History of Sacha Baron Cohen in Timeline
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English comedian, actor, and performance artist recognized for his satirical characters like Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral General Aladeen. He has received numerous awards, including three Golden Globe Awards and two BAFTA TV Awards, along with nominations for Academy Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. His work often involves pushing boundaries and using humor to address social and political issues.
1932: Father's Birth
In 1932, Sacha Baron Cohen's father, Gerald "Jerry" Baron Cohen, was born in London.
1936: Grandmother Flees Nazis
In 1936, Sacha Baron Cohen's maternal grandmother, Liesel (née Levi), fled the Nazis in Germany.
1939: Mother's Birth
In 1939, Sacha Baron Cohen's mother, Daniella (née Weiser), was born in British Mandatory Palestine.
October 1971: Sacha Baron Cohen's Birth
In October 1971, Sacha Noam Baron Cohen was born in England. He is a comedian, actor, and performance artist known for his satirical characters.
October 1971: Birth in London
In October 1971, Sacha Noam Baron Cohen was born in the Hammersmith area of London.
1993: Graduation from Cambridge
In 1993, Sacha Baron Cohen graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge, with upper-second-class honours in history.
1995: Auditioning for Channel 4
In 1995, Sacha Baron Cohen sent a tape to Channel 4 as part of an open call for new television presenters.
1996: Hosting Pump TV
From 1995 to 1996, Sacha Baron Cohen hosted Pump TV.
1996: Early Borat Character
From 1996 to 1997, Sacha Baron Cohen developed the Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev for short skits on F2F on Granada Television, with the character known as Alexi Krickler at the time.
1997: Early Borat Character
From 1996 to 1997, Sacha Baron Cohen developed the Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev for short skits on F2F on Granada Television, with the character known as Alexi Krickler at the time.
September 1998: The 11 O'Clock Show Debut
On September 8, 1998, Ali G first appeared on the British television show The 11 O'Clock Show on Channel 4.
1998: Early Television Career
In 1998, Sacha Baron Cohen began his television career in the late-night series The 11 O'Clock Show.
1999: Comedian of the Year
In 1999, GQ named Sacha Baron Cohen comedian of the year. He also won Best Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards.
1999: Continued Television Work
In 1999, Sacha Baron Cohen continued working on The 11 O'Clock Show.
1999: Best Newcomer Award
In 1999, Sacha Baron Cohen won Best Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards.
2000: Da Ali G Show Begins and Madonna Music Video
In 2000, Da Ali G Show began, and Baron Cohen as Ali G appeared in Madonna's "Music" video.
2000: Creation of Da Ali G Show
In 2000, Sacha Baron Cohen created and starred as Ali G in the satirical sketch comedy show Da Ali G Show.
2000: The Jolly Boys' Last Stand
In 2000, Sacha Baron Cohen made his first feature film appearance in the British comedy The Jolly Boys' Last Stand. He also appeared in a series of TV advertisements for Lee Jeans as Super Greg.
2000: Neil Hamilton Interview Incident
In 2000, as Ali G, Sacha Baron Cohen offered Neil Hamilton what was allegedly cannabis, which Hamilton accepted and smoked, creating controversy.
November 2001: MTV Europe Music Awards Presentation
In November 2001, Sacha Baron Cohen, as Ali G, presented the MTV Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt, Germany.
2001: Ranked in Top 100 TV Characters
In 2001, Ali G was ranked eighth on Channel 4's list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.
2001: Meeting Isla Fisher
In 2001, Sacha Baron Cohen met Australian actress Isla Fisher at a party in Sydney.
2001: Interviewing David Beckham
In 2001, as Ali G, Sacha Baron Cohen interviewed David Beckham and his wife Victoria for Comic Relief.
2002: Ali G Indahouse Film Release
In 2002, Ali G was the central character in the feature film Ali G Indahouse.
2003: US Television Show Export
In 2003, Da Ali G Show was exported to the United States for HBO, with new episodes set there.
2004: Talk Show Circuit
In 2004, Sacha Baron Cohen appeared as himself on talk shows to promote the upcoming season of his HBO show.
2004: Engagement to Isla Fisher
In 2004, Sacha Baron Cohen became engaged to Isla Fisher.
November 2005: MTV Europe Music Awards Presentation
In November 2005, Sacha Baron Cohen, as Borat, presented the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon, Portugal.
2005: Madagascar Film Series
In 2005, Sacha Baron Cohen started voicing King Julien XIII in the Madagascar film series.
2005: Kazakhstan Government Threatens Legal Action
In 2005, the government of Kazakhstan threatened Sacha Baron Cohen with legal action following the MTV Europe Music Awards and removed the Borat website.
