7 of Stephen Fry's Funniest and Wittiest Moments
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The great Stephen Fry turns 65 Wednesday (August 24), so we're celebrating by reliving some of his funniest, wittiest, and most downright charming moments. We haven't included any clips from his many acting roles or sketches with Hugh Laurie; these are all moments where he was delightful just by being himself.
1. The time he recalled his, ahem, delicate conversation with Prince Charles.
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Fry looked back on the time one of the Spice Girls posed a very intimate question to Queen Elizabeth II's son and heir. It was left to Fry to diffuse the situation, something he managed with his usual good grace.
2. All the times he proved he's a darn good sport.
From 2003 to 2016, Fry hosted the brainy British game show QI, which stands for "quite interesting." It was a great fit for his wit and verbal dexterity, but as this compilation video shows, he was always gracious whenever a panelist made him the butt of the joke. We love the way he can laugh at himself.
3. The time he showed off a palette of Scottish accents.
During an episode of QI, Fry flipped from a thick Glaswegian accent to a refined Edinburgh one, via a brief Maggie Smith impression. Now that's what we call range!
4. The time he sat on Graham Norton's famous Big Red Chair.
This actually happened on a special episode of The Graham Norton Show made for the BBC's Children in Need telethon. Fry is absolutely hilarious here, proving he can make kids and adults laugh at the same time.
5. The time he did an impression of Rowan Atkinson.
The two actors have worked together quite regularly over the years, most notably on the classic sitcom Blackadder, so it's no wonder Fry has Atkinson's vocal tics down to a t. He gets mannerisms pretty much spot on, too.
6. The time he recalled his J.K. Rowling faux pas.
Fry is known for narrating the Harry Potter audiobooks, but apparently he put his foot in his mouth during an early meeting with their author. We appreciate how self-deprecating Fry is here, and also enjoy the fact he gets a well deserved compliment from Miriam Margolyes. This is about as quiet as we've ever seen her!
7. And finally, the time his Newcastle accent didn't quite hit the mark.
Look, even Stephen Fry can't get it right all of the time. As ever, Fry he takes the knocks in good humor, and his ability to laugh at himself is very infectious.
Do you have a favorite funny moment from Stephen Fry?