Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell Headshot

Personality • Entrepreneur

Birth Date: October 7, 1959

Age: 64 years old

Birth Place: Lambeth, London, England, UK

Simon Cowell is an English television personality, entrepreneur and record executive. He has been the music mogul behind numerous hit singles and one of the creators and co-judges of the hugely successful talent show, "American Idol" (Fox, 2002-16; ABC, 2017- ). Cowell became as well-known than the stars he was creating, and his confident personality helped make "American Idol" a cultural phenomenon. Cowell evolved into a multi-media powerhouse, launching a record label as well as film and TV production companies that fueled the reality trend by creating half a dozen more international talent competitions.

Born in 1959 in Brighton, England, Cowell realized early in life that he loved making money. Whether it was washing windows or mowing lawns, Cowell could not get enough - nor could he keep it in his pocket. His father, Eric Cowell, a quality surveyor who made his money in property, always told his son to earn his own way. Cowell also learned that he was not much of a student and at age 16, he left school to forge his way in the world, working a series of menial jobs as a waiter and record shop clerk. His first real entry into entertainment came at age 17 as a runner on the set of the adventure series, "Return of the Saint." His father, who had moved on to become an executive at the record label EMI, helped secure his son a bottom rung mail room job at the company. Hard work and nepotism led to Cowell's advancement to A&R assistant and eventually a spot in the music publishing department. Cowell left EMI to launch his own publishing house, but when the ill-fated venture folded within a year, he went to work for the small pop label, Fanfare Records. Cowell established a significant music business reputation at Fanfare, and during his eight years there, was instrumental in raising the indie label's profile with numerous top ten hits, including the smash "So Macho" by Sinitta, which hit #2 on the charts and sold over a million copies. When Fanfare ran into financial difficulties in 1989, Cowell became an A&R agent for the BMG record label. He began producing records for television shows, including "Power Rangers" (1993- ), "Teletubbies" (BBC, 1997-2001), and "WWF SmackDown!" (UPN, 1999-2006; CBS 2006-08), and also signing top pop music acts like Westlife. Now a well-known figure in the music business and respected for his hit-making abilities, Cowell became interested in the possibilities of the emerging reality TV format. With "Pop Idol" (2001-02), he and business partner Simon Fuller took the idea of a pop music talent competition one step further, allowing the audience to choose who they wanted. Cowell served as judge, jury and executioner, his cruel barbs turning the successful music exec into a television personality of the highest order. But his judgment proved impeccable, and Simon's S-Records label produced a pair of number one-selling records for the show's top two finalists. He immediately sold a substantial portion of his label to BMG, making him an instant multi-millionaire.

In the U.S., the Fox network smelled big money and invited Cowell's team to reformat the show for American audiences. "American Idol" debuted quietly as a summer replacement in 2002, but by the show's finale that fall, had become an unexpected hit, no doubt thanks to the appeal of it's "everyday" dreamers and the unexpectedly abrasive nature of the show's creator and third judge. Cowell was joined on the panel by 1990s pop star Paula Abdul and Grammy Award-winning producer Randy Jackson, and together they fulfilled good cop/bad cop duties, building up a viewing audience 20 million strong. Jibes aside, Cowell had a vested interest in finding a genuine star performer, as he signed the winner to a recording contract with his S-Records label. Season one champion was the all-American girl Kelly Clarkson, whose debut album "Thankful" sold almost four million copies and debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Imperious and unapologetic, Cowell - with his snarky critiques, potshots at Abdul, and bickering with host Ryan Seacrest - obviously knew what he was talking about.

