[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/scowell_40.jpg]]
->''"If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention."''

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 Creator/{{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 Music/{{Westlife}}.

It was with the ''Idols'' franchise (specifically, ''Series/AmericanIdol''), however, where he became a household name. He would go on to judge and produce many other talent shows, including ''Series/TheXFactor'' and the ''Got Talent'' franchise (including ''Series/AmericasGotTalent'' and ''Series/BritainsGotTalent''). He also owns his own entertainment company, Creator/SycoMusic, which functions as a record label and talent agency for the many artists who find success with him.

He's famous for his [[HarshTalentShowJudge blunt and critical judging manner]], which is often a source of parody in popular culture.
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!!Shows and films he's worked on:

* ''Got Talent''
** ''Series/AmericasGotTalent''
** ''Series/BritainsGotTalent''
* ''Idols''
** ''Series/AmericanIdol''
* ''Series/TheXFactor''
** ''Series/TheXFactorUS''
* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' (particularly the ''Far Far Away Idol'' short film)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Scoob}}''
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