Richard Gadd Movies and TV Shows: Full Filmography

There’s a specific kind of reckoning that comes when a story you’ve kept private for years suddenly becomes the most-watched show on Netflix. That’s what happened to Richard Gadd when Baby Reindeer dropped on 11 April 2024 — a seven-episode drama based on his own life that would go on to win six Primetime Emmy Awards. The Scottish actor-writer had been working in UK television for a decade before that moment, but nothing had prepared him for what was about to follow. This is a look at the complete Richard Gadd filmography: where it started, where it landed, and what’s coming next.

Born: 11 May 1989 · Known for: Baby Reindeer (2024) · Other credits: Wedding Season (2022), Against the Law (2017) · Upcoming: Half Man series

Here’s a compact reference for the key facts about Richard Gadd and his career highlights.

What is Richard Gadd famous for?

Richard Gadd is a Scottish actor, comedian, and writer who spent roughly a decade working in British television before his life changed completely. He first appeared on screens in 2014 as part of BBC Scotland’s comedy series Scot Squad, later building a reputation through supporting roles in shows like E4’s Tripped and Channel 4’s Code 404, where he played Liam Cleasby across the series run from 2020 to 2022. None of those projects, though, prepared him for what Baby Reindeer would deliver.

The Netflix miniseries premiered on 11 April 2024, drawing from Gadd’s own experiences depicted through his character Donny Dunn. The show landed with unusual force — critics on Rotten Tomatoes praised its “emotional complexity” and called it “a bracing work of autofiction” that could be “a punishing watch” but “richly rewards viewers.” Within weeks it had become one of the platform’s most-discussed originals.

Within months of release, Baby Reindeer had accumulated an extraordinary awards haul. The series took home six Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Writing for Richard Gadd, while Gadd personally claimed three Emmys for writing, producing, and acting. Jessica Gunning won Outstanding Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Martha Scott. The show also secured two Golden Globe Awards and a Peabody Award — remarkable returns for a first-time creator on a streaming platform.

Gadd prepared intensely for the role, reportedly losing around 28 kilograms to portray Donny with a sense of physical vulnerability he felt the story demanded. He also appeared in the 2024 television film A Bear Named Wojtek, voicing the character Dave, though Baby Reindeer continued to dominate public attention throughout the year.

What movies has Richard Gadd been in?

Richard Gadd’s filmography leans heavily toward television rather than feature films, a pattern that holds across his entire pre-Baby Reindeer career. According to verified records, he had no major movie credits starring or headlining a project before 2024.

His most notable on-screen appearance before the Netflix breakthrough was the 2017 television movie Against the Law, a BBC production examining the experiences of gay men during the era before decriminalisation in Britain. This aligns with themes he would later explore with far greater depth and personal stakes in Baby Reindeer.

The 2022 romantic comedy Wedding Season marked a theatrical release, though Gadd was not among the lead cast. He appeared in a supporting capacity alongside actors including Giovanna Fletcher and others in a film that found its primary audience on Prime Video following a cinema run.

Voice work includes his contribution to A Bear Named Wojtek in 2024, the animated television film about a bear adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. The pattern across Gadd’s career is clear: he built his reputation in television formats — shorts, TV movies, anthology series — before the format that finally brought him widespread recognition happened to be another limited television series.

What TV shows has Richard Gadd appeared in?

Richard Gadd’s television credits span roughly a decade before Baby Reindeer changed his profile entirely. His first screen appearance came in 2014 in a single episode of BBC Scotland’s Scot Squad, a comedy series satirising the inner workings of police patrol units. He later returned to the same show across multiple appearances.

In 2015 he landed a main role as Callum in E4’s Tripped, a four-episode series that explored parallel universes and the consequences of minor decisions. That same year he continued building his television presence through recurring appearances across UK broadcast and cable channels.

Code 404 marked one of his more substantial commitments. He played Liam Cleasby in a main role across multiple seasons of the Channel 4/ITV comedy series, which ran from 2020 to 2022 and followed two detectives investigating crimes in a world where most criminals have perfected the art of remaining invisible. The show gave Gadd sustained screen time and comedic material that showcased his range.

Then came Baby Reindeer — seven episodes released by Netflix in April 2024, with Gadd serving simultaneously as creator, writer, and lead actor playing Donny Dunn. The supporting cast included Jessica Gunning as the obsessive Martha Scott, Nava Mau as Teri, and Tom Goodman-Hill as Darrien O’Connor, with direction handled by Weronika Tofilska and Josephine Bornebusch.

What is Richard Gadd doing now?

Richard Gadd is currently in production on a new series called Half Man, which he writes and executive produces. Filming began on or before 6 February 2025, when Gadd announced the project via Instagram with the caption “New content. Coming soon.” The series was first announced in November 2024 under the working title Lions before being renamed.

Half Man stars Gadd as Ruben alongside Jamie Bell (of Billy Elliot and Rocketman fame) as Niall, portraying estranged brothers. The official synopsis frames it around a central question: “What does it mean to be a man?” The story reportedly spans almost 40 years, moving from the 1980s to the present day to examine evolving ideas of masculinity through the lens of brotherhood.

Production involves international partners BBC (UK) and HBO (US), which will handle distribution in their respective territories. This dual-platform approach mirrors how Baby Reindeer reached global audiences through Netflix but signals an even more direct pipeline to prestige television audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

No specific release date has been announced for Half Man as of the current production timeline. The series is in active filming as of early 2025, with Gadd committed to both on-screen and behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Given the speed of Baby Reindeer’s awards-season momentum, anticipation for this follow-up is already significant in entertainment media circles.

How much did Richard Gadd make from Baby Reindeer?

Precise figures for Richard Gadd’s earnings from Baby Reindeer are not publicly available in verified sources. Netflix does not disclose talent compensation for original productions, and neither Gadd nor the production company have shared specific salary or backend participation details.

Public estimates of his net worth have circulated in media reporting, though these figures typically reflect speculation rather than confirmed financial data. The awards haul provides one indirect measure of the project’s financial success and Gadd’s negotiating position going forward. Six Emmy wins for the series plus individual wins for Gadd personally — in writing, producing, and acting — signal significant industry recognition that typically translates into higher future project budgets and talent quotes. The two Golden Globe wins and Peabody Award further cement the project’s critical standing.

Strong viewership on Netflix following the April 2024 release contributed to the show remaining in platform top-10 rankings for several weeks, though the company has not released specific streaming numbers for Baby Reindeer. The combination of awards recognition, critical acclaim, and sustained viewership positions Gadd far more favourably for his next project than any pre-Baby Reindeer credit would have.

Summary

Richard Gadd spent ten years building a career in UK television without reaching anything like mainstream recognition. Baby Reindeer compressed that entire trajectory into a single year — from Netflix debut on 11 April 2024 to six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Peabody by year’s end. For audiences who discovered him through that project, his earlier credits in Code 404 and Tripped now read as background rather than destination. For the industry, his awards haul and the subsequent BBC-HBO co-production deal for Half Man signal that his next chapter will be watched closely. Whether he returns to autofiction or branches into other material, Richard Gadd has positioned himself as someone the entertainment world will be tracking for years to come.

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