Ricky Gervais
The creator of "The Office," "Extras," and "Derek" has become famous for his successful brand of "cringe comedy" - deliberately un-PC humor that taunts taboos, crosses boundaries and elicits painful laughs. His success - and the fact that the Brit's work has found international appeal - surprises even Gervais.
"I shouldn't be this famous, or rich, with the stuff I do," he laughingly admitted to CBS News' Mark Phillips. "No, I should be a fringe comedian that a few people have heard of that isn't allowed on telly, yeah."
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
Born and raised in the county of Berskhire in England, Gervais earned a degree in philosophy and played in bands and wrote comedy sketches for British radio and TV (including "The 11 O'Clock Show").
"The Office"
"The Office"
"If you do what you do and you're uncompromised - you don't listen to focus groups and it's not by committee - something's going to come out that wasn't there before," he told Mark Phillips.
What came out for Gervais was an obscure little British sitcom that conquered the world.
"The Office"
"He wasn't that bad," Gervais said of Brent. "He tried to please everyone all the time, and he ended up pleasing no one. Which is a nice metaphor for being a comedian, I think!"
"The Office" Worldwide
Clockwise from top left: "The Office" as reimagined in Canada ("La Job"), the U.S., Sweden ("Kontoret"), Israel ("HaMisrad"), Chile ("La Ofis"), Germany ("Stromberg") and France ("Le Bureau").
61st Golden Globe Awards
Teenage Cancer Trust
58th Emmy Awards
"Extras"
Gervais won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for "Extras."
"Life's Too Short"
"Life's Too Short"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Night at the Museum"
Night at the Museum"
"Ghost Town"
"The Invention of Lying"
68th Annual Golden Globe Awards
His Hollywood bad-boy act hosting the Golden Globe Awards in 2010 offended stars more used to flattery. ("Looking at all the faces here makes me remember all the great work that's been done this year by cosmetic surgeons.") His act was deemed so offensive, he was asked to come back and do it two more times.
"It was mild ribbing of some of the most famous, loved people in the world. It wasn't a room full of wounded soldiers, you know? I made some jokes," explained Gervais. "I don't think those people went home crying about some little, you know, upstart Brit making fun of their film. Really?"
69th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Introducing Colin Firth, Gervais said glowing things about the "King's Speech" actor, then joked, "What you don't know about him is he's very racist ... I've seen him punch a little blind kitten! Please welcome the evil Colin Firth!"
69th Annual Golden Globe Awards
"Muppets Most Wanted"
"Derek"
When it ran in Britain, critics wondered whether Gervais had crossed a line -- even for him.
"I've never considered [Derek] disabled," Gervais told Phillips. "Someone said that he could be autistic, that he could be Down's syndrome. Someone said that he could be learning difficulties. What's Mr. Bean, you know? He's a fictional character, and he's based on people that I've met [who] are like Derek.
"I deal in taboo subjects for a reason. I want to investigate the audience's and my discomfort around those things."
"Derek"
For more info:
"Derek" (Netflix)
Ricky Gervais' Channel on YouTube
Follow @RickyGervais on Twitter
"The Office" (U.K.) (BBC)
"The Office" (U.S.)
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan