Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English comedian, actor, columnist, and presenter of radio and television.

Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK for presenting a Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth, and for his radio show, among other television series and award ceremonies. He has also appeared in a number of films, including the romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, St Trinian's, and Bedtime Stories. He is noted for his flamboyant style, and has described himself as resembling "an S&M Willy Wonka". He is also noted for various controversies that have surrounded him in the British media, such as the 2008 prank calls that led to his resignation from the BBC.

Brand was born in Grays, Essex, England, the only child of Barbara Elizabeth (née Nichols) and Ronald Henry Brand, a photographer. His parents separated when Brand was six months old. His mother raised him on her own, giving Brand a somewhat isolated and lonely childhood. Before Brand turned 17, his mother suffered three bouts of cancer. Brand also stated during an interview on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Saturday that he had "a strange relationship with his father, whom he saw sporadically and who took him to visit prostitutes during a trip to the Far East".