Brett Goldstein (born 17 July 1980) is an English actor, comedian, podcaster, producer, and writer. Known for his role as Roy Kent in the Apple TV+ sports comedy-drama series Ted Lasso (2020–present), he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for each of the first two seasons. He is also the co-creator of the comedy-drama series Shrinking (2023–present).
Early life and education Goldstein was born in 1980 in the London suburb of Sutton, to a British Jewish family.
He was educated at Sevenoaks School. After secondary school he attended the University of Warwick, where he graduated with a degree in film studies.
Soon afterwards, he briefly relocated to Marbella, Spain, to work at a strip club which his father purchased during a "midlife crisis". He then moved to New York City to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, until 2003. While there, he began writing scripts that he later took to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He turned his Marbella experience into a stand-up comedy routine, Brett Goldstein Grew Up in a Strip Club (2011).
Career Goldstein began acting in short films and had his first feature film role in the self-written thriller Wish You Were Here (2005), which was remade as Slave (2009). In 2009, he made his television debut in two episodes of ITV's long-running police drama The Bill. From 2012 to 2016, he appeared in several comedy series, such as BBC One's Uncle, E4's Drifters and Channel 4's Derek. He also played American TV legend David Hasselhoff's personal trainer, Danny, in Dave's mockumentary series Hoff the Record (2015–2016).
In 2013, Goldstein wrote and played the leading role of a Peckham postman-turned-superhero in the low-budget romantic comedy SuperBob (2015). At the end of filming, comedian Catherine Tate, who starred in the film as his character's boss at the Ministry of Defence, invited him to co-write and guest star in the BBC One sitcom Catherine Tate's Nan (2014–2015), a spin-off of The Catherine Tate Show about her popular sweary old-lady character Joanie Taylor. The two continued to collaborate, with Goldstein joining Tate on her first ever live tour in 2016 and co-writing the feature film The Nan Movie (2022) and a 2021 Comic Relief sketch starring Daniel Craig as James Bond.
In 2016, he won the BIFA for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Brendan in the comedy film Adult Life Skills, starring Jodie Whittaker as the lead character. In 2018, Goldstein and Whittaker appeared together in the Doctor Who episode "The Tsuranga Conundrum". Later that year, in July 2018, he began his career as a podcaster with Films to Be Buried With, a comedy podcast featuring guests talking about films that have been important in their lives. Goldstein has also written and performed four solo stand-up shows.
TV producer Bill Lawrence hired Goldstein as a writer for the 2020 Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, starring Jason Sudeikis. His writing on the show led to his being cast as the character of ageing footballer Roy Kent. Rolling Stone's Emily Zemler stated that Goldstein "felt such a kinship with this stoic tough guy, in fact, that he emailed a self-taped audition of five scenes to the production team. The tapes, which included the 'If I don't hear silence I'm gonna start punching dicks' scene from the pilot, ended up scoring him the role. The rest is history." In the email that Goldstein sent, he told the team "If this is awkward, or this is shit, pretend you never got this email, and I promise I will never ask you about it." He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), for his work on the show.
Together with Black Mirror writer Will Bridges, Goldstein created and wrote the six-part science fiction anthology series Soulmates for AMC, based on their short film For Life (2013). The series premiered in October 2020 and starred Sarah Snook, Malin Akerman, Betsy Brandt, and Charlie Heaton. In 2022, he signed a multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. Later that year, Goldstein appeared as Hercules in the mid-credits scene of Thor: Love and Thunder.
Acting and writing credits
Film Year Film Role Notes2005 The Rope Man Short film Wish You Were Here Young Robert Dunsmore Also writer2009 Slave Also writer SuperBob Bob Short film2012 The Comedian Comedy MC The Knot Albert2013 Everyone's Going to Die Richard (voice) Tattooed Dave Short film For Life Simon Short film; also writer 2014 The Hooligan Factory Mr. Burrows2015 Legacy Mr. Harrowgate Howl David SuperBob Bob Also writer 2016 Adult Life Skills Brendan Bullet to the Heart Steve Short film; also co-writer2018 Spectre of Shame James Bond Short film; also writer and producer F*ck Adam Short film Wild Honey Pie! Matt 2022 The Nan Movie Co-writer Thor: Love and Thunder Hercules Cameo; mid-credits scene 2024 The Garfield Movie Roland (voice) A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. All of You Simon Also co-writer and co-producer 2026 At the Sea Keegan The Sheep Detectives Reggie / Ronnie (voice) Office Romance Daniel Blanchflower Also writer 2027 Not Alone Officer Zandro (voice) In production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2009 The Bill Jared Miles 2 episodes2011White Van ManEpisode: "Ollie's First Day"; writer of additional material 2012–2014 Derek Tom 11 episodes2012Ronna & Beverly6 episodes; writer of additional material4FunniesEpisode: "Gittins"; writer 2013–2016DriftersScott7 episodes; also writer of additional material2013Common GroundLawrenceEpisode: "Fergus & Crispin"Love MattersJasonEpisode: "30 & Counting"Claudia O'Doherty: Comedy BlapsSimonEpisode: "What Is Time?"Live at the ElectricIT TechnicianEpisode #2.2 2014–2017Uncle Casper9 episodes2014Playhouse PresentsPhotojournalistEpisode: "The Dog Thrower"CuckooPolicemanEpisode: "Tribunal" 2015–2016Hoff the Record Danny Jones Main cast; also writer of additional material2014–2015Catherine Tate's NanJonathan Episode: "Nanger Management"; also co-writer of three episodes2015 Undercover Christophe 4 episodes 2016–2017 Drunk History Robert Dudley, James Garfield 2 episodes2017The PactAndyTelevision film 2018 Doctor Who Astos Episode: "The Tsuranga Conundrum"2019This Way Up6 episodes; script editor 2020–present Ted Lasso Roy Kent Main cast; also writer and executive producer 2020 Soulmates Co-creator, writer and executive producer 2021 Robot Chicken Tony Stark (voice) Episode: "May Cause Light Cannibalism"2022A Beginner's Guide to GriefGrief Expert (voice) 2023–2026 Shrinking Louis Also co-creator, writer and executive producer2023Harley QuinnHimself (voice) Episode: "A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special"2024Fraggle Rock: Back to the RockPryce Fraggle (voice)2 episodes2025Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your LifeHimselfStand-up specialLove, Death & RobotsToilet (voice)Episode: "Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners"
Theatre Year Title RoleVenue 2016 The Catherine Tate Show Live VariousUK tour
Radio and podcast Year Title RoleNotes2018ProposalActorBBC Radio 2 pilot 2018–present Films to Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein Himself (host) Podcast; 300 episodes2019Obsessed With… Line of DutyHimself (co-host)BBC Sounds podcast; 7 episodes with Lolly Adefope
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2015FilmQuest AwardsBest ActorSuperBobBest Screenplay (shared with Will Bridges and Jon Drever)2016British Independent Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorAdult Life Skills2021Gold Derby AwardsComedy Supporting ActorTed LassoHollywood Critics Association TV AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, ComedyInternational Online Cinema AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared with cast)Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesWriters Guild of America AwardsTelevision: Comedy Series (shared with other writers)Television: New Series (shared with other writers) Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared with cast) Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series National Film AwardsBest Screenplay (shared with Catherine Tate)The Nan Movie 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series (Co-Executive Producer) Ted Lasso Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared with cast) 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series (Executive Producer) Shrinking 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series (Executive Producer) Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series (Executive Producer) Shrinking - In It Together
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