Rob Delaney

Early life

Delaney was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1977, the son of Nancy and Robert Delaney. He grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He is of Irish descent. He attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and graduated with a degree in musical theater in 1999.

Career

Twitter

Delaney came to the attention of the public via Twitter, where he began posting in 2009. By 2016, he had over 1.2 million followers. While other comics were hesitant to share their material on social media, he is considered one of the first comedians to use social media to publish jokes. He credited Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan with his rise in popularity after Linehan began responding to his tweets. In 2010, Paste magazine named Delaney one of the 10 funniest people on Twitter. In May 2012, he became the first comedian to win the award for "Funniest Person on Twitter" at The Comedy Awards.

Writing

Delaney has written articles for Vice and The Guardian. His book Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage. was published by Spiegel & Grau in November 2013. His memoir A Heart That Works, about the loss of his two-and-a-half-year-old son Henry to brain cancer, was published by Spiegel & Grau in 2022.

Acting

Film

In the film Deadpool 2 (2018), Delaney played Peter Wisdom, an average middle-aged man who has no superpowers and joins Deadpool's X-Force. As part of the film's promotion, a Twitter account was launched in Peter's name.

Throughout 2019, Delaney had a series of cameos in Hollywood blockbuster films. He reteamed with director David Leitch and actor Dwayne Johnson for Hobbs & Shaw, in which he appeared as Agent Loeb. He appeared as a theater director in Paul Feig's comedy-drama Last Christmas. Both movies went to No. 1 at the UK box office. He also appeared opposite Anne Hathaway in The Hustle as Todd and the Fox News drama Bombshell co-starring Charlize Theron. He filmed a cameo as Elvis Presley in Dexter Fletcher's Elton John musical biopic Rocketman, which was omitted from the theatrical cut. It was also reported that he would appear opposite Reynolds another time, in Pokémon: Detective Pikachu. However, he did not appear in the final film. In September 2019 he was cast in The Good House opposite Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline.

Television

In December 2011, Comedy Central announced that Delaney would shoot a pilot for a variety show, called @RobDelaney. However, the series was not picked up. Instead, Delaney moved on to co-write and co-star with Sharon Horgan in Catastrophe, that began airing in the UK on January 19, 2015, on Channel 4. The show follows their characters after they get together following a brief affair while he is in the UK on business, and then moves there permanently after he learns that she has become pregnant. It debuted in the United States on Amazon in June 2015. The program ended after four seasons. Channel 4 aired the concluding episode on February 12, 2019, while Amazon announced the US release date to be March 15 of the same year. The series earned him his first Emmy Award nomination, for "Outstanding Comedy Writing".

Since moving to the UK in 2014, Delaney has appeared on several British panel shows, including Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year and Room 101. In 2016, he appeared on Travel Man as a guest host for the Spanish city of Seville, and in March 2021, he was the guest announcer on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Delaney played recurring character Josh/Neighbor Guy in the 2025 Showtime miniseries Dying for Sex starring Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Personal life

Delaney resides in London with his wife Leah; they have had four sons together. In February 2018, Delaney revealed that their two-and-a-half-year-old son Henry had died the previous month, having received extensive treatment for a brain tumor since 2016. The film Deadpool & Wolverine, which Delaney appears in as Peter, is dedicated to Henry's memory. The couple's fourth son was born in August 2018. In 2020, Delaney wrote about getting a vasectomy. Since 2024, he has been a UK citizen.

Delaney has publicly shared his experience with multiple health concerns, including depression and alcoholism. In 2002, he blacked out while driving and drove into a building owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He broke his left wrist and right arm, and had both of his knees gashed to the bone. This prompted him to stop drinking.

In 2018, Delaney became the first presenter on the CBeebies Bedtime Stories programme to tell a story in Makaton, which he used to communicate with his late son Henry.

On Sara Cox's show Between the Covers, Delaney chose the short story collection A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin as one of his favorite books.

Delaney is an atheist.

Political views

In 2016, Delaney became a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

In June 2017 he endorsed the Labour Party in the 2017 general election, despite being unable to vote as a non-UK citizen (but longtime resident). In November 2018, he supported a petition organized by Labour campaign group Momentum calling on Labour MPs to vote against the EU withdrawal agreement which had been negotiated by Theresa May's government.

In November 2019, Delaney joined other public figures in signing a letter supporting Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the 2019 general election. In December 2019, along with 42 other public figures, he signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Corbyn's leadership in the 2019 general election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few".

