What happened to Peter Kay: disappearance, illness update, wife, children, tour and net worth
Peter Kay is a gifted comedian, comedy writer, and actor. He ranks high on the list of the funniest people in the United Kingdom and beyond. Fellow comedians and fans have praised his talent. He has appeared in multiple television and film productions and authored multiple books.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Profile summary
- Who is Peter Kay?
- How old is Peter Kay?
- Where is Peter Kay from?
- Peter Kay’s family background
- Are Peter Kay and Vernon Kay related?
- Where did Peter Kay go to school?
- Why is Peter Kay so popular?
- What is Peter Kay's net worth?
- Is Peter Kay married?
- What happened to Peter Kay?
- Fundraising for Bolton Octagon Theatre
- Peter Kay's illness
- What disease does Peter Kay have?
- What is Peter Kay's Dance for Life?
- What is Peter Kay doing now?
- Height and weight loss
- Quick facts about Peter Kay
Peter Kay is a self-proclaimed homebody and family man. Interestingly, he would rather be at home with his children and spouse than out doing shows. Here is more about him, including his latest health updates.
Profile summary
| Full name | Peter John Kay |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 2 July 1973 |
| Age | 50 years (as of 2024) |
| Place of birth | Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
| Current residence | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Irish |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Religion | Christianity (Roman Catholic) |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (174 cm) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Green |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Susan Gargan |
| Children | 3 |
| Father | Michael John Kay |
| Mother | Margaret Deirdre O’Neill |
| Alma mater | University of Salford |
| Profession | Comedian, voice actor, producer, and screenwriter |
| X (formerly Twitter) | @peterkay_co_uk |
| @Peter Kay |
Who is Peter Kay?
Peter John Kay is one of the most popular and respected comedians in the United Kingdom. His uncanny sense of humour has attracted numerous people towards him.
He is passionate about making the world a happier place. Besides being a comedian, he is an actor, producer, author, and screenwriter.
How old is Peter Kay?
Comedian Peter Kay is 50 years old as of 2024. He was born on 2 July 1973, and his Zodiac sign is Cancer.
Where is Peter Kay from?
The comedian and actor is from the United Kingdom. He was born and raised in Bolton, Lancashire, England. His nationality is British, and his ethnicity is Irish.
Source: Original
Peter Kay’s family background
The comedian's father's name is Michael John Kay. He was an engineer who passed away right before his son's career took off.
His mother is Margaret Deirdre O’Neill. The comedian was raised in a strict Roman Catholic household. He has a sister named Julie.
Are Peter Kay and Vernon Kay related?
Although they share a surname, Peter and Vernon are not related. Vernon Kay is an English broadcaster and former model. He is best known for Extras, Shaun of the Dead, and Keith Lemon: The Film.
Where did Peter Kay go to school?
The comedian went to local elementary and high schools in England. After graduating high school, he joined the University of Liverpool to pursue a degree programme in Drama, Theatre Studies and English Literature.
He struggled with the course, so he dropped out. He joined the University of Salford's Adelphi Campus School of Media, Music and Performance instead and pursued a Higher National Diploma in media performance.
On 19 July 2016, he received an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Salford. The award was in honour of his contribution to the world of entertainment.
Why is Peter Kay so popular?
Peter Kay is famous because of his comedy. His journey to stardom has not been a breeze. He survived on odd jobs in his late teenagehood and early adulthood before becoming a globally-recognised comedian.
He worked in a toilet roll factory, Netto supermarket, petrol station, cash and carry, and bingo hall. His experiences in these workplaces shaped the person he is today.
The comedian began his television career in the 1990s. He is also actively involved in theatre productions and stand-up comedy shows.
Acting career
He has multiple actor, writer, director, and producer credits. Some of his acting credits are listed in the table below.
