Christopher Guest was born on 5 February 1948, in New York City USA, to Peter and Jean Pauliene, of American and English ancestry, and is actually the 5th Baron Haden-Guest. He is known as a comedian, director, actor and screenwriter, but in addition is a musician as well.
So just how rich is Christopher Guest as of late 2017? Authoritative sources report that Guest’s net worth is as high as $30 million, accumulated from his over four decades long career in the entertainment industry.
Christopher Guest Net Worth $30 million
Christopher’s father was a British United Nations diplomat. Chrisyopher attended The High School of Music & Art in New York City, then studied clarinet at Stockbridge School in Massachusetts, before becoming more interested in mandolin and country music, and playing guitar alongside Arlo Guthrie, his Stockbridge School classmate, before taking-up rock ‘n’ roll. In addition, Christopher studied acting at New York University’s Graduate Acting Program, graduating in 1971.
Guest began acting in theatres during the early ‘70s, debuting as Norman in Michael Weller’s ‘’Moonchildren’’ in Washington D.C. He started performing at Broadway as of 1972, and provided audio contributions for National Lampoon. Guest made support appearances in ‘’The Hot Rock’’ and ‘’Death Wish’’ in 1972 and 1974 respectively, all establishing his met worth.
In the ‘80s, he wrote ‘’This Is Spinal Tap’’, and starred in this rock mockumentary comedy movie, which received positive reviews from the critics and is considered one of the best movies of 1984. His character, Nigel Tufnel was widely recognized and Guest has portrayed him in several other television shows throughout his career. During the same year, he was hired for ‘’Saturday Night Live’’, with a one-year contract, playing the recurring characters including Frankie and Herb Minkman.
In 1987, he landed the starring role of Count Rugen in ‘’The Princess Bride’’. As of 1991, he acted in three episodes of ‘’Morton & Hayes’’, then appeared as Nigel Tufnel in ‘’Rockline on MTV’’, ‘’Good Morning America’’ and ‘’Tonight with Jonathan Ross’’ in 1992; in the same year, he played that character in ‘’Halloween Jam at Universal Studios’’. Guest played a supporting role in ‘’A Few Good Men’’, appearing alongside Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, and in addition, the 25th anniversary of ‘’Spinal Tap’’ was marked by ‘’A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out’’, released on 12 December and receiving mixed reviews from the critics. It holds a score of six point two out of ten stars on IMDB. In 1998, he provided the voice for Slamfist / Scratch-It in ‘’Small Soldiers’’, and in the next year, he directed and starred in ‘’D.O.A.’’, a comedy television movie. In 2000, he portrayed Harlan Pepper in “Best in Show”, which he also directed and co-wrote. From 2000 until 2003, he appeared in ‘’The Late Show with David Letterman’’, as Alan Barrows and Nigel Tufnel. His net worth was rising.
He provided the voice for Stanley S. SquarePants in ‘’SpongeBob SquarePants’’ in 2007, and in 2009, he acted in ‘’ Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian’’ playing the part of Ivan the Terrible, and although the movie received mediocre reviews from the critics, it grossed over $413.1 million at the box office. Christopher then appeared in ‘’ Stonehenge: ‘Tis a Magic Place’’, a short comedy film in September of the same year.
As of the most recent past, Guest co-wrote, directed and made a short appearance in ‘’ Mascots’’ in 2016. In conclusion, he has acted in 90 films and television productions.
In his private life, Guest has been married to Jamie Lee Curtis since 1984. The couple has adopted two children and resides in Santa Monica, California. Christopher of Great Saling.
Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Special, DVD Premier Award for Best Audio Commentary, New Release
Music Groups
Spinal Tap, The Beyman Bros
Nominations
Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance, Critics Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay, Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay, Independent Spirit Award for Best Director,...
