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His Severely Bent Nose
I've always wondered why Stephen Fry's nose is so horribly bent. Does anyone know? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 141.158.70.67 (talk) 20:23, 6 December 2006 (UTC).
In Moab (his autobiography), he said he broke it when he was young and never got it fixed. I have the audio version, so I can't tell you which page to look at, but it's there. Puccini999 01:32, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
At her Majesty's pleasure?
Did he spend time in prison? Three months for credit card fraud I think.
trivia-C. B. Fry
We need a reliable source for this claim that Stephen Fry is related to C.B.Fry. Any suggestions of a link have been removed from the C.B.Fry article due to the fact that no one had been able to produce any proof other than Stephen Fry claimning so (perhaps in an attempt to purposely misinform) during an episode of QI. I think therefore that this claim should be removed, unless someone can cite a more reliable source.
Clarification
Bold text==National Treasure?!?== Is Wikipedia supposed to be a fan site or an encyclopedia?
- Well, that statement details his public image, it's not a direct comment. And yes, that is within wikipedia's remit: to accurately (and with sources) reflect opinion on a subject, as wll as giving the facts. Perhaps we should source that particular bit. Amo 21:23, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
The Stars' Tennis Balls
Why is it "probably a coincidence" that they are all anagrams or puns of their Monte Cristo counterparts? It seems very likely to me, given Stephen Fry's kind of humour. — OwenBlacker 21:40, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
- I've removed the comment — OwenBlacker 21:50, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
Categories
This article needn't be in both Category:British actors and Category:English actors, nor in both Category:British comedians and Category:English comedians. Tim Ivorson 5 July 2005 08:47 (UTC)
- Why not? He is both English and British. Isn't it correct and thorough to include the article in all four categories? (I didn't categorize the article, and I see that someone has since removed the alternates.) Canonblack 20:49, 30 December 2005 (UTC)
- I think that the reasoning is that since all English actors are also British actors (and Category:English actors is a subcategory of Category:British actors, it's redundant to use both. The same goes for British/English comedians. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 01:35, 31 December 2005 (UTC)
Stage fright
The mention of 'stage fright' is a little too euphemistic for my liking. He was mentally unwell and has acknowledged this. - written by richardcavell in August 2005.
- Sign your posts. If you have details on this, especially if you have references (not that I'm doubting you, but something like that should be backed up with references), please change the wording. Canonblack 20:42, 30 December 2005 (UTC)
- When I wrote my comment I did not know how to sign posts; thanks for inviting me to. Stephen Fry spoke about it on an episode of Parkinson, but I can't get the ITV website to give me the transcript because it was too long ago. - Richardcavell 15:03, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
Trivia; the book about his mannerisms
In the trivia section, on the book Tish and Pish - how to be of a speakingness like Stephen Fry (ISBN 1840244666), the article states: "However, this... does not accurately reflect his mannerisms, and contains various grammatical errors (most notably in the title)." - Surely this is POV, and need not be included, has anyone noteworthy said this? And surely the fact that it is not grammatically correct is the whole point. I haven't personally read the book so I wouldn't know, but this just seemed to jump out at me. M A Mason 20:21, 28 January 2006 (UTC)
Harry Potter
I cut the ref to the reader of Harry Potter in the US, as entirely irrelevant to Stephen Fry article, but I can't work out where to add this info in the mass of HP pages. So here it is for anyone who cares enough to find a home for it: "(this is Jim Dale's job in the US)"
-- I don't understand why quite a large part of his work is "entirely irrelevant" to this article? -- Chris G
- I think that what the editor above was saying is that it's not relevant to an article on Stephen Fry that the US editions of the Harry Potter audiobooks are narrated by Jim Dale. Obviously, the fact that Fry narrates the British versions is relevant, and it is mentioned accordingly. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 15:59, 13 March 2006 (UTC)
NORCAT
NORCAT is Norfolk College of Art and Technology, in King's Lynn. Stephen took his A levels there after expulsion from school and had his first (only?) hetrosexual experience with a fellow student. Is discussed in "Moab" but I don't have a copy to hand for reference.Epeeist smudge
- I myself am somewhat sketchy about referring to Moab as a source for events in Fry's life. I think that, like the Bible, it conveys a story of salvation without historiography as its chief concern. Carolynparrishfan 20:35, 14 March 2006 (UTC)
- I'm not sure if your point there justifies discrediting his autobiography.
