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Gavin Free

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Gavin Free
Gavin Free at RTX 2016
Born
Gavin David Free

(1988-05-23) 23 May 1988 (age 36)
Thame, England
Occupation(s)Producer, director, cinematographer, actor
Years active2006–present
Known forThe Slow Mo Guys
Achievement Hunter
Rooster Teeth
Spouse
​
(m. 2024)​

Gavin David Free (born 23 May 1988) is an English actor, director, cinematographer and internet personality. He is best known for his work at Rooster Teeth—where he formerly served as creative director—featuring in many of their projects, including the Achievement Hunter gaming division. He directed season 7 of Red vs. Blue, as well as its miniseries Relocated.

Free is also known as the creator and co-host of the YouTube-based web series The Slow Mo Guys,[1] alongside his friend Daniel Gruchy. The series features slow-motion footage of various stunts and experiments, garnering as of February 2022 over 2.2 billion views since its launch in 2010. In April 2011, the channel was voted the winner of YouTube's On The Rise program. In September 2012, their episode involving crushing watermelons was featured on The Tonight Show. Free has appeared alongside Gruchy in the annual YouTube Rewind series from 2013 to 2017. Free was nominated for a Webby Award in the Best Web Personality/Host (Online Film & Video) category for his work on The Slow Mo Guys on 5 April 2016.[2]

His acting roles include Woody in Lazer Team and its sequel, Vav in the animated comedy series X-Ray and Vav, and Scarlet David in RWBY. He is also known for his slow motion cinematography work for films,[3] including Hot Fuzz (2007), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), and Dredd (2012).[4] Free has also worked on slow-motion footage for the BBC show Top Gear.[5] At the 2016 Streamy Awards, Free won for Cinematography.[6]

Early life

Free was born in Thame in Oxfordshire[7][8] where he attended Lord Williams's School.[9]

In 2006, he joined Green Door Films, the first production house in Europe to use Phantom digital high-speed cameras as a source of slow motion, working as a data technician and camera operator. He has worked on adverts and music videos for U2, Enter Shikari, Klaxons, Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, X-Press 2, and the "Everybody Hurts" charity single.[10]

Free also worked at his local Waitrose, where he met Daniel Gruchy.[11]

Career

Red vs. Blue and Slow Mo Guys: 2009–2010

In 2009, he was hired by Austin, Texas–based Rooster Teeth Productions to direct the seventh season of their machinima series Red vs. Blue. Free also directed its mini-series Relocated.[4][12][13][14][15] He acted in Rooster Teeth's comedy mini-series Captain Dynamic[16][17][18] and began appearing in Rooster Teeth Shorts the same year.[19][20][21]

Free in 2013

In 2010, he created The Slow Mo Guys along with friend Daniel Gruchy in order to get a work visa.[22] The Slow Mo Guys consists largely of various objects being filmed using Free's Phantom high-speed cameras. As of February 2022, their YouTube channel has garnered over 2.2 billion views and 14.2 million subscribers.[23][24] In April 2011, the channel was voted the winner of YouTube's On The Rise program, which highlights up-and-coming YouTube partners on the homepage. In September 2012, they were featured on The Tonight Show.[25][26][27] In February 2013, Free announced that The Slow Mo Guys had been picked up by Rooster Teeth and that further episodes of the series would be released on Rooster Teeth's website, as well as the series' existing YouTube channel.[28]

On 23 February 2015, Free and Gruchy created a partner channel to The Slo Mo Guys, The Slo Mo Guys 2, as a channel for "laid back 'out of labcoats' content that doesn't fit on the main channel"[29] As of February 2021, the channel has 41.8 million views and 831k subscribers.

Rooster Teeth and Achievement Hunter: 2012–2024

Free joined Achievement Hunter (a video gaming division of Rooster Teeth founded by Geoff Ramsey and Jack Pattillo) in 2008 as a contract host before becoming one of the main six hosts in 2012. He is one of the most prolific employees on the site, regularly appearing in their Let's Play series of videos, its podcast Off Topic,[30] and tutorials of how to get achievements and find easter eggs in video games.[citation needed]

In May 2013, Free began starring as a "lab rat" in the Rooster Teeth series Immersion, replacing Geoff Ramsey and Gus Sorola. In Immersion, Free must test video concepts in real life alongside friend and co-worker Michael Jones.[31][32][33] He was a contestant in the second season of Rooster Teeth's gaming show The Gauntlet in 2013.[34][35] Free has had two cameo appearances in Barenaked Ladies music videos for their songs "Odds Are" (2013) and "Did I Say That Out Loud?" (2014). In the latter video, he is portrayed as accidentally lighting himself on fire when trying to play a song for his domestic partner Meg Turney, which subsequently goes viral.[36][37][38] Free and The Slow Mo Guys co-star Daniel Gruchy appeared in YouTube Rewind in 2013, playing themselves being pulled by an RV, itself a nod to Breaking Bad, while an explosion goes off behind them.[39][40] They both returned for the YouTube Rewinds from 2014 to 2017.