Movies
Mascots 2016 Best in Show (2000) Best in Show 2000 This Is Spinal Tap (1984) This Is Spinal Tap 1984 Waiting for Guffman (1996) Waiting for Guffman 1996 A Mighty Wind (2003) A Mighty Wind
TV Shows
Family Tree, Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
#
Trademark
1
Has a remarkable ability to alter his appearance and voice, making each of his characters completely unique
#
Quote
1
On being banned (as a hereditary peer) from the House of Lords: There's no question that the old system was unfair. I mean, why should you be born to this? But now it's all just sheer cronyism. The Prime Minister can put in whoever he wants and bus them in to vote. The Upper House should be an elected body, it's that simple.
2
I don't work with high-concept things that start with a premise, "Wouldn't it be funny if there was this spy who met a ..." For me, it could be, "What about people who sell shoes? That must be a bizarre world ... when they meet at conventions and talk about shoes."
3
But I am interested in the notion that people can become so obsessed by their world that they lose sense and awareness of how they appear to other people. They're so earnest about it. But that's true of so many things.
4
The movies have a way of seeping out there over time. We don't put them in 2,000 theaters. It wouldn't work that way.
5
I liked directing The Big Picture (1989). I was happy with it, but I remembered working on "Spinal Tap" and what a joy it was to make and how much we made each other laugh.
6
"It's real acting, in a sense. You're reacting spontaneously to things you've never heard before. You can either do it or not, and if you're with a bunch of people who can, there's nothing more fun." - on improvised acting.
7
"Silliness framed in intelligence. Even when it's stupid, you know intelligent people are doing it and that makes it a different joke. Stupid comedy over here [in America] is just plain stupid. It's moronic and I don't find it funny at all." - when asked to define the tradition of English humor.
8
I spent more time in America, but I developed a very English sense of humour. I clicked into it deeply with Peter Sellers, who is still probably my favourite comedian. I loved The Goons and then I got into "Beyond the Fringe" and by accident I met Jonathan Miller and those guys. And, of course, they led straight to [Monty] Python.
9
People want me to be funny all the time. They think I'm being funny no matter what I say or do and that's not the case. I rarely joke unless I'm in front of a camera. It's not what I am in real life. It's what I do for a living.
10
Comedy is like music. You have to know the key and you have to find players with good chops.
11
No. I don't talk about the family. This is kind of an on-going thing that gets, honestly, to be kind of tiresome, only because, you know, you meet people in Boston and they say, 'Boy, what's it like to wake up with Jamie Lee Curtis?' Well, you know what? We've been married for 12 years, and we have kids, and it's not like we're living some bizarre life here. We go home and we wear sweatpants and the baby takes a dump and we change the diaper. I don't mean to put you off here, but I just tend not to talk about it.
He has been a skilled guitarist since the 1960s and has displayed his talents in both Spinal Tap projects and A Mighty Wind (2003). He actually became acquainted with frequent co-stars and on-screen band mates Michael McKean and Harry Shearer at music venues before the three decided to make a career as comedic actors.
Attended the House of Lords regularly until the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999 barred most hereditary peers from their seats.
5
Christopher dropped the Haden from his surname when he started going to acting auditions in his 20s; he thought it sounded long-winded and distracting.
In 2005, announced his intention to stop making mockumentary films, because he doesn't find them funny anymore.
9
His character from This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Nigel Tuffnel, is partially a spoof of British rocker Jeff Beck
10
Christopher's father, Peter Haden-Guest, was a British hereditary lord, an actor, and a dancer, who ended up a UN diplomat. Christopher's father's family was a mix of English, Dutch Jewish, German Jewish, and Scottish ancestry (including distant American-born ancestors). Christopher's mother, Jean Pauline (Hindes), was the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants.
11
Guest shoots 10-minute scenes to let the improvisations unfold organically and ends up with about 60 hours of film, which is then edited down over a year and a half to 90 minutes.
When a publicity photo of Guest and his co-stars from This Is Spinal Tap (1984) ran in Rolling Stone magazine, Jamie Lee Curtis saw the picture, fell in love and gave her phone number to Guest's agent. They dated and eventually married.
