Adrian Edmondson, a British comedian, actor, and musician, was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. He pursued his passion for drama at Manchester University, where he met fellow comedian Rik Mayall and formed the duo 20th Century Coyote. After graduating, Edmondson and Mayall relocated to London, where they became prominent figures in the emerging "alternative comedy" scene, performing at the Comedy Store and establishing their own club, The Comic Strip, with a group of talented comedians.
The Comic Strip gang went on to create two successful television series in the 1980s: The Young Ones (1982) and The Comic Strip Presents (1982). In the 1990s, Edmondson and Mayall collaborated on the hit series Bottom (1991),which ran for three seasons and became a staple of the live comedy circuit. The duo embarked on five extensive tours between 1993 and 2003, showcasing their unique blend of slapstick humor and improvisation.
In addition to his work with Rik Mayall, Edmondson has established himself as a respected actor, appearing in a range of television dramas and films. He has worked with director Les Blair on several improvised TV films, including Honest, Decent and True (1986) and News Hounds (1990),which won a BAFTA for best single drama. Edmondson has also had recurring roles in the hospital drama Holby City (1999-2008) and the drama series Surviving Disaster (2006),in which he played the lead role in a documentary about the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.
Edmondson has continued to appear in a variety of television shows and films throughout his career, including the TV movie Miss Austen Regrets (2007),the film Blood (2012),and the drama series Prey (2014). His most notable dramatic role to date is that of Count Rostov in the BBC series War & Peace (2016).
In his personal life, Edmondson has been married to comedian and actress Jennifer Saunders since 1985, and they have three children together.