View source for Stephen Fry

{{Short description|English actor, comedian and presenter (born 1957)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Sir]]
| name               = Stephen Fry
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRSL|FRSA}}
| image              = Stephen Fry at Berlinale 2024 Ausschnitt.jpg
| caption            = Fry at the [[2024 Berlinale]]
| birth_name         = Stephen John Fry
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1957|8|24}}
| birth_place        = [[Hampstead, London]], England
| citizenship        = {{hlist|United Kingdom|Austria}}
| education          = [[Uppingham School]]
| alma_mater         = {{plainlist|
* [[Paston College]]
* [[College of West Anglia|Norfolk College of Arts & Technology]]
* [[City College Norwich]]
* [[Queens' College, Cambridge]] ([[Master of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin)|MA]])
}}
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|broadcaster|comedian|director|narrator|writer}}
| years_active       = 1980–present
| works              = [[Stephen Fry bibliography and filmography|Full list]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Elliott Spencer|January 2015}}
| module             = {{Listen voice|filename=Stephen Fry voice.flac|recorded=January 2014}}
| website            = {{URL|stephenfry.com}}
| signature          = Stephen Fry signature.svg
}}
''' Sir Stephen John Fry''' (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, and writer. He began his career on the sketch comedy series ''[[Alfresco (TV series)|Alfresco]]'' (1983–1984) and the sitcom ''[[Blackadder]]'' (1986–1989) before coming to prominence as part of the comedy duo [[Fry and Laurie]] alongside [[Hugh Laurie]], appearing together in ''[[A Bit of Fry & Laurie]]'' (1989–1995) and ''[[Jeeves and Wooster]]'' (1990–1993). His later television roles include ''[[Kingdom (British TV series)|Kingdom]]'' (2007–2009), ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'' (2007–2017) and ''[[It's a Sin (TV series)|It's a Sin]]'' (2021). Fry was the original host of the comedy panel show ''[[QI]]'' (2003–2016), for which he was nominated for six [[British Academy Television Awards]]. In 2006, the British public ranked Fry number 9 in [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s poll of [[TV's 50 Greatest Stars]].<ref>{{cite news |date=3 July 2006 |title=ITV to salute '50 greatest stars' |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5142726.stm |access-date=3 March 2025 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

Fry's film credits include ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' (1981), ''[[A Fish Called Wanda]]'' (1988) ''[[Gosford Park]]'' (2001),  ''[[The Life and Death of Peter Sellers]]'' (2004), ''[[V for Vendetta (film)|V for Vendetta]]'' (2005), ''[[Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows]]'' (2011), and ''[[Love & Friendship]]'' (2016). He portrays the [[Cheshire Cat]] in ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (2010) and its [[Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016 film)|2016 sequel]], and the [[Esgaroth#In other media|Master of Lake-town]] in the [[The Hobbit (film series)|film trilogy adaptation]] of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' (2013–2014). For playing [[Oscar Wilde]] in the film ''[[Wilde (film)|Wilde]]'' (1997), Fry was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Golden Globe Award for Best Actor]]. Between 2001 and 2017, he hosted the [[British Academy Film Awards]] 12 times.

Fry is known for his work in theatre. In 1984, he adapted ''[[Me and My Girl]]'' for the [[West End theatre|West End]] where it ran for eight years and received two [[Laurence Olivier Awards]]. After it transferred to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], he received a [[Tony Award]] nomination. In 2012, Fry played [[Malvolio]] in ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' at [[Shakespeare's Globe]]. The production was then taken to the West End, before transferring to Broadway where he received a nomination for a [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play]].

Fry has written and presented several documentary series, including the [[Emmy Award]]-winning ''[[Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive]]'' (2006) and the travel series ''[[Stephen Fry in America]]'' (2008). He is also a prolific writer, contributing to newspapers and magazines, and has written four novels and three autobiographies. He has lent his voice to numerous projects including the [[audiobook]]s for all seven of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' novels as well as the ''[[Paddington Bear]]'' books.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url= https://hpaudiobooks.club/series/stephen/|title= Stephen Fry – Harry Potter Audiobooks|website= hpaudiobooks.com|access-date= 8 August 2022}}</ref> Since 2011, Fry has served as president of the mental health charity [[Mind (charity)|Mind]].<ref name="mind" /> In 2025, Fry was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] for services to mental health awareness, the environment and charity.

==Early life and education==
[[File:Stephen Fry at Norcat (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Fry at rehearsals for a student production of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' at [[Norfolk College of Arts and Technology]], 1975]]
Stephen John Fry was born on 24 August 1957 in the [[Hampstead]] area of London,<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.16544|title=Fry, Stephen John, (born 24 Aug. 1957), writer, actor, comedian|journal=[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]|year=2007}}</ref> the son of historian Marianne Eve Fry (née Neumann) and physicist and inventor Alan John Fry (1930–2019).<ref>[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/alan-fry-obituary?pid=191733604 "Alan John Fry obituary"]. ''The Times''. Retrieved 30 July 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/all-or-nothingness-20100625-z9dy.html|title=All or nothing for Stephen Fry|first=Stephanie|last=Bunbury|date=26 June 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref name="whothink">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/wdytya_s2_celeb_gallery_03.shtml|title=BBC - Family History - WDYTYA? Series Two: Celebrity Gallery|publisher=BBC}}</ref> He has an older brother, Roger, and a younger sister, Joanna.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/jun/04/stephen-fry-hugh-laurie-television|title=A bout of Fry v Laurie|first=Stuart|last=Jeffries|date=4 June 2009|work=The Guardian}}</ref> His paternal grandmother, Ella Fry (née Pring), had roots in [[Cheshire]] and [[Kent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/stephen-fry-discovers-that-he-too-is-just-another-ruddy-peasant-1.30906|title=Stephen Fry discovers that he too is 'just another ruddy peasant'|date=26 January 2006|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/stephen-fry|title=Stephen Fry|first=Matt|last=Elton|date=29 June 2009|work=Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine|access-date=28 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625131735/http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/stephen-fry|archive-date=25 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Fry family originates around the [[Shillingstone]] and [[Blandford]] areas of [[Dorset]]; in the early 1800s, Samuel Fry settled in [[Surrey]], with his descendants residing in [[Middlesex]].<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Frederick Arthur |editor-last=Crisp |title=Visitation of England and Wales |volume=20 |url=https://archive.org/details/visitationofengl20howa/page/41/mode/1up|year=1917 |pages=41–44 |publisher=Privately printed |location=London}}</ref> In his autobiographical writings and elsewhere, Fry has claimed relationship to the Fry family that founded the [[J. S. Fry & Sons|eponymous chocolate company]], [[John Fry (regicide)|John Fry]] (one of the signatories to the death warrant for [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]),<ref>{{Cite book|title=Moab is My Washpot|last=Fry|first=Stephen|publisher=Arrow|year=2004|isbn=9780099457046|pages=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3/page/163 163]|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3}}</ref><ref name="Soupy Twists">{{cite book |author=Jem Roberts |year=2018 |title=Soupy Twists!: The Full Official Story of the Sophisticated Silliness of Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie |publisher=Unbound |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv4mPtlqrPc&t=0m40s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/Gv4mPtlqrPc| archive-date=28 October 2021|title=QI: Why Did Hitler Have A Silly Moustache?| date=August 2018| via=YouTube|access-date=21 August 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the cricketer [[C. B. Fry]].<ref>''[[QI]]'', Episode 1x8 ("Albania"), 30 October 2003</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Luck |first1=Richard |title=Stephen Fry |url=https://www.esquireme.com/culture/film-and-tv/stephen-fry |access-date=5 December 2019 |work=Esquire Middle East |date=17 June 2014 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205083717/https://www.esquireme.com/culture/film-and-tv/stephen-fry |archive-date=5 December 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Fry's mother is Jewish, but he was not brought up in a religious family.<ref name=guard5>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jun/05/religion.hayfestival2005|title=I saw hate in a graveyard – Stephen Fry|first=David|last=Smith|work=The Observer|date=5 June 2005|access-date=7 June 2013|location=London}}</ref> His maternal grandparents, Martin and Rosa Neumann,<ref name=whothink/> were [[Hungarian Jews]] who emigrated from [[Šurany]] (now in [[Slovakia]]) to the UK in 1927. Rosa's parents, who originally lived in [[Vienna]], were deported to a [[Riga Ghetto|Nazi ghetto in Riga]], where they were killed.<ref name=whothink/><ref name=guard5/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Alan|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/candles-light-heart-of-darkness-vzh6rfhbkbc|title=Candles light heart of darkness|newspaper=[[The Times]]|access-date=4 February 2009|location=London|date=28 January 2005|url-access=subscription}}</ref> His mother's aunt and cousins were sent to [[Auschwitz]] and [[Stutthof]] and never seen again.<ref name=whothink/>

Fry grew up in the village of [[Booton, Norfolk]], having moved at an early age from [[Chesham|Chesham, Buckinghamshire]], where he had attended Chesham Preparatory School. He briefly attended Cawston Primary School in [[Cawston, Norfolk]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cawstonparish.info/Web%20Sites%20&%20Books%20About%20Cawston.htm|title=Cawston Parish in Norfolk|publisher=Cawstonparish.info|access-date=4 February 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725062633/http://www.cawstonparish.info/Web%20Sites%20%26%20Books%20About%20Cawston.htm|archive-date=25 July 2008}}</ref> before going on to [[Stouts Hill]] Preparatory School in [[Uley|Uley, Gloucestershire]], at the age of seven, and then to [[Uppingham School]] in [[Rutland]], where he joined Fircroft house and was described as a "near-asthmatic genius".<ref>''Fry and Laurie Reunited'', 2010 ([[Gold (UK TV channel)|Gold]])</ref> <!--He never attended Gresham's School in Holt. He has said this himself in his book 'Stephen Fry in America', as well as even coming to this article himself to remove that information. --> He took his [[GCE Ordinary Level (United Kingdom)|O-levels]] in 1972 at the early age of 14 and passed all except physics,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Moab is My Washpot|last=Fry|first=Stephen|publisher=Arrow|year=2004|isbn=9780099457046|pages=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3/page/342 342]|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3}}</ref> but was expelled from Uppingham half a term into the sixth form.<ref>{{Cite book|title=More Fool Me|last=Fry|first=Stephen|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2015|isbn=9781405918831|pages=[https://archive.org/details/morefoolme0000frys/page/46 46]|url=https://archive.org/details/morefoolme0000frys}}</ref> Fry described himself as a "monstrous" child and wrote that he was expelled for "various misdemeanours".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fry |first1=Stephen |title=Stephen Fry |url=https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/stephen-fry |website=tes.com |publisher=TES Magazine |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> He was later dismissed from [[Paston School]], a grant-maintained grammar school that refused to let him progress to study A-Levels.

Fry moved to [[Norfolk College of Arts and Technology]], where, after two years in the sixth form studying English, French, and History of Art,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Soupy Twists! The Full Official Story of the Sophisticated Silliness of Fry and Laurie|last=Roberts|first=Jem|publisher=Unbound|year=2018|isbn=9781783524518|page=69}}</ref> he ultimately failed his A-Levels, not turning up for his English and French papers.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Moab Is My Washpot|last=Fry|first=Stephen|publisher=Arrow|year=2004|isbn=9780099457046|pages=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3/page/386 386]|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3}}</ref> Over the summer, Fry absconded with a credit card stolen from a family friend.<ref name="Moab">{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|title=Moab Is My Washpot&nbsp;– An Autobiography|publisher=[[Hutchinson (publisher)|Hutchinson]]|location=London|year=1997|pages=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys/page/305 305–335]|isbn=978-0-09-180161-8|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys}}</ref> He had taken a coat when leaving a pub, planning to spend the night sleeping rough, but had then discovered the card in a pocket.<ref name=Grylls/> He was arrested in [[Swindon]] and, as a result, spent three months in [[HM Prison Ashfield|Pucklechurch Remand Centre]] on [[Remand (detention)|remand]]. Following his release, he resumed his education at [[City College Norwich]], promising administrators that he would study rigorously and sit the [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] entrance exams. In 1977 he passed two [[A-level]]s in English and French, with grades of A and B. He also received a grade A in an alternative O-level in the Study of Art<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leishman |first=Fiona |date=14 August 2020 |title=Cambridge University's famous faces and what they studied |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-university-celebrities-footlights-famous-18753090 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314160407/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-university-celebrities-footlights-famous-18753090 |archive-date=14 March 2024 |access-date=14 March 2024 |website=Cambridgeshire Live |language=en}}</ref> and scored a distinction in an [[S-level]] paper in English. Having successfully passed the entrance exams in 1977, Fry was offered a scholarship to [[Queens' College, Cambridge]], for matriculation in 1978, briefly teaching at Cundall Manor School,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fry |first=Stephen |url=https://yes-pdf.com/electronic-book/1697 |title=The Fry chronicles: an autobiography |date=2011 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-103980-0 |location=London |pages=39 |chapter=C is for Cigarettes |access-date=14 March 2024 |archive-date=14 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314161326/https://yes-pdf.com/electronic-book/1697 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|preparatory school]] in North Yorkshire, before taking his place.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Soupy Twists! The Full Official Story of the Sophisticated Silliness of Fry and Laurie|last=Roberts|first=Jem|publisher=Unbound|year=2018|isbn=9781783524518|page=56}}</ref> At Cambridge, he joined the [[Footlights]], appeared on the ''[[University Challenge]]'' TV quiz,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/University_Challenge |title=University Challenge page at UK Game Shows |access-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105095425/http://ukgameshows.com/ukgs/University_Challenge |archive-date=5 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and read English Literature, graduating with an [[upper second-class honours]] [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] degree in 1981 (subsequently promoted automatically to a [[Master of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin)|Cambridge MA]] degree).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://humanism.org.uk/about/our-people/distinguished-supporters/stephen-fry/|title=Stephen Fry. Actor, comedian, writer, presenter, and distinguished supporter of Humanism|work=British Humanist Association|access-date=7 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://literature.britishcouncil.org/stephen-fry|title=Stephen Fry|work=British Council: Literature|access-date=7 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513172241/http://literature.britishcouncil.org/stephen-fry|archive-date=13 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fry also met his future comedy collaborator [[Hugh Laurie]] (through their mutual friend [[Emma Thompson]]) at Cambridge and starred alongside him in the Footlights.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fry And Laurie Reunited |url=https://gold.uktv.co.uk/shows/fry-and-laurie/ |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=[[UK Gold]] |archive-date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620004557/https://gold.uktv.co.uk/shows/fry-and-laurie/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Career==
=== 1981–1993: Sketch comedy beginnings ===
Fry wrote the play ''[[Latin! or Tobacco and Boys]]'' for the 1980 [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Festival]], where it won the [[Fringe First]] prize.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thinknoevil.com/latin_review.htm|title=Reviews for Latin!|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717044937/http://www.thinknoevil.com/latin_review.htm|archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> It had a revival in 2009 at London's [[Cock Tavern Theatre]], directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.notesfromtheunderground.co.uk/fryandley.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727010942/http://www.notesfromtheunderground.co.uk/fryandley.html|archive-date=27 July 2009|title=Review of Latin!|publisher=Notesfromtheunderground.co.uk|access-date=11 November 2009}} Archived at Wayback Engine.</ref> ''The Cellar Tapes'', the Footlights Revue of 1981, won the [[Perrier Comedy Award]]. In 1984, Fry adapted the hugely successful 1930s musical ''[[Me and My Girl]]'' for the [[West End theatre|West End]], where it ran for eight years and received two [[Laurence Olivier Awards]]. The show transferred to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and Fry was nominated for a [[Tony Award]] for his adaptation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/stephen-fry-84850#Awards|title=Stephen Fry – Broadway Cast & Staff |website=IBDB}}</ref>

Fry has appeared in numerous advertisements, predominantly on UK television – either on-screen or in [[voice-over]] – starting with an appearance as "Count [[Ivan Skavinsky Skavar]]" in a 1982 advert for [[Whitbread]] [[bitter (beer)|Best Bitter]]. Fry has said, in his memoirs, that after receiving his payment for this work – £25,000 – he has never subsequently experienced "what one could call serious money troubles".<ref name=frychron>{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2010|title=The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0-7181-5483-7|title-link=The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography|pages=234–237|quote="Education is the sum of what students teach each other in between lectures and seminars"}}</ref> He has since appeared in adverts for products and companies such as [[Marks & Spencer]], [[Twinings]], [[Kenco]], [[Vauxhall Motors]], [[Honda]], [[Calpol]], [[Heineken]], [[Alliance & Leicester]] (a series of adverts which also featured Hugh Laurie),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dickason |first1=Renee |title=British Television Advertising: Cultural Identity and Communication |date=2000 |publisher=University of Luton Press |page=71}}</ref> [[After Eight]] mints, [[Direct Line Group|Direct Line]] insurance (with [[Paul Merton]]), [[Trebor (confectionery)|Trebor]] mints, [[Virgin Media]], [[Walkers (snack foods)|Walkers]] potato crisps (fronting a new flavour),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Rosie |title=Walkers to launch Stephen Fry crisps for Comic Relief |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/walkers-to-launch-stephen-fry-crisps-for-comic-relief/ |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=Marketing Week |date=14 January 2011}}</ref> and [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sainsbury's launches new motto with Stephen Fry advert |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/sainsburys-launches-new-motto-stephen-20696830 |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=Wales Online}}</ref> He filmed a 2016 advertisement where he explains the essence of British culture to foreigners arriving at London's [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Stephen Fry's guide to being British|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/12081397/Stephen-Frys-guide-to-being-British.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105112822/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/12081397/Stephen-Frys-guide-to-being-British.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2016|work=The Telegraph|date=13 November 2016}}</ref>