Has two adopted children, Annie Guest (December 1986) and Thomas (March 1996). Under the terms of the letters patent that created the Barony of Haden-Guest, they cannot inherit the title, but they can use the courtesy title of the Honourable before their first names.
Older brother of actor Nicholas Guest, who is heir presumptive to the family title. (As Christopher's children are adopted, they cannot inherit the barony).
19
Guest became the 5th Baron Haden-Guest, of Saling in the County of Essex, when his father died in 1996.
performer: "Corky's Funky Dance", "A Penny For Your Thoughts" / writer: "Covered Wagons, Open-toed Shoes", "Stool Boom", "A Penny For Your Thoughts", "Nothing Ever Happens On Mars", "Nothing Ever Happens In Blaine" uncredited, "Red, White and Blaine Overture" uncredited, "Unknown" uncredited
Mystery Science Theater 3000
1994-1996
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman
1993
TV Movie performer: "Too Many Nights", "Down in Louisiana" / writer: "Too Many Nights", "Down in Louisiana"
Beavis and Butt-Head
1993
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Simpsons
1992
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Amnesty International's Big 30
1991
TV Movie writer: "Big Bottom"
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
1991
writer: "Gimme Some Money"
Soundgarden: Louder Than Live
1990
Video writer: "Big Bottom / Earache My Eye" Medley
The Big Picture
1989
writer: "The Whites of Their Eyes"
Saturday Night Live
TV Series writer - 2 episodes, 1984 performer - 1 episode, 1984
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
performer: "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight", "Gimme Some Money", "Big Bottom", "All The Way Home", "Hell Hole", "Cups And Cakes", "Heartbreak Hotel", " Listen To The Flower People", "Rock & Roll Creation", "Heavy Duty", "Stonehenge", "Sex Farm", "Lick My Love Pump", "The Mule Died", "A Grateful Nation" / writer: "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight", "Gimme Some Money", "Big Bottom", "All The Way Home", "Hell Hole", "Cups And Cakes", " Listen To The Flower People", "Rock & Roll Creation", "He
Lemmings
1973
Video documentary arranger: "Lemmings Lament", "Positively Wall Street", "Pizza Man", "Colorado", "Papa Was a Running-Dog Lackey of the Bourgeoisie", "Highway Toes", "Lonely at the Bottom", "Megadeath" / performer: "Positively Wall Street", "Highway Toes" / writer: "Positively Wall Street", "Pizza Man", "Colorado", "Highway Toes"
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mascots
2016
Family Tree
2013
TV Series 8 episodes
The 84th Annual Academy Awards
2012
TV Special focus group segment
The Thick of It
2007
TV Movie
For Your Consideration
2006
A Mighty Wind
2003
Best in Show
2000
D.O.A.
