Is Ricky Gervais Wife Lisa On After Life Based on A Real Person? How The Comedian Wrote A Heartwarming Story of Love and Companionship

Ricky Gervais playing Tony Johnson and Kerry Godliman playing Lisa Johnson in After Life
Ricky Gervais playing Tony Johnson and Kerry Godliman playing Lisa Johnson in After Life( Source : netflix )

Ricky Gervais, who plays Tony Johnson in the dark comedy-drama 'After Life' is a renowned English comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer who has been ruling the entertainment industry since the 2000s.

Ricky Gervais is the creator and writer of the popular British dark comedy series After Life. The television show has won three prestigious awards and six nominations overall.

The heart-wrenching series follows the life of a bereaved man who lost his wife Lisa to breast cancer. It focuses on the widower's journey as he grief through his wife's passing.


Is Ricky Gervais Wife Lisa On After Life Based on A Real Person

After Life's deep-rooted stories have led fans to speculate whether the show is based on a true story of Ricky's life. This dark comedy-drama is not based on a true story; it is all based on Ricky's imagination. 

Ricky's character Tony was well thought up in his imagination. He took himself as the basis for all of his characters in the show. As a result, we can see a lot of 'Ricky' in After Life as 'Tony,' the character he plays.

Gervais mentioned that out of all the characters he has portrayed so far in his career, Tony is the nearest form to him. So he finds himself so much in Tony's behavior. His character has won a new legion of fans.

His Inspiration For Writing After Life Comes From His Partner 

As season three aired, the actor mentioned he wanted to put the message out there that whatever happens, life still goes on. You must accept that and learn to live with the circumstances. He also said his inspiration for writing the series comes from his partner Jane Fallon. So the series is fictional and imaginary.

Tony Johnson with his late wife Lisa Johnson clicking a picture together, He lost his wife to breast cancer, and suffers big time
Tony Johnson with his late wife Lisa Johnson clicking a picture together, He lost his wife to breast cancer, and suffers big time( Source : netflix )

The comedian told Daily Telegraph, that he has never been lonely and suffered from depression, although he has lost his sibling, parents, pets, and friends. He hasn't lost his soulmate, so losing his longtime partner, Jane is the worst thing that could happen to him. His imagination for After Life stems from this thinking.

Although Ricky has said, he doesn't think about his passing that often, he does become hypochondriac from time to time. His partner Jane sticks to his side whenever he faces health anxiety.

Losing someone to cancer or any other catastrophe can be heart-wrenching and painful. You might find it hard to find the strength to move on or get your things together. After Life explores how a man suffering from loss and grief tackles his everyday life.

Ricky has a very different view of life. He told the Daily Telegraph, 'For 13 billion years, we cease to exist, then suddenly we have 80-90 years to ourselves, and we die never to exist again. The only thing that can be done here is to spend every bit of time we've got here to the fullest.

Tony Johnson As He Grieves Through His Wife's Passing

Tony Johnson plays a nice-guy person, but after he loses his life partner Lisa, his personality changes to a whiskey-like persona. Tony tries to get on with his life after grieving his wife's passing but often finds himself putting misery and anger on those around him. Despite his rageful attitude, his family and friends stuck by him in his thick and thin.

Whiskey-Like Persona To Nice-Guy Persona, How It Changed For Tony?

One day, when Tony was visiting his wife's grave, he met a widow Anne who was also visiting her husband's grave. He speaks to the widow with utmost love and respect as both share the same pain.

After enduring so much pain and anger, Tony finally decides to put his whiskey-like persona to rest. He starts to do right by everyone. If it's just mean talking nicely to his postman, he was going to do it, and he did it so. Tony returned the stolen bike to its owner, leaving him a note that he wasn't a terrible human. Wrong things got in his way.

His brother-in-law Matt advised him to see a therapist; Matt recommended Tony to counselor Paul Kaye.