Fry's career in television began with the 1982 broadcasting of ''[[Cambridge Footlights Revue#1981 revue|The Cellar Tapes]]'', the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue<ref>{{cite magazine| title= The Cambridge Footlights Revue - BBC Two England - 20 May 1982| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a1a1b9be8e814ea9bf2a6a9086baf7f3| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201113030650/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a1a1b9be8e814ea9bf2a6a9086baf7f3| url-status= dead| archive-date= 13 November 2020| magazine= [[Radio Times]]| issue= 3053| date= 13 May 1982| page= 63| access-date= 24 May 2021}}</ref> which was written by Fry, [[Hugh Laurie]], [[Emma Thompson]], and [[Tony Slattery]]. The revue caught the attention of [[Granada Television]], who, keen to replicate the success of the BBC's ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', hired Fry, Laurie and Thompson to star alongside [[Ben Elton]] in ''[[There's Nothing to Worry About!]]'' A second series, retitled ''[[Alfresco (TV series)|Alfresco]]'', was broadcast in 1983, and a third in 1984; it established Fry and Laurie's reputation as a comedy double act. In 1983, the BBC offered Fry, Laurie and Thompson their own show, which became ''[[The Crystal Cube]]'', a mixture of science fiction and [[mockumentary]] that was cancelled after the first episode. Undeterred, Fry, Laurie and Thompson appeared in "[[Bambi (The Young Ones)|Bambi]]", an episode of ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'' from 1984 where they parodied themselves as the ''[[University Challenge]]'' representatives of "Footlights College, Oxbridge",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/hawkslane/231/yo21.html |title=The Young Ones – Bambi |access-date=10 February 2007 |work=Transcription of the "Young Ones" episode "Bambi" as it aired on American MTV in the mid-'80s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309155934/http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/hawkslane/231/yo21.html |archive-date=9 March 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Fry also appeared in Ben Elton's 1985 ''[[Happy Families (1985 TV series)|Happy Families]]'' series. In April 1986, Fry was among the British comedians who appeared in the first live telethon [[Comic Relief]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=Jem |title=Soupy Twists!: The Full Official Story of the Sophisticated Silliness of Fry and Laurie |date=2018 |publisher=Unbound Publishing}}</ref> In 1986 and 1987, Fry and Laurie performed sketches on the LWT/Channel 4 show ''[[Saturday Live (UK TV series)|Saturday Live]]''.

In 1986, the BBC commissioned a sketch show that was to become ''[[A Bit of Fry & Laurie]]''. Following a 1987 pilot, the programme ran for 26 episodes across four series between 1989 and 1995. During this time, Fry starred in ''[[Blackadder II]]'' as Lord Melchett, made a guest appearance in ''[[Blackadder#Series 3: Blackadder the Third|Blackadder the Third]]'' as [[the Duke of Wellington]], then returned to a starring role in ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', as General Melchett. In a 1988 television special, ''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]'', he played the roles of Lord Melchett and Lord Frondo. Between 1990 and 1993, Fry starred as [[Jeeves]] (alongside Hugh Laurie's [[Bertie Wooster]]) in ''[[Jeeves and Wooster]]'', 23 hour-long adaptations of [[P. G. Wodehouse]]'s novels and short stories.<ref>{{Screenonline TV title|1060579}}</ref> Fry has appeared in a number of BBC adaptations of plays and books, including a 1992 adaptation of the Simon Gray play ''[[The Common Pursuit]]'' (he had previously appeared in the West End stage production).

Having made his film début in ''[[The Good Father]]'' (1985), followed by a brief cameo in ''[[A Fish Called Wanda]]'' (1988; getting clobbered by [[Kevin Kline]] in an airport), Fry was then featured by [[Kenneth Branagh]] as the eponymous Peter in ''[[Peter's Friends]]'' (1992). Fry came to the attention of radio listeners with the 1986 creation of his alter-ego, [[Donald Trefusis]], whose "wireless essays" were broadcast on the BBC Radio 4 programme ''[[Loose Ends (radio programme)|Loose Ends]]''. In the 1980s, he starred as David Lander in four series of the BBC Radio 4 show ''[[Delve Special]]'', written by [[Tony Sarchet]], which then became the six-part Channel 4 series ''[[This is David Lander]]'' in 1988. In 1988, Fry wrote and presented a six-part comedy series entitled ''[[Saturday Night Fry]]''. Frequent radio appearances have ensued, notably on panel games ''[[Just a Minute]]'' and ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue]]''.

Fry was cast in Simon Gray's ''[[The Common Pursuit]]'' for its first staging in the West End on 7 April 1988, with [[Rik Mayall]], [[John Sessions]], Sarah Berger, Paul Mooney and [[John Gordon Sinclair]], directed by Simon Gray.<ref>[http://simongray.org.uk/common-pursuit-other.html The Common Pursuit: other productions on the Simon Gray website] Retrieved 18 August 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105193227/http://simongray.org.uk/common-pursuit-other.html |date=5 November 2013 }}</ref> Fry is a long-standing fan of the anarchic British musical comedy group the [[Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band]], and particularly of its eccentric front man, the late [[Vivian Stanshall]]. Fry helped to fund a 1988 London re-staging of Stanshall's ''[[Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera]]'', written by Vivian and [[Ki Longfellow]]-Stanshall for the [[Bristol]]-based [[The Thekla|Old Profanity Showboat]].

=== 1994–2008: Film roles, voice work and ''QI'' ===
[[File:Napoleon Sarony - Oscar Wilde.JPG|thumb|upright|Fry called Oscar Wilde ''(pictured)'' in the 1997 film ''[[Wilde (film)|Wilde]]'' a role he was "born to play".<ref name="Fry Oscar"/>]]
Fry's first novel, ''[[The Liar (novel)|The Liar]],'' was published in [[#CITEREFFry1991|1991]]. Fry has since written three further novels, several non-fiction works and three volumes of autobiography. ''[[Making History (novel)|Making History]]'' ([[#CITEREFFry1996|1996]]) is partly set in an alternative universe in which [[Adolf Hitler]]'s [[Alois Hitler|father]] is made infertile and his replacement proves a more effective Führer. The book won the [[Sidewise Award for Alternate History]]. ''[[The Hippopotamus]]'' ([[#CITEREFFry1994|1994]]) is about Edward (Ted/Tedward) Wallace and his stay at his old friend Lord Logan's country manor in Norfolk. ''The Hippopotamus'' was later adapted into [[The Hippopotamus (film)|a 2017 film]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Sheri|last=Linden|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hippopotamus-962931|title='The Hippopotamus': Film Review – Palm Springs 2017|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=18 January 2017}}</ref> ''[[The Stars' Tennis Balls]]'' ([[#CITEREFFry2000b|2000]]) is a modern retelling of ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]''. Fry's book ''[[The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within]]'' is a guide to writing poetry.

When writing a book review for ''[[Tatler]]'', Fry wrote under a pen name, Williver Hendry, editor of ''A Most Peculiar Friendship: The Correspondence of Lord Alfred Douglas and Jack Dempsey'', a field close to his heart as an Oscar Wilde enthusiast. Once a columnist in ''[[The Listener (magazine)|The Listener]]'' and ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', he wrote a weekly technology column in the Saturday edition of ''[[The Guardian]]''. His blog attracted more than 300,000 visitors in its first two weeks.<ref name="Stephen Fry I Give Up" />

Fry was cast in a lead role in Simon Gray's 1995 play ''[[Cell Mates (play)|Cell Mates]]'', which he left three days into the West End run, pleading [[stage fright]]. He later recalled the incident as a [[hypomanic]] episode in his documentary about [[bipolar disorder]], ''[[The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive]]''. He acted in a 1998 [[Malcolm Bradbury]] adaptation of the [[Mark Tavener]] novel ''[[In the Red (novel)|In the Red]]'', taking the part of the Controller of [[BBC Radio 2]]; and in 2000 in the role of Professor Bellgrove in the BBC serial ''[[Gormenghast (TV serial)|Gormenghast]]'', which was adapted from the first two novels of [[Mervyn Peake]]'s ''[[Gormenghast (series)|Gormenghast]]'' series. In the 1994 romantic comedy film [[I.Q. (film)|''I.Q.'']], he played the role of James Moreland. Portraying his idol [[Oscar Wilde]] (of whom he had been an ardent admirer since the age of 13) in the 1997 film ''[[Wilde (film)|Wilde]]'', he fulfilled the role to critical acclaim.<ref name="Fry Oscar">{{cite news |title=Stephen Fry on The Meaning of Life |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2015/0129/676394-watch-stephen-fry-on-the-meaning-of-life/ |access-date=19 April 2020 |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}</ref> It earned him a [[Golden Globe]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Best Actor – Drama]]. In 1997, he also had a cameo in the [[Spice Girls]] film ''[[Spice World (film)|Spice World]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spice World: the Movie |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/wqtc/spice-world-the-movie/ |access-date=10 April 2019 |work=Radio Times |archive-date=8 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408152925/https://www.radiotimes.com/film/wqtc/spice-world-the-movie/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A year later, Fry starred in [[David Yates]]' small independent film ''[[The Tichborne Claimant (film)|The Tichborne Claimant]]'', and in 2001, he played the detective in [[Robert Altman]]'s period costume drama, ''[[Gosford Park]]''. In the same year, he also appeared in the Dutch film ''[[The Discovery of Heaven]]'', directed by [[Jeroen Krabbé]] and based on the novel by [[Harry Mulisch]].

In 2000, he began starring as Charles Prentiss in the Radio 4 comedy ''[[Absolute Power (comedy)|Absolute Power]]'', reprising the role for three further series on radio, and two on television. In 2002, he played [[The Minister of Chance]] in the Doctor Who audio drama ''[[Death Comes to Time]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctor Who: Death Comes to Time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/cd/deathcomestotime/ |access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref> In 2002, Fry was one of the narrators of [[A. A. Milne]]'s ''Winnie-the-Pooh'' and ''The House at Pooh Corner'', in which he voiced [[Winnie-the-Pooh]]. He presented a 20-part, two-hour series, ''[[Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music|The Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music]]'', a "witty guide" to the genre over the past 1,000 years, on [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]. In 2004 he was the narrator for an adaptation of ''[[Vanity Fair (novel)|Vanity Fair]]'' on BBC Radio 4.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jvwb |access-date=9 May 2022 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Fry has been the reader for the British versions of all of [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series of audiobooks. He discussed this project in an interview with Rowling in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076w0r |title=Living with Harry Potter |work=BBC Radio 4 |date=10 December 2005}}</ref> He has also read for [[Douglas Adams]]' ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' film tie-in edition and has made recordings of his own books, such as ''[[The Stars' Tennis Balls]]'' and ''[[Moab Is My Washpot]]'', and of works by [[Roald Dahl]], [[Michael Bond]], [[A. A. Milne]], [[Anthony Buckeridge]], [[Eleanor Updale]], [[George Orwell]], and [[Alexander Pushkin]].

In 2003, Fry began hosting ''QI'' (Quite Interesting), a comedy [[panel game]] television [[quiz show]]. ''QI'' was created and co-produced by [[John Lloyd (producer)|John Lloyd]], and features permanent panellist [[Alan Davies]]. ''QI'' has the highest viewing figures for any show on [[BBC Four]] and [[Dave (channel)|Dave]] (formerly UKTV G2).<ref>[http://www.qi.com/tv/audience.php ''QI''.com] Audience figures. Retrieved 21 June 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207132649/http://www.qi.com/tv/audience.php |date=7 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Stephen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/dec/17/digitaltvradio|title=Have you got your daily male?|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 December 2007|date=17 December 2007|location=London}}</ref> In 2006, Fry won the [[Rose d'Or]] award for "Best Game Show Host" for his work on the series. In October 2015, it was announced that Fry would retire as the host of ''QI'' after the "M" series, and he was replaced by [[Sandi Toksvig]].<ref name="Stephen Fry steps down as QI host">{{cite web|title=Stephen Fry steps down as QI host|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/stephen-fry-qi|access-date=21 November 2015}}</ref>

Towards the end of 2003, Fry starred alongside [[John Bird (actor)|John Bird]] in the television adaptation of ''[[Absolute Power (comedy)|Absolute Power]]'', previously a radio series on BBC Radio 4. Fry's first documentary was the [[Emmy Award]]-winning ''[[Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive]]'' in 2006.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8336425.stm "Fry ends row with Twitter critic"]. BBC. 1 November 2009.</ref> The same year, he appeared on the BBC's genealogy series ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', tracing his maternal family tree to investigate his Jewish ancestry.<ref name="BBC Who Do You Think You Are">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/stephen-fry.shtml|title=Who Do You Think You Are? – Past Stories – Stephen Fry|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> In 2003, Fry made his directorial début with ''[[Bright Young Things (film)|Bright Young Things]]'', adapted by him from [[Evelyn Waugh]]'s ''[[Vile Bodies]]''. In 2001, he began hosting the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts#Awards presented in London|BAFTA Film Awards]], a role from which he stepped down in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5413838.stm|title=Fry quits as host of film Baftas|work=BBC News|date=6 October 2006|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> Later that same year, he wrote the English [[libretto]] and dialogue for [[Kenneth Branagh]]'s film adaptation of ''[[The Magic Flute (2006 film)|The Magic Flute]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/kenneth-branaghs-2006-film-of-the-magic-flute-finally-arrives/2013/06/26/19dc708a-de47-11e2-b797-cbd4cb13f9c6_story.html|title=Kenneth Branagh's 2006 film of 'The Magic Flute' finally arrives|last=Midgette|first=Anne|date=28 June 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=5 January 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Fry continued to make regular film appearances, notably in treatments of literary cult classics. He portrayed the clairvoyant [[Maurice Woodruff]] in ''[[The Life and Death of Peter Sellers]]'' and served as narrator in the [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)|2005 film version of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'']].  In 2005, he appeared in ''[[A Cock and Bull Story]]'', based on ''[[Tristram Shandy]]''.  In the same year, in ''[[V for Vendetta (film)|V for Vendetta]]'', he played a [[closeted]] TV presenter who challenges a [[fascist]] state - the screenwriters, [[The Wachowskis]], pointed out that it was Fry's "normalcy" in the face of the insanity of the censorship of BTV that made his character truly powerful and added a "wholly unexpected dimension to the film".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liquida.com/wachowski-brothers-interview/ |title=Wachowski Brothers Interview |publisher=Liquida.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917103415/http://www.liquida.com/wachowski-brothers-interview/ |archive-date=17 September 2011 }}</ref> Fry performed several of Stanshall's numbers as part of the Bonzos' 2006 reunion concert at the [[London Astoria]].

In 2006, he played the role of gadget-master Smithers in ''[[Stormbreaker (film)|Stormbreaker]]'', and in 2007, he appeared as himself hosting a quiz in ''[[St Trinian's (2007 film)|St Trinian's]]''. In 2007, Fry wrote, for director [[Peter Jackson]], a script for a [[Dambusters (2008 film)|remake]] of ''[[The Dam Busters (film)|The Dam Busters]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Adam|last=Dawtrey|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/bbc-celebrates-fry-s-birthday-1117973025/|title=script writer for Dambusters film|magazine=Variety|access-date=4 February 2009|date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123151601/http://variety.com/article/VR1117973025.html?categoryid=2523&cs=1|archive-date=23 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> That year he also appeared in ''[[Eichmann (film)|Eichmann]]'' (2007).<ref>{{cite news |title='Eichmann' - Movie Review |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/movies/12eichmann.html |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=12 November 2010 |last1=Hale |first1=Mike }}</ref> Fry narrated ''[[The Story of Light Entertainment]]'', which was shown from July–September 2006.<ref name="BBC Story of Light Entertainment">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0093t86|title=BBC Two – History of Light Entertainment (20:00)|publisher=BBC|date=12 May 2012|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> In 2007, he presented a documentary on the subject of HIV and AIDS, ''HIV and Me''.<ref name="Telegraph October 2007">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3668295/Last-night-on-television-Stephen-Fry-HIV-and-Me-BBC2-Great-British-Journeys-BBC2.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3668295/Last-night-on-television-Stephen-Fry-HIV-and-Me-BBC2-Great-British-Journeys-BBC2.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=James|last=Walton|title=Last night on television: Stephen Fry: HIV and Me (BBC2) – Great British Journeys (BBC2)|date=3 October 2007 |access-date=23 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2007, Fry wrote a Christmas pantomime, ''[[Cinderella#Pantomime|Cinderella]]'', which ran at London's [[Old Vic Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whatson.php?id=37 |title=Old Vic Theatre&nbsp;– Cinderella |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927085436/http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whatson.php?id=37 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> In 2007, he hosted ''Current Puns'', an exploration of wordplay, and ''Radio 4: This Is Your Life'', to celebrate the radio station's 40th anniversary. He also interviewed the Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] as part of a series of podcasts released by [[10 Downing Street]].<ref name="number10 12045">{{cite web|url=http://number10.gov.uk/page12045 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100406114112/http://number10.gov.uk/page12045 |url-status=dead |archive-date= 6 April 2010 |date=1 March 2007 |title=Stephen Fry interviews Tony Blair |access-date=23 May 2012 }}</ref> He also narrated the first four ''[[Harry Potter]]'' games: ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (PlayStation video game)|Philosopher's Stone]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)|Chamber of Secrets]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)|Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', and ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)|Goblet of Fire]]''.

