{{Short description|British actor and comedian}} {{About|the actor and comedian|the Texas State Representative|Jeff Leach (politician)|the anthropologist and businessman|Jeff D. Leach}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Jeff Leach | image = Actor and Comedian Jeff Leach.jpg | birth_name = Jeffrey Alexander Leach | birth_date = <!-- CITE A RELIABLE SOURCE --> | birth_place = London, England | occupation = Actor, writer, comedian | notable_works = ''London Town''<br />''Big Brother's Big Mouth''<br />''Hollyoaks'' | website ={{URL|jeffreyleach.com/}} }} '''Jeff Alexander Leach''' is an English actor, writer and stand-up comedian. He has also worked as a television and radio presenter on programmes in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Europe.
He is most well known for appearing in feature films ''The Smoke'' as Dean, and ''London Town'' as Ronnie, as well as voicing Simon "Ghost" Riley in ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare''. On television, he has hosted many shows for BBC Switch, BBC Three and E4.
==Early life== Leach was raised in London; his father a Cockney engineer, and his mother a Romanian drama teacher. Leach claims Aromanian descent through his mother's line.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--not stated-->|title=webPR: Prezentatorul ICEEfest, actorul britanic Jeff Leach, este nepotul lui Ion Caramitru. Din Romania el va pleca direct in SUA, unde va avea spectacole de stand-up comedy alaturi de Louis CK şi Chris Rock.|date=5 June 2015 |url=https://economie.hotnews.ro/stiri-media_publicitate-20213115-webpr-prezentatorul-iceefest-actorul-britanic-jeff-leach-este-nepotul-lui-ion-caramitru-din-romania-pleca-direct-sua-unde-avea-spectacole-stand-comedy-alaturi-louis-chris-rock.htm |language=RO |trans-title =It says that he is the nephew of a late famous Romanian actor of Aromanian (but not truly Macedonian) descent – note that in Romanian language, it is sometimes incorrectly inferred that Aromanian and Macedonians are the same.}}</ref> At four years old, he began his acting journey with a standout cross-dressing lead role as 'Madame Diptheria Iceberg' in a school production, marking the inception of a lifelong passion for performance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeff Leach {{!}} HuffPost |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/jeff-leach |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=www.huffingtonpost.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Educated at the John Lyon School for boys in Harrow, he obtained a degree from the University of Warwick in English Literature and Theatre Studies.
==Television career== After obtaining his degree, Leach became a presenter for the BBC Switch show ''The Surgery'' on BBC Two.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/tv/jeff-leach.shtml |title= Switch The Surgery on TV – Meet Jeff Leach |publisher= BBC}}</ref> After presenting ''Scene Stealers'' for BBC Switch and ''T in the Park Festival'' for BBC Three Leach had a stint as presenter of Big Brother's Big Mouth on E4. From 2009 to 2012 he became the face of Virgin Media and their Music on Demand channel, which saw him present each year from V Festival. There he would provide comedic continuity links between the channel's programming, and interview artists like Lady Gaga, Example, Kelly Rowland, and Professor Green.
Between 2010 and 2012, he was signed by the UK branch of Current TV to present two series of their show ''What Did I Do Last Night?''. Its premise involved cameras following the antics of young British people on a night out, who were then shown their behaviour the following morning when hungover. Leach was also signed by BBC One to present The National Lottery Draws. During this time he hosted other shows for Current TV including an exposé on the dangers of male escorting entitled ''Male Hookers Uncovered'', in which Leach became a male escort for the purposes of the immersive documentary. Following on from this, he presented one more documentary about sex addiction for BBC Three called ''Confessions of a Sex Addict''.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
In 2014, with London Live launching in the UK, Jeff Leach became the presenter and executive producer of his own series known as ''Jeff Leach +1''. In 2015, he hosted the PromaxBDA Europe Awards in Berlin, an event celebrating top works in television promotion, marketing, and design across Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comedian Jeff Leach to Host the 2015 PromaxBDA Europe Awards |url=https://brief.promax.org/article/comedian-jeff-leach-to-host-the-2015-promaxbda-europe-awards |access-date=26 October 2023 |website=brief.promax.org |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, he recorded an episode of ''Dinner With Dani'' for Amazon Prime, and during 2020 he recorded multiple live shows for Comedy Central's stand-up comedy series ''This Week At The Cellar''.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
==Stand-up and film career and voice work== Leach began his stand-up career in February 2010, performing on the UK comedy circuit and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He was a finalist in the London New Comedian Award 2010, Laughing Horse New Act 2011 and a semi-finalist in the Leicester Square New Comedian 2011. He performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 and 2012, becoming a Top Ten Finalist in the Amused Moose Laugh Off Competition 2012. In 2013 Leach began dating Canadian comedienne Katherine Ryan, but this relationship would end.