1999
TV Movie
Almost Heroes
1998
Waiting for Guffman
1996
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman
1993
TV Movie
Morton & Hayes
1991
TV Series 5 episodes
Trying Times
1989
TV Series 1 episode
The Big Picture
1989
Tall Tales & Legends
1986
TV Series 1 episode
Saturday Night Live
TV Series 1 episode, 1984 film segment director - 1 episode, 1984
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
For Your Consideration
2006
musician: guitar
Best in Show
2000
musician: sitar - as Lord Haden-Guest
Spinal Tap: The Final Tour
1998
Video short musician
Waiting for Guffman
1996
composer: lyrics
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
1992
TV Movie musician
Spinal Tap: Break Like the Wind - The Videos
1992
Video short musician
Morton & Hayes
1991
TV Series composer - 7 episodes
Saturday Night Live
1984
TV Series musician - 2 episodes
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
musician
The Joe Franklin Show
1984
TV Series musician - 1 episode
The T.V. Show
1979
TV Movie composer: special musical material / musician
Lemmings
1973
Video documentary music arranger / musician
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Family Tree
2013
TV Series executive producer - 8 episodes
Her Master's Voice
2012
Documentary executive producer
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
1992
TV Movie producer
Morton & Hayes
1991
TV Series executive producer - 6 episodes
Likely Stories, Vol. 1
1981
TV Movie producer
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Family Tree
2013
TV Series 8 episodes
Waiting for Guffman
1996
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman
1993
TV Movie
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
1992
TV Movie
Spinal Tap: Break Like the Wind - The Videos
1992
Video short as Nigel Tufnel
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Saturday Night Live: Just Shorts
2009
TV Special director: archive footage
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hollywood Hoax
2015
Documentary dedicatee
The Artist as a Young Man: A Portrait of Cameron Fairchild
2008
Short special thanks
Code of Conduct
2001
Video documentary short special thanks
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School
1990
Short angel
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Emerson: Pictures of an Exhibitionist
post-production
Himself
The British Academy Britannia Awards
2016
TV Movie
Himself - presenter
DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Story of the National Lampoon
2015
Documentary
Himself / Actor
Misery Loves Comedy
2015
Documentary
Himself
World of Warcraft: Looking for Group
2014
Documentary
Himself - Interviewee
When Rock Goes Acoustic
2011
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Spinal Tap
Kevin Pollak's Chat Show
2011
TV Series
Himself
An Extras Night In
2010
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Chickenfoot: Additional Footage
2010
Video documentary
Himself
Chickenfoot: Get Your Buzz on Live
2009
Video documentary
Nigel Tufnel
The Curators of Comedy: Behind-the-Scenes of 'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'
2009
Video documentary short
Himself
Unwigged & Unplugged Live Concert DVD: An Evening with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer
2009
Video documentary
Himself
A Night at the Office
2009
TV Movie documentary
Himself
WUSA 9 News
2009
TV Series
Himself
Breakfast Television
2009
TV Series
Himself
Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann
2009
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2009
TV Series
Himself
Tavis Smiley
2009
TV Series
Himself
Channel 4 News
2009
TV Series
Himself
New Heroes of Comedy
2008
TV Series documentary
Himself
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
2007
Documentary
Himself
Fox News
2007
TV Series
Himself
Live Earth
2007
TV Special documentary
Nigel Tufnel
Film '72
2004-2007
TV Series
Himself
Ricky Gervais Meets... Christopher Guest
2006
TV Movie
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
2006
TV Series
Himself
Mrs Henderson Presents: Making Of
2006
Video documentary short
Himself
The 50 Greatest Comedy Films
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The 76th Annual Academy Awards
2004
TV Special
Himself
Live from the Academy Awards
2004
TV Special
Himself
Today
2003
TV Series
Himself
In Entertainment
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Panel
2003
TV Series
Himself
Charlie Rose
2003
TV Series
Himself
Fox and Friends
2003
TV Series
Himself
CBS News Sunday Morning
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
At the IFC Center
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
Festival Pass with Chris Gore
2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
Dennis Miller Live
2002
TV Series
Himself
As You Wish: The Story of 'The Princess Bride'
2001
Video documentary short
Himself
Code of Conduct
2001
Video documentary short
Himself
The British Comedy Awards 2001
2001
TV Special
Himself
Just for Laughs: Montreal Comedy Festival
2001
TV Special documentary
Nigel Tufnel (2001) (2003)
The 15th Annual American Comedy Awards
2001
Himself
VH-1 Where Are They Now?