Lisa Suffered From Breast Cancer

Women who reach puberty before age 12 until 55 are at high risk of breast cancer. The tissue on the breast grows abnormally. As in Lisa's case, she discovered a new lump, irritation, dimpling, swelling, and flaky skin in the breast. Women aged 45 or above cover 80% of total breast cancer sufferers. The average years of survival for a breast cancer patient are 84%.

Since Lisa knew her case was fatal, she left a message to her husband, Tony. The video message that his late wife Lisa left him prompted Tony to return to the dating game. He had a like for a nurse Emma (Ashley Jensen).

Tony Is A Writer In The Series

In the show, he works as a feature writer for Tambury Gazette, Matt being his boss and a brother-in-law. Meanwhile, Matt worries about Tony's well-being and cares about him dearly. They had a serious conversation in Season 1 as Tony began to share his marital problems.

Ricky Gervais & His Real Life Partner Jane Fallon

Ricky Gervais met his long-time partner Jane Fallon while attending the University College London. Ricky was a philosophy major and Jane was a history major. The couple started dating in the year 1982 and has been living together since 1984. Ricky and Jane shared a flat together in King's Cross, which was an area where drugs and prostitutes were most commonly found.

Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon has been in a relationship since 1982 but haven't married or have kids yet, this picture above is from 80s when they used to live in a flat above the brothel
Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon has been in a relationship since 1982 but haven't married or have kids yet, this picture above is from 80s when they used to live in a flat above the brothel( Source : co )

Unlike Tony,  Ricky has never been married to anyone, and neither he wants to get married anytime soon. However, he is in a loving relationship with Jane Fallon, who is a renowned English author and producer. The pair ruled out getting married and having kids of their own; their decision was mutual. In 2008 Jane said you should only have children if you really want them. The comedian-turned-actor doesn't want to be a father, with the responsibility that comes with it.

However, the couple owned a cat named Ollie. Unfortunately, he left them on March 10, 2020. Later in October, the pair decided to adopt another cat and named them Pickle. Ricky said he is the 'worrier' in their relationship but Jane somehow manages to calm him down. In their early days of relationship in the mid-80s, Jane would buy lots of cats to help her partner remain at peace, at all times.

American writer, producer, comedian, and actor, Ricky Gervais with his longtime parter, Jane Fallon, Jane is an author and producer who hails from Middlsex England
American writer, producer, comedian, and actor, Ricky Gervais with his longtime parter, Jane Fallon, Jane is an author and producer who hails from Middlsex England( Source : intouchweekly )

The reason behind the couple having more cats as pets is because Jane found out in her reading that cat makes human live longer. The comedian also said that Jane has always stood by him in his ups and downs, and has helped him make better choices in his life and career.

In their early days, the couple suffered financial problems and had no money to afford a nice place to live. So they were kind of living in the street full of drugs and crimes. In fact, their flat was just above a brothel.

However, Jane had her career all planned out and pursued to be the prolific writer and producer that she is today. Also, it turned out well for Ricky Gervais who is ruling over the entertainment industry. He works as a comedian, actor, producer, and more, which has won him millions of fans, awards, and accolades in his professional career.

Jane Fallon was born on December 9, 1960, in Harrow, United Kingdom. While her partner Ricky was born on June 25, 1961, in Whitley, United Kingdom.

After Life Season 3 Is The Final Installment

Ever since season 1 of After Life aired on March 8, 2019, the show has garnered millions of fans across the globe through its heart-warming story of love and companionship. Unfortunately for fans, Season 3 which aired in January this year will be the final installment of the series. The characters in the series have a solid relationship with Tony Johnson who plays a widower.

After Life writer, creator, and producer Ricky Gervais, He plays Tony Johnson in After Life, He also co created popular show The Office
After Life writer, creator, and producer Ricky Gervais, He plays Tony Johnson in After Life, He also co created popular show The Office( Source : cnn )

His late wife Lisa isn't present in his life, since the show took place after her demise. Tony thinks very highly of Lisa who was able to endure breast cancer treatments. As he said in the series, he'd rather be with his wife than be somewhere with anybody else. The relationship shown between Lisa and Tony in the series really portrays how they were made for each other.

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