raising millions for Sport Relief. However, his career faced controversy after HarperCollins ended its publishing relationship with him in 2025. In September 2026, the publisher also confirmed plans to withdraw his back catalogue. Walliams has denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour and said he was seeking legal advice.
David Walliams Career Timeline
| Year | Career milestone |
|---|---|
| 1990s | Began developing his career in television comedy and acting. |
| 2003 | Rose to wider prominence through Little Britain. |
| 2008 | Published his first children’s novel, The Boy in the Dress. |
| 2010 | Co-starred in Come Fly with Me. |
| 2012 | Joined Britain’s Got Talent as a judge. |
| 2013 | Published Demon Dentist and welcomed his son, Alfred. |
| 2017 | Received an OBE for services to charity and the arts. |
| 2022 | Left Britain’s Got Talent. |
| 2025 | HarperCollins announced it would no longer publish new titles by him. |
| 2026 | HarperCollins confirmed it would stop publishing his back catalogue. |
David Walliams Allegations and Controversy
What are the allegations against David Walliams?
David has faced several controversies involving his conduct and professional career. In December 2025, HarperCollins UK stopped publishing his new books following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female employees. Reports described an internal investigation, but the publisher declined to discuss specific details. Meanwhile, Walliams strongly denied wrongdoing, stating he had not been informed of the allegations or given an opportunity to respond. He also said he was seeking legal advice. In September 2026, HarperCollins confirmed it would also stop publishing his existing book catalogue. Previously, Walliams left Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after leaked recordings revealed offensive remarks about contestants. He apologised for those comments.
David Walliams Books: Most Popular Titles
David Walliams has written numerous children’s books featuring humorous characters, unusual adventures, and family themes. His popular titles include:
- The Boy in the Dress (2008)
- Mr Stink (2009)
- Billionaire Boy (2010)
- Gangsta Granny (2011)
- Ratburger (2012)
- Demon Dentist (2013)
- Awful Auntie (2014)
- The Midnight Gang (2016)
- Bad Dad (2017)
- The World’s Worst Children (2016–2018)
His books have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, making children’s literature a major part of his career.
David Walliams Latest News: HarperCollins Drops His Books
Walliams faced significant publishing setbacks in 2025 and 2026. In December 2025, HarperCollins announced it would no longer publish new titles by the comedian and children’s author. The decision followed allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women, which Walliams strongly denied. In September 2026, HarperCollins confirmed it would also stop publishing his existing books. The decision affects his back catalogue across print and digital formats, according to contemporary reporting. Walliams’ representative previously stated that he had not been informed of the allegations or involved in the publisher’s investigation. His spokesperson also said he was seeking legal advice.
What is David Walliams Sexuality?
David Walliams has spoken openly about his sexuality and gender identity, describing them as complex rather than strictly defined. The British comedian has expressed attraction to women while remaining open to the possibility of loving a man. In a 2024 podcast interview, he discussed experimenting with men during his younger years and his longstanding connection to gay culture. He also suggested he might identify as non-binary if he were growing up today. However, he expressed uncertainty rather than adopting a definitive label.
David Walliams Movies and TV Shows
Walliams has worked across comedy, television, and film. His notable television appearances and projects include:
- Little Britain
- Come Fly with Me
- Britain’s Got Talent
- Doctor Who
- Big School
- The Queen and I
He has also appeared in films, including Stardust (2007), Run Fatboy Run (2007), and Dinner for Schmucks (2010).
David Walliams Awards and Honours
David Walliams has received recognition for his contributions to entertainment and charity. His notable honours and achievements include:
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), 2017: Recognized for services to charity and the arts.
- Sport Relief fundraising, 2006: Swam the English Channel to raise money for charity.
- Sport Relief fundraising, 2011: Swam the length of the River Thames and raised millions for charitable causes.
David Walliams Net Worth
David Walliams has an estimated net worth of £17 million to £20 million (approximately $25 million USD). He built his wealth through television comedy, acting, book sales, and publishing deals. His successful children’s books, including Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress, have contributed to his earnings. Additionally, his work on Little Britain and Britain’s Got Talent helped establish his long-term success in entertainment.
FAQs
Who is David Walliams?
David Walliams is an English comedian, actor, television personality, and bestselling children’s author. He rose to fame through Little Britain and later judged Britain’s Got Talent.
How old is David Walliams?
He was born on August 20, 1971. He is 55 years old as of 2026.
How tall is David Walliams?
David Walliams is 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall.
What is David Walliams’ sexuality?
Walliams has discussed sexuality as complex and spoken about experiences involving men. However, he has not clearly confirmed a specific sexual identity.