November 2006: Borat Film Release
In November 2006, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was released in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. The film follows Borat Sagdiyev as he travels the US to produce a documentary and attempts to marry Pamela Anderson.
November 2006: Rolling Stone Interview
In November 2006, Sacha Baron Cohen gave an interview with Rolling Stone, labeled as "his only interview as himself".
November 2006: Sports Illustrated Column
Sports Illustrated's November 6, 2006 issue contained a column drawing parallels between Sacha Baron Cohen and figure skater Sasha Cohen.
December 2006: British Comedy Awards Acceptance
In December 2006, Sacha Baron Cohen accepted an award at the British Comedy Awards out of character.
December 2006: Lawsuit over Borat Film
In December 2006, University of South Carolina students sued the filmmakers of 'Borat', alleging they were tricked into signing release forms. A judge denied a restraining order to remove them from the film on 11 December 2006.
2006: MTV Movie Awards Appearance
At the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, as Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen introduced Gnarls Barkley's performance and made a comment about Jessica Simpson.
2006: Borat UK Premiere Arrival
At the 2006 UK premiere of Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen arrived in Leicester Square in a cart pulled by a mule, making controversial announcements.
2006: Talladega Nights Appearance
In 2006, Sacha Baron Cohen appeared as Jean Girard in 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby'.
2006: Starring in Borat
In 2006, Sacha Baron Cohen wrote and starred in Borat.
January 2007: Golden Globe and Academy Award Nominations
In January 2007, Sacha Baron Cohen won the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Borat.
January 2007: Fresh Air Interview
On January 4, 2007, Sacha Baron Cohen appeared in an interview out of character with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air.
February 2007: Borat Lawsuit Dismissal
In February 2007, the lawsuit filed by University of South Carolina students against the filmmakers of 'Borat' was dismissed.
December 2007: Retirement of Borat Character
On December 21, 2007, Sacha Baron Cohen announced he was retiring the character of Borat.
2007: Sweeney Todd Film
In 2007, Sacha Baron Cohen acted in the drama film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
2007: Time 100 List
Sacha Baron Cohen was featured in the Time 100 list in 2007.
September 2008: Brüno Fashion Show Incident
On 26 September 2008, Sacha Baron Cohen, as Brüno, disrupted the Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada fashion show in Milan by walking onto the runway in a velcro costume.
2008: Member of the Academy
In 2008, Sacha Baron Cohen became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
May 2009: MTV Movie Awards Stunt as Brüno
In May 2009, Sacha Baron Cohen, as Brüno, performed an aerial stunt at the MTV Movie Awards, landing on Eminem, which was later revealed to be staged.
May 2009: Charity Worker Lawsuit
In May 2009, a charity worker sued Sacha Baron Cohen over an incident shot for 'Brüno' at a bingo game, alleging it left her disabled.
July 2009: Late Show Appearance
In July 2009, Sacha Baron Cohen appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, where he made comments related to Ayman Abu Aita.
July 2009: Brüno Film Release
In July 2009, the film Brüno, based on interviews Sacha Baron Cohen performed as the character Brüno, was released after Universal Pictures won the film rights.
November 2009: Charity Worker Lawsuit Dismissed
In late November 2009, the charity worker's lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen was dismissed on Anti-SLAPP grounds.
2009: Portrayal of Eli Cohen in The Spy
In 2009, Sacha Baron Cohen portrayed Eli Cohen in the Netflix limited series The Spy, earning a Golden Globe nomination.
2009: Brüno Film
In 2009, Sacha Baron Cohen wrote, produced, and acted in the comedy film Brüno.
March 2010: Marriage to Isla Fisher
In March 2010, Sacha Baron Cohen married Isla Fisher in a Jewish ceremony in Milan and Paris after she converted to Judaism.
April 2010: Defamation Lawsuit Filed
In April 2010, Ayman Abu Aita filed a lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen, alleging defamation due to portrayal in the movie Bruno.
September 2010: Confirmed to Play Freddie Mercury
In September 2010, Sacha Baron Cohen was confirmed to play Freddie Mercury in the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' biopic.
September 2011: Dismissal Upheld on Appeal
On September 12, 2011, the dismissal of the charity worker's lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen was upheld on appeal.
2011: Hugo Co-starring Role
In 2011, Sacha Baron Cohen co-starred in Martin Scorsese's adventure film 'Hugo'.
February 2012: Academy Awards Controversy
In February 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen claimed he was banned from attending the 84th Academy Awards as Admiral General Aladeen, which was initially denied by the Academy.
May 2012: Howard Stern Show Appearance
In May 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen admitted on The Howard Stern Show that the "ashes" spilt on Ryan Seacrest at the Academy Awards were flour.
