Few British comedians have been as successful in the US as Ricky Gervais. The Reading born actor has shown throughout his career that his signature brand of humor can appeal to both Americans and Brits in equal measure.
Gervais made his name through the UK (and original) version of The Office, although his career isn't defined by that one show. The multi-talented Brit has acted in, written, and directed plenty of high-quality TV shows and movies since the hit sitcom. For this list, though, we're focusing solely on his acting as we look at his ten best roles, according to IMDb.
Family Guy - 8.1
Family Guy's dark humor has managed to cultivate and maintain a loyal following for many years. During that time, the Griffins have been through all sorts of crazy adventures, and occasionally they've been joined by famous guest stars.
In the season ten episode "Be Careful What You Fished For," Ricky Gervais voiced a dolphin named Billy Finn that moved in with the Griffins. The narcissistic character constantly made puns and then hysterically laughed at them. Gervais' signature laugh came in handy for the role, as did the actor's great comedic timing.
Extras - 8.3
After the huge success of The Office (UK), many were unsure if Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant could ever create anything that lived up to it. Those doubts vanished once Extras aired, as it was brilliant.
Gervais played Andy Millman, who was a struggling actor trying to make it in the business. The subject matter allowed for the inclusion of a flurry of famous guest stars, who all played humorously twisted versions of themselves. Although, Gervais wasn't overshadowed, as he gave consistently strong performances as Andy Millman, during both the funny scenes and the more serious ones.
After Life - 8.4
This is a recent Ricky Gervais creation, and it is up there with his best. In After Life, Gervais plays a grief-stricken Tony, who after the death of his wife, has stopped caring about being a good person, at least at first.
It's an incredibly emotional series. And while Gervais has previously shown that he can excel at dramatic scenes, rarely has he done it as often or as well as he does in After Life. Gervais' track record with creating exceptional television series is unbelievable, and After Life proves that he's not slowing down yet.
Louie - 8.5
Louie was a series focused on a fictionalized version of Louis C.K's life. It stood out for its uniqueness as it was more laid-back than most American sitcoms. There weren't big moments of physical comedy, and jokes were often more subtle.
Ricky Gervais made a couple of appearances in season one as the unprofessional Dr. Ben. The character loved playing little tricks on Louie to amuse himself. Gervais provided plenty of laughs as the doctor and was fantastic in every scene.
The Office (UK) - 8.5
As previously mentioned, The UK Office was the show that made Ricky Gervais famous. He co-created it with Stephen Merchant and also starred in it as the narcissistic boss David Brent who managed an office in Slough. Through his portrayal of Brent, Gervais showed that he was a master of cringe comedy, providing countless hilarious moments during the sitcom's two seasons and Christmas special.
The whole series was instrumental in popularizing mockumentary TV shows, as back when The Office first aired, they were uncommon. This format blended well with the show's excellent cringe-inducing humor to make The Office one of the most beloved British sitcoms of all time.
Spaced - 8.6
One of the first roles of Ricky Gervais' career was as a cameo in this Edgar Wright comedy series about two friends who have to pretend to be a couple to get an apartment. Spaced might not be the most famous show on this list, but it managed to develop a cult audience. It's easy to see why, as the sitcom was unique, smart, and, most of all, funny.
In the sixth episode of season 2, there was a flashback showing a call between Marsha and a man named Dave (portrayed by Ricky Gervais) about the apartment. Gervais didn't have much time to shine, yet he still did a solid job with what he was given.
Bojack Horseman - 8.7
At first glance, this Netflix original looked like a silly show about animals acting like humans. However, Bojack Horseman was actually a brilliantly written series about a washed-up horse actor and his search for happiness. It somehow managed to cleverly mix accurate portrayals of mental illness with animal puns throughout its six seasons. There is no denying that it deserves its hefty 8.7 IMDb rating.
In the last episode of season two, Ricky Gervais voiced a hedgehog who ran an orphanage that Bojack unintentionally funded. Gervais was great during his limited screen time, delivering a few hilarious lines.
The Simpsons - 8.7
Ever since the '80s, the dysfunctional Simpsons family has been entertaining audiences. Over those years, many famous people have lent their voice to a character or a fictionalized version of themselves, Ricky Gervais has done both.
In the season 17 episode titled "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife," Homer and Marge took part in a Wife Swap-like show where Marge ended up with Charles Heathbar, voiced by Ricky Gervais. Then a few years later, Gervais made a cameo as a fictional version of himself at an award show. The actor brought his signature brand of comedy to both roles.
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 8.7
There aren't many comedies in recent history that are as highly regarded as Curb Your Enthusiasm. The sitcom about the fictional life of Larry David has earned strong reviews because of its clever and hilariously insensitive writing.
During season eight, Ricky Gervais guest-starred as a fictionalized version of himself. He was arrogant and an all-around jerk, which put him at odds with Larry David throughout the episode. Gervais has a similar style of humor to Curb Your Enthusiasm, so he fit in perfectly.
The Office (US) - 8.9
It's funny that the highest-rated show that Ricky Gervais has been a part of (according to IMDb) is a remake of his own. However, it's not a big surprise, as The Office (US) was one of the most popular sitcoms and remakes ever. Its witty dialogue and outrageous moments helped it become a pop culture icon. Even though it's been several years since the series ended, it's still hard to go a day without seeing an Office meme or GIF on social media.
Ricky Gervais reprised his most famous role as David Brent to make a couple of cameo appearances in this US version. Most notable was his interaction with Micheal Scott outside an elevator in season seven, which was a classic sitcom moment.