- Although I can maybe believe he might have embellished the sexual experience for comic effect (the description of the perfect suitablity of the vagina for sexual purposes was beautiful), I struggle to believe that he would make up going to NORCAT, even with his understated yet hyperbolic style. As the previous (anon) contributer says, I don't think we sure ignore his autobiography here. Epeeist smudge 04:50, 20 March 2006 (UTC)
University Challenge
Stephen also appeared on an anniversary edition which featured the then-current champions against a team of famous UC-alumni. Charles Moore is the only other competitor I can remember. Stephen completely dominated the show, winning it for the old-boys nearly single-handed.
Daniel Cohen
I've taken out the link to the Daniel Cohen, because I felt it was causing more then a little confusion, what with the Cohen linked being a totally different one to the one being referred too. Voici 20:04, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
Vehicle
- He drives a former London Taxi (Black cab) when driving in London due to ease of manoeuvre. This was documented 25 January 2006 on his segment on the BBC 2 genealogy series "Who Do You Think You Are?". [4] Also in an earlier column in his Paperweight, describing a natural and possibly fictional misunderstanding with a member of the public.
I'm pretty sure he no longer drives a black cab- if I find a source and remember to return, I'll alter this. EvocativeIntrigue TALK | EMAIL 23:19, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
- As referenced in the webchat here (14 June 2006): [1]
- Q: Who is the most interesting person you ever had in your Taxi?
- A: . . . I take my friends if necessary.
- Present tense, I mean.
- Minervamoon 08:37, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive
I couldn't help noticing that most of the sufferers with bi-polar disorder that Stephen Fry spoke to (or about, with regard to the Swartz's daughter) on his programme (and of course Stephen himself) had Jewish ancestry. Is bi-polar disorder more prevalent (or more diaganosed) among Jews or was this just a coincidence? Jooler 22:55, 27 September 2006 (UTC)
Fry's Mother
Marianne Neumann, an Austrian of Jewish descent.
Didn't his recent appearance on the BBC's genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? establish that his mother's family were actually from Slovakia? Indisciplined 21:11, 12 October 2006 (UTC)
- Yes, he said this as well in a talk at the Hay Festival 2005. --Spudtater (talk • contribs) 16:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)
Atheism
I removed references to Fry's supposed Atheism. He may well be an Atheist, but I cannot find any reference to suggest that he is. Not conforming to organised religion does not necessarily mean that one disbelieves in the existance of a god. 219.90.233.149 03:45, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
he does make frequent implicit reference to his atheism in QI. reinstate144.82.194.68 23:48, 3 April 2007 (UTC)
I think the fact that he is quoted as saying 'religion. shit it!' on the wikiquotes page kind of implies his atheism. Or at least agnosticism.
- I remember him saying that yeah, but it could refer to atheism, agnosticism, or indeed theism with a disagreement with organized religion. I would keep it out until we see a source with him categorically stating that he does not believe God exists. M A Mason 16:06, 30 May 2007 (UTC)
Twinings
How can you source the fact that he does Twinings adverts (btw not just voiceovers, he appears physically in them and addresses the viewer)? He definitely does it though, I've seen the adverts...
Check the link: http://www.twinings.co.uk/everyday_tv_advert_intro.asp Arthur Holland 15:49, 12 November 2006 (UTC)
Prince Charles
A previous version of this page mentioned Fry's sympathy for the Labour Party. The next sentence said, "He is on friendly terms with Prince Charles, however..." Since the monarchy is apolitical (and New Labour has not indicated a wish to abolish the monarchy) I feel that the "however" seems out of place. I have restructured the sentence too - I hope people feel this works better. "He is also on friendly terms with Prince Charles..."