Free began starring in the Rooster Teeth animated superhero comedy web series X-Ray and Vav in November 2014.[41][42][43][44][45] He voiced Vav alongside former Achievement Hunter employee Ray Narvaez, Jr., who voices X-Ray. The season was renewed for a second season, which premiered in July 2015.[46][47] That same year, he appeared in Rooster Teeth's murder mystery comedy series Ten Little Roosters as a fictionalised version of himself and was a contestant on the improvised comedy series @midnight on Comedy Central.[48][49][50][51]

In 2015, Free and Rooster Teeth co-founder Burnie Burns hosted multiple episodes of the hypothetical scenario series Million Dollars, But..., in which each person comes up with a typically difficult scenario; for example, having to date Adolf Hitler for a year — which the cast comically re-enact — for which they will be given a million dollars. The pilot episode premiered on 21 May 2015, with the series continuing on 9 July 2015.[52][53] He was a reactor on the web series YouTubers React in August 2015.[54] Free became the creative director of Rooster Teeth in October 2015, replacing Burnie Burns who was then promoted to chief creative officer.[55] However, he stepped down in early 2016, wanting to "dedicate his time in 2016 to The Slow Mo Guys."[56]

In 2016, Free starred as Woody in Rooster Teeth's science fiction action comedy film Lazer Team.[57][58][59][60] The film was released theatrically on 27 January 2016.[61] It received mixed to positive reviews from critics at film festival showings and upon its release.[62][63][64] He joined the voice cast of the anime web series RWBY as Scarlet David for its third volume.[65][66]

On 5 April 2016, Free was nominated for a Webby Award in the Best Web Personality/Host (Online Film & Video) category for his work on The Slow Mo Guys.[2] At the 2016 Streamy Awards Free won for Cinematography.[6]

Personal life

Meg Turney and Gavin Free at the premiere of Lazer Team in 2015

Free has been in a relationship with Meg Turney since 2013. In September 2024, it was revealed that the two got married in England.[67] As of March 2019, he is now a permanent resident of the United States.[68]

Free has maintained a longtime close friendship with fellow Achievement Hunter, Michael Jones, since the pair met in 2012.[69][failed verification] Free was a groomsman in Jones’ wedding.[citation needed]

On 26 January 2018, an armed man broke into the couple's Austin home armed with a handgun, firing one shot while the two hid in a closet and contacted authorities. The suspect was confronted by police in the driveway and after an exchange of gunfire was killed by one of the officers. The gunman, an obsessed fan of Turney's, had driven 11 hours from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the couple's home. He was reportedly resentful of Free's fame and relationship.[70] Free and Turney were unharmed in the incident.[71]

Filmography

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2008–2009 Red vs. Blue Jones (voice) Also director of season 7 and Relocated
2009 Captain Dynamic Gavin
2009–present Rooster Teeth Shorts Gavin
2010–present The Slow Mo Guys Himself Also producer and editor
2013 The Gauntlet Himself, Contestant Season 2 only
Chris Hardwick's All-Star Celebrity Bowling Himself Episode: "Nerdist vs. Rooster Teeth"
"Odds Are" American Football player Music video
2013–2015 YouTube Rewind The Slow Mo Guys
2013–present Immersion Himself Seasons 2 and 3
2014 "Did I Say That Out Loud?" thatguy21 Music video
Ten Little Roosters Gavin Prime / Gavin Two Mini-series
2014-2015 X-Ray and Vav Vav (voice) Based on characters created by Lindsay Jones and Jordan Cwierz
2014–2016 Happy Hour Himself
2015 YouTubers React Himself 3 episodes
RWBY Scarlet David (voice) Volume 3
2016 Crunch Time[72] Gavin Episode: "The Big Sleep"
Day 5 Morgue Raver Episode: "Cognitive Dissonance"
The Eleven Little Roosters Gavin III[73]
2018 The Super Slow Show Himself Also producer and editor. A YouTube Original series, not to be confused with YouTube Red Original Series.
2019 Planet Slow Mo Himself Another YouTube Original Series.