From 2007 to 2009, Fry played the lead role in (and was executive producer for) the legal drama ''[[Kingdom (British TV series)|Kingdom]]'', which ran for three series on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a181343/itv-axes-stephen-frys-kingdom.html|title=ITV axes Stephen Fry's 'Kingdom'|work=Digital Spy|date=9 October 2009|access-date=11 November 2009|archive-date=8 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308154641/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a181343/itv-axes-stephen-frys-kingdom.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Starting from 2007, he took a recurring guest role as [[FBI]] psychiatrist Dr. (later chef) [[Gordon Wyatt]] in the popular American drama ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]''.

=== 2009–2014: Return to theatre and documentaries ===
[[File:Stephen Fry Book Signing.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Fry signing autographs at the [[Apple Store]], [[Regent Street]], London in 2009]]

In February 2008, Fry began presenting podcasts entitled ''[[Stephen Fry's Podgrams]]'', in which he recounts his life and recent experiences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/category/media/audio/|title=Stephen Fry's Podgrams|date=27 July 2009 }} The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry. Retrieved 30 August 2013.</ref> In July 2008, he appeared as himself in ''I Love Stephen Fry'', an ''[[Afternoon Play]]'' for Radio 4 written by former ''[[Fry and Laurie]]'' script editor [[Jon Canter]].<ref>''Radio Times'' 28 June – 4 July 2008: Fry's a Dream Date</ref> On 7 May 2008, Fry gave a speech as part of a series of BBC lectures on the future of [[public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom]],<ref name="future">{{cite web|title=BBC&nbsp;– The future role of public service broadcasting&nbsp;– Stephen Fry|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/thefuture/video_fry.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517101235/http://www.bbc.co.uk/thefuture/video_fry.shtml|archive-date=17 May 2008|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> which he later recorded for a [[podcast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2008/06/25/episode-4-broadcasting/|title=Stephen Fry's Podgrams|date=25 June 2008}} Broadcasting. Retrieved 30 August 2013.</ref> His six-part travel series ''[[Stephen Fry in America]]'' began on BBC One in October 2008, and saw him travel to each of the 50 US states.<ref name="Stephen Fry I Give Up">{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2007/10/21/i-give-up/|title=I Give Up|last=Fry|first= Stephen|publisher=stephenfry.com|date=21 October 2007|access-date=23 May 2012}}</ref> In the same year, he narrated the [[nature documentary|nature documentaries]] ''Spectacled Bears: Shadow of the Forest'' for the BBC ''[[Natural World]]'' series. In the 2009 television series ''[[Last Chance to See (TV series)|Last Chance to See]]'', Fry and zoologist [[Mark Carwardine]] sought out endangered species, some of which had been featured in [[Douglas Adams]]' and Carwardine's [[Last Chance to See|1990 book and radio series of the same name]].<ref name="BBC Last Chance to See">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2009/wk36/last_chance_feature.shtml|title=Last Chance to See|publisher=BBC Press Office|access-date=11 November 2009}}</ref>

Fry's voice has been featured in a number of video games, including an appearance as Reaver, an amoral supporting character in [[Lionhead Studios]] games ''[[Fable II]]'' (2008) and ''[[Fable III]]'' (2010), and as the narrator of the ''[[LittleBigPlanet]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/05/10/littlebigplanet-2-for-ps3-officially-announced-for-winter-2010/#comment-401630|title=LittleBigPlanet 2 for PS3 Officially Announced for Winter 2010! – PlayStation Blog|publisher=Blog.us.playstation.com|date=10 May 2010|access-date=14 June 2010}} He is also voiced in [[PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale]], a crossover fighting game, as the same character in LittleBigPlanet for Sackboy's story in the game.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/news/stephen-fry-lending-british-charm|title=Stephen Fry Lending British Charm to Little Big Planet PSP|last=Watts|first=Steve|date=21 April 2009|website=1UP.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311005212/http://www.1up.com/news/stephen-fry-lending-british-charm|archive-date=11 March 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref> He also narrates a section of Bungie's ''[[Destiny 2]]'' (2017) expansion Warmind as the "Concierge"; an AI that, when interacted with at certain points, will give the player background information on Bray Exoscience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/destiny-2/destiny-2-warmind-stephen-fry|title=Stephen Fry is in Destiny 2: Warmind|website=PCGamesN|date=9 May 2018 }}</ref> In 2008, Fry's narration for Bond's [[Paddington Bear]] story ''More About Paddington'' (1959) saw him receive the [[Audie Award]] for [[Audie Award for Young Listeners' Title|Young Listeners' Title]] from the [[Audio Publishers Association]] in the U.S.<ref name="Paddington"/>

Since August 2008, he has presented ''[[Fry's English Delight]]'', a series on BBC Radio 4 about the English language.<ref name="BBC Radio 4 September 2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lv1k1|title=BBC Radio 4 – Program Guide for ''Fry's English Delight''|publisher=BBC|date=8 September 2008|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> As of 2021, it has been running for ten series and 37 episodes. In the 2009 series of ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'', Fry was one of a trio of hosts replacing [[Humphrey Lyttelton]] (the others being [[Jack Dee]] and [[Rob Brydon]]).<ref name="BBC News June 2009">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8097368.stm|title=Life after Humph|date=15 June 2009|work=BBC News|first=Graham|last=Satchell|access-date=6 January 2010}}</ref> Fry was offered a role in ''[[Valkyrie (film)|Valkyrie]]'', but was unable to participate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: Series 16: Episode 1|work=[[BBC iPlayer]]|date=23 January 2009|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fm6wz|access-date=24 January 2009|archive-date=27 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127054052/http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fm6wz/Friday_Night_with_Jonathan_Ross_Series_16_Episode_1/|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2009, Fry unveiled ''The Dongle of Donald Trefusis'', an audiobook series following Donald Trefusis (a fictional character from Fry's novel ''The Liar'' and from the BBC Radio 4 series ''[[Loose Ends (radio)|Loose Ends]]''), set over 12 episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/dongle/|title=The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry – The Dongle of Donald Trefusis – Episode 3 now available|publisher=Stephenfry.com|access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref> After its release, it reached No. 1 on the [[UK Album Chart]] list. Ultimately however only three episodes were released, the rest with the note 'exact release date pending'. Fry's use of the word "[[wikt:luvvy|luvvie]]" (spelled "lovie" by Fry), in ''The Guardian'' on 2 April 1988, is given by the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' as the earliest recorded use of the word as a humorous synonym for "actor".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00298007 |title=Luvvie, n |work=[[Oxford English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford, England|date=1 March 2008 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629021537/http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00298007 |archive-date=29 June 2011 }} (requires subscription)</ref> Fry was, at one time, slated to adapt ''[[A Confederacy of Dunces]]'' by [[John Kennedy Toole]] for the big screen.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alexander|last=Larman|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2019/07/31/confederacy-dunces-stephen-fry-decades-long-struggle-adapt-unfilmable/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2019/07/31/confederacy-dunces-stephen-fry-decades-long-struggle-adapt-unfilmable/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=A Confederacy of Dunces: Stephen Fry on his decades-long struggle to adapt the most unfilmable book ever written |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London, England|date=31 July 2019|access-date=24 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2009, Fry provided the voice of St Peter for ''Liberace, Live From Heaven'' by [[Julian Woolford]] at London's [[Leicester Square Theatre]]. In 2010, having learned some Irish for the role,<ref>[http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283503&tpl=archnews&force=1 "Stephen Fry Learns Irish for 'Ros na Rún'"]. IFTN.</ref> he filmed a cameo role in ''[[Ros na Rún]]'', an Irish-language soap opera broadcast in Ireland, Scotland and the US.<ref>Taylor, Charlie and Boland, Rosita. [https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1117/1224283529258.html "Stephen Fry to cameo in TG4 soap"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022153346/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1117/1224283529258.html |date=22 October 2012 }}. ''The Irish Times''. 17 November 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fry-set-for-ros-na-run-cameo-2423842.html "Stephen Fry set for Ros na Run cameo"]. ''Irish Independent''. 17 November 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11774998 "'Full Irish' Fry takes soap role"]. BBC News. 17 November 2010.</ref>

In 2010, Fry became an investor in Pushnote,<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Hear |first=Steve |date=13 January 2011 |title=Stephen Fry to Pimp Pushnote To His 2m Followers |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/13/stephen-fry-to-pimp-pushnote-to-his-2m-followers-will-it-work-2/ |website=Tech Crunch |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref> a UK tech startup. Similar to [[Google Sidewiki]], Pushnote was a browser add-on that enabled users to leave comments on any site they visit. The following year, Fry announced the Pushnote launch to his then 2 million Twitter followers. Both Pushnote and Sidewiki were discontinued the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stephen Fry's "Baby" Start-Up Shuts Down |url=https://www.silicon.co.uk/workspace/pushnote-shuts-down-82877 |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=Silicon.co.uk}}</ref> He also appeared as a shiny New Millennium Bonzo on their post-reunion album, ''[[Pour l'Amour des Chiens]]'', on which he recited a recipe for "Salmon Proust", played a butler in "Hawkeye the Gnu", and voiced ads for the fictitious "Fiasco" stores. Following three one-man shows in Australia, Fry announced a 'sort of stand-up' performance at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London for September 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/aug/12/stephen-fry-stand-up-show|title=Stephen Fry takes on stand-up comedy|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|date=13 August 2010|first=Mark|last=Brown}}</ref>
In 2010, Fry took part in a Christmas series of short films called ''Little Crackers''. His short was based on a story from his childhood at school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sky1.sky.com/Little-Crackers-Stephen-Fry-About|title=Stephen Fry – Little Crackers|publisher=Sky UK|access-date=22 October 2011}}</ref>

Fry appeared as the Christian God in 2011's ''[[Holy Flying Circus]]''. In 2011, he portrayed Professor Mildeye in the BBC adaptation of Mary Norton's 1952 novel ''[[The Borrowers (novel)|The Borrowers]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stephen Fry and Victoria Wood to star in The Borrowers |last= Frost|first= Vicky |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/jun/18/the-borrowers-christmas-bbc |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=26 December 2013}}</ref> In August 2011, ''Stephen Fry's 100 Greatest Gadgets'' was shown on [[Channel 4]] as one of the ''[[100 Greatest (UK TV series)|100 Greatest]]'' strand.<ref name="Channel 4 Greatest Gadgets">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephen-frys-100-greatest-gadgets|title=Stephen Fry's 100 Greatest Gadgets|publisher=Channel 4|access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> His choice for the greatest gadget was the cigarette lighter, which he described as "fire with a flick of the fingers".<ref name="Channel 4 Greatest Gadgets" /> In the same month, the nature documentary series ''[[Ocean Giants]]'', narrated by Fry, premiered. In September 2011, ''[[Fry's Planet Word]]'', a five-part documentary about language, aired on BBC HD and BBC Two.<ref name="Telegraph September 2011">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8787668/Stephen-Frys-Planet-Word-BBC-Two-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8787668/Stephen-Frys-Planet-Word-BBC-Two-review.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Stephen Fry's Planet Word, BBC Two, review| location=London| work=The Daily Telegraph|first=James|last=Walton|date=25 September 2011|access-date=23 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="rtword">{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-09-25/stephen-fry-shares-his-love-of-language-in-frys-planet-word|title=Stephen Fry shares his love of language in Fry's Planet Word|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=25 September 2011|access-date=12 October 2011|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927155038/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-09-25/stephen-fry-shares-his-love-of-language-in-frys-planet-word|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2011, an episode of ''Living The Life'' featured Fry in an intimate conversation discussing his life and career with [[The Rolling Stones]]' bass player [[Bill Wyman]].<ref name="Living The Life">{{cite web|title=Stephen Fry & Bill Wyman|url=http://www.livingthelife.co.uk/stephen-fry-bill-wyman|publisher=livingthelife.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2012|archive-date=9 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209160614/http://www.livingthelife.co.uk/stephen-fry-bill-wyman/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fry starred in the [[Tim Burton]] version of ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'', as the voice of the [[Cheshire Cat]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/20826-tim-burtons-alice-in-wonderland/|title=Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland|last=Mitchell|first=Lizzie|date=10 September 2009|magazine=[[The List (magazine)|The List]]|access-date=3 October 2009}}</ref> He played [[Mycroft Holmes]] in the 2011 film ''[[Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows]]'', directed by [[Guy Ritchie]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11417860|title=Stephen Fry to play Sherlock Holmes' brother on film|publisher=BBC|date=25 December 2009|access-date=28 September 2010}}</ref> He portrayed the [[Esgaroth#In other media|Master of Lake-town]] in two of [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Hobbit (film series)|three film adaptation]] of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Hobbit]]'': the second ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Bulbeck |first=Pip |title=Stephen Fry Joins 'The Hobbit' |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-fry-joins-hobbit-190364 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=20 May 2011 |date=19 May 2011}}</ref> and the third ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]''. In 2011, Fry appeared on [[Kate Bush]]'s album ''[[50 Words for Snow]]'', featuring on the title track where he recites a list of surreal words to describe snow.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kate Bush: 50 Words for Snow |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/nov/17/kate-bush-50-words-snow |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> In September 2012, Fry made a return to the stage at [[Shakespeare's Globe]], appearing as [[Malvolio]] in a production of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', which transferred to the West End in November 2012.<ref name=fry-globe-telegraph>{{cite news|title=Stephen Fry in Twelfth Night, Globe Theatre, first review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/9562248/Stephen-Fry-in-Twelfth-Night-Globe-Theatre-first-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/9562248/Stephen-Fry-in-Twelfth-Night-Globe-Theatre-first-review.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 November 2012|location=London|first=Dominic|last=Cavendish|date=24 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=fry-twelfthnight>{{cite news|title=Stephen Fry praised for return to West End stage|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20392831|work=BBC News|access-date=19 November 2012|date=19 November 2012}}</ref> He received excellent reviews.<ref name="fry-globe-telegraph"/><ref name="fry-twelfthnight"/> The production transferred to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], with Opening Night on 10 November 2013. Fry was nominated for the [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play]] for his work in the Broadway revival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shakespearebroadway.com/tickets.php|title=SpotCo – Entertainment & Arts Advertising|work=shakespearebroadway.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104114313/http://www.shakespearebroadway.com/tickets.php|archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/shows/201306261372267605607.html|title=The Tony Award Nominees – Shows|work=TonyAwards.com|access-date=30 June 2014|archive-date=21 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821085529/http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/shows/201306261372267605607.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2013, he lent his voice to the title role in [[Benjamin Britten]]'s operetta ''[[Paul Bunyan (operetta)|Paul Bunyan]]'' at the [[Wales Millennium Centre]] with the [[Welsh National Youth Opera]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wno.org.uk/paulbunyan|title=Paul Bunyan|access-date=27 August 2013|archive-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819021830/http://www.wno.org.uk/paulbunyan|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Stephen Fry @ BorderKitchen autograph.jpg|thumb|right|Fry signing one of his books in the Netherlands in 2011]]
In 2012, he appeared as a guest panellist in the BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show ''[[Wordaholics]]''.<ref name="BBC February 2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c7lk6|title=Radio 4 Programmes – Wordaholics, Episode 1|publisher=BBC|date=20 February 2012|access-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> In September 2012, he guest-starred as himself in the audio comedy drama ''We Are The BBC'', produced by the [[Wireless Theatre Company]], written by Susan Casanove.<ref name="Radio Today September 2012">{{cite web|title=Stephen Fry voices drama about the BBC|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/09/stephen-fry-voices-drama-about-the-bbc/|publisher=[[Radio Today (website)|Radio Today]]|date=11 September 2012|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> At the 2012 [[Pride of Britain Awards]] shown on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] on 30 October, Fry, along with [[Michael Caine]], [[Elton John]], [[Richard Branson]] and [[Simon Cowell]], recited [[Rudyard Kipling]]'s poem "[[If—]]" in tribute to the 2012 [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|British Olympic]] and [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|Paralympic]] athletes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Britain's biggest stars record iconic poem 'If' as tribute to Olympic heroes|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/britains-biggest-stars-record-iconic-poem-tribute-olympic-111750818.html|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=12 December 2014|access-date=22 November 2016|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123055658/https://www.yahoo.com/news/britains-biggest-stars-record-iconic-poem-tribute-olympic-111750818.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2012, Fry hosted a gadgets show called ''[[Gadget Man]]'', exploring the usefulness of various gadgets in different daily situations to improve the livelihoods of everyone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephen-fry-gadget-man |title=Stephen Fry: Gadget Man |publisher=Channel 4 |access-date=7 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527084102/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephen-fry-gadget-man |archive-date=27 May 2013 }}</ref>

