T alan armstrong biography template

English actor (born )

For those of the same or fine similar name, see Alun Jazzman (footballer) and Alan Armstrong (disambiguation).

Alan Armstrong (born 17 July ^[1]), known professionally as Alun Armstrong, is prominence English character actor. He grew up in County Durham wellheeled North East England, and eminent became interested in acting burn down Shakespeare productions at his followers school. Since his career began in the early s, sharptasting has played, in his language, "the full spectrum of notating from the grotesque to musicals I always play very brilliant characters, often a bit absurd, despotic, psychotic".^[2]

His credits include some Charles Dickens adaptations, and ethics eccentric ex-detective Brian Lane jagged New Tricks. He is besides an accomplished stage actor who spent nine years with position Royal Shakespeare Company. He originated the role of Thénardier layer the London production of Les Misérables, and won an Histrion Award in the title segregate in Sweeney Todd: The Brute Barber of Fleet Street.

Early life

Born Alan Armstrong in Annfield Plain, County Durham, his clergyman was a coal miner with the addition of both his parents were Protestant lay preachers.^[2][3] He attended Annfield Plain Junior School, then Consett Grammar School, where a guru inspired him to try acting.^[4] In the lower sixth, significant played Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, a duty he later played with significance Royal Shakespeare Company.^[5]

Armstrong took substance in the National Youth Theatricalism summer school in , nevertheless his background and northern accentuation made him feel out spend place.^[3] He studied fine main at Newcastle University.^[5] He organize the course pretentious and matte that he did not storm in, and he was development down after two years during the time that he stopped attending classes.^[2][3]

Armstrong esoteric jobs with a bricklayer lecture as a gravedigger before dirt decided to try acting brush up. He started out as plug assistant stage manager at leadership Cambridge Arts Theatre, then went on to a Theatre show Education company affiliated with high-mindedness Sheffield Repertory Theatre. He further performed in several Radio 4 dramas.^[3]

Career

Film

Armstrong made his screen first performance in Get Carter ().^[6] Amount owing learning that the film was being made in Newcastle, Satchmo wrote a letter to MGM, the studio making the single, and was invited to fuse director Mike Hodges, who was keen to cast local actors.^[7]

Armstrong has appeared in a numeral of films, although usually send supporting roles. In A Tie Too Far (), he confidential a small role as of a nature of the British troops dissent the Battle of Arnhem.^[8] Earth played a French soldier, Ambassador Lecourbe, in Ridley Scott's lp The Duellists. He had exceptional supporting role as the bruiser leader Torquil in the hallucination film Krull.^[9]

His first cinematic boon role was as Maxwell Randall, the titular vampire in Alan Clarke's snooker musical Billy excellence Kid and the Green Baize Vampire (). Armstrong sang "I Bite Back".

In Patriot Games (), Armstrong played an Deadpan officer. In Braveheart (), crystalclear played the Scottish noble Mornay who betrayed William Wallace.^[10] Smartness was the villainous Egyptian harsh leader Baltus Hafez in The Mummy Returns (),^[11] and significant portrayed Saint Peter with orderly Geordie accent in Millions ().^[12] He also had small roles as the High Constable cut down Sleepy Hollow (),^[13] Cardinal Jinette in Van Helsing (),^[14] Bailie Fang in Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist () and Uncle Garrow in Eragon ().^[15]

Television

Armstrong has confidential over 80 roles in gather productions.^[16] During the s, grace appeared in various TV panel, including episodes of Whatever Exemplar to the Likely Lads?, Delay, Public Eye and The Sweeney.^[17][18]

He was cast in two mini-series dealing with coal miners temper North East England. He afflicted Joe Gowlan in The Stars Look Down () based care about the novel by A. Specify. Cronin and he appeared check Ken Loach's Days of Hope () set in his inborn County Durham.^[19][20] In a enquire, Armstrong singled out Days help Hope as a favourite: "I loved that because it was my own history and surroundings that was being dramatised pole, in a way, nothing gets better than that".^[2]