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Let's Play Live: The Documentary Himself Documentary
Lazer Team Woody
Reunited Newscaster 2 Short film
2017 Lazer Team 2 Woody
2018 Blood Fest Himself

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014, 2016 @midnight Himself, Contestant 2 episodes
2015, 2018 The Late Late Show with James Corden Himself 2 episodes[74][75]

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2019 Trials Rising Himself

Non-performance credits

Year Title Notes
2007 Top Gear Slow Motion Cinematographer, 1 episode[76]
Hot Fuzz High speed camera
2011 The Good Cook Cameraman[77][78]
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Phantom download technician[79][80]
2012 Snow White and the Huntsman Slow Motion Cinematographer[81]
Dredd Slow Motion Cinematographer[82][83]
2016 Red vs. Blue Phantom operator[84][85]

Podcasts

Year Title Notes
2009–2024 Rooster Teeth Podcast "Best Gaming Podcast" at the Podcast Awards (2012 & 2013)
[86]
2014 Internet Box Guest (Episode XX)
2015–2023 Off Topic Achievement Hunter podcast
2020–2024 F**kface
2024–present Regulation Podcast The F**kface podcast was renamed following the closure of Rooster Teeth in 2024.

References

  1. ^ Spangler, Todd. "A gunman broke into the home of 2 YouTube stars, fired at least once, and searched their home while the couple hid in a closet". Business Insider. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cavassuto, Maria. "Michelle Obama, Netflix Among 2016 Webby Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  3. ^ Rooster Teeth (1 September 2013). "Game Time -- Burnie & Gav Play Halo 4 Ricochet". YouTube.
  4. ^ a b "Gavin Free | Supanova Pop Culture Expo". Supanova.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  5. ^ "RT Podcast No. 235". Rooster Teeth. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2014.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b "The Slow Mo Guys Win Cinematography - Streamy Awards 2016". YouTube. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  7. ^ Free, Gavin. "Gavino". Rooster Teeth. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  8. ^ Rooster Teeth (5 September 2009). "Secret Door". YouTube.
  9. ^ "On your head! Slow-mo film becomes YouTube sensation". Thame Gazette. 11 March 2011.
  10. ^ Free, Gavin (7 March 2010). "Follow up to last journal". Rooster Teeth Productions. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  11. ^ Foster, Alastair (15 April 2016). "How the Slow-Mo Guys have amassed 7.5 million YouTube subscribers around the world". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  12. ^ Shaffer, R.L. (19 August 2010). "Red vs. Blue: Recreation Season 7 DVD Review". IGN.
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  41. ^ "Exclusive Interview with Jordan Cwierz and Lindsay Jones of X-Ray and Vav!". BubbleBladder. 11 December 2014.
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  54. ^ Fine Brothers (2 August 2015). "YOUTUBERS REACT TO FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S 4 TRAILER". YouTube.
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  56. ^ Burns, Burnie (3 May 2016). "GusSorolaVERIFIED comments on IAMA person sitting 3 feet away from Gavin in an airport lounge AMA". Reddit. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
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  64. ^ Corrigan, Kalyn (25 September 2015). "[Review] 'Lazer Team' Stands a Step Above Most Sci-Fi Comedies". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
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  66. ^ Croswynd (1 November 2015). ""RWBY" Vol. 3: Chapter 2 Recap". Desu Daily. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015.
  67. ^ [1]
  68. ^ @GavinFree (19 March 2019). "Finally out of limbo. I never thought a small green piece of plastic could come with such happiness and relief. Law…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  69. ^ "A day late, but don't think @GavinFree & I forgot about the day we met. Watch out @BGibbles". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  70. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (13 February 2018). "Gunman targets YouTubers in home invasion". The Verge. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Christopher Giles drove 11 hours from Albuquerque to the couple's home in Austin, Texas, and his "sole intent was to cause harm to someone who resides there," according to a search warrant obtained by KXAN.
  71. ^ Reslen, Eileen (13 February 2018). "A "Disturbed" Fan Broke Into This YouTube Star's Home in Alleged Attempt To Kill Her Boyfriend". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.
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  75. ^ "Helen Hunt/Ben Schwartz/Chris O'Dowd". 29 March 2018 – via www.imdb.com.
  76. ^ Dunkelman, Barbara (27 April 2015). "Barbara Dunkelman on Twitter: @GavinFree @RichardHammond lookit ur lil face". Twitter.
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  78. ^ Hopkinson, Simon (2013). The Good Cook. Globe Pequot Press. p. 320.
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  83. ^ Twitter / GavinFree: @dancottle Dredd was the last. Twitter.com. Retrieved on 7 December 2012.
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  86. ^ "2012 Winners and Nominees". PodcastAwards.com. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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