Eddie Izzard
A self-described 'action transvestite,' she built a global comedy empire from surreal, history-tinged monologues delivered in impeccable suits and heels.
Born 1962 (age 64)·British comedian and actor·Birthday: February 7·Baby Boomers
Biography
Eddie Izzard's comedy is a unique ecosystem of logic and delightful nonsense. Emerging from the UK's alternative comedy scene, she bypassed traditional punchlines for sprawling, intelligent monologues where characters from history—like a frustrated Darth Vader at a Death Star canteen—collide with observational wit. Her onstage uniform of sharp suits and heels became a powerful, unapologetic statement of identity long before mainstream conversations about gender fluidity. Izzard's ambition is staggering, having performed her shows in multiple languages, including French, German, and Spanish, to connect directly with audiences worldwide. Beyond the stage, she has pursued a parallel career in dramatic acting and is a dedicated political campaigner, bringing the same fierce determination to marathon running and activism as she does to crafting a perfect absurdist tangent.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Eddie was born in 1962, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1962
#1 Movie
Lawrence of Arabia
Best Picture
Lawrence of Arabia
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1962Born
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1967Started school
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1975Became a teenager
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Could drive
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1980Could vote
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Turned 21
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1992Turned 30
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 40
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 50
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 60
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 64 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Emmy Awards for her stand-up special 'Dress to Kill', which cemented her international fame.
- Successfully performed entire comedy tours in French and German, showcasing her dedication to language learning.
- Completed 43 marathons in 51 days across the United Kingdom in 2009 to raise money for Sport Relief.
- Starred in acclaimed dramatic roles in films such as 'Victoria & Abdul' and the television series 'Hannibal'.
Did You Know?
She has used the pronouns she/her and he/him interchangeably, stating 'I'm gender-fluid.'
Her first stand-up performance was on the streets of London as a busker.
She ran for a seat on the Labour Party's National Executive Committee in 2016.
She voiced the character of Reeper in the animated film 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'.
““I am a male lesbian. A lesbian trapped in a man's body. Or a male lesbian. I don't mind.””