In May 2014 Leach embarked on his debut solo comedy tour entitled 'Jeff Leach. FIT'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Entertainment/Theatre/Theatre-Reviews/REVIEW-Jeff-Leach-at-Norden-Farm-09062014.htm |title=REVIEW: Jeff Leach at Norden Farm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831175008/http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Entertainment/Theatre/Theatre-Reviews/REVIEW-Jeff-Leach-at-Norden-Farm-09062014.htm |archivedate=31 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Entertainment/Theatre/Latest-Theatre-News/Joker-Jeff-finds-his-strong-inner-woman-29052014.htm|title=Joker Jeff finds his strong inner woman|publisher=}}</ref>
His first professional theatre work was with the Royal Shakespeare Company during the Complete Works of Shakespeare Festival season, playing the lead in Lope de Vega's 'The Capulets and the Montagues'. In 2013 Jeff completed a role in short film ''Shop Girl Blog'' and played rocker Lenny in online comedy series ''The Chaos''. During 2014 he performed as Simon in the Channel 4 show Hollyoaks, and played the role of Dean in feature length independent British gangster thriller film ''The Smoke''.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Smoke Official Trailer (2014) | date=18 September 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3Ay9KrVhGQ |language=en |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
During 2015 he appeared in a number of short films, winning one award from the industry website Shooting People another at the Berlin Short Film Festival.
He appeared in Derrick Borte's 2016 film ''London Town''.
Leach voiced Simon "Ghost" Riley in the 2019 video game ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare''. In May 2021, Activision announced that they had cut ties with Leach due to comments he made on ''Tauntfest'' in 2017 and a livestream in late 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blake|first=Vikki|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-05-09-activision-severs-links-with-call-of-duty-ghost-voice-actor-following-misogynistic-comments|title = Activision severs links with Call of Duty Ghost voice actor following misogynistic comments| work=Eurogamer |date = 9 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Oloman|first=Jordan|url=https://za.ign.com/call-of-duty-warzone/152863/news/activision-no-longer-working-with-call-of-duty-actor-after-sexist-comments|title=Activision No Longer Working With Call of Duty Actor After Sexist Comments|date=10 May 2021|work=IGN|access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref><ref name= PCGamer>{{cite web |url= https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-no-longer-working-with-call-of-duty-voice-actor-accused-of-sexism/ |title= Activision no longer working with Call of Duty voice actor accused of sexism |first1= Jody |last1= MacGregor |work=PC Gamer |date= 9 May 2021 |access-date= 11 October 2023}}</ref> Leach said the comments were taken out of context and that he was actually responding to an Internet troll.<ref name="Esports News UK">{{cite news |last1=Sacco |first1=Dom |title='I'm excited to speak to my lawyers' – spat between British content creators NitroLukeDX and Jeff Leach gets ugly after video prompts Activision to sever ties with CoD Ghost voice actor over sexism claims |url=https://esports-news.co.uk/2021/05/10/jeff-leach-nitrolukedx-cod-ghost-streamers-activision |access-date=17 May 2021 |date=10 May 2021}}</ref><ref name= PCGamer />
In 2023, his special "Jeff Leach presents A Comedy Spectacular" was released<ref>{{Citation |last1=Leach |first1=Jeff |title=Jeff Leach presents A Comedy Spectacular |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19051358/ |type=Comedy, Drama |access-date=27 October 2023 |others=Jeff Leach |publisher=Antihero Productions, Superfunny, Vigilante Productions |last2=Morrison |first2=Ben}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeff Leach's Comedy Spectacular **LIVE TAPING** (10pm) |url=https://www.westsidecomedy.com/events/event/jeff-leachs-comedy-spectacular-live-taping-10pm/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=Westside Comedy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Tattoos For The Haters with Jeff Leach {{!}} The Brand New Jerks |url=https://brandnewjerks.podbean.com/e/tattoos-for-the-haters-with-jeff-leach/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=brandnewjerks.podbean.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two married men pose with @jeffleach |author=Jim & Sam @jimandsamshow |url=https://twitter.com/jimandsamshow/status/1716563560489181643?s=20 |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life== Leach lives in Los Angeles.
