Greg Hemphill

Gregor Edward "Greg" Hemphill (born December 14, 1969) is a Scottish actor and comedian. He has also presented on television and radio. Along with his comedy partner, Ford Kiernan, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in Still Game and Chewin' the Fat.

Personal life

Hemphill was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Edward, a chartered accountant, and Anne (née Brophy) Hemphill, a teacher.^[1]

The family left Scotland when Greg was 6 years old, and he spent much of his childhood in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which has contributed to his distinctive Scottish-Canadian accent.

He returned to Scotland to study at the University of Glasgow, where he achieved an MA Honours Degree in theatre, film and television. He is married to Balamory actress Julie Wilson Nimmo; the couple have two sons.

University of Glasgow

Hemphill was Rector of the University of Glasgow from 2001 to 2004. He narrowly defeated the writer Alasdair Gray in a tight contest for the post and was widely praised for taking an active interest in the role.^[2]

Career

Hemphill has appeared in several projects. In 1990, he appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe where he was given the "So You Think You're Funny" trophy. He continued his stage work, appearing in the 1992 God Plus Support performance and in the popular 1995 Only an Excuse? tour. He also ventured into radio as the original presenter of football show, Off the Ball on BBC Radio Scotland and The Eddie Mair Show.

Hemphill and Kiernan scripted seven episodes between 1999 and 2000 for then popular children's TV show Hububb. These were, Lullabubb, Top Of The Bubbs, Conquer Leserest, Casual-Tea, Bubb Goes Boo, 2010 A Space Bubbsy and No Go Pogo. He guest-starred alongside Kiernan in one episode, which he also scripted with Kiernan, Casual-Tea. However, his best known performances are alongside Ford Kiernan in the television sketch show Chewin' the Fat and its spin-off, Still Game. In series three of Still Game, Hemphill's brother Steve stars as a CN Tower lift operative.^[3]

2008-present

In 2008, Hemphill was scheduled to star in Ecstasy, the movie adaptation of Irvine Welsh's best-selling novel Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance.^[4]

Hemphill appeared in the Scottish Gaelic-language drama, Eilbheas, in which Hemphill played the spirit of Elvis set in the Western Isles. It was first shown on the launch night of BBC Alba.

He has also written An Appointment with the Wicker Man, a musical about a small community's attempts to produce a stage version of The Wicker Man.^[5]

Currently Hemphill is involved within the Scottish Wrestling scene, working alongside Actor, Comedian and Writer, Robert Florence. Together they have run two shows in which they have played bitter rivals toward one another to build up a story heading into each event. On the 21st of June another Actor, Comedian and Writer Frankie Boyle became part of this venture as he unmasked himself at "Kelvin Brawl" in the Kelvin Hall.

Hemphill guest starred in an episode of the award winning children's television programme Katie Morag (TV series) in 2014, playing the part of Donald John Cameron.

Footnotes