Television series and movies
| Series/TV movie | Year | Role |
| The Big Breakfast | 1992 | Guest presenter |
| New Voices | 1997 | George |
| Barking | 1998 | Various roles |
| Comedy Lab | 1998 | Narrator/ Pearl Harman/ Paul le Roy |
| Butterfly Collectors | 1999 | Ronnie |
| City Central | 1999 | Brian |
| That Peter Kay Thing | 2000 | Marc Park/ Paul le Roy/ Leonard de Tomkinson |
| The Secret World of Michael Fry | 2000 | Barney Barman |
| Phoenix Nights | 2001-2002 | Brian Potter/ Max/ Paul Le Roy |
| Linda Green | 2002 | Eddie |
| Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do | 2003 | Brian Potter |
| Coronation Street | 1997-2004 | Eric Gartside/ Shopfitter |
| Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere | 2004 | Max Bygraves/ Brian Potter/ Marc Park |
| The Catherine Tate Show | 2005 | Tommy |
| Mrs. Brown's Boys: The Original Series | 2005 | Jason - Travel Agent |
| Doctor Who | 2006 | Victor Kennedy |
| Little Britain | 2006 | - |
| Comic Relief (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles | 2007 | Brian Potter |
| Britain's Got the Pop Factor | 2008 | Geraldine McQueen |
| Britain's Got the Extra Pop Factor and Then Some 2 + 1 | 2008 | Geraldine McQueen |
| Roary the Racing Car | 2007-2011 | Big Chris(UK) / Big Chris/ Tin Top (UK) |
| Cradle to Grave | 2015 | Fred Baker |
| Peter Kay's Comedy Shuffle | 2016 | Self |
| Inside No. 9 | 2017 | Neil |
| Peter Kay's Car Share | 2015-2020 | John Redmond |
Films and videos
Some of the comedian's work in film and video is documented in the table below.
| Film/video | Year | Role |
| Going Off Big Time | 2000 | Flipper |
| Blow Dry | 2001 | Cyril the Barman |
| 24-Hour Party People | 2002 | Don Tonay |
| Last Rumba in Rochdale | 2002 | Dad (voice) |
| Roddy Smythe Investigates | 2002 | Tommy Doyle |
| The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse | 2005 | Simon Pig |
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | 2005 | PC Mackintosh (voice) |
| Max & Paddy's The Power of Two | 2005 | Max |
| Comic Relief Does Little Britain: Live | 2007 | Brian Potter |
| Special Kay | 2008 | Self |
| Peter Kay's Animated All-Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley | 2009 | Big Chris (voice) |
Writing/ directing/ producing
In addition to acting, the comedian is a writer, producer, and director. Some of these credits are listed below.
- Car Share
- Special Kay
- Britain's Got the Pop Factor
- Comic Relief (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles
- Max & Paddy's The Power of Two
- Phoenix Nights
- Britain's Got the Extra Pop Factor and Then Some 2 + 1
Authorship
The comedian has authored several books, and some are best sellers. His books are listed below.
- Saturday Night Peter by Kay
- Saturday Night Peter
- Phoenix Nights: The Scripts
- The Book That's More Than Just a Book - Book
- The Sound of Laughter: The Autobiography of Peter Kay
Stand-up comedy
The comedian's passion is making the world happier through laughter. He started stand-up comedy at a local cinema. After the cinema shut down, he became a contestant and won So You Think You're Funny?
Eventually, he started hosting stand-up shows and tours. Today, his events sell out within minutes, and he is recognised as one of Britain's top stand-up comedians.
If you wish to know the latest details of his tours and shows, you should check Peter Kay’s official website. Fans can also buy Peter Kay’s tickets from the site.
Was Peter Kay in Doctor Who?
Yes, on 17 June 2006, he appeared in an episode of Doctor Who. The episode was titled Love & Monsters.
What is Peter Kay's net worth?
The comedian has an alleged net worth of $70 million. His wealth comes from his illustrious comedy, authorship, and acting career. He has spent some of his cash on homes.
He has properties in England and Ireland. His Ireland property is secluded. He spent some time in the home when he was on a comedy hiatus. Though wealthy, the comedian is not flashy.
Is Peter Kay married?