"Idol" returned for a second season in 2003 and Cowell parlayed his newfound TV success into a position as executive producer of the short-lived reality dating series "Cupid" (2003) for CBS. At year's end, he released a memoir entitled I Don't Mean to be Rude but while perpetuating the Simon Cowell "brand" with winking cameos on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ), "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989- ) and the film "Scary Movie 3" (2003). In 2004, Cowell experienced another musical success outside of his perennial "Idol" gig when Il Divo, an operatic pop group he had begun putting together several years earlier, began to experience commercial success. That same year, Cowell's Syco production company launched the international talent contest franchise "X Factor." In 2006, Cowell debuted "American Inventor" (ABC, 2006-07), and the short-lived "Celebrity Duets" (Fox, 2006), while Syco produced the British stage musical competition "Grease is the Word" (ITV, 2007). Cowell also became executive producer of the international "Got Talent" franchise. In 2008, the seventh season of "American Idol" continued to deliver strong ratings, but Cowell announced that he would fulfill his contract through season nine before retreating to his behind-the-scenes roles in entertainment. Instead, Cowell announced that he was bringing "The X Factor" to America; the new competition debuted on Fox in the fall of 2011, with Abdul returning to Cowell's side as his fellow judge, along with label executive Antonio "L.A." Reid and Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger, who replaced original fourth judge, U.K. Cowell protege Cheryl Cole, shortly after the audition process began. Ratings were solid, though short of Cowell's confident predictions that the show would outscore "American Idol." A reworked version of the show, with Britney Spears and Demi Lovato replacing the original female judges, was better received. In July 2013, confirmed bachelor Cowell announced that he was expecting his first child with girlfriend Lauren Silverman, who at the time was married to one of Cowell's friends, Andrew Silverman. The Silvermans divorced shortly after the news became public.

Credits

America's Got Talent: Fantasy LeagueStream

Executive Producer
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America's Got Talent: Fantasy LeagueStream

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The Royal Variety Performance 2023

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Stock Aitken Waterman: Legends of Pop

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America’s Got Talent: All-StarsStream

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America’s Got Talent: All-StarsStream

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The Royal Variety Performance 2022

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Tiềm kiếm tài năng Mỹ

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The Jennifer Hudson Show

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Mỹ - Tìm kiếm tài năng Mỹ 2022

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Mỹ - Tìm kiếm tài năng Mỹ 2022

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Tìm Kiếm Tài Năng Mỹ: Mùa 14

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America's Got Talent: Extreme

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America's Got Talent: Extreme

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Walk The Line

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Nick Cannon

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2021

Britain's Got Talent: Unseen

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2020

The National Television Awards Celebrate 25 Years

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SCOOB!

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2020

The X Factor: The Band

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The X Factor: Celebrity

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The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

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Britain's Got Talent: The Champions

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The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story

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America's Got Talent -The Champions

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Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas

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2018

This Morning: 30 Unforgettable Years

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Access

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Today's Take

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Got Talent España

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La Banda

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Red Nose Day

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America's Got Talent: Extras

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The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

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Italia's Got Talent

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Got Talent Portugal

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La France a un incroyable talent

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X-Factor: Okinawa Japan

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Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

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2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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X Factor Daily

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2014

The Big Interview With Dan RatherStream

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The Arsenio Hall Show

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The X Factor: Extras

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One Chance

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One Direction: This Is Us

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Entertainment Studios.TV

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One Direction: All for One

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Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011

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The X Factor

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The X Factor

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Piers Morgan Tonight

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The Xtra Factor: Best & Worst 2010

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American Idol: Stars Live at the Paley Center

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ConanStream

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Access Hollywood Live

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Britain's Got More Talent

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India's Got Talent

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2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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2009

Piers Morgan's Life Stories

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2009

Piers Morgan's Life Stories

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2009

American Idol 2008

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2009

The Wendy Williams Show

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2008

Chelsea Lately

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2007

Britain's Got Talent

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2007

Britain's Got Talent

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2007

Britain's Got Talent

Writer
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2007

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

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Rachael Ray ShowStream

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2006

Celebrity Duets

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2006

The One Show

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2006

America's Got TalentStream

Executive Producer
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2006

America's Got TalentStream

Judge
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etalk

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2006

American Inventor

Executive Producer
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2006

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

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2005

Ripley Under Ground

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Dean Bentliffe
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2005

Far Far Away Idol

Actor
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2004

The X Factor

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2004

The X Factor

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2004

The Xtra Factor

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2004

The Xtra Factor

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Far Far Away Idol

Voice
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The Ellen DeGeneres Show