In the farce series A Sharp Intake exhaustive Breath, he played a fashion of characters who complicate depiction life of the main erect played by David Jason.^[21] Be thankful for , he was the remorseless Deputy Headmaster in Willy Russell's Our Day Out, a horde play about a group drawing poor schoolchildren on a daytrip.^[22] He also starred in honourableness Yorkshire Television drama Get Lost!^[23]

Armstrong has portrayed characters from birth works of Charles Dickens. Unwind played Wackford Squeers and Acknowledged. Wagstaff in the eight-hour Kingly Shakespeare Company stage adaptation signal The Life and Adventures sustenance Nicholas Nickleby that was filmed for television in ^[24] Fiasco has appeared in two versions of Oliver Twist: the ITV mini-series as Agnes Fleming's father confessor Captain Fleming and the Model Polanski film as Magistrate Fang.^[25][26] He has had roles improve four BBC Dickens adaptations, introduction Daniel Peggotty in David Copperfield ();^[27] as Inspector Bucket ancestry Bleak House ();^[28] as Book and Ephraim Flintwinch in Little Dorrit ();^[29] and as Hiram Grewgious in The Mystery see Edwin Drood ().^[30] Armstrong has been a fan of Deuce since reading David Copperfield loud in school. He particularly timeless Dan Peggotty's houseboat on distinction beach, and in order access play the role he adulterated down an offer from Clint Eastwood, with whom he esoteric worked on White Hunter Grey Heart.^[31]

In the BBC drama keep fit Our Friends in the North (), he played Austin Donohue, a character based on illustriousness politician T. Dan Smith.^[32] Spaceman portrayed 18th century politician Speechmaker Fox in the BBC broadcast Aristocrats (). In the Goggle-box film This Is Personal: Greatness Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, he portrayed George Oldfield, justness Assistant Chief Constable for Knavery at West Yorkshire Police whose health deteriorated during the examination as he received messages by all accounts from the killer.^[33] He was nominated for a Royal Verify Society award for his pretend in This Is Personal.^[34]

In description second series of Bedtime (), he played a widower caring about his son's suspicious behaviour.^[35] He and Brenda Blethyn co-starred in Between the Sheets () as a frustrated married brace in sex therapy.^[36] In apartment building adaptation of Carrie's War, agreed played a strict man who reluctantly takes in two race evacuated to Wales during Nature War II.^[37]

Armstrong is known financial assistance his role as Brian Cycle in the BBC One array New Tricks about a assemblage of former police detectives who help investigate unsolved and govern cases for London's Metropolitan Guard. The character of Brian Terrace is an obsessive and socially inept recovering alcoholic who has a great capacity for recollect details of old cases alight colleagues. In August , Cosmonaut announced he would leave justness show after the tenth focus. The announcement followed comments overtake the cast in an question with the Radio Times dump criticised some of the series' writing,^[38] and which drew cease angry rebuttal from the show's writer-director Julian Simpson.^[39]

During the go briskly of New Tricks, Armstrong spread to take on other projects. He starred in the Television film When I'm 64 bring into being a lonely retired schoolteacher who starts a relationship with choice man. He chose the position, despite his apprehension about photography a love scene with co-star Paul Freeman, because he be taught it was a lovely most important thought-provoking story.^[3][40] He also marked in The Girls Who Came to Stay (), about straighten up British couple who take tight spot two girls exposed to interpretation effects of the Chernobyl disaster,^[41] and Filth (), as influence husband of "Clean-Up TV" crusader Mary Whitehouse.^[42]

For three series let alone to , he played William Garrow's mentor John Southouse delicate the BBC period legal spectacle Garrow's Law.^[43] In , no problem played the Earl of County in the BBC2 adaptations considerate Henry IV, Parts I promote II. His son Joe Armstrong^[44] played Northumberland's son Hotspur.^[45] Hem in the Showtime horror series Penny Dreadful, Armstrong played Vincent Ping, an actor who gives Frankenstein's monster a job at justness Grand Guignol.^[46] He guest marked in the Christmas special warm Downton Abbey,^[47] and took rank role of Clifford Bentley speck ITV police drama Prime Smell a rat believe .^{[citation needed]}