The comedian and actor is married to Susan Gargan, a lady who prefers to live her life away from the cameras. The lovebirds first met in 1998 in a nightclub in Bolton.
At the time, Peter Kay's wife was employed at a local Boots, while Peter worked at the local cinema. After striking up a conversation in the club, Susan agreed to go on a date with him the next evening.
During one of their first dates at Blackburn Ice Arena, an accident happened, and the two were rushed to the emergency room. The lovebirds dated for a while and got married in 2001.
They are blessed with three children. The name of their first child is Charlie Michael Kay, while the other two remain unknown in the public domain.
What happened to Peter Kay?
Fans and followers were surprised when the comedian announced he would be taking a break from his career in December 2017. He cancelled his Live Arena Tour and all of his work projects due to unprecedented family circumstances.
After the announcement, it was reported he had temporarily relocated to Ireland with his family. The comedian has spoken about how fame is not as important to him as his family is.
On 6 November 2022, he announced his return to stand-up comedy. His comedy tour began in December 2022 and is set to end in July 2025.
Fundraising for Bolton Octagon Theatre
In December 2023, the comedian broke off from his current tour to raise funds for Bolton Octagon Theatre. This was a special thing for him because he once worked in the theatre.
He raised £80,000 for the venue, which was a big boost to the theatre. He raised this amount by performing three two-hour sets. His tickets sold out within minutes of being made available to the theatre's patrons, members, and mailing list subscribers.
Peter Kay's illness
There have been reports the comedian was battling cancer, but that is incorrect information. He is not terminally ill, and neither does he have cancer.
Rumours of battling cancer were fueled by the fact that he is quite vocal about the disease and does charity events to support cancer research and patients.
In 2020, it was rumoured that the comedian's wife had cancer. News of Peter Kay's wife's cancer turned out to be erroneous. Susan Gargan came out and dismissed the rumours as false.
In 2021, he briefly made a comeback from his break fundraise for Laura Nuttall, who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Laura Nuttall and Peter Kay are family friends.
What disease does Peter Kay have?
In early December 2022, the comedian disclosed he had undergone surgery for kidney stones. He left the audience in stitches as he recalled his hospital trip to have the operation.
Source: Getty Images
What is Peter Kay's Dance for Life?
In 2020, the comedian announced he would host three-hour parties called Dance for Life, but the events were pushed to the spring of 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets for the events sold out within 30 minutes.
During these parties, he assumed the moniker Dj PK and took over the turntables to offer attendees a lifetime experience. Talking about the Dance for Life events, he said:
All people have to do is turn up and dance. I'd also like to encourage people to get themselves sponsored via justgiving.com where a special Dance for Life team page has been set up.
The monies collected from the parties were donated to cancer research foundations in England.
What is Peter Kay doing now?
The comedian is currently doing stand-up comedy. He is on his first tour since returning from his 2017-2022 hiatus.
Height and weight loss
The comedian has undergone significant weight loss in recent years. He now appears leaner and healthier. Fans were surprised by how lean he looked after his comedy hiatus.
Right before his London tour in early January 2024, he was spotted walking in East London in a black hoodie, tracksuit bottoms, and cosy slippers. Talking about the show, he said:
Audiences in London have always been amongst the best in Britain, plus I think seeing the show could be part of a nice weekend away treat. It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now. And with the cost of living at an all-time high, ticket prices are starting from £35. The same price they were on my previous tour in 2010.
Before taking a hiatus from his career, he weighed about 267 lb or 121 kg. It is apparent that he lost weight when he was away, but his new weight is yet to be confirmed. When he made a comeback, he joked about weight loss.
The comedian is 5' 8" or 174 centimetres tall. He has green eyes and dark brown hair.
Quick facts about Peter Kay
- The comedian and his spouse are the directors of Goodnight Vienna Productions.
- He made the Guinness World Record for the most successful comedy tour.
- He is an animal lover.
Peter Kay is a multi-gifted artist. He is a comedian, actor, author, and philanthropist. He recently made a comeback after a long hiatus and is currently doing a stand-up comedy tour.
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