September 2012: Defamation Claim Settled
In September 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen's defamation claim was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
2012: Outstanding Achievement Award
In 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen accepted the Outstanding Achievement Award from Sir Ben Kingsley at the British Comedy Awards as Ali G.
2012: First-look Deal with Paramount Pictures
In 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen and his production company Four By Two Films signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures.
2012: Continued Voicing King Julien XIII
In 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen continued to voice King Julien XIII in the Madagascar film series.
2012: Les Misérables Role
In 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen portrayed Thénardier in the film version of the musical 'Les Misérables'.
2012: The Dictator Film
In 2012, Sacha Baron Cohen wrote, produced, and acted in the comedy film The Dictator.
July 2013: Drops out of Bohemian Rhapsody Biopic
In July 2013, Sacha Baron Cohen dropped out of the Freddie Mercury biopic due to creative differences.
2013: Anchorman 2 Appearance
In 2013, Sacha Baron Cohen appeared as a BBC News Anchor in 'Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues'.
2013: BAFTA Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award
In 2013, Sacha Baron Cohen received the BAFTA Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy.
2014: Paramount Pictures Deal Renewal
In 2014, the first-look deal between Sacha Baron Cohen's Four By Two Films and Paramount Pictures was renewed for three years.
December 2015: Donation to Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee
In December 2015, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher donated £335,000 to Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to aid Syrian refugees and vaccinate children.
2016: Grimsby Film
In 2016, Sacha Baron Cohen wrote, produced, and acted in the comedy film Grimsby.
2016: Death of Father
In 2016, Sacha Baron Cohen's father, Gerald "Jerry" Baron Cohen, passed away.
May 2018: Jason Spencer loses primary
In May 2018, Republican state representative Jason Spencer lost his primary to Steven Sainz after an episode where he was taught to detect terrorists by Sacha Baron Cohen's character.
July 2018: Jason Spencer resigns
In July 2018, Jason Spencer resigned from his position as a Republican state representative after a controversial episode with Sacha Baron Cohen. He stepped down on 31 July 2018, leaving the seat vacant.
2018: Roy Moore Lawsuit
In 2018, Roy Moore sued Sacha Baron Cohen for $95 million relating to a mock interview and allegations of paedophilia.
2018: Creation of Who Is America?
In 2018, Sacha Baron Cohen created and starred in the Showtime satirical mockumentary series Who Is America?
2018: Named Among Best Living Comedians
In 2018, The Times named Sacha Baron Cohen among the 30 best living comedians.
2018: Borat's Return
In 2018, the Borat character was brought back on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
2019: Anti-Defamation League International Leadership Award
In 2019, Sacha Baron Cohen received the Anti-Defamation League's International Leadership Award and delivered a speech criticizing internet companies for their handling of hate speech.
June 2020: Crashed Right-Wing Protest
In June 2020, Sacha Baron Cohen crashed the "March for Our Rights 3" protest in Olympia, Washington, disguised as Borat and sang a satirical song.
September 2020: The Trial of the Chicago 7 Release
In September 2020, Sacha Baron Cohen portrayed Abbie Hoffman in 'The Trial of the Chicago 7', which was released to positive reviews.
2020: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
In 2020, Sacha Baron Cohen released Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, for which he won another Golden Globe Award.
2020: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and Trial of the Chicago 7
In 2020, Sacha Baron Cohen starred in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Abbie Hoffman in The Trial of the Chicago 7.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Efforts
In 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher partnered with Marc Benioff to send PPE to NHS workers in the UK.
July 2021: Lawsuit Dismissed
On 13 July 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed Roy Moore's lawsuit after finding that Moore had signed a consent agreement barring his claims.
July 2022: Baron Cohen Defeats Lawsuit
On 8 July 2022, Sacha Baron Cohen defeated the lawsuit filed by Roy Moore.
2022: Kennedy Center Honors as Borat
In 2022, Sacha Baron Cohen performed a standup routine as Borat for the induction of U2 at the Kennedy Center Honors.
August 2023: Speech at March on Washington Anniversary
In August 2023, Sacha Baron Cohen spoke at the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington alongside Martin Luther King III and Rev. Al Sharpton.
2023: Open Letter on Hostage Release
In 2023, Sacha Baron Cohen signed an open letter to President Biden calling for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas.
April 2024: Divorce Announcement
On April 5, 2024, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher jointly announced that they had filed for divorce at the end of 2023.
October 2024: Donation for Sudan Crisis
In October 2024, Sacha Baron Cohen donated $500,000 to Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to help support their work tackling a displacement crisis and famine in Sudan.
2024: Acting in Disclaimer
In 2024, Sacha Baron Cohen acted in the Apple TV+ limited series Disclaimer.