2000
TV Series documentary
Nigel Tufnel
Showbiz Today
2000
TV Series
Himself
Saturday Night Live 25
1999
TV Special documentary
Himself (uncredited)
The Directors
1999
TV Series documentary
Himself
E! True Hollywood Story
1999
TV Series documentary
Himself
Celebrity Profile
1998
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1998
TV Special
Himself - Audience Member
HBO First Look
1998
TV Series documentary
Interviewee: Voices of Slamfist / Scratch-It
Brit Awards 1998
1998
TV Special
Nigel Tufnel - Presenter
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1997
TV Series
Himself
The Daily Show
1997
TV Series
Himself
The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards
1995
TV Special
Himself - Audience Member
Cybermania '94: Ultimate Gamers Awards
1994
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
ABC in Concert
1992
TV Series documentary
Nigel Tufnel
The Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness
1992
TV Movie documentary
Nigel Tufnel
The 19th Annual American Music Awards
1992
TV Special
Nigel Tufnel - Presenter
MTV Video Music Awards 1991
1991
TV Special
Nigel Tufnel - Presenter
Billy Crystal: Midnight Train to Moscow
1989
TV Special documentary
The Voice
Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary
1989
TV Special
Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show
1989
TV Series
Himself
Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started - The Lost Minutes
1987
TV Special short
Chip Dimentebella
Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started - The Billy Crystal Special
1986
TV Special documentary
Chip Dimentebella
David Letterman's Holiday Film Festival
1985
TV Movie
Himself (segment "The Making Of You Wouldn't Believe Our World")
Late Night with David Letterman
1984
TV Series
Himself
New American Bandstand 1965
1979
TV Series
Nigel Tufnel
TVTV Looks at the Academy Awards
1976
TV Special documentary
Himself
Super Bowl
1976
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Lily Tomlin Special
1975
TV Special
Various
Lemmings
1973
Video documentary
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Live from New York!
2015
Documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving Special
2014
TV Special
Ed's Father
SNL Shorts
2014
TV Movie
Director (uncredited)
SNL Sports Spectacular
2014
TV Movie
Director (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving
2013
TV Special
Daddy Grimley (uncredited)
Edición Especial Coleccionista
2011
TV Series
Count Tyrone Rugen
Saturday Night Live Presents: Sports All-Stars
2010
TV Special
Director (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: Just Shorts
2009
TV Special
Director (uncredited)
The Comedy Map of Britain
2008
TV Series documentary
Nigel Tufnel
Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost & Found
2005
TV Special documentary
Various
The Comedians' Comedian
2005
TV Movie documentary
Spinal Tap Goes to 20
2004
TV Movie documentary
Inside the Actors Studio
2003
TV Series
Himself
Saturday Night Live: Game Show Parodies
2000
TV Special
Rajeev Vindaloo (uncredited)
SNL: 25 Years of Music
1999
TV Movie
Nigel Tufnel
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy
1998
Video documentary
Mort Schmegman (uncredited)
Beavis and Butt-Head
1993
TV Series
Nigel Tufnel
Late Night with David Letterman
1984
TV Series
Nigel Tufnel
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
NBR Award
National Board of Review, USA
Best Acting by an Ensemble
Mrs Henderson Presents (2005)
2004
Critics Choice Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Best Song
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
FFCC Award
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Ensemble Cast
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
Grammy
Grammy Awards
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
Comedy Film Honor
US Comedy Arts Festival
Best Director
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2003
Seattle Film Critics Award
Seattle Film Critics Awards
Best Music
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2001
Video Premiere Award
DVD Exclusive Awards
Best DVD Audio Commentary
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
1998
Lone Star Film & Television Award
Lone Star Film & Television Awards
Best Director
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
1976
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special
The Lily Tomlin Special (1975)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2007
Movies for Grownups Award
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
Best Screenwriter
For Your Consideration (2006)
2007
Grand Special Prize
Deauville Film Festival
For Your Consideration (2006)
2006
Gotham Independent Film Award
Gotham Awards
Best Ensemble Performance
For Your Consideration (2006)
2006
Stinker Award
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
Worst On-Screen Hairstyle
For Your Consideration (2006)
2004
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Original Song
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Ensemble Cast
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Screenplay
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Music, Original Song
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2004
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Ensemble Acting
A Mighty Wind (2003)
2001
American Comedy Award
American Comedy Awards, USA
Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Best in Show (2000)
2001
Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Director
Best in Show (2000)
2001
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical