Tim Minchin Biography

Tim was born Timothy David Minchin, on October 7, 1975, in Northampton, England, to Rosamunde Janis Minchin (nee Fisher) and David Ellison Minchin.

His parents are Australian citizens. He has a sister, Nel, and a brother, Dan.

His father was a surgeon in Perth, Western Australia, where Tim grew up.

Tim Minchin attended the ‘Christ Church Grammar School’ in Perth. He began learning the piano at 8 but quit after 3 years, as he lost interest.

In 1996, he graduated with a BA degree in English and theater from the ‘University of Western Australia.’ Two years later, he earned an advanced diploma in contemporary music from the ‘Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts’ (WAAPA) at the ‘Edith Cowan University,’ Mount Lawley, a suburb in Perth.

After Tim Minchin graduated from the ‘WAAPA,’ he began composing music for theater and documentaries.

He wrote and acted in the 2000 musical ‘Pop,’ staged at the ‘Blue Room Theatre’ in Perth.

In 2001, along with his band, ‘Timmy the Dog,’ he released a not-so-successful CD titled ‘Sit.’

He moved to Melbourne from Perth for better opportunities in 2002. However, he never got a good breakthrough.

In 2004, Tim Minchin played the lead character in the ‘Perth Theatre Company’/‘Hoopla’ production of ‘Hamlet.’ He played ‘The Writer’ in the original ‘PTC Production’ of ‘The Return,’ written by Australian playwright Reginald Cribb.

In 2005, his breakthrough show ‘Darkside’ earned him critical acclaim at the 2005 ‘Melbourne International Comedy Festival.’ It also won the first ‘Festival Directors’ Award.’ At the festival, he was spotted by Karen Koren, the famous ‘Gilded Balloon’ manager.

With Koren’s support, his show was staged at the ‘Edinburgh Festival Fringe.’ There, he won the ‘Perrier Comedy Award’ for the “Best Newcomer.”

At the 2006 ‘Melbourne International Comedy Festival,’ his show ‘So Rock’ was nominated for the ‘Barry Award,’ the festival’s highest honor.

At the 2007 ‘HBO US Comedy Arts Festival,’ he earned the award for the “Best Alternative Comedian.” The same year, he released a DVD titled ‘So Live’ only in Australia. It consisted of the recording of his live performance at the ‘Sydney Opera House’ and two of his earlier shows. The following year, he released the DVD titled ‘So F**king Rock Live’ in the U.K.

The third solo show, ‘Ready for This?,’ debuted at the ‘Edinburgh Festival Fringe’ in August 2008. Later, the show toured across the U.K. He also participated in the podcasts of the newspaper ‘The Guardian.’

Tim Minchin played the character ‘Tom’ in the 2009 contemporary Australian drama film ‘Two Fists, One Heart,’ which was released on March 19, 2009. On July 20, 2009, a live recording of ‘Ready for This?’ held at the ‘Queen Elizabeth Hall’ was released as a downloadable album on ‘iTunes.’ On September 9, 2009, an Australian recording was released solely on DVD in Australia. The following month, he performed on the British show ‘Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.’ Toward the end of the year, he was featured as a special guest on ‘The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.’

In 2009, he won the ‘Helpmann Award’ for the “Best Comedy Performer” and two ‘Green Room Awards,’ one each for “Cabaret: Best Original Song” and “Cabaret: Best Artiste.” The following year, he won the ‘Chortle Award’ for the “Best Music or Variety Act.”

In 2010, Tim Minchin was featured on Australia’s ‘Network Ten’ shows ‘Good News Week’ and ‘Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation,’ in February and March, respectively. He co-wrote ‘Matilda the Musical,’ which premiered at the ‘Courtyard Theatre’ in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, on November 9, 2010. Later, the musical had a ‘West End’ run at the ‘Cambridge Theatre.’ It was featured on ‘Broadway’ at the ‘Shubert Theatre.’

He started a new arena tour that debuted in Birmingham on December 8, 2010, collaborating with the ‘Heritage Orchestra.’ He took the show across the U.K. and Australia.

On April 7, 2011, the movie ‘Storm,’ based on one of his poems, was released on ‘YouTube.’ He hosted ‘Prom 40,’ the first ‘BBC Comedy Promenade Concert’ at the ‘Royal Albert Hall,’ on August 13, 2011. The same year, he won the ‘Helpmann Award’ for the “Best New Australian Work.”

In 2012, Tim Minchin won the ‘Olivier Award’ for the “Best New Musical” for ‘Matilda the Musical,’ the ‘Ockham Award’ for the “Best Skeptic Video” for ‘Storm,’ and ‘the Helpmann Award’ for the “Best Comedy Performer.” That year, he portrayed the role of ‘Judas Iscariot’ in the rock opera ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ during its the U.K. and Ireland tour. This role earned him the ‘What’s on Stage Award’ and ‘The W&P Longreach Best Supporting Actor in a Musical’ honor.

He made his ‘Sydney Theatre Company’ debut in 2013, with the play ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.’ He guest-appeared as rock star ‘Atticus Fetch’ in 10 episodes of the sitcom ‘Californication.’

A graphic novel titled ‘Storm,’ based on his poem and the movie of the same name, was authored by him and released in 2014.

The following year, he composed the music and lyrics for the musical ‘Groundhog Day,’ adapted from the movie of the same name. In 2015, he appeared as a guest character in ‘No Activity,’ an Australian comedy series, and as ‘Smasher Sullivan’ in the ‘ABC’ miniseries ‘The Secret River.’ The latter won the ‘Logie Award’ for the “Most Outstanding Supporting Actor” in 2016.

The protest song ‘Come Home (Cardinal Pell)’ raked in controversy and became a viral success in 2016. That year, he won the ‘Helpmann Award’ for the “Best Original Score” for ‘Matilda the Musical.’

His second book, ‘When I Grow Up,’ was released in 2017. The same year, he won the ‘Olivier Award’ for the “Best New Musical” (for ‘Groundhog Day’) and the ‘Orry-Kelly Award.’

He essayed the role of ‘Friar Tuck’ in the American film ‘Robin Hood’ and appeared in the Australian sitcom ‘Squinters.’

In March and April 2019, he made his tour of Australia and New Zealand, called ‘BACK,’ which won him the ‘Helpmann Award’ for the “Best Australian Contemporary Concert Award.” The same tour was held in the U.K. in October and November that year.

His shows in 2020 had to be canceled due to COVID-19. His upcoming debut studio album, tentatively titled ‘Apart Together,’ is scheduled to be released in November 2020.

Tim and his wife, Sarah, have a daughter and a son. They live in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Tim is a fan of Richard Dawkins, who is an ethologist and an outspoken atheist. Like Dawkins, Tim is also an atheist.