In October 2013, Fry presented ''[[Stephen Fry: Out There]]'', a two-part documentary in which he explores attitudes to homosexuality and the lives of gay people in different parts of the globe.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Two announces return to Modern Times alongside raft of new documentaries|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/bbc2-docs-2013.html#section-2|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 August 2013|archive-date=28 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628213236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/bbc2-docs-2013.html#section-2|url-status=dead}}</ref> On Christmas Day 2013, Fry featured with adventurer [[Bear Grylls]] in an episode of [[Channel 4]]'s ''Bear's Wild Weekends''. Over the course of two days, in the Italian [[Dolomites]], Fry travelled on the skids of a helicopter, climbed down a raging 500-foot waterfall, slept in a [[First World War]] trench and abseiled down a towering cliff face.<ref name=Grylls>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/bears-wild-weekends/episode-guide |title=Bear's Wild Weekend with Stephen Fry, broadcast 25 December 2013 |publisher=Channel 4 |date=25 December 2013 |access-date=26 December 2013}}</ref> In June 2015, Fry was the guest on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''. His favourite piece was the [[String Quartet No. 14 (Beethoven)|String Quartet No. 14]] by Beethoven. His book choice was ''[[Four Quartets]]'' by [[T. S. Eliot]] and his luxury item was "canvasses, easels, brushes, an instruction manual".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05zg6ng|title=Stephen Fry|work=Desert Island Discs|publisher=BBC Radio 4 }}</ref>

Fry narrated the first two seasons of the English-language version of the Spanish children's animated series ''[[Pocoyo]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0487849/ |title=Let's Go, Pocoyo  |publisher=IMDb |date=22 November 2019 |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pocoyo.com/en/funny-videos/season-1 |title=Umbrella! |website=pocoyo.com |publisher=Zinkia Entertainment, S.A. |date=25 May 2018 |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> In 2014, he began starring alongside [[Kiefer Sutherland]] and [[William Devane]] in ''[[24: Live Another Day]]'' as British Prime Minister [[Alastair Davies]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25910270|title=Stephen Fry to play British PM in 24: Live Another Day|newspaper=BBC News|date=27 January 2014}}</ref> In July 2014, Fry appeared on stage with [[Monty Python]] on the opening night of their live show ''[[Monty Python Live (Mostly)]]''. Fry was the special guest in their "Blackmail" sketch.<ref>{{cite news |title='Monty Python Live (mostly) – One Down Five to Go' – Celebrity Blackmail|url=http://www.montypython.com/news_Celebrity-Blackmail/72 |access-date=20 August 2019 |agency=Monty Python.com}}</ref>

=== 2015–present ===
[[File:Stephen Fry June 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|Fry in 2016]]
On 17 September 2015, Fry shared the role of the Narrator in ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' which was staged at London's [[Playhouse Theatre]] and broadcast as the ''[[Rocky Horror Show Live]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Richard O'Brien: updating Rocky Horror Show 'would be manipulative' |work=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/richard-obrien-updating-rocky-horror-show-would-be-manipulative-a2945476.html |date=23 March 2017 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> In June 2015, Fry backed children's fairy tale app [[GivingTales]] in aid of [[UNICEF]] together with other British celebrities Sir [[Roger Moore]], [[Ewan McGregor]],  [[Joanna Lumley]], [[Michael Caine]], [[David Walliams]], Dame [[Joan Collins]], [[Charlotte Rampling]], [[Paul McKenna]] and [[Michael Ball]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Stuart|last=Dredge|title=Roger Moore backs children's fairytales app in aid of Unicef|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jun/18/roger-moore-childrens-app-unicef-givingtales|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 June 2015}}</ref> In 2015, Fry made a live audio recording of the winning short story of the annual RA & [[Pin Drop Studio|Pin Drop]] Short Story Award, ''Ms. Featherstone and the Beast'' by Bethan Roberts, at a ceremony held at the [[Royal Academy of Arts]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/podcast-stephen-fry-short-story-award|title=Podcast: Stephen Fry reads the winning story of the RA & Pin Drop Short Story Award {{!}} Blog {{!}} Royal Academy of Arts|website=Royalacademy.org.uk|access-date=8 August 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626230105/https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/podcast-stephen-fry-short-story-award|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2017, [[Audible (store)|Audible]] released ''Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection'', a complete collection of [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories, all read by Fry, who also narrated an introduction for each novel or collection of stories. In 2017, Fry also released his own audiobook on Audible, titled ''Mythos'',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Classics/Mythos-Audiobook/B071RLJWZX?ref=a_cat_Class_c8_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=2462b27a-82f2-4b34-a09c-092413ea54c0&pf_rd_r=197MJ889P4DZDTSFNZM9&|title=Audible.com: Audiobooks & Original Audio {{!}} Free book with 30 day Trial|via=Audible.co.uk|language=en|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> which he both wrote and narrated. In 2018, Fry released a follow-up to ''Mythos'', titled ''Heroes''.<ref name="audible.com">{{cite book|url=https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Heroes-Audiobook/1405940573?qid=1542807461&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=EW05A0XZC6SCT8BXSYEB&com/|title=Heroes Audiobook – Stephen Fry – Audible.co.uk|publisher=[[Audible (store)|Audible]]}}</ref> In June 2020, it was announced that Fry would read J. K. Rowling's children's book, ''[[The Ickabog]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kozlowski |first=Michael |url=https://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/j-k-rowling-ickabog-audiobook-ebook-and-hardcover-now-available |title=J.K. Rowling Ickabog |publisher=Good e-Reader |date=11 November 2020 |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> Fry is the patron of the audiobook charity Listening Books.<ref name="listening-books.org.uk">{{cite web |last=Fry |first=Stephen |title=Stephen Fry, Listening Books patron |url=http://www.listening-books.org.uk/stephen-fry-patron.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201012940/http://www.listening-books.org.uk/stephen-fry-patron.aspx |archive-date=1 December 2016 |access-date=3 January 2017 |website=}}</ref> Fry said of his patronage, "I'm proud and delighted to be patron of the first audiobook charity to offer downloads to its members and excited about what this will mean for all print impaired people who can now listen on-the-go."<ref name="listening-books.org.uk"/>

In January 2016, it was announced that Fry would be appearing as the character "Cuddly Dick" in Series 3 of the ''[[Sky One]]'' family comedy ''[[Yonderland]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-25/stephen-fry-joins-cast-of-sky-comedy-yonderland-as-cuddly-dick | title=Stephen Fry joins cast of Sky comedy Yonderland... as Cuddly Dick | work=[[Radio Times]] | date=25 January 2016 | access-date=25 January 2016 | author=Dowell, Ben | archive-date=26 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126095234/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-25/stephen-fry-joins-cast-of-sky-comedy-yonderland-as-cuddly-dick | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2016, Fry had a lead role in the American sitcom ''[[The Great Indoors (TV series)|The Great Indoors]]''. He portrayed an outdoor magazine publisher helping to ease his best worldly reporter ([[Joel McHale]]) into a desk job.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/stephen-fry-cast-the-great0indoors-cbs-comedy-pilot-1201720843/|title=Stephen Fry To Co-Star In CBS Comedy Pilot 'The Great Indoors'|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=15 March 2016}}</ref> The show was cancelled after one season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/the-great-indoors-canceled-cbs-1202425547/|title='The Great Indoors' Canceled After One Season at CBS|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=13 May 2017}}</ref> In November 2019, it was announced that Fry would guest star in "[[Spyfall (Doctor Who)|Spyfall]]", the two-part opening episode of ''[[Doctor Who]]''{{'}}s [[Doctor Who (series 12)|twelfth series]], which was broadcast on New Year's Day 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/dw-fry-henry|title=Stephen Fry and Sir Lenny Henry CBE to appear in the twelfth series of Doctor Who|work=BBC Media Centre|date=20 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/dw-spyfall|title=Doctor Who to land on Who Year's Day in Spyfall|work=BBC Media Centre|date=2 December 2019}}</ref> Fry also starred in the 2018 heist comedy film ''The Con Is On'', previously titled ''The Brits Are Coming''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Six More Join Uma Thurman in The Brits are Coming|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/476687-six-more-join-uma-thurman-in-the-brits-are-coming|access-date=28 August 2015|work=Comingsoon.net|date=27 August 2015}}</ref> From May to July 2018, Fry appeared in ''Mythos: A Trilogy,'' a stage version of his book [[Mythos (book)|''Mythos'']], in the [[Shaw Festival]] Theatre in [[Niagara-on-the-Lake]], Ontario. This comprised a set of three one-man shows (titled ''Gods'', ''Heroes'' and ''Men''), each two hours in length, which were performed consecutively, multiple times during the show's run.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fricker |first1=Karen |title=Mythos: Gods engages Shaw Festival audience with the mythology of Stephen Fry |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/review/2018/06/08/mythos-gods-engages-shaw-festival-audience-with-the-mythology-of-stephen-fry.html |access-date=6 July 2018 |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=8 June 2018}}</ref> The production received its European premiere in August 2019 at the [[Edinburgh International Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eif.co.uk/whats-on/mythos|title=Mythos: A Trilogy|date=22 May 2019|website=Edinburgh International Festival|language=en|access-date=22 May 2019}}{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In September 2020, Fry was among the stars to mark the 100th anniversary of Sir [[Noël Coward]]'s West End debut with a stage celebration titled "A Marvellous Party".<ref>{{cite news |title=All-star lineup celebrate Noël Coward's West End centenary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/sep/08/noel-coward-tribute-west-end-centenary-judi-dench-emma-thompson |access-date=4 September 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

He reprised his role as (a descendant of) Lord Melchett for ''[[The Big Night In]]'', a 20 April 2020 [[telethon]] held during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], for a skit in which he held a video call with [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]], who made a surprise appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/videos/19901/the-big-night-in-general-melchett-talks-to-prince-william/ |title=The Big Night In – General Melchett talks to Prince William  |publisher=British Comedy Guide |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{youTube|HuVdwEWrNkw|Prince William and Stephen Fry appear in comedy sketch for charity}}</ref> In 2022, Fry had a recurring role as biochemist [[Ian Gibbons (biochemist)|Ian Gibbons]] in the [[Hulu]] miniseries ''[[The Dropout]]'', which dramatizes the scandal involving biotechnology company [[Theranos]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/the-dropout-william-h-macy-laurie-metcalf-elizabeth-marvel-utkarsh-ambudkar-kate-burton-cast-ihulu-limited-series-1234772855/ | title='The Dropout': William H. Macy, Laurie Metcalf, Elizabeth Marvel, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Kate Burton Among 10 Cast in Hulu Limited Series | date=10 June 2021 }}</ref> He portrayed [[Fiddler's Green (character)|Fiddler's Green / Gilbert]] in the [[Netflix]] series ''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]'' (2022). The same year he starred in two episodes of the [[Netflix]] romantic LGBT teen drama ''[[Heartstopper (TV series)|Heartstopper]]'' as headmaster of the main character's school.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/heartstopper-stephen-fry-cameo-newsupdate/| title=Heartstopper star shocked so few recognised Stephen Fry in trailer | date=21 April 2022 }}</ref> In 2023, he portrayed a fictitious [[King of the United Kingdom|King]] James III in the LGBT romantic comedy ''[[Red, White & Royal Blue (film)|Red, White & Royal Blue]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/11/red-white-royal-blue-stephen-fry-playing-homophobic-bully/|work=Pink News|title=Stephen Fry took 'delicious pleasure' in playing a "homophobic bully" in Red, White & Royal Blue|first=Asyia|last=Iftikhar|date=11 August 2023}}</ref>
That same year he also presented the [[Channel 4]] documentary ''[[Stephen Fry: Willem & Frieda – Defying the Nazis]]'' to positive reviews.<ref name="Jones">{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Ellen E. |date=2 March 2023 |title=Stephen Fry: Willem and Frieda – Defying the Nazis review – oh, what an astounding story this is! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/02/stephen-fry-willem-and-frieda-defying-the-nazis-review-oh-what-an-astounding-story-this-is |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name="Gregory">{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Elizabeth |date=15 March 2023 |title=Stephen Fry presents new documentary about heroic queer WW2 artists |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/willem-and-frieda-defying-the-nazis-stephen-fry-channel-4-documentary-b1063911.html |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=[[Evening Standard]]}}</ref>

In May 2024, Fry was among the members of the previously all-male [[Garrick Club]] who spoke in favour of the admission of women members for the first time in the club's 193-year history. The motion was carried.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stephens |first=Max |date=7 May 2024 |title=Garrick Club to allow female members for first time |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/07/garrick-club-allows-female-members/ |access-date=11 May 2024 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In May 2025, Fry was announced as a contestant on the first series of ''[[The Celebrity Traitors]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2025 |title=The Celebrity Traitors - Everything you need to know|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2025/the-celebrity-traitors|access-date=23 August 2025 |work=BBC Media Centre}}</ref> He joined the game as a faithful and was banished in Episode 6.

==Filmography==
{{further|Stephen Fry bibliography and filmography}}

==Awards, honours, and recognition==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Stephen Fry}}

[[File:Richard Dawkins & Stepehn Fry CSICon 2018, Atheist Alliance Richard Dawkins Award.jpg|thumb|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] and Fry in 2018]]
Over Fry's career he has received 11 [[BAFTA Award]] nominations for his work in television. For his performance as [[Oscar Wilde]] in ''[[Wilde (film)|Wilde]]'' (1998) he earned a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]]. He won the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]] along with the ensemble of the [[Robert Altman]] directed murder mystery ''[[Gosford Park]]'' (2001). For his work on Broadway he received two [[Tony Award]] nominations for [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]] for ''[[Me and My Girl]]'' (1987) and [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play|Best Featured Actor in a Play]] for his performance as [[Malvolio]] in the revival of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' (2014).

In 1995, Fry was awarded the honorary degree of [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D. h.c.) by the [[University of Dundee]],<ref>[https://www.dundee.ac.uk/corporate-information/honorary-degrees Honorary Degrees] - website of the [[University of Dundee]]</ref> which named their main [[Dundee University Students' Association|Students' Association]] bar after his novel ''[[The Liar (novel)|The Liar]]''. Fry is a patron of its Lip Theatre Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dusa.dundee.ac.uk/lip/history/history.htm |title=Lip Theatre: History |publisher=Dusa.dundee.ac.uk |access-date=4 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115023419/http://www.dusa.dundee.ac.uk/lip/history/history.htm |archive-date=15 January 2009 }}</ref> He also served two consecutive terms&nbsp;– 1992 to 1995 and 1995 to 1998&nbsp;– as the student-elected [[Rector of the University of Dundee]]. He was awarded an Honorary [[Doctor of Letters|Doctorate in Letters]] (D.Litt. h.c.) by the [[University of East Anglia]] in 1999.<ref>[https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/article/stephen-fry-travel-awards-to-help-fund-university-of-east-anglia-students-american-dreams Stephen Fry Travel Awards to help fund University of East Anglia students' American dreams] - website of the [[University of East Anglia]]</ref><ref>[https://www.uea.ac.uk/web/about/alumni-and-supporters/graduation/honorary-graduates?p_p_id=com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hXNhzpc2bZjy&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_r_p_categoryId=3707173&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hXNhzpc2bZjy_delta=30&p_r_p_resetCur=false&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hXNhzpc2bZjy_cur=2 Honorary Graduates of UEA: Year of Award 1990-1999] - website of the [[University of East Anglia]]</ref>

In 2003 Fry was the last person to be named [[Pipe Smoker of the Year]] before the award was discontinued.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/annual-pipesmoker-award-is-extinguished-573577.html|title=Annual pipe-smoker award is extinguished|work=The Independent|access-date=5 September 2010|location=London|first=Jonathan|last=Thompson|date=18 January 2004}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Association of Colleges|AoC]] Gold Award in 2004, and was entered into their Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aoc.co.uk/en/aoc_beacon_gold_and_other_awards/aoc_beacon_gold_awards/aoc_gold_awards/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-2004.cfm|title=Hall of Fame 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824002514/http://www.aoc.co.uk/en/aoc_beacon_gold_and_other_awards/aoc_beacon_gold_awards/aoc_gold_awards/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-2004.cfm|archive-date=24 August 2013}}</ref> Fry was also awarded the honorary degree of [[Doctor of the University]] (D.Univ. h.c.) from [[Anglia Ruskin University]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/fry.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223074517/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/fry.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2012|title=Anglia Ruskin University's Honorary Graduate Site|publisher=Anglia.ac.uk|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/4459724.stm|title=Fry talks of Cambridge 'elitism'|work=BBC News|date=22 November 2005|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref>