Leach became an ambassador for Angelus Foundation, a drug education charity, after losing one of his best friends, Louise Cattell, to the club drug ketamine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2013 |title=Angelus Foundation {{!}} AMBASSADORS |url=http://www.angelusfoundation.com/ambassadors/ |access-date=18 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109045032/http://www.angelusfoundation.com/ambassadors/ |archive-date=9 January 2013 }}</ref> Leach, with THINND, hosted a Juneteenth gaming stream, raising over $31,435 for the Equal Justice Initiative in honor of George Floyd.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeff Leach & THINND's Juneteenth gaming stream for Equal Justice Initiative |url=https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ejilivestream |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=JustGiving |language=en}}</ref> In a charity gaming stream, Jeff Leach, alongside ZLaner and Facebook Gaming friends, successfully raised $10,343 for The National Autistic Society, surpassing their $10,000 goal with the support of 245 donors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeff Leach, ZLaner & friends for The National Autistic Society |url=https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jeffleachforautism |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=JustGiving |language=en}}</ref>
Leach began collaborating with the nonprofit organization U.S.VETS Las Vegas in 2024 to support efforts to end veteran homelessness. On November 2, 2024, he participated in the annual Veterans Stand Down, where over 600 veterans received housing assistance, medical care, legal support, clothing, and other essential services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down |url=https://honor.usvets.org/event/2025-las-vegas-veterans-stand-down/e653678 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=U.S.VETS |language=en}}</ref> On May 17, 2025, Leach served as the emcee and a participant in the 3rd Annual Steps for Vets 5K at Desert Breeze Park in Las Vegas, personally raising $1,595 toward the event’s fundraising goal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pew Pew’s Chosen Few – Steps for Vets |url=https://honor.usvets.org/team/647028 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=U.S.VETS |language=en}}</ref> and helping the campaign surpass its $88,000 target, with a final total of $88,900.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S.VETS Las Vegas 3rd Annual Steps for Vets 5K Run |url=https://news3lv.com/sponsored/spotlight/us-vets-las-vegas-3rd-annual-steps-for-vets-5k-run |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=KSNV News 3 Las Vegas |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Steps for Vets Las Vegas – Top Individuals |url=https://honor.usvets.org/event/steps-for-vets-las-vegas/e623070 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=U.S.VETS |language=en}}</ref> In an impromptu interview with the "Vegas Veteran Voices" podcast, Leach said, “I really enjoy being a part of these events honoring those men and women who so bravely served their country, but also being part of such a fun, family-friendly event like this. It warms my heart on a Saturday, you know?”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vegas Veteran Voices Podcast|url=https://vegasveteranvoices.com |access-date=18 May 2025}} {{Cite web |title=Vegas Veteran Voices Instagram Post|url= https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJxjsn4yuq1/?igsh=dTZlbXlydG5mOXoz |access-date=18 May 2025}} </ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leach, Jeff}} Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick Category:English male comedians Category:English television presenters Category:English radio presenters Category:English male stage actors Category:English people of Romanian descent Category:Living people Category:Male actors from London Category:21st-century English comedians Category:Comedians from London Category:Year of birth missing (living people)