Simon Phillip Cowell (born 7 October 1959) is an English talent manager, producer, businessman, and reality competition show judge.
He started off his career in the music industry working for EMI (where his father served as an executive), and later BMG, as a music producer. A few singers and groups found success with him at this time, most notably Westlife.
It was with the Idols franchise (specifically, American Idol), however, where he became a household name. He would go on to judge and produce many other talent shows, including The X Factor and the Got Talent franchise (including America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent). He also owns his own entertainment company, Syco Music, which functions as a record label and talent agency for the many artists who find success with him.
He's famous for his blunt and critical judging manner, which is often a source of parody in popular culture.
Shows and films he's worked on:
- Got Talent
- Idols
- The X Factor
- Shrek 2 (particularly the Far Far Away Idol short film)
- SCOOB!