In December 2006, he was ranked sixth for the BBC's Top Living Icon Award,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/12_december/01/icons.shtml|title=Living Icons|publisher=BBC|date=11 December 2006|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> was featured on ''[[The Culture Show]]'', and was voted ''Most Intelligent Man on Television'' by readers of ''[[Radio Times]]''. The ''[[Independent on Sunday]]'' Pink List named Fry the second most influential gay person in Britain in May 2007; he had taken the twenty-third position on the list the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2516664.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508102003/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2516664.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 May 2007|title=Independent on Sunday Pink List 2007|work=The Independent|date=6 May 2007|access-date=4 February 2009|location=London}}</ref> Later the same month, he was announced as the 2007 ''[[Mind (charity)|Mind]] Champion of the Year'',<ref name="mind">{{cite web|url=http://www.mind.org.uk/news/5260_stephen_fry_announced_as_new_president_of_mind|title=Stephen Fry announced as president of Mind|work=[[Mind (charity)|Mind]]|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807012459/http://www.mind.org.uk/news/5260_stephen_fry_announced_as_new_president_of_mind|archive-date=7 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> in recognition of the success of his documentary ''The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive'' in raising awareness of bipolar disorder. He was also nominated in "Best Entertainment Performance" for ''[[QI]]'' and "Best Factual Series" for ''Secret Life of the Manic Depressive'' at the [[British Academy Television Awards 2007]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2007 |title=Television Nominations 2007 |work=British Academy of Film and Television Arts |date=31 July 2014 }}</ref> That same year, ''[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]'' magazine listed Fry at number four in its "Hot 100" list of influential on-screen performers, describing him as a [[polymath]] and a "[[national treasure]]".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hot 100: Talent|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/people/2007/12/hot_100_talent.html|work=[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]|date=18 December 2007|access-date=22 December 2007|format=free registration required|archive-date=5 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205160021/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/people/2007/12/hot_100_talent.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[BBC Four]] dedicated two nights of programming to Fry on 17 and 18 August 2007, in celebration of his 50th birthday. The first night, comprising programmes featuring Fry, began with a sixty-minute documentary entitled ''[[Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out]]''. The second night was composed of programmes selected by Fry, as well as a 60-minute interview with [[Mark Lawson]] and a half-hour special, ''Stephen Fry: Guilty''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/features/stephen-fry.shtml|title=BBC Four Stephen Fry Night|publisher=BBC|date=8 September 2007|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329045809/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/features/stephen-fry.shtml|archive-date=29 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wollaston |first1=Sam |title=The weekend's TV: Stephen Fry: Guilty |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2007/aug/20/theweekendstvstephenfrygu |website=The Guardian |access-date=26 January 2020 |date=20 August 2007}}</ref> The weekend programming proved such a ratings hit for BBC Four that it was repeated on BBC Two on 16 and 17 September 2007. Fry was granted a lifetime achievement award at the [[British Comedy Awards]] on 5 December 2007,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hemley|first=Matthew|title=Gavin and Stacey sweeps British Comedy Awards|work=The Stage|date=6 December 2007|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey-sweeps-british-comedy-awards}}</ref> In 2009, he was elected an [[Royal College of Psychiatrists|Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists]] (Hon FRCPsych).<ref>[https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychiatric-bulletin/article/royal-college-of-psychiatrists-winter-business-meeting-2009/38589FE7FBCA384705C5E954C4F34D73 The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Winter Business Meeting 2009] - website of [[Cambridge University Press]]</ref> On 20 January 2010, he was also granted the Special Recognition Award at the [[National Television Awards]] .<ref>{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Lisa|title=Delight for Stephen Fry at TV awards|work=The Independent|date=21 January 2010|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/stephen-frys-tv-delight-1874511.html?action=Popup&ino=1|access-date=22 January 2010|location=London}}</ref>

He was made honorary president of the Cambridge University Quiz Society and honorary fellow of his ''alma mater'' [[Queens' College, Cambridge]]. On 13 July 2010, he was made an honorary fellow of [[Cardiff University]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/articles/honouring-excellence.html|title=Honouring excellence|publisher=[[Cardiff University]]|date=10 July 2010|access-date=15 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129161552/http://cardiff.ac.uk/news/articles/honouring-excellence.html|archive-date=29 November 2010}}</ref> and on 28 January 2011, he was made an honorary [[Doctor of the University]] (D.Univ. h.c.) by the [[University of Sussex]], in recognition for his work campaigning for people suffering from mental health problems, bipolar disorder and HIV.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-12307469|title=Stephen Fry made honorary doctor at University of Sussex|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2011|access-date=28 January 2011}}</ref><ref>[https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/6809 Broadcast News items: Dare to be different, says honorary graduate Stephen Fry] - website of the [[University of Sussex]]</ref> He is a Patron of the [[Norwich Playhouse]] theatre and a Vice-President of The Noël Coward Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noelcoward.net/html/committee2007.html|title=Welcome to the Noël Coward Society|publisher=Noelcoward.net|access-date=4 February 2009|archive-date=4 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504011456/http://www.noelcoward.net/html/committee2007.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In 2011, Fry was the subject of [[Molly Lewis (ukulele player)|Molly Lewis]]'s song ''An Open Letter to Stephen Fry'', in which the singer jokingly offers herself as a surrogate mother for his child.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mollylewis.bandcamp.com/track/an-open-letter-to-stephen-fry-2|title=An Open Letter to Stephen Fry|publisher=Mollylewis.bandcamp.com|date=11 February 2011|access-date=22 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030182131/http://mollylewis.bandcamp.com/track/an-open-letter-to-stephen-fry-2|archive-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> In February 2011, Fry was awarded the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism by the Humanist Chaplaincy at [[Harvard University]], the Harvard Secular Society and the [[American Humanist Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:hch-presents-stephen-fry&catid=6:latest-news&Itemid=38|title=Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University Presents Stephen Fry|publisher=Harvardhumanist.org|access-date=22 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226101954/http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148%3Ahch-presents-stephen-fry&catid=6%3Alatest-news&Itemid=38|archive-date=26 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2012, Fry wrote the foreword to the [[Union of UEA Students]] report on the student experience for [[LGBT+]] members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ueastudent.com/image_uploads/lgbt--student-experience-repor.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107061345/http://www.ueastudent.com/image_uploads/lgbt--student-experience-repor.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2013|title=LGBT+ Student Experience Report|publisher=Union of UEA Students|date=October 2012}}</ref> As recognition of his public support for LGBT+ rights and for the Union's report, the [[Union of UEA Students]] awarded him, on 18 October 2012, Honorary Life Membership of the Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ueastudent.com/image_uploads/council-minutes-18-oct-final-.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106101503/http://www.ueastudent.com/image_uploads/council-minutes-18-oct-final-.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2013|title=Minutes of Union Council (16/10/12)|publisher=Union of UEA Students|date=October 2012}}</ref> In March 2014, Fry beat [[David Attenborough]] and Davina McCall to win the Best Presenter award at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. The award was given for his [[BBC2]] programme ''[[Stephen Fry: Out There]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/03/19/stephen-fry-named-presenter-year-global-homophobia-documentary/|title=Stephen Fry named presenter of the year for global homophobia documentary|work=PinkNews|date=19 March 2014}}</ref> In an episode of ''QI'', "M-Merriment", originally broadcast in December 2015, Fry was awarded membership of [[The Magic Circle (organisation)|The Magic Circle]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2018 |title=6 Celebrities You Probably Didn't Know Are Magicians |url=https://darrendelaney.co.uk/news/celebrities-who-are-magicians/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2017, Fry became the latest patron of the [[Norwich Film Festival]], and said he was "Very proud now to be a patron of a festival that encourages people from Norfolk, Norwich and beyond to be enchanted, beguiled and entranced by all kinds of film that might not otherwise reach them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/stephen_fry_becomes_patron_of_norwich_film_festival_1_4868050|title=Stephen Fry becomes patron of Norwich Film Festival|first=Emma|last=Knights|access-date=30 January 2017|archive-date=30 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130131606/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/stephen_fry_becomes_patron_of_norwich_film_festival_1_4868050|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same year, the [[bird louse]] ''Saepocephalum stephenfryii'' was named after him, in honour of his contributions to the popularization of science as host of ''QI''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4313.1.1|title=Morphological revision of the hyperdiverse Brueelia -complex (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) with new taxa, checklists and generic key|first1=Daniel R.|last1=Gustafsson|first2=Sarah E.|last2=Bush|date=31 August 2017|journal=Zootaxa|volume=4313|issue=1|pages=1–443|via=mapress.com|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4313.1.1|issn=1175-5326|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2019, Fry was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature]] (FRSL).<ref>[https://rsliterature.org/fellows/stephen-fry/ Fellows: Stephen Fry] - website of the [[Royal Society of Literature]]</ref> Stephen Fry was the Honorary President of the [[Classical Association]] between 2021 and 2022.<ref>[https://classicalassociation.org/competition/2022-creative-writing/ 2022- Creative Writing: Stephen Fry CA's Honorary President for 2021-22] - website of the [[Classical Association]]</ref>

In 2021, Fry was appointed a [[Order of the Phoenix (Greece)|Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix]] by Greek president [[Katerina Sakellaropoulou]] "for his contribution in enhancing knowledge about Greece in the United Kingdom and reinforcing ties between our two countries."<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Stephen Fry |author-link=Stephen Fry |user=stephenfry |number=1384924734186532881 |title=Truly, one of the great honours of my life. With thanks to the Ambassador, to President Sakellaropoulou and to the people of Greece}}</ref><ref>[https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/22/stephen-fry-order-of-the-phoenix/ Stephen Fry awarded with Medal of Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix] - website of the Greek City Times</ref> In 2023, he was elected a [[Society of Authors|Fellow of the Society of Authors]].<ref>[https://www.thebookseller.com/news/fry-and-mosse-join-soa-fellowship Fry and Mosse join SoA fellowship] - website of the British magazine [[The Bookseller]]</ref><ref>[https://societyofauthors.org/soa-profiles/stephen-fry/ SoA profiles: Stephen Fry, Fellow] - website of the [[Society of Authors]]</ref> Fry was awarded as [[Royal Canadian Geographical Society|Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society]] (FRCGS) in 2024.<ref>[https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/stephen-fry-becomes-an-honorary-fellow-of-the-royal-canadian-geographical-society/ Stephen Fry becomes an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society] - website of the [[Royal Canadian Geographical Society]]</ref>

In the [[2025 New Year Honours]], Fry was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] by [[King Charles III]] "for services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity".<ref>{{cite news |title=Stephen Fry 'startled and enchanted' with knighthood in New Year Honours |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mind-new-year-honours-hugh-laurie-bbc-hiv-b2671801.html |access-date=3 January 2025 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette |issue=64607 |date=31 December 2024 |supp=y |page=N2}}</ref> The same year, the Belgian university [[KU Leuven]] conferred an honorary doctorate (Dr.h.c.) upon Fry to "commends him for his passion for language and culture, his impressive contributions to the public debate, and his call for an open dialogue on mental health".<ref>[https://nieuws.kuleuven.be/en/content/2025/ku-leuven-awards-honorary-doctorate-to-author-actor-and-broadcaster-sir-stephen-fry KU Leuven awards honorary doctorate to author, actor, and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry] - website [[KU Leuven]]</ref> Fry is also a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts]] (FRSA).<ref>[https://www.thersa.org/rsa-journal/fellowship-news-and-events-3/ Knighthood awarded to RSA Chair] - website of the [[Royal Society of Arts]]</ref>

==Personal life==
Fry married comedian Elliott Spencer in January 2015 in [[Dereham]], Norfolk.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/elliott-spencer-addresses-disapproval-over-the-30-year-age-gap-between-him-and-new-husband-stephen-10035612.html "Elliott Spencer addresses disapproval over the 30-year age gap between him and new husband Stephen Fry"]. ''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved 16 December 2016</ref> Fry lives in [[West Bilney]] in Norfolk.<ref>{{cite news |title=Norfolk Day: Stephen Fry to give 'Toast to Norfolk' |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/stephen-fry-norfolk-day-toast-1576810 |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=Eastern Daily Press |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202093922/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/stephen-fry-norfolk-day-toast-1576810 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He became friends with [[King Charles III]] while Charles was [[Prince of Wales]], through his work with [[The Prince's Trust]]. He attended the then-Prince's [[Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles|wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles]] in 2005. He is also a friend of [[Rowan Atkinson]] and was best man at Atkinson's wedding to Sunetra Sastry at the [[Russian Tea Room]] in New York City. He was a friend of [[Sir John Mills]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4476875.stm|title=Acting legend Sir John Mills dies|work=BBC News|date=24 April 2005|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> His best friend is [[Hugh Laurie]],<ref name=frychron/> whom he met while both were at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and with whom he has collaborated many times over the years. He was best man at Laurie's wedding and is godfather to all three of his children.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=David|title=Doctor Hugh|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/24/comment.broadcasting|access-date=14 November 2011|newspaper=The Observer|date=23 April 2005|location=London}}</ref>

Fry started using [[cocaine]] in his twenties, and continued until 2001. He wrote about his drug use in the memoir ''[[More Fool Me (memoir)|More Fool Me]]'' (2014).<ref name="'Cocaine didn't seem to do me any physical harm': Stephen Fry">{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Mary |title='Cocaine didn't seem to do me any physical harm': Stephen Fry |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/cocaine-didnt-seem-to-do-me-any-physical-harm-stephen-fry-20150525-gh8pso.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=24 May 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Stephen Fry, 66, says childhood sweets were 'gateway' to his cocaine addiction">{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Roisin |title=Stephen Fry, 66, says childhood sweets were 'gateway' to his cocaine addiction |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/stephen-fry-cocaine-addiction-sweets-b2441590.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=4 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

A fan of cricket, Fry has stated that he is related to former England cricketer [[C. B. Fry]],<ref name="SAE10">{{cite episode|title=[[List of QI episodes#Series A (2003)|Series A, Episode 8]]|series=QI|airdate=30 October 2003|season=A|number=8}}</ref> and was interviewed for the ''Ashes Fever'' DVD, reporting on [[English cricket team|England]]'s victory over [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] in the [[2005 Ashes]] series. Regarding [[association football|football]], he is a supporter of [[Norwich City FC]], and is a regular visitor to their home ground at [[Carrow Road]]. He has been described as "deeply dippy for all things [[Digital electronics|digital]]" and claims to have bought the third [[Macintosh 128K|Macintosh]] computer sold in the UK (his friend [[Douglas Adams]] bought the first two). He jokes that he has never encountered a [[smartphone]] that he has not purchased.<ref name="Dork Talk">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/series/dorktalk|title=Dork talk|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=4 February 2009|location=London|date=9 November 2007}}</ref> He counts Wikipedia among his favourite websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videojug.com/interview/stephen-fry-the-internet|title=Interview with Stephen Fry|publisher=VideoJug|date=31 May 2007|access-date=4 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211141802/http://www.videojug.com/interview/stephen-fry-the-internet|archive-date=11 February 2009}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=January 2025}}

Fry has a long-standing interest in Internet production, stating in a discussion with inventor of the [[World Wide Web]] [[Tim Berners-Lee]] that Fry built his own website as early as 1994, and that this was the first [[URL|url]] printed in a British newspaper.<ref>{{cite web | title=Stephen Fry and Sir Tim Berners-Lee &#124; This is for Everyone Audiobook | website=[[YouTube]] | date=8 September 2025 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs_KqUQ6LGI }}</ref> His site ''The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry'' has existed since 2002 and has attracted many visitors following his first blog in September 2007, which consisted of a 6,500-word "blessay" on smartphones. In February 2008, he launched his private [[podcast]] series, ''[[Stephen Fry's Podgrams]]'' (defunct), and a forum, including discussions on depression and activities in which he is involved. The website content is created by Fry and produced by Andrew Sampson. Fry's weekly gadget column ''Dork Talk'' appeared in ''[[The Guardian]]'' from November 2007 to October 2008.<ref name="Dork Talk"/> Fry is also a supporter of [[GNU]] and the [[Free Software Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/thankgnus/2008supporters.html#TOCpatrons|title=Patronage of GNU Project|publisher=Gnu.org|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> For the 25th anniversary of the GNU operating system, Fry appeared in a video explaining some of the philosophy behind GNU by likening it to the sharing found in science.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/fry/happy-birthday-to-gnu.html|title=Freedom Fry – "Happy birthday to GNU"|publisher=Gnu.org|date=20 October 2008|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref>

When in London, he drives a dark green [[TX4]] [[London cab]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2012/oct/23/black-cab-monument-london-life-austin|title=The black cab: a moving monument to London life|first=Oliver|last=Wainwright|date=24 October 2012|work=The Guardian}}</ref> This vehicle has been featured in Fry's production ''Stephen Fry in America''.<ref>Fry S. [http://www.stephenfry.com/blog/2008/10/10/stephen-fry-in-america/ from ''Stephen Fry in America''], 10 October 2008</ref> On 16 April 2018, Fry released the first episode of a new podcast "Stephen Fry's 7 Deadly Sins" available on his website and other podcasting platforms<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.acast.com/s/greatleapyears|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223072906/https://play.acast.com/s/greatleapyears|archive-date=23 December 2020|title=Stephen Fry's 7 Deadly Sins on acast|date=April 2018 }}</ref> The first episode of the second series was released on 13 January 2020 and continued to be released over the course of nine weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stephenfry.com/7deadlysins/ |title=7 Deadly Sins - Official site of Stephen Fry |website=Stephenfry.com |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> In 2019, he was featured in the filmed poem rendition ''Love Goes Never Alone,'' for the online theatre publication ''First Night Magazine'' in support of the LGBTQ+ community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 July 2019 |title=Love Goes Never Alone |url=https://firstnightmagazine.com/2019/07/05/love-goes-never-alone/ |access-date=17 July 2024 |website=First Night Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, during an '[[Alternative Christmas message]]', broadcast on Channel 4, Fry remarked that he was proud of his Jewish heritage.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7uUGJhiehM |title=Stephen Fry Addresses The Nation {{!}} Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message |date=25 December 2023 |access-date=31 January 2025 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He said: "I've been on lists of [[British Jews]] that some ultra-right wing newspapers and sites have published over the years. And I'm frankly damned if I'll let antisemites be the ones who define me, and take ownership of the word 'Jew', injecting it with their own spiteful venom. So I accept and claim the identity with pride, I am Stephen Fry, and I am a Jew."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yossman |first1=K. J. |title=Stephen Fry Condemns Antisemitism in Channel 4 Christmas Message, Encourages People to Call Out 'Venomous Slurs and Hateful Abuse' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/stephen-fry-antisemitism-channel-4-christmas-message-1235843483/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=18 December 2023|access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref>