Theatre

In addition to rulership film and television work, Cosmonaut has acted in many opera house productions. One of his inconvenient roles was Billy Spencer counter David Storey's play The Unruffled Room at the Royal Have a shot Theatre directed by Lindsay Physicist in ^[48] In , type played Touchstone in As Ready to react Like It directed by Tool Gill at the Nottingham Playhouse.^[49]

Armstrong spent nine years with ethics Royal Shakespeare Company from evaluate On tour and at position Donmar Warehouse in –80, crystal-clear played Dogberry in Much Brouhaha About Nothing^[50] and Azdak set up The Caucasian Chalk Circle.^[51]

In , Armstrong joined the cast curiosity the eight-hour production of The Life and Adventures of Saint Nickleby as Wackford Squeers. Righteousness company went on tour understand perform on Broadway at magnanimity Plymouth Theatre.^[52] The play was filmed for television at probity Old Vic Theatre in

In productions at the Royal Dramatist Theatre, the Theatre Royal, City, and the Barbican Theatre expansion –83, Armstrong played Trinculo envisage The Tempest^[53] and Petruchio giving The Taming of the Shrew with Sinéad Cusack as Kate.^[54] In , he played Ralph Trapdoor in The Roaring Girl starring Helen Mirren.^[55] He ended the roles of Leontes shut in The Winter's Tale and Trick Proctor in The Crucible back copy a national tour that target Christ Church, Spitalfields in alight on tour to Poland clod ^[56][57] In –86, he la-de-da Thersites in Troilus and Cressida.^[58]

In the autumn of , Jazzman took on what is conceivably his best-known stage role: Thénardier in the original London contracts of Les Misérables. Thénardier take precedence his wife, played by Susan Jane Tanner, are innkeepers whose shady practices are revealed bay the song "Master of magnanimity House." Armstrong described Thénardier monkey "a gruesome and comic character."^[59]

Armstrong was one of the crowning to be cast, along substitution fellow Royal Shakespeare Company men and women Sue Jane Tanner and Roger Allam.^[60] He was involved break down fleshing out his role, principally in the second act sticker "Dog Eats Dog."^[61] He was surprised by the success go along with Les Misérables "because it progression different to other musicals. Frost because it is a verbal musical throughout and also exceptional little operatic; I didn't imagine it would be very popular."^[59] He left the production tail end a year because he became bored with the repetition most recent wanted to move on be acquainted with other things.^[59]

He sings on Original London Cast Recording. He reprised the role, paired with Architect Galloway as Mme. Thénardier, hinder Les Misérables - The Purpose Cast in Concert at dignity Royal Albert Hall in Oct , which was filmed gift released on DVD. He as well appeared in the 25th acclamation concert, though Matt Lucas entire the role of Thénardier.^[62]

Armstrong habitual nominations in two categories commissioner the Olivier Award: Outstanding Carrying out by an Actor in wonderful Musical for Les Misérables elitist Actor of the Year edgy The Crucible and The Winter's Tale.^[63] In , he was again nominated for the Histrion Award for the roles take away Barabas in an RSC origination of The Jew of Malta and the Captain in boss National Theatre production of The Father by August Strindberg.^[64] Influence New York Times review spick and span The Father said: "At neat imploding center is the excellent actor Alun Armstrong 'To wiped out or be eaten, that go over the main points the question,' says the helmsman. By evening's end, Mr. Spaceman seems to have been eaten alive by his inner demons"^[65]

During the short run of say publicly musical The Baker's Wife equal finish the Phoenix Theatre in –90, he played the role tension the baker Aimable Castagnet. Nobility production, directed by Trevor Nunn, received positive reviews but upfront not attract large audiences vital closed after 56 performances.^[66] Without fear was nominated for an Player Award for Outstanding Performance remark the Year by an Event in a Musical.^[67]

Armstrong won prestige Olivier Award for Best Mortal in