In June 2024 in the run-up to the 2024 general election, Delaney again expressed his support for Jeremy Corbyn, this time backing his campaign to be re-elected as the MP for Islington North, as an independent candidate following his departure from the Labour Party.

Filmography

Film

Television

Audio

Notes

References

References

1. (February 10, 2018). "Rob Delaney announces death of two-year-old son from cancer". [[The Guardian]].
2. VanHoose, Benjamin. (December 8, 2020). "Rob Delaney on Death of Son Henry, Nearly 3 Years Later". [[People (magazine).
3. "How 'funniest person on Twitter' Rob Delaney revived the TV romcom – The Boston Globe".
4. (May 7, 2012). "Irish American Bostonian Rob Delaney named the 'Funniest Person on Twitter'".
5. Delaney, Rob. (November 5, 2013). "Rob Delaney: A Beautiful, Shimmering Red Flag".
6. Friar, Christine. (April 27, 2012). "Rob Delaney Talks Abortion, Comedy And That Famous Green Speedo With 'Vice'". [[HuffPost]].
7. (June 19, 2013). "Rob Delaney, From Free Twitter Jokes to Comedic Stardom".
8. Holt, Kris. (July 4, 2012). "Rob Delaney to The Daily Dot: 'I had to be good at Twitter'".
9. (December 6, 2010). "The 10 Best Comedians of 2010". [[Paste Magazine]].
10. (May 7, 2012). "Rob Delaney: First comedian to win 'funniest person on Twitter'". [[mashable]].
11. "Articles by Rob Delaney". [[Vice Magazine]].
12. "Rob Delaney Profile".
13. Gilbert, Matthew. (November 16, 2013). "Book Review: ''Rob Delaney'' by Rob Delaney". Boston Globe.
14. Ryan, Kyle. (November 4, 2013). "Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.". [[The A.V. Club]].
15. (November 12, 2022). "Rob Delaney Wants You to Know How He's Feeling (It May Ruin Your Day)". The New York Times.
16. [https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/fullcredits/cast Deadpool 2, IMDb, Full Credits Cast List] {{Webarchive. link. (August 2, 2019 retrieved August 2, 2019.)
17. "Peter W. (@PeterW_1974) on Twitter".
18. (April 19, 2018). "'Deadpool 2': Standout Character Has His Own (Dad) Twitter Account".
19. [https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6806448/fullcredits/cast Hobbs & Shaw, IMDb, Full Credits Cast List] {{Webarchive. link. (November 12, 2020 retrieved August 2, 2019.)
20. (November 6, 2019). "'Last Christmas' Is A Bad Holiday Rom-Com That Squanders Its Dazzling Stars [Review]". The Playlist.
21. (August 6, 2019). "UK box office report, August 2–4: are Hobbs & Shaw fast enough for The Lion King?". The Telegraph.
22. (November 18, 2019). "'Last Christmas' ends 'Joker' UK box office reign with £2.6m debut". Screen Daily.
23. (December 6, 2018). "Roger Ailes Biopic Adds Deadpool 2's Rob Delaney to Cast". Coming Soon.
24. (June 18, 2019). "Rob Delaney reveals he was meant to play Elvis in 'Rocketman'". [[NME]].
25. "Rob Delaney confirms he WILL star in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu alongside Ryan Reynolds". [[Radio Times]].
26. (October 8, 2019). "Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Beverly D'Angelo & More Move Into Amblin Partners' 'The Good House'". Deadline.
27. (December 8, 2011). "Comedy Central preps Twitter show". c21media.net.
28. "Catastrophe a new C4 comedy created by Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan". Channel 4.
29. (2015). "Star Wars' Carrie Fisher in new Sharon Horgan comedy Catastrophe – first look". Radio Times.
30. "'Catastrophe' renewed for seasons 3 and 4". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com.
31. "Sharon Horgan teases Carrie Fisher tribute and emotional ending in final ever episode of Catastrophe".
32. Wright, Megh. (February 12, 2019). "Catastrophe Returns to the States for Its Final Season Next Month".
33. "Rob Delaney".
34. (20 January 2017). "Catastrophe's Rob Delaney Explains The Differences Between US And British Healthcare And It's Blummin' Brilliant".
35. "Have I Got News for You – Episode 6".
36. "Would I Lie to You?".
37. "8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown – S7 – Episode 1".