Enabled by a 2020 change in citizenship legislation in Austria, Fry acquired Austrian citizenship as a descendant of persons persecuted by Nazism, thus regaining the citizenship his ancestors forcibly lost.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Fry calls to Vote! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTUl0GUx-mM |via=YouTube| date=9 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Britischer Schauspieler Stephen Fry wählt bei österreichischer Nationalratswahl |url=https://www.derstandard.at/consent/tcf/story/3000000235907/britischer-schauspieler-stephen-fry-waehlt-bei-oesterreichischer-nationalratswahl |access-date=11 September 2024 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}</ref>

===Sexuality===
[[File:StephenFryWorldPride.jpg|thumb|right|Fry with [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]] marchers at [[WorldPride 2012]] in London]]
Fry struggled to keep his homosexuality secret during his teenage years at [[public school (United Kingdom)|public school]], and by his own account did not engage in sexual activity for 16 years between 1979 and 1995.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/moab/one-mans-journey/|access-date=11 May 2008}}</ref> When asked when he first acknowledged his sexuality, Fry quipped: "I suppose it all began when I came out of the womb. I looked back up at my mother and thought to myself, 'That's the last time I'm going up one of those'."<ref name="10things2007">{{cite news|first=Nick|last=Levine|title=Ten Things You Never Knew About Stephen Fry|date=19 September 2007|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a75964/ten-things-you-never-knew-about-stephen-fry.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref> In his 1997 autobiography titled ''[[Moab Is My Washpot]]'', however, Fry attributed the joke to "a friend at university", adding, "I have since shamelessly used this as my own explanation of When I Knew."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Moab is My Washpot|last=Fry|first=Stephen|publisher=Random House, NY|year=1997|pages=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpota0000frys/page/24/mode/2up?view=theater 24]|isbn=0-375-50264-5|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys|access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>

Fry was in a 15-year relationship with Daniel Cohen that ended in 2010.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/stephen-fry-a-restless-soul-546925.html |title=Stephen Fry: A restless soul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205171852/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/stephen-fry-a-restless-soul-546925.html |archive-date=5 December 2008 |access-date=9 February 2014 |location=London |url-status=dead |work=The Independent}}</ref> Fry was listed number 2 in 2016 and number 12 in 2017 on the Pride Power list.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pride Power List 2016|url=http://www.pridepowerlist.co.uk/power-list-2016.html|access-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628002423/http://www.pridepowerlist.co.uk/power-list-2016.html|archive-date=28 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pride Power List 2017|url=http://www.pridepowerlist.co.uk/pride-powerlist-2017.html|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313045528/http://www.pridepowerlist.co.uk/pride-powerlist-2017.html|archive-date=13 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 6 January 2015, British tabloid ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' reported that Fry would marry his partner, comedian Elliott Spencer. Fry wrote on Twitter: "It looks as though a certain cat is out of a certain bag. I'm very very happy of course but had hoped for a private wedding. Fat chance!"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-30693048|title=Stephen Fry to marry partner Elliott Spencer|work=BBC News|date=6 December 2014}}</ref> Eleven days after the news story, Fry married Spencer on 17 January at [[Dereham]] in Norfolk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2015011722900/stephen-fry-elliott-spencer-marry/|title=Stephen Fry and Elliott Spencer marry|work=[[Hello (magazine)|Hello]]|access-date=17 January 2015|date=17 January 2015}}</ref>

===Political views===
Fry was an active supporter of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] for many years and appeared in a [[party political broadcast]] on its behalf with [[Hugh Laurie]] and [[Michelle Collins]] in November 1993.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} He did not vote in the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]] because of the stance of both the Labour and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] parties with regard to the [[Iraq War]].{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} Despite his praise of the [[Tony Blair|Blair]]/[[Gordon Brown|Brown]] government's work on social reform, Fry was an outspoken critic of the Labour Party's [[Third Way]] concept.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} Fry appeared in campaign literature to support changing the British electoral system from [[first-past-the-post]] to [[alternative vote]] for electing members of parliament to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in the [[2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum|Alternative Vote referendum]] of 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12950712|title=Benjamin Zephaniah 'airbrushed from Yes to AV leaflets'|work=BBC News|date=3 April 2011}}</ref>

On 30 April 2008, Fry signed an open letter, published in ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper by a number of Jewish personalities, stating their opposition to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel.<ref>{{cite news|author=Close|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/30/israelandthepalestinians|title=''The Guardian'': We're not celebrating Israel's anniversary|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 February 2009| location=London| date=30 April 2008}}</ref> He is a signatory member of the British [[Jews for Justice for Palestinians]] (JJP) organisation, which campaigns for [[Palestinian]] rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jfjfp.com/?page_id=9|title=Signatories|publisher=jfjfp.com|access-date=8 November 2009}}</ref>

Fry was among over 100 signatories to a statement published by [[Sense about Science]] on 4 June 2009, condemning British [[libel laws]] and their use to "severely curtail the right to free speech on a matter of public interest".<ref>{{cite web|title=The law has no place in scientific disputes|url=http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/334|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607021143/http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/334|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2009|publisher=Sense about Science|date=7 October 2009|access-date=12 October 2009}}</ref>

In August 2013, Fry published an open letter to the British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] and the [[International Olympic Committee]] calling for a boycott of the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi]], due to concerns over the [[LGBT rights in Russia|state-sanctioned persecution of LGBT people in Russia]] under the [[Russian gay propaganda law|2013 anti-"gay propaganda" laws]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stephen-fry-me.tumblr.com/post/57612770175/open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc|title=Stephen Fry|work=tumblr.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810124308/http://stephen-fry-me.tumblr.com/post/57612770175/open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc|archive-date=10 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Neil |title=Stephen Fry calls for Russia to lose Olympics over anti-gay law |url=https://www.ft.com/content/4a4311fa-ff8c-11e2-b990-00144feab7de |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/4a4311fa-ff8c-11e2-b990-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=24 April 2022 |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=7 August 2013}}</ref> Cameron stated on Twitter he believed "we can better challenge prejudice as we attend, rather than boycotting the Winter Olympics".<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 August 2013 |title=Russian Antigay Law Protested |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/sports/russian-antigay-law-protested.html |access-date=18 March 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cameron rejects Stephen Fry's call for Russian Winter Olympics boycott |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/10/cameron-rejects-stephen-fry-russia-winter-games-boycott |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 August 2013 |access-date=17 August 2013}}</ref>

In March 2014, Fry publicly backed "[[Hacked Off]]" and its campaign towards press self-regulation by "safeguarding the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/benedict-cumberbatch-alfonso-cuaron-maggie-689289 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Georg | last=Szalai | title=Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfonso Cuaron, Maggie Smith Back U.K. Press Regulation | date=18 March 2014}}</ref> He said in 2015 that the ''Daily Mail'' editor [[Paul Dacre]] "has done more to damage the Britain I love than any single person".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fry|first=Stephen|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/06/stephen-fry-dont-fool-me-proust-questionnaire|title=Stephen Fry's Most Treasured Possession Is from P.G. Wodehouse|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=July 2015|access-date=29 December 2017}}</ref>

In April 2016, Fry caused controversy by accusing survivors of [[child sexual abuse]] of self-pity for expecting [[trigger warnings]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/stephen-fry-which-child-sexual-abuse-victim-do-you-think-changed-their-mind-about-trigger-warnings-when-you-told-them-to-grow-up-a6980546.html|title=Stephen Fry, which child sexual abuse victim do you think changed their mind about trigger warnings when you told them to 'grow up'?|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Harriet|last=Williamson|author-link=Harriet Williamson|date=12 April 2016|access-date=4 January 2025|language=en-gb}}</ref> Soon after he apologised for his comments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/stephen-fry-apologises-unreservedly-for-claiming-sex-abuse-survivors-should-grow-up-and-stop-pitying-themselves-a6983651.html|title=Stephen Fry apologises 'unreservedly' for claiming sex abuse survivors should 'grow up' and stop pitying themselves|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Heather|last=Saul|date=14 April 2016|access-date=4 January 2025|language=en-gb}}</ref>

On 18 May 2018, Fry participated in the semi-annual [[Munk Debates]] in Toronto, Canada, where he argued against [[political correctness]] on the ''Con'' side of the topic "Be it resolved, what you call political correctness, I call progress..." alongside [[Jordan Peterson]], and in opposition to ''Pro'' side represented by [[Michelle Goldberg]] and [[Michael Eric Dyson]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.munkdebates.com/The-Debates/Political-Correctness | title=Munk Debates – Political Correctness | work=The Munk Debates | date=18 May 2018 | access-date=31 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204045148/https://www.munkdebates.com/The-Debates/Political-Correctness | archive-date=4 December 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/a-politically-incorrect-debate-about-political-correctness-1.4683963 | title=A politically incorrect debate about political correctness | work=CBC Radio | date=30 May 2018 | access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref> During the debate, Fry [[paraphrase]]d a famous sentence from the 1923 essay ''I Am Afraid'', in which [[Old Bolshevik]]-turned-[[Soviet dissident]] [[Yevgeny Zamyatin]] denounced [[censorship in the Soviet Union]]. The original sentence reads, "True literature can exist only when it is created, not by diligent and reliable officials, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels and skeptics."<ref>"I Am Afraid" (1921) p. 57, in: ''A Soviet Heretic''. trans. Mirra Ginsberg [[University of Chicago]] Press. (1970). p. 53-58</ref> Fry's rendering, however, reads, "Progress is not achieved by preachers and guardians of morality, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels, and sceptics."<ref>[https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/2018/10/19/against-political-correctness-stephen-fry/ AGAINST POLITICAL CORRECTNESS] – BY STEPHEN FRY
19 October 2018.</ref>

On 1 February 2021, Fry supported the petition of two [[Holocaust survivors]], Dorit Oliver-Wolff and Ruth Barnett, who were asking to meet Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] regarding the 'genocide amendment' to the trade bill; this amendment would allow an independent parliamentary judicial committee to examine evidence of [[genocide]].<ref>{{cite news|date=23 February 2021|title=Holocaust survivors demand meeting with PM over 'genocide amendment' as government faces Lord defeat|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/holocaust-genocide-amendment-boris-johnson-b1806131.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/holocaust-genocide-amendment-boris-johnson-b1806131.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=1 March 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> In a tweet, Fry highlighted the [[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|plight of the Uyghurs]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=stephenfry|title=As holocaust survivors, Ruth Barnett and Dorit Wolf know all too well what genocide is|number=1366325396103434241|date=1 March 2021}}</ref>

Fry has spoken out publicly in support of the return of the [[Elgin Marbles]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sanderson |first=David |date=30 May 2022 |title=Stephen Fry: Be classy and return the Elgin Marbles |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/art/article/stephen-fry-be-classy-and-return-the-elgin-marbles-mj2zmxgrj |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=[[The Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460 |quote=He said the return of the statues from Britain "would be an act that uses a word that we haven't been able to use of Britain's acts lately, much: it would be classy".}}</ref>

In June 2025, Fry spoke out against [[Harry Potter|''Harry Potter'' series]] author [[JK Rowling]] for her views on [[transgender]] people, calling her a "lost cause" and "radicalized".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-stephen-fry-harry-potter-trans-b2773185.html | title=Stephen Fry calls out 'radicalised' JK Rowling over 'cruel' trans views | work=The Independent | first=Jacob | last=Stolworthy | date=19 June 2025 | access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref>

''' Poland controversy '''
{{see also|The Holocaust in Poland}}
On 6 October 2009, Fry was interviewed by [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]] on ''[[Channel 4 News]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/fryaposs+fears+over+toriesapos+antigay+links/3374297|title=Fry's fears over Tories' anti-gay links|publisher=Channel 4|access-date=9 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009105313/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/fryaposs%2Bfears%2Bover%2Btoriesapos%2Bantigay%2Blinks/3374297|archive-date=9 October 2009}}</ref> as a signatory of a letter to [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leader [[David Cameron]] expressing concern about the party forming a political alliance with the right-wing Polish [[Law and Justice]] party in the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Charter|first= David|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/right-wing-polish-mep-michal-kaminski-becomes-tories-controversial-eu-leader-cdrnsq62kgx|title=Right-wing Polish MEP Michal Kaminski becomes Tories controversial EU leader|access-date=19 January 2025| location=London| date=16 July 2009}}</ref> During the interview, he stated:
{{blockquote|There has been a history, let's face it, in Poland of a right-wing [[Catholic Church in Poland|Catholicism]] which has been deeply disturbing for those of us who know a little history, and remember which side of [[Germany–Poland border|the border]] Auschwitz was on and know the stories, and know much of the [[Anti-Semitism in Poland|antisemitic]], and [[Homophobia in Poland|homophobic]] and [[Polish nationalism|nationalistic]] elements in countries like Poland.}}
The remark prompted a complaint from the [[Polish Embassy in London]], an editorial in ''[[The Economist]]'' and criticism from British Jewish historian [[David Cesarani]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14635055|title=Europe.view: Unoccupied Britain|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=17 October 2009|date=15 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Ceserani|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/oct/12/stephen-fry-auschwitz-poland|title=Stephen Fry's Auschwitz blunder|work=The Guardian |date=13 October 2009|access-date=17 October 2009| location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Day|first= Matthew|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/6274395/Stephen-Fry-provokes-Polish-fury-over-Auschwitz-remark.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/6274395/Stephen-Fry-provokes-Polish-fury-over-Auschwitz-remark.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Stephen Fry provokes Polish fury over Auschwitz remark|access-date=9 October 2009| date=8 October 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/complaints+fry+aposslanderedapos+poland+over+auschwitz/3377697|title=Complaints: Fry 'slandered' Poland over Auschwitz|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|access-date=9 October 2009|archive-date=12 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012075722/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/complaints%2Bfry%2Baposslanderedapos%2Bpoland%2Bover%2Bauschwitz/3377697|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fry later posted an apology in a six-page post on his personal blog, in which he apologised for his remarks, stating that "I didn't even really at the time notice the import of what I had said, so gave myself no opportunity instantly to retract the statement. It was a rubbishy, cheap and offensive remark that I have been regretting ever since. I take this opportunity to apologise now." and "It detracted from and devalued my argument, such as it was, and it outraged and offended a large group of people for no very good reason."<ref name="stephenfry.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2009/10/19/poles-politeness-and-politics-in-the-age-of-twitter/|title=Poles, Politeness and Politics in the age of Twitter|access-date=19 October 2009|date=19 October 2009}}</ref>

===Health===
Fry has [[cyclothymia]], a form of [[bipolar disorder]] (considered to be a milder type).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cahoon |first1=Lauren |last2=Chitale |first2=Radha |last3=Hunter |first3=Aina |title=The Cost Of Creativity: Bipolar Disorder and the Stars |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=4439015 |work=ABC News |date=1 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cousins |first1=Jon |title=Bipolar illness: My ever changing moods |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/bipolar-illness-my-ever-changing-moods-2248854.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/bipolar-illness-my-ever-changing-moods-2248854.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=22 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Martinson |first1=Jane |title=Stephen Fry to feature in BBC1 mental health season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/01/stephen-fry-to-feature-in-bbc1-mental-health-season |work=The Guardian |date=1 February 2016}}</ref> Fry has spoken publicly about his experience with the condition, which was depicted in the documentary ''[[Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/neuroscience/patron/|title=Stephen Fry unveiled as Patron|publisher=[[Cardiff University]]|date=16 October 2008|access-date=4 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919021441/http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/neuroscience/patron/|archive-date=19 September 2013}}</ref> In the programme, he interviewed other people with bipolar disorder including [[Carrie Fisher]], [[Richard Dreyfuss]] and [[Tony Slattery]]. He also interviewed [[Robbie Williams]], who suffered with unipolar depression, and they discussed the differences and similarities of their mental health experiences and diagnoses. He is involved with the mental health charity [[Stand to Reason (charity)|Stand to Reason]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Reception with Stephen Fry |url=http://www.standtoreason.org.uk/news?id=23 |publisher=Standtoreason.org |access-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207005725/http://www.standtoreason.org.uk/news?id=23 |archive-date=7 February 2011 }}</ref> and is president of [[Mind (charity)|Mind]].<ref name="mind" /> In 2013, he said that, in the previous year, he had started taking medication for the first time, in an attempt to control his condition.<ref name="Grylls" /> In 2018, alongside [[Nadiya Hussain]] and [[Olly Alexander]], Fry was part of [[Sport Relief]]'s attempt to raise awareness of mental health.<ref name="fryreliefnads">{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2018/03/24/nadiya-hussain-stephen-fry-reveal-mental-health-battles-moving-sport-relief-film-7412661/|title=Nadiya Hussain and Stephen Fry reveal their mental health battles in moving Sport Relief film|newspaper=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|date=24 March 2018|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref>

In 1995, while appearing in the West End play ''[[Cell Mates (play)|Cell Mates]]'', Fry had a [[nervous breakdown]] and walked out of the production, causing its early closure and incurring the displeasure of co-star [[Rik Mayall]] and playwright [[Simon Gray]].<ref name=life>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tgzp3 |title=BBC Two – A Life on Screen |website=[[BBC News]]|access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref> Fry went missing for several days and contemplated suicide. He later said that he would have killed himself if he had not had "the option of disappearing".<ref name=life/> He abandoned the idea and left the United Kingdom by ferry, eventually resurfacing in Belgium.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5202066.stm|title=Comedian Fry reveals suicide bid|work=[[BBC News]]|date=21 July 2006|access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> Fry has attempted suicide on a number of occasions, most recently in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/jun/05/stephen-fry-attempted-suicide-bipolar|title=Stephen Fry: recent attempted suicide a 'close-run thing'|first=David |last=Batty|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In an interview with [[Richard Herring]] in 2013, Fry said that he had attempted suicide the previous year while filming abroad. He said that he took a "huge number of pills and a huge [amount] of vodka" and had to be brought back to the UK to be "looked after".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22782913|title=Stephen Fry reveals he attempted suicide in 2012|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=6 June 2013|date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

