James Corden is an English actor, comedian, and late-night show host. He began his professional journey at the age of 17, playing out a number of roles on stages throughout London. He then moved on to the small screen, where he booked weightier roles in shows like Fat Friends, Teachers, and Boyz Unlimited. He continued picking up roles in theater and in 2004, luck shined his way as he was cast in the critically acclaimed play The History Boys, written by Alan Bennett. For two years Corden traveled and performed the award-winning play in select theaters across the world from New Zealand to Australia, Hong Kong, and all the way to Broadway.
How James Corden of The Late Late Show Became Super Famous
Thanks to his role in the play and its subsequent motion picture adaptation, Corden began getting a lot of attention in the industry and was able to land more roles that exposed him further to mainstream audiences. He starred in the sitcom Gavin & Stacey, which he also co-wrote with the female lead, Ruth Jones. This was followed by Horne & Corden, The Wrong Mans, Begin Again, The Lady in the Van, Into the Woods, and a Tony-winning appearance in the play One Man, Two Guvnors.
By this point, it was clear to everyone that James Corden had come to stay. His comedic chops were unquestionable, as was his natural flair for performance and entertainment. He was the kind of guy who could find humor in everything and this helped endear him to millions of fans all over the world.
This multitalented performer did not become famous overnight. He worked really hard, toiling in obscurity for some years before his career breakthrough came in the form of the play The History Boys. The honors and recognition he earned for his performance in the play made him widely popular.
Corden’s fame spread even further after he began creating and starring in his own shows including Gavin and Stacey, Horne and Corden, and The Wrong Mans. These projects were critically and commercially successful and became instrumental to Corden’s transformation into a household name. The more films and television series he appeared in, the more exposure that came his way. Recently, he has managed to land roles in several high-profile films such as Ocean’s 8, The Emoji Movie, Smallfoot, and Trolls.
While being an actor helped James Corden become famous, show hosting is what helped raise his profile significantly. In 2014, he accepted a job as the new host of The Late Late Show on CBS, following the departure of Craig Ferguson. He began hosting the show in 2017, but nothing prepared us for just how successful his run was going to be. Critics loved Corden and viewers adored him, especially for his notoriously popular segment on the show, Carpool Karaoke.
Thanks to how big a hit his run as a late-night show host has been, Corden has been chosen to host some of the biggest events in show business such as the Grammy Award (2017, 2018) and the Tony Award (2016, 2019).
You can catch James Corden and all his delightfully crazy antics on the Late Late Show every weekday night at 12:37 AM/11:37 PM Central Time on CBS.
Does He Come From a Famous Family?
So far, James Corden is the most popular member of his family. He was born in Hillington, Greater London, to British parents Malcolm and Margaret Corden. His mother worked as a social worker, while his father was a musician who played in the Royal Air Force band.
The late-night show host has two siblings, an older and younger sister named Andrea Henry and Ruth Corden. They both lead normal lives and normal careers, far removed from fame.
What Caused James Corden’s 2017 Controversy?
During an episode of The Late Late Show, Corden made crass comments and insensitive jokes about the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal that was sending waves of shock through Hollywood and the public as a whole.
Despite the groans of discomfort and disapproval that he got from the studio’s audience, he continued making tasteless remarks, advising them to leave if they didn’t like his jokes. Viewers around the world were appalled by the “jokes” and criticized them accordingly. As a result, Corden made a public apology and has since tried to stay away from controversy.