38. (18 December 2020). "Big Fat Quiz of the Year sparks backlash for booking no female comedians".
39. "Room 101 – Series 6 Episode 7".
40. (26 March 2016). "Travel Man: 48 Hours in Seville review – Richard Ayoade reigns in Spain".
41. (6 March 2021). "Deadpool 2's Rob Delaney shocks Takeaway fans with Dirty Dancing confession".
42. Delaney, Rob. (August 22, 2014). "@markhoppus Hi Mark, I live in London now if you ever need a place to stay or just want to talk.".
43. (November 5, 2013). "Rob Delaney explains why Phoebe Gloeckner's A Child's Life is "the North Star"". [[The Onion]].
44. Delaney, Rob. (May 7, 2015). "UK • Can you share this tweet with your grandfather & any stupid cousins? http://t.co/cqp7jFfrAF".
45. (February 10, 2018). "Rob Delaney announces death of two-year-old son from cancer". [[The Guardian]].
46. VanHoose, Benjamin. (December 8, 2020). "Rob Delaney on Death of Son Henry, Nearly 3 Years Later". [[People (magazine).
47. France, Lisa Respers. (2024-08-20). "Ryan Reynolds reflects on tribute to Rob Delaney's late son in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'".
48. (December 30, 2018). "Rob Delaney reveals birth of fourth child months after son's death". The Guardian.
49. (March 5, 2019). "Rob Delaney Feared He Wouldn't 'Bond' with His New Baby After His 2½-Year-Old Son's Death".
50. (August 12, 2020). "'Could I feel what they were doing? Yes': Rob Delaney on the pain and pleasure of his vasectomy".
51. (11 July 2024). "Deadpool star Rob Delaney reveals why he has become a British citizen {{!}} Virgin Radio UK". Virgin Radio UK.
52. [http://robdelaney.tumblr.com/post/414007899/on-depression-getting-help On Depression & Getting Help] {{Webarchive. link. (May 13, 2012 . Robdelaney.tumblr.com (February 26, 2010). Retrieved 22 May 2012.)
53. Delaney, Rob. (October 1, 2010). "Comedy".
54. (2011). "Take a Stroll... With Rob Delaney: Helping You, Helping Me". [[Vice (magazine).
55. Freeman, Hadley. (September 17, 2012). "Rob Delaney: 'Twitter has rocketed me to a whole new level of standup'". The Guardian.
56. (November 13, 2018). "Delaney to read and sign CBeebies story". BBC News.
57. (17 May 2021). "Between the Covers: Favourite reads from Vick Hope, Rob Delaney, Rick Stein and Rachel Parris".
58. Constant, Paul. "Yes, a Bird Is an Animal".
59. Baker, Peter C.. (November 25, 2022). "There's Nothing Decorous About Rob Delaney's Grief".
60. Delaney, Rob. (April 9, 2020). "I'm a lifetime member of DSA & have been for 4 yrs now but I just made this fun badge & so can you! https://t.co/iQybEGsYvC https://t.co/OW0DfCtd8G https://t.co/dzhejyor1V".
61. Delaney, Rob. (September 22, 2020). "I am a Democratic Socialist & I'm working hard to recruit your nieces & nephews.🌈 https://t.co/p7TRuCLkwA".
62. Milne, Oliver. (June 8, 2017). "Who are celebrities voting for in 2017 General Election? The A-Z of famous names supporting Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems and Greens". [[Daily Mirror]].
63. Ramiro, Joana. (November 19, 2018). "This comedy star just supported a Momentum petition to bring down May's Brexit deal".
64. Neale, Matthew. (16 November 2019). "Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more". [[NME]].
65. (3 December 2019). "Vote for hope and a decent future". [[The Guardian]].
66. Proctor, Kate. (3 December 2019). "Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour". [[The Guardian]].
67. "Instagram".
68. Clarke, Patrick. (2019-06-18). "Rob Delaney reveals he was meant to play Elvis in 'Rocketman'".
69. (2019-06-16). "Rob Delaney's role cut from Rocketman after actor permanently dyed hair black".
70. Grobar, Matt. (2025-07-01). "Madeline Delp, Rob Delaney & Ray Fisher Join Apple's 'Being Heumann'".
71. Grobar, Matt. (November 6, 2025). "Peter Sarsgaard & Rob Delaney Join ‘Road House 2’".
72. "Invincible Season 2: Release Date, Trailer, Cast & More".
73. Shafer, Ellise. (October 2, 2024). "Peter Dinklage, Jessica Gunning, Himesh Patel and More to Star in Audible Adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' (EXCLUSIVE)".