In January 2008, Fry broke his arm while filming ''[[Last Chance to See (TV series)|Last Chance to See]]'' in Brazil.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7196783.stm|title=Fry breaks arm filming in Brazil|website=[[BBC News]]|date=18 January 2008|access-date=18 January 2008}}</ref> While climbing aboard a boat, he slipped between it and the dock, and, stopping himself from falling into the water, his body weight snapped his right [[humerus]]. The resulting vulnerability to his [[radial nerve]]&nbsp;– which affects use of the arm&nbsp;– was not diagnosed until he saw a consultant in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/podcasts/|title=Stephen Fry's Podgrams: Episode 1, Broken Arm|publisher=Stephenfry.com|access-date=4 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822173101/http://stephenfry.com/podcasts/|archive-date=22 August 2008}}</ref>

Appearing on the BBC's ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' in 2009, Fry had lost a significant amount of weight, and explained that he had shed a total of 6 [[Stone (unit)|stone]] (84&nbsp;lb; 38&nbsp;kg). He attributed the weight loss to walking while listening to [[audiobook]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/stephen-fry-in-our-reasonably-priced-car|title=Stephen Fry is a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, part 1/2 (Series 13, Episode 2)|work=Top Gear|access-date=1 June 2012|archive-date=26 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826100015/http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/stephen-fry-in-our-reasonably-priced-car|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fry is between {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m}} and {{convert|6|ft|5|in|m}} in height.<ref>QI Season 7, Episode 10</ref><ref>QI Season 4 ep. 11 of 13</ref> Fry has [[prosopagnosia]] ("face blindness").<ref name="Seighart">{{cite web|last1=Sieghart|first1=Mary Ann|title=Who Are You Again?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hj65h|website=[[BBC Radio 4]]|date=1 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="Hepworth">{{cite news |title=Who are you again? What it's like to never remember a face |first=David|last=Hepworth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jun/25/who-are-you-again-what-its-like-to-never-remember-a-face |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 June 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref>

In February 2018, Fry announced that he was recovering from an operation to treat [[prostate cancer]], involving the [[prostatectomy|removal of the prostate]] and 11 adjacent [[lymph node]]s. He described the cancer as aggressive and said that early intervention had saved his life.<ref>{{cite news|last=Khomani|first=Nadia|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/feb/23/stephen-fry-has-prostate-cancer|title=Stephen Fry has prostate cancer|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 February 2018|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="BBCNEWS23">{{cite news|title=Stephen Fry recovering from prostate cancer surgery|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43171297|website=[[BBC News]]|date=23 February 2018}}</ref>

In March 2021, Fry hailed the "wonderful moment" of receiving the [[Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID vaccine]] at [[Westminster Abbey]]. The [[University of Cambridge]] alumnus joked that he would have to "put [[Oxford–Cambridge rivalry|petty rivalries]] behind [him]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/london/2021-03-10/stephen-fry-hails-wonderful-moment-as-he-is-vaccinated-in-westminster-abbey|title=Stephen Fry hails 'wonderful moment' as he is vaccinated in Westminster Abbey|publisher=[[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]]|date=10 March 2021}}</ref>

On 14 September 2023, Fry was taken to hospital after he fell about {{cvt|6|feet}} onto a concrete floor, when exiting the stage following a conference on [[artificial intelligence]] at [[The O2 Arena]] in [[Greenwich]]; he had sustained injuries to his ribs and legs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=20 September 2023 |title=Stephen Fry rushed to hospital after fall from The O2 stage |url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/stephen-fry-rushed-to-hospital-after-fall-from-the-o2-stage-3501249 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Fry Falls Off Stage at Event in London and Taken to Hospital: 'Wishing Him a Swift Recovery' |url=https://people.com/stephen-fry-falls-off-stage-at-event-in-london-hospitalized-7972301 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=Peoplemag}}</ref> After a recovery period he was reported to be back at work on 9 December.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 December 2023 |title=Stephen Fry back at work three months after fall off stage |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67670081 |access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref>

===Views on religion===
Fry has repeatedly expressed opposition to organised religion, and has identified himself as an [[atheist]] and [[Secular humanism|humanist]], while declaring some sympathy for the [[Greek mythology|ancient Greek belief in gods]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Stephen Fry on God {{!}} The Meaning Of Life {{!}} RTÉ One| date=28 January 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/-suvkwNYSQo| archive-date=28 October 2021|language=en|access-date=12 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In his first autobiography, he described how he once considered ordination to the [[Anglican]] priesthood, but came to the conclusion that he "couldn't believe in God, because [he] was fundamentally Hellenic in [his] outlook".<ref name="Fry">{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|title=Moab is my washpot|publisher=Arrow books|year=2004|orig-year=1997|page=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3/page/382 382]|isbn=978-0-09-945704-6|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3}}</ref> He has stated that religion can have positive effects: "Sometimes belief means credulity, sometimes an expression of faith and hope which even the most sceptical atheist such as myself cannot but find inspiring."<ref>Stephen Fry, ''The Spectator'' Lecture at the Royal Geographical Society, reprinted as "Would I live in America? In a heartbeat", ''The Spectator'', 9 May 2009, p. 28.</ref> Fry claims to have been expelled from [[Salt Lake City]], Utah, because of a joke made about doctrines of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref>{{cite episode|title= Empire|series=QI|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzpH-PkMw74| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/fzpH-PkMw74| archive-date=28 October 2021|season=5|number=12}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=January 2025}}

In 2009, ''[[The Guardian]]'' published a letter from Fry addressing his younger self, explaining how his future is soon to unfold, reflecting on the positive progression towards gay acceptance and openness around him, and yet not everywhere, while warning on how "the cruel, hypocritical and loveless hand of religion and absolutism has fallen on the world once more".<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Fry|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/apr/30/stephen-fry-letter-gay-rights|title='The Guardian': Stephen Fry's letter to himself: Dearest absurd child|work=The Guardian |access-date=10 May 2009|location=London|date=30 April 2009}}</ref> Later that year, he and [[Christopher Hitchens]] participated in an "[[Intelligence Squared]]" debate in which they argued against [[Ann Widdecombe]] and Archbishop [[John Onaiyekan]], who supported the view that the Catholic Church was a force for good. Fry and Hitchens argued that the church did more harm than good, and were declared the victors after an audience vote. Fry attacked the Catholic Church's teachings on sexuality and denounced its wealth.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/23rd-october-2009/1/atheist-duo-convince-crowd-that-the-church-is-not-|title=Atheist duo convince crowd that the Church is not a force for good|first=Ed |last=West|work=The Catholic Herald|access-date=18 February 2012|location=London|date=23 October 2009}}</ref>

In 2010, Fry was made a Distinguished Supporter of the [[British Humanist Association]], stating: "it is essential to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist."<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Fry: "it is essential to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist".|publisher=British Humanist Association|url=https://humanism.org.uk/2010/02/04/news-447/|date=10 February 2010}}</ref> Later that year, Fry joined 54 other public figures in signing an open letter published in ''The Guardian'' stating their opposition to [[Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom]] being a state visit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/15/harsh-judgments-on-pope-religion|title=Letters: Harsh judgments on the pope and religion|work=The Guardian|access-date=16 September 2010|location=London|date=15 September 2010}}</ref> On 22 February 2011, Fry was presented with the [[Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism]] by the Humanist Chaplaincy at [[Harvard University]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:hch-presents-stephen-fry&catid=6:latest-news&Itemid=38 |title=Letters: HCH Presents Stephen Fry |work=Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard |access-date=27 January 2011 |location=Cambridge, MA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226101954/http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148%3Ahch-presents-stephen-fry&catid=6%3Alatest-news&Itemid=38 |archive-date=26 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theageofblasphemy.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/395/|title=Stepehn (sic) Fry Wins Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism|work=The Age of Blasphemy blog|date=24 January 2011|access-date=15 December 2012}}</ref>

When interviewed in 2015 by the Irish broadcaster [[Gay Byrne]], Fry was asked what he would say if he came face-to-face with God, to which he replied: "Bone cancer in children: what's that about? How dare you? How dare you create a world where there is such misery that's not our fault? It's utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/30/atheist-stephen-fry-delivers-stunning-answer-when-asked-what-he-would-say-if-he-came-face-to-face-with-god_n_6581710.html?1422648370|title=Atheist Stephen Fry Delivers Incredible Answer When Asked What He Would Say If He Met God|work=The Huffington Post UK|date=30 January 2015}}</ref> Within days, the video was viewed over five million times.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/stephen-fry-responds-to-the-meaning-of-life-controversy-1.2093869|title=Stephen Fry responds to The Meaning of Life controversy|author=Rosin Agnew|date=6 February 2015|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Fry later stated he did not refer to any specific religion: "I said quite a few things that were angry at this supposed God. I was merely saying things that [[Bertrand Russell]] and many finer heads of the mind have said for many thousands of years, going all the way back to the Greeks."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/stephen-fry-responds-to-christian-backlash-after-confronting-god-with-bone-cancer-in-children-whats-that-about-10027984.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/stephen-fry-responds-to-christian-backlash-after-confronting-god-with-bone-cancer-in-children-whats-that-about-10027984.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Stephen Fry responds to Christian backlash after confronting God with 'Bone cancer in children? What's that about?'|date=6 February 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=9 April 2017}}</ref> "Because the God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac, utter maniac."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stephen-fry-blasphemy-ireland-probe-investigation-richard-dawkins-arrest-a7728321.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stephen-fry-blasphemy-ireland-probe-investigation-richard-dawkins-arrest-a7728321.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Richard Dawkins challenges police to arrest him for blasphemy|date=10 May 2017|work=The Independent}}</ref> In May 2017, it was announced that Fry, along with broadcaster [[RTÉ]], were under criminal investigation for blasphemy under the [[Blasphemy law in the Republic of Ireland#Defamation Act 2009|Defamation Act 2009]], following a complaint from a member of the public about the broadcast: the case was dropped after [[Gardaí]] confirmed that they had not been able to locate a sufficient number of offended people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/stephen-fry-blasphemy-probe-dropped-after-garda-fail-to-find-substantial-number-of-outraged-people-35692915.html|work=[[Irish Independent]]|title=Stephen Fry blasphemy probe dropped after gardaí fail to find 'substantial number of outraged people'|first=Cathal|last=McMahon|date=8 May 2017}}</ref> The following year, in 2018, the article on blasphemy was removed from the Irish Constitution following a referendum.

He has praised [[Anglican Church of Canada|Anglican]] priest [[Michael Coren]]'s book ''The Rebel Christ'', saying: "Integrity, wit and passion. A fine advocate for the best of Christian thought and a faith that encompasses the human as well as the divine."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/apologetics/a-famous-atheist-endorsed-my-book-about-jesus/14707.article|work=Premier Christianity|title=A famous atheist endorsed my book about Jesus'|first=Michael|last=Coren|date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

== Ventures ==

=== Narration ===
Fry is known for his extensive voice-over work; he read all seven of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' novels for the UK [[audiobook]] recordings,<ref name="auto"/> narrated [[Paddington Bear]] audiobooks,<ref name="Paddington">{{cite news |title=Audie Award Winners of 2008 (partial) |url=https://www.learnoutloud.com/Content/Topic-Pages/Audie-Award-Winners-of-2008/141 |access-date=22 May 2019 |work=LearnOutLoud.com |issue=E-Magazine No. 070 |publisher=LearnOutLoud, Inc. |date=5 June 2008}}</ref> narrated the video game series ''[[LittleBigPlanet]]'' and ''[[Birds of Steel]]'', narrated an animated series of explanations of the [[laws of cricket]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/about-the-laws-of-cricket|title=About the Laws of Cricket &#124; MCC|website=Lords.org}}</ref> and narrated a series of animations about [[secular humanism|humanism]] for [[Humanists UK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://humanism.org.uk/thatshumanism/|title=That's Humanism!|publisher=[[British Humanist Association]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
Fry wielded a considerable amount of influence through his use of Twitter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8406898.stm|work=BBC News|title=A portrait of the decade|date=14 December 2009|access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/gill-hornby/6349700/Dont-laugh---Stephen-Fry-is-giving-the-orders-now.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019223004/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/gill-hornby/6349700/Dont-laugh---Stephen-Fry-is-giving-the-orders-now.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2009|title=Don't laugh – Stephen Fry is giving the orders now|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=17 October 2009|location=London|first=Gill|last=Hornby|date=16 October 2009}}</ref> He was frequently asked to promote various charities and causes, often inadvertently causing their websites to crash because of the volume of traffic generated by his large number of followers; as Fry noted on his website: "Four thousand hits a second all diving down the pipeline at the same time for minutes on end."<ref>{{cite web|first=Stephen |last=Fry|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2009/08/26/servers-with-a-smile/#more-1197|title=Servers with a Smile " The New Adventures of Stephen Fry|publisher=Stephenfry.com|date=26 August 2009|access-date=17 October 2009}}</ref> He used his influence to recommend underexposed musicians and authors (who often saw large increases in web hits and sales)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/6170777/Stephen-Frys-Twitter-posts-on-David-Eagleman-novel-sparks-6000-sales-spike.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/6170777/Stephen-Frys-Twitter-posts-on-David-Eagleman-novel-sparks-6000-sales-spike.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Stephen Fry's Twitter posts on David Eagleman novel sparks 6000% sales spike|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 September 2009|access-date=17 October 2009|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/8306827.stm|title=Fry's Twitter lift for singer, 16|work=BBC News|access-date=17 October 2009|date=14 October 2009}}</ref> and to raise awareness of contemporary issues in the world of media and politics, notably the dropping of an [[injunction]] against ''The Guardian''<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan |last=Rusbridger|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/oct/14/trafigura-fiasco-tears-up-textbook|title=The Trafigura fiasco tears up the textbook|work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2009|access-date=17 October 2009|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Seth|url=http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/54667,news-comment,business,twitter-claims-another-scalp-as-trafigura-backs-down|title=Twitter claims another scalp as Trafigura backs down|work=The First Post|date=13 October 2009|access-date=17 October 2009|archive-date=16 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016225830/http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/54667,news-comment,business,twitter-claims-another-scalp-as-trafigura-backs-down|url-status=dead}}</ref> and public anger over ''[[Daily Mail]]'' columnist [[Jan Moir]]'s article on the death of [[Boyzone]] member [[Stephen Gately]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8311499.stm|title=Anger over Mail column on Gately|work=BBC News|access-date=17 October 2009|date=16 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a182344/twitter-outrage-over-gately-smear.html|title=Twitter outrage over Gately smear|work=Digital Spy|access-date=17 October 2009|date=16 October 2009|archive-date=19 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019061841/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a182344/twitter-outrage-over-gately-smear.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2009, Fry's Twitter account reached one million followers. He commemorated the million-followers milestone with a humorous video blog in which a 'Step Hen Fry' clone speaks from the year 2034, where MySpace, Facebook and Twitter have combined to form 'Twit on MyFace'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2009/11/14/twillionth/|title=Twillionth|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117154947/http://www.stephenfry.com/2009/11/14/twillionth/|archive-date=17 November 2009}}</ref> In November 2010, he welcomed his two-millionth follower with a blog entry detailing his opinions and experiences of Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fry|first=Stephen|title=Two Million Reasons To Be Cheerful|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/11/30/two-million-reasons-to-be-cheerful/|publisher=The New Adventures of Stephen Fry|access-date=3 December 2010|date=30 November 2010}}</ref> On 11 March 2012, Fry noted his passing of the four-million-followers mark with a tweet: "Lordy I've breasted the 4 million followers tape. Love you all. Yes even YOU. But let's dedicate today to [[Douglas Adams]]'s diamond jubilee".<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Fry |first=Stephen |user=stephenfry |number=178760058656653312|title=Tweet |date=11 March 2012 |access-date=28 March 2012 }}</ref> {{As of|2021|June}} he had 12.4&nbsp;million followers.<ref name=Twitter>{{twitter|stephenfry}}</ref>