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2003

Cupid

Executive Producer
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2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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2003

American Idol

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American Idol 2009

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Scary Movie 3Stream

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Scary Movie 3Stream

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Top GearStream

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Loose Women

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Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

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Banzai

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2002

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

Family Guy

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1999

Family GuyStream

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1999

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

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Wildlife SOS

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Access Hollywood

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Extra

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The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

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The SimpsonsStream

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The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream

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Entertainment Tonight

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Today

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News aboutSimon Cowell

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‘AGT’ Premiere: Simon Cowell Cries as Choir Pays Tribute to Late Contestant Nightbirde (VIDEO)

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The Mayyas AGT Season 17
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‘America’s Got Talent’: Last 2 Acts Advance to Finals — Did Your Favorites Make It? (POLL)

Jennifer Hudson (L) and Simon Cowell (R)

Jennifer Hudson’s First Talk Show Guest Will Be Simon Cowell, 18 Years After ‘Idol’

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‘America’s Got Talent’: Fan Favorite Eliminated in First Week of Semifinals — Did Right Acts Advance? (POLL)

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‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 17 Makes Its First Eliminations — Who Made the Cut? (RECAP)

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‘America’s Got Talent’ Reveals Wildcard Winner During First Live Show (RECAP)

America's Got Talent

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‘America’s Got Talent’: A Long-Standing Bit Returns & More Highlights From Episode 8 (RECAP)

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‘America’s Got Talent’: A Special Golden Buzzer & 5 Other Must-See Moments From Episode 7 (RECAP)

America's Got Talent Season 17 Auditions 6
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‘America’s Got Talent’: 5 Must-See Moments From Episode 6 (RECAP)

AGT Season 17 Episode 5
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‘America’s Got Talent’: 5 Best Auditions From Episode 5 (RECAP)

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‘America’s Got Talent’: 6 Best Auditions From Episode 4 (RECAP)

America's Got Talent Season 17 Episode 2 auditions
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‘America’s Got Talent’: 6 Best Auditions From Episode 2 (RECAP)

America's Got Talent Season 17 premiere
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‘America’s Got Talent’: 7 Best Auditions From Season 17 Premiere (VIDEO)

Simon Cowell
Premiere

‘America’s Got Talent’: Simon Cowell Previews Jam-Packed Season 17 (VIDEO)

Simon Cowell on America's Got Talent

Simon Cowell ‘Rushed To Hospital’ After Another Bike Crash

America's Got Talent Nightbirde

‘America’s Got Talent’s Nightbirde Withdraws From Season 16 Due to Cancer Battle

Victory Brinker America's got Talent

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‘AGT’: Get a First Look at Positive Impact Movement’s Impressive Audition (VIDEO)

America's Got Talent - Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell to Judge New High Stakes Music Competition ‘Walk The Line’

America's Got Talent Season 16 Northwell Health Nurse Choir

‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 16 Premiere: What Was Your Favorite Audition? (VIDEO)

America's Got Talent - Season: 16

Howie Mandel Teases Meaningful Season 16 of ‘AGT’ with Surprises

Premiere

Simon Cowell & Sofia Vergara Talk What’s Back, What’s Been Cut on ‘AGT’

American Ninja Warrior Season 12 Semifinals Jessie Graff

NBC Summer 2021 Premiere Dates: ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘American Ninja Warrior’ and ‘Making It’

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Tuesday’s TV Ratings: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Topples 2020 DNC Night 2

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‘AGT’: Kenan Thompson to Step in for Simon Cowell for Week 2 of Live Shows

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Why ‘AGT: The Champions’ Golden Buzzers Will & Won’t Win (PHOTOS)

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Exclusive

‘AGT’ Winner Darci Lynne Invites Us to Cozy Up With ‘My Hometown Christmas’ on NBC

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT --

Simon Cowell Gets Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — His 6 Most Iconic Moments (VIDEO)

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Untitled design (68)

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America's Got Talent - Season 13
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