Also - how can we go about sourcing the fact that Fry does lots of work for the Prince's Trust?
Robbie Williams Bipolar?
The article says that in "Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic-Depressive", Fry
interviews celebrities (such as Robbie Williams, Rick Stein, Carrie Fisher, Richard Dreyfuss, and Tony Slattery) and non-famous persons, all of whom also suffer from the illness.
I'm pretty sure that the programme said that Robbie Williams suffered from depression, not bipolar disorder. Fry interviews Williams because of the apparent 'mania' that Williams displays in public, but this is attributed to his stage persona rather than a symptom of bipolarity. --Stratocastermagic 23:43, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
- The paragraph is a little confusing as written. Fry's bipolar struggle has gotten mixed in with the documentary which is about Manic Depression of which bipolarism is one example (at least that is my best guess). You, or someone who has seen the documentary in question, may want to try to make the paragraph a little clearer. MarnetteD | Talk 00:34, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
- Bipolar disorder is manic depression, as should be clear from the name. No subsets; they are equal. The documentary focuses upon Stephen Fry's struggle with the illness, but he also goes around Britain and America interviewing fellow celebrity and non-famous sufferers alike. I'm not quite sure what to make of Robbie Williams, though. The documentary did try to question whether Williams' mania was simply a persona and not a symptom of bipolarism, but there are other sources which state that Williams is indeed manic depressive.
- Minervamoon 02:29, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
- The programme seemed to be pretty clear in saying that Robbie Williams wasn't manic depressive. Also Rick Stein is not manic-depressive. He was interviewed because his father WAS manic depressive and committed sucide by throwing himself of of a cliff near the family home in Padstow. Jooler 03:49, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
- Edited to reflect the valid comment immediately above.89.242.56.136 23:52, 20 April 2007 (UTC)
His nationality
It's either British (legal, civic national) or Jewish/English (ethnic national). But certainly not simply English. I amended this line last week, and have had to do so again. (I think British is best, but stick with the ethnic national theme that my betters insist on - only correct it). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.47.159.12 (talk) 01:59, 2 January 2007 (UTC).
- Why "certainly not simply English"? [2] a reliable source that in no uncertain terms describe Fry as English. Can you quote any source to suggest he isn't? You seem to be on a crusade to rid Wikipedia of all mentions of Englishness in English citizens who happen to have a Jewish ancestry. This is disrupting Wikipedia to push a point of view. Please stop Gwernol 02:09, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
- Gwernol, you are incorrect. There is no such thing as an English citizen. The previous poster is simply pointing out inaccuracy rather than POV. Stephen Fry's nationality is British. He is a citizen of the UK. For accuracy he should be described as such. I have made the necessary changes. (Ajkgordon 07:43, 29 May 2007 (UTC))
I agree with Gwernol. Personally i think it's good to be as specific as possible. We know he was born in England, we know he has been referred to in the media as "English", i'm sure you could find a number of sources where he self identifies as "English".Amo 03:55, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
- I also agree — Fry clearly identifies himself as "English". If he also identifies himself as Jewish, the article can reflect that, but not everyone who has Jewish ancestry so identifies. I don't believe that he's a practicing Jew, and to say that he's "Jewish/English" could be read as an indication of his religion as well as his ancestry. The article accounts for his mother's Jewish ancestry, but it really doesn't seem like it's a big part of Fry's identity. Given that, I think it would give undue weight to indicate it in the intro. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 04:13, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
- His nationality is British. It's that simple. There is no such thing as English nationality. English/British may be the best compromise.
Needs a photo?
Why no photo for the brilliant Stephen Fry?