Fry had a history of temporarily distancing himself from the social networking site which began when he received criticism in October 2009. However, he retracted the announcement that he would be leaving the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8336425.stm|title=Fry ends row with Twitter critic|date=1 November 2009|access-date=6 January 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref> In October 2010, Fry left Twitter for a few days, with a farewell message of "Bye bye", following press criticism of a quote taken from an interview he had given. After returning, he explained that he had left Twitter to "avoid being sympathised with or told about an article" he "would otherwise never have got wind of".<ref>{{cite web|last=Fry|first=Stephen|title=Silliness|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/11/04/silliness/4/|publisher=The New Adventures of Stephen Fry|access-date=5 November 2010|date=4 November 2010}}</ref> The methods Fry uses on Twitter have been criticised.<ref name="Yiannopoulos_Telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/8137164/My-Twitter-row-with-Stephen-Fry.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/8137164/My-Twitter-row-with-Stephen-Fry.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=16 November 2010|title=My 'Twitter row' with Stephen Fry|last=Yiannopoulos|first= Milo|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=22 May 2012|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 15 February 2016, Fry deleted his Twitter account after receiving criticism for a tweet commenting on [[Jenny Beavan]]'s outfit choice at that year's BAFTAs where she received an award for costume design.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35577913|title=Stephen Fry 'quits' Twitter over Bafta jibe|date=15 February 2015|access-date=15 February 2016|work=BBC News}}</ref> Fry alluded to this on an April 2016 episode of ''[[The Rubin Report]]'' in which he criticised [[groupthink]] mentality and stated that his return to Twitter was a "maybe".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJQHakkViPo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/eJQHakkViPo| archive-date=28 October 2021|title=Stephen Fry on political correctness and clear thinking|via=YouTube|date=4 April 2016|access-date=10 April 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/stephen-fry-speaks-about-erosion-of-free-speech-on-student-campuses_uk_570bb53de4b07a35187c5a96|title=Stephen Fry Speaks About Erosion Of 'Free Speech' On Student Campuses in Controversial Rubin Report Interview |website=The Huffington Post UK |date=11 April 2016 |first=George |last=Bowden |access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref> He returned to Twitter in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegayuk.com/stephen-fry-is-back-on-twitter/|title=Stephen Fry is back on Twitter – The Gay UK|date=17 August 2016}}</ref> He left Twitter again in November 2022,<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.stephenfry.com/contact/ | title=Contact - Official site of Stephen Fry | website=stephenfry.com | date=8 November 2022 | access-date=8 November 2022 | archive-date=8 November 2022 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108193142/https://www.stephenfry.com/contact/}}</ref> joining [[Mastodon (social network)|Mastodon]] that same month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mastodonapp.uk/@stephenfry|title=Stephen Fry's page at Mastodon|date=9 November 2022|access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
In August 2010, Fry joined the board of directors at [[Norwich City Football Club]]. A lifelong fan of "the Canaries" and a regular visitor to [[Carrow Road]], he said, on being appointed, "Truly this is one of the most exciting days of my life, and I am as proud and pleased as I could be."<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-10968940|work=BBC News|title=Stephen Fry joins Norwich City board|date=13 August 2010}}</ref> Fry stepped down from his Board position in January 2016, to take up a new position as "Norwich City Ambassador".<ref name="resi">{{cite web|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/stephen_fry_steps_down_from_norwich_city_board_as_delia_s_nephew_joins_1_4384262|title=Stephen Fry steps down from Norwich City board as Delia's nephew joins|work=edp24.co.uk|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119190952/http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/stephen_fry_steps_down_from_norwich_city_board_as_delia_s_nephew_joins_1_4384262|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fry said, "My five years in the role have been an honour and a privilege beyond almost anything I can remember. I wish I could take credit for ushering the club up from League One to the Premiership during that time on the Board. Actually, I'm going to. It was all me. It can't have been a coincidence ... But now I'm so happy to relinquish my seat on the board to Thomas Smith and to engage as fully as I can in the role of ambassador for Norwich City."<ref name="resi"/> In February 2014, Fry became the honorary president of [[Proud Canaries]], a supporters' group for Norwich City's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fans.<ref>{{cite news|title=Proud Canaries LGBT group supported by Stephen Fry|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-26316210|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 February 2014|date=23 February 2014}}</ref>

Fry succeeded [[Clare Connor]] to become president of [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] on 1 October 2022, relinquishing the role after one year to his successor [[Mark Nicholas]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/stephen-fry-announced-as-new-mcc-president-1313487|title=Stephen Fry announced as new MCC President|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=We need to help more people come to cricket - Fry |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/62037856 |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>

=== Business ===
In 2008, Fry formed SamFry Ltd, with long-term collaborator Andrew Sampson to produce and fund new material and to manage his official website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/misc/about-us/|title=About|publisher=Stephenfry.com|access-date=4 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206235654/http://www.stephenfry.com/misc/about-us|archive-date=6 February 2009}}</ref> Fry is the co-owner, with Gina Carter and [[Sandi Toksvig]], of Sprout Pictures, an independent film and television company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sproutpictures.com/|title=Sprout Pictures is an independent Film and Television production company owned by Gina Carter and Stephen Fry.|work=sproutpictures.com|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218194016/http://www.sproutpictures.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016, Fry launched Pindex, "a self-funded online platform that creates and curates educational videos and infographics for teachers and students," founded and run by a four-person team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Orlowski |first=Andrew |date=3 February 2016 |title=Did you know ... Stephen Fry has founded a tech startup? |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/02/03/stephen_fry_tech_startup_pindex/ |access-date=29 October 2024 |work=the Register}}</ref>

===Charity===
[[File:"Paddington is Great", Paddington Bear, Downing Street - geograph.org.uk - 4235852.jpg|thumb|upright|Fry's [[Paddington Bear]] statue—themed "Paddington is Great"—at [[10 Downing Street]] in London, auctioned to raise funds for the [[NSPCC]]]]
In 2008, Fry appeared in a film made by the [[Free Software Foundation]] to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the [[GNU]] Project to create a completely free operating system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/fry/ |title=Stephen Fry – Happy birthday to GNU |work=[[GNU]]}}</ref> In the film, Fry explains the principles of software freedom central to the development of the [[Linux]] and GNU software projects.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Matt |url=https://www.fsf.org/news/freedom-fry/ |title=FSF and Stephen Fry celebrate the GNU Project 25th anniversary |work=[[Free Software Foundation|FSF]] |date=1 September 2008}}</ref> For the [[Comic Relief]] telethon in 2011, Fry was one of four celebrities who represented a new flavour of [[Walkers (snack foods)|Walkers]] crisps: ''Stephen Fry Up'', with the flavour inspired by the [[full English breakfast]] (also known as a 'fry up').<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Alex |title=Walkers reveal Comic Relief comedy crisps |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a299134/walkers-reveal-comic-relief-comedy-crisps/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=19 June 2024 |date=20 January 2011 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319091112/https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a299134/walkers-reveal-comic-relief-comedy-crisps/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Fry designed a [[Paddington Bear]] statue, one of fifty located around London prior to the release of the film ''[[Paddington (film)|Paddington]]'', which was auctioned to raise funds for the [[National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children]] (NSPCC).<ref>{{cite news |first=Lilit |last=Marcus |title=Why Paddington Bear Statues Have Taken Over London |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-11-24/paddington-bear-statues-taken-over-london-david-beckham-benedict-cumberbatch |date=24 November 2014 |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=Condé Nast}}</ref>

Fry is a supporter of nature and wildlife conservation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Fry backs The Wildlife Trusts' appeal on Giving Tuesday |url=https://www.lancswt.org.uk/news/stephen-fry-backs-wildlife-trusts-appeal-giving-tuesday |work=[[Lancashire Wildlife Trust]] |date=1 December 2020 |access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> He has been the president of the [[Great Fen Project]] since 2006<ref>{{cite web |title=Presidents and Patrons |url=https://www.greatfen.org.uk/about-great-fen/partners-and-supporters/presidents-and-patrons |work=[[Great Fen Project]] |access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> and vice-president of international NGO [[Fauna and Flora International]] since 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Foges |first=Rebecca |title=Stephen Fry elected as Vice President of FFI! |url=https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/stephen-fry-elected-as-vice-president-of-ffi |work=[[Fauna and Flora International]] |orig-date=Original date 13 November 2009 |date=30 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223001354/http://www.fauna-flora.org/news/stephen-fry-elected-as-vice-president-of-ffi/ |archive-date=23 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=13 November 2009|title=Stephen Fry brings spit, wit and tweets to conservation group|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/nov/13/stephen-fry-last-chance-to-see|access-date=5 December 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Fry has also expressed support for [[Climate change mitigation|action]] on [[climate change]]<ref>{{cite web|date=24 November 2020|title=Stephen Fry and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall call for carbon pricing to tackle climate change|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/stephen-fry-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-carbon-pricing-climate-change-769673|access-date=5 December 2020|website=i (newspaper)|language=en}}</ref> and activist group [[Extinction Rebellion]], and has criticized [[climate change denial]].<ref>{{cite news|date=24 August 2020|title=Stephen Fry urges people to stand with Extinction Rebellion|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/stephen-fry-extinction-rebellion-writers-rebel-think-tank-lawson-a9681596.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/stephen-fry-extinction-rebellion-writers-rebel-think-tank-lawson-a9681596.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=5 December 2020|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>

In April 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Fry appeared in a sketch alongside [[Prince William]] for a charity show titled ''[[The Big Night In]]'' on [[BBC One]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/prince-william-tiger-king-bbc-big-night-in-stephen-fry-blackadder-a9481091.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/prince-william-tiger-king-bbc-big-night-in-stephen-fry-blackadder-a9481091.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= BBC Big Night In: Prince William jokes he hasn't seen Tiger King as he 'avoids shows about royalty'|website= [[The Independent|Independent]]|access-date= 24 April 2020}}</ref> In the lighthearted sketch, Fry reprises his ''[[Blackadder]]'' character [[List of Blackadder characters|Lord Melchett]], who is on a [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] call with the then Duke of Cambridge as they talk about television shows such as ''[[EastEnders]]'' and ''[[Tiger King]]'' as well as homeschooling.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/tiger-king-prince-william-stephen-fry-blackadder-melchett-bbc-big-night-in-1234588925/|title= Even Prince William Can't Escape 'Tiger King'|website= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date= 24 April 2020|access-date= 24 April 2020}}</ref> The sketch had been put together by Comic Relief and [[Children in Need]] to raise money and keep people entertained during the lockdown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/23/prince-william-stephen-fry-12602349/|title= Prince William and Stephen Fry join forces for iconic skit as they chat about EastEnders and Tiger King|website=Metro|location=UK|access-date= 24 April 2020}}</ref> In March 2021, Fry narrated a short film for Cambridge Children's Hospital.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-03-19/stephen-fry-backs-development-of-new-cambridge-childrens-hospital |title=Stephen Fry backs development of new Cambridge Children's Hospital |publisher=ITV |date=19 March 2021 |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref>

Fry has been the patron of UK audiobook charity Listening Books since 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Fry, Our Patron Listening Books|url=https://www.listening-books.org.uk/celebrity-support/our-patron|access-date=5 April 2024|website=listening-books.org.uk}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
===As author===
'''Fiction'''
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=1991|title=The Liar|publisher=Soho|isbn=978-0-939149-82-7|title-link=The Liar (novel)}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=1994|title=The Hippopotamus|publisher=Soho Press|isbn=978-1-56947-054-1|title-link=The Hippopotamus}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=1996|title=Making History|publisher=Arrow|isbn=978-0-09-946481-5|title-link=Making History (novel)}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2000|title=The Stars' Tennis Balls|publisher=Hutchinson|isbn=978-0-09-180151-9|ref=CITEREFFry2000b|title-link=The Stars' Tennis Balls}} US edition:
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2003|title=Revenge: A Novel|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-0-8129-6819-4|title-link=The Stars' Tennis Balls}}
* {{cite book | last1=Fry | first1=Edna | last2=Fry | first2=Stephen | title=Mrs Fry's Diary | date=2010 | publisher=Hodder & Stoughton | isbn=978-1-4447-2077-8}}

'''Non-fiction'''
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=1992|title=Paperweight|publisher=William Heinemann|isbn=978-0434274086}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2002|title=Rescuing the Spectacled Bear: A Peruvian Diary|publisher=Hutchinson|isbn=978-0-8129-6819-4|url=}}
* {{cite book|last1=Fry|first1=Stephen|year=2004|title=Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music|first2=Tim|last2=Lihoreau|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9780752225340|title-link=Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2005|title=The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within|publisher=Hutchinson|isbn=978-0091795238|title-link=The Ode Less Travelled}}
* Fry, Stephen (2010). ''Stephen Fry in America''. William Morrow. {{ISBN|978-0061456381}}.
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2017|title=Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece|title-link=Mythos (book)|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0718188726}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2018|title=Heroes|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0241380369}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2020|title=Troy|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0241424599}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2021|title=Fry's Ties: the Life and Times of a Tie Collection |publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0241493045}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2024|title=Odyssey|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0241486368}}

'''Autobiography'''
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=1997|title=Moab Is My Washpot: An Autobiography|publisher=Soho Press|isbn=978-1-56947-202-6|title-link=Moab Is My Washpot: An Autobiography}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2010|title=The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0-7181-5483-7|title-link=The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2014|title=More Fool Me: A Memoir|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0718179786|title-link=More Fool Me (memoir)}}

'''Scripts from ''[[A Bit of Fry & Laurie]]'''''
* {{cite book|last1=Fry|first1=Stephen|year=1990|title=A Bit of Fry and Laurie|first2=Hugh|last2=Laurie|publisher=Mandarin|isbn=978-0-7493-0705-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bitoffrylaurie0000frys}}
* {{cite book|last1=Fry|first1=Stephen|year=1991|title=A Bit More Fry and Laurie|first2=Hugh|last2=Laurie|publisher=Mandarin|isbn=978-0749310769|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bitmorefrylaurie0000frys}}
* {{cite book|last1=Fry|first1=Stephen|year=1992|title=3 Bits of Fry and Laurie|first2=Hugh|last2=Laurie|publisher=Mandarin|isbn=978-0434271931}}
* {{cite book|last1=Fry|first1=Stephen|year=1995|title=Fry and Laurie 4|first2=Hugh|last2=Laurie|publisher=Mandarin|isbn=978-0749319670}}

===Audio books===
* {{cite book|last=Adams|first=Douglas|author-link=Douglas Adams|year=2005|title=The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|title-link=The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|type=Audiobook, narr. by Stephen Fry|publisher=Random House Audio}}
* Fry, Stephen, (1999-2007). "Harry Potter Audiobooks (Narrated by Stephen Fry)"<ref>{{cite web |title=Harry Potter Audiobooks (Stephen Fry) |year=1999 |url=https://archive.org/details/harry-potter-audiobooks_202411 |access-date=1 April 2025 |via=archive.org}}</ref>
* Fry, Stephen, (2009). ''Short Stories by Anton Chekhov (Stephen Fry Presents)''. {{ISBN|978-0007316373}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2017|title=Fry's English Delight|publisher=Audible Studios|isbn=978-1536635058}}
* Fry, Stephen, 2017. "Eugene Onegin Alexander Pushkin Audiobook" (Stephen Fry Reads James E. Fallen, trans. Eugene Onegin)
* Fry, Stephen, (2017). "Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection"
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2017|title=Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold|type=Audiobook, narr. by Stephen Fry|publisher=Penguin Audio|isbn=978-1405934329}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2018|title=Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures|type=Audiobook, narr. by Stephen Fry|publisher=Penguin Audio|isbn=978-1405940566}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2020|title=Troy: The Siege of Troy Retold|type=Audiobook, narr. by Stephen Fry|publisher=Penguin Books Ltd|isbn=978-1405944731}}
* {{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|year=2023|title=Odyssey: The Great Myth Retold|type=Audiobook, narr. by Stephen Fry|publisher=Penguin Audio|isbn=978-1405948401}}

===As contributor===
* {{cite book|last1=Lloyd|first1=John|year=2006|title=The Book of General Ignorance|first2=Stephen|last2=Fry|first3=John|last3=Mitchinson|editor=John Mitchinson|publisher=Faber and Faber|isbn=978-0-571-23368-7|title-link=The Book of General Ignorance}}
* {{cite book|last1=Carwardine|first1=Mark|year=2009|title=Last Chance to See|first2=Stephen|last2=Fry|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Limited|isbn=978-0-00-729072-7|url=https://archive.org/details/lastchancetosee0000carw}}

===Forewords===
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Højer|editor1-first=Torsten|year=2016|title=Speak My Language, and Other Stories: An Anthology of Gay Fiction|publisher=[[Constable & Robinson]]|isbn=978-1472119971}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Whittard|editor1-first=Tim|year=2020|title=Mental & Behavioural State Examination: Theory into Practice – A Nurse's Perspective on Psychiatric Assessment|publisher=The Choir Press|isbn=978-1789630954}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Hitchens|editor1-first=Christopher|editor1-link=Christopher Hitchens |editor2-last=Dawkins|editor2-first=Richard|editor2-link=Richard Dawkins|editor3-last=Harris|editor3-first=Sam|editor3-link=Sam Harris|editor4-last=Dennett|editor4-first=Daniel|editor4-link=Daniel Dennett|year=2019|title=The Four Horsemen: The Conversation That Sparked an Atheist Revolution|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-0525511953}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Davies|editor1-first=Kevin Jon|title=42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams |date=2023 |publisher=[[Unbound (publisher)|Unbound]] |isbn=9781800182684 |editor1-link=Kevin Davies (director)}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stephen Fry}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|https://www.stephenfry.com}}
* {{IMDb name|0000410}}
* {{Discogs artist|Stephen Fry}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mfd3 Stephen Fry] interview on BBC Radio 4 ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', 2 December 1988
* {{IBDB name}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200226094746/https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp06527/stephen-fry%3Fsearch%3Dsas%26sText%3Dstephen%2Bfry Portraits of Stephen Fry] at the [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]], London

{{S-start}}
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{{s-bef|before=Paul Henderson Scott}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Rector of the University of Dundee]]|years=1992–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tony Slattery]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Stephen Fry}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Stephen Fry
|list =
{{DramaDesk Book 1976–2000}}
{{Edinburgh Comedy Award winners}}
{{National Television Award for Special Recognition}}
{{RTS Programme Award for Best Presenter}}
}}
{{Rectors of the University of Dundee}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fry, Stephen}}
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