- He deserves at least one photo here. 68.53.87.116 23:37, 28 January 2007 (UTC)C Nosangles
- I have just added a picture, There used to be a picture here but it was removed due to copyright violation. Dorkules 14:38, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
- Added a recent screen cap, which should be fair use. Slaapwel 01:26, 3 July 2007 (UTC)
- Who deleted my screen cap? And why? Don't delete without discussing it on this page first or supplying sufficient argumentation. — Slaapwel 19:00, 4 July 2007 (UTC)
- Slaapwel, I would love to see a picture there as well, but we can’t use your screen cap. It’s copyrighted and we can only use it when you (or we) provide a detailed fair use rationale to use it on this article. Quite frankly, I don’t think we can provide one that fulfils all 10 points in the policy, especially item 1: “No free equivalent”. Point 8 in examples of unacceptable fair use is probably even more clear: ”An image of a living person that merely shows what s/he looks like. The rationale is that this is potentially replaceable with a freshly produced free photograph”.
- So that's why someone removed your screen cap. --Van helsing 21:03, 5 July 2007 (UTC)
- Just noticed you provided a fair use rationale, thanks. It unfortunately doesn’t solve the “no free equivalent available” issue. The man is luckily still alive, it isn’t a “one-time-in-a-million-years-event” where only one guy took a picture from. --Van helsing 21:14, 5 July 2007 (UTC)
- Who deleted my screen cap? And why? Don't delete without discussing it on this page first or supplying sufficient argumentation. — Slaapwel 19:00, 4 July 2007 (UTC)
Born to be Wilde?
I altered the (unsourced) comment indicating Fry himself said he was "born to play" the part of Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film. I altered it to say that many commentators at the time used the epithet "born to be Wilde". I did so for several reasons:
- I couldn't find a source for the assertion that Fry said this (I'm not suggesting there isn't one, just that I couldn't find one and none is given in the current article).
- Although it's difficult to source an assertion such as "many commentators said...", a simple Google search indicates beyond reasonable doubt it is true.
- This alteration made clear the allusion to the song that explains why the idea of "born" was used so commonly, perhaps at all.
My change was reverted within a few minutes to the similarly unsubstantiated (but IMO less plausible and less informative) earlier version with a comment that my change wasn't sourced... 82.15.52.66 10:43, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Since Fry ... most notably Fry
In the paragraph under Career on Vivian Stanshall, it says:
- Since Fry, many other English comedians, also Stanshall fans, have tried their hand at "Being Vivian," most notably Fry and Ade Edmonson.
That "most notable Fry" is surely an error, but I'm not sure if it was supposed to be some other name there instead. Hv 15:48, 12 April 2007 (UTC)
Cyclothymia
Why has someone added that Fry is cyclothymic? He has suffered both major depressive episodes and full manic episodes. He clearly meets the criteria for Bipolar 1 disorder. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 77.99.139.62 (talk) 20:15, 21 April 2007 (UTC).
- I'd like to know that as well. I know that article quotes him as saying "cyclothymia", but I really can't believe that's true. His major upswings have led him to prison and his major downswings have driven him to suicide attempts. My mother, a psychiatrist, cannot believe that this can be categorized as "bipolar light". He has to have Bipolar I. Minervamoon 00:05, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
- All you have to do is click on the link provided to see his direct quote. Many people may have many opinions about this and whether ir is correct or not but wikipedia, as an encyclopedia, isn't in the opinion/belief business and as this is sourced to his own words until he refutes it this edit fulfills the requirments for posting here.MarnetteD | Talk 00:40, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
- I did click the link and saw the quote, as I said. But as there are definite professional grounds for dispute, why not just say "as-yet undiagnosed bipolar disorder" without getting too (and possibly-erroneously) precise? Minervamoon 03:07, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
- All you have to do is click on the link provided to see his direct quote. Many people may have many opinions about this and whether ir is correct or not but wikipedia, as an encyclopedia, isn't in the opinion/belief business and as this is sourced to his own words until he refutes it this edit fulfills the requirments for posting here.MarnetteD | Talk 00:40, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
Why? Because we have the interview with him stating the facts as he knows them and they would seem to be well diagnosed. You may well have professional grounds to debate this but wikipedia is not a debating blogsite. Your opinions are, I am sure, well reasoned and speak to your background on the subject, but, until he becomes your patient they are opinions and should nott trump a sourced article. Especially since it is a first person item and not some third party recollection. However, I would suggest that you might want to take your concerns to the wikiproject for biographies to see if you can get some kind of consensus and whatever they decide will be okay by me. MarnetteD | Talk 04:29, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
- I don't mean to argue about it, really, but I just found it exceedingly strange and tried to propose a compromise that catered to both parties. I do recall a part in "The Secret Life . . ." where a doctor put him so unlaughably high on the BP scale that he was very concerned, and that would certainly be a sourced counterargument. I'll look into it and see if it has merit. If not, I'm sure that he'll clarify it sometime in the future. Minervamoon 05:21, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
Gresham's School?
Gresham's often claim him as an old boy, but Fry himself denied ever going to Gresham's when I saw him at a book launch in Norwich in 1998. Is there a definite reference for the claim? Ghughesarch 12:46, 24 April 2007 (UTC)
Revenge and The Count Of Monte Cristo
As far as I know, Mr. Fry started writing "Revenge" and then, at one moment, he realized he was writing what could be considered a modern day "Count Of Monte Cristo". So I don't know if it would be accurate to say "Revenge" is Stephen Fry's take on "The Count Of Monte Cristo", since he wasn't thinking of "The Count Of Monte Cristo" when he thought of his novel, but after he had started and noted the similarities. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.45.41.59 (talk • contribs).
- Cant you cite a source for that? If there is, for example, an interview where Stephen says this, we can quote that in the article. Without a source we shouldn't change what it there. Thanks, Gwernol 12:22, 25 May 2007 (UTC)
- Yes I can. It is in the afterword "Forget Ideas, Mr. Author. What Kind Of Pen Do You Use?" of the American version ("Revenge: A Novel"), which starts in page 317. The actual confession is in page 319. I'll write it here.
My latest novel, "Revenge", cause me a very specific hair-raising and sleep-depriving problem. I had planned it out in my head, which is about as much planning as I ever do, not being an index-card, scnario, or flow-chart person. It was a story of wrongful imprisonment and subsequent vengeance. As I thought the narrative through, a little voice started whispering wicked thoughts into my ear.
"This isn't very original", it would say. "I've heard it before."
At first I didn't pay much attention. When did any of us last read an original story? Original writing is the issue. Treatment is all. But then one night I sat bolt upright in bed and screamed in horror. The truth had suddenly exploded into my consciousness.
The story, the plot I had been working out with such pleasure, was not just unoriginal, it was a straight steal, virtually identical in all but period and style to Alexandre Dumas's "The Count Of Monte Cristo".
What does a writer do on such ocassions? Abandon his narrative and embark upon another? I was already three chapters in, and those authorial juices that take so long to summon up were flowing nicely. "
There is more, but right now I'm in a hurry and can't write it all, so if someone has a copy and can write it, it would be nice. Anyway, he goes on telling that he then went to buy all the editions of The Count Of Monte Cristo he could find, because he was sure that "Dumas pinched the story too", and he found one introduction to one of the editions that said that the story was, in Dumas's day, a kind of urban legend that he had "gratefully lifted". The then continued working since he was sure the outline was not original to Dumas,that a "literally reworking" or "homage" was perfectly acceptable, and that it wasn't plagiarism.
Now, in my opinion, that constitutes an original idea that happened to be incredibly similar to another idea who wasn't that original after all. Fry thought of that story in his head, Dumas's took it from an urban legend. It is debatable but I don't think it would be fair that it's his take on the novel, since he said that it's a homage or reworking after he had already started to write it as an original, probably to shut up critics and people who would accuse him of plagiarism.
Stephen Fry hates kiwi
It's a fact - I've seen it on QI
I feel it is a fact that will enhance and complete the picture that we are painting about the great man himself.
- It's really a very minor fact - like listing someone's favourite colour. --h2g2bob (talk) 16:31, 30 May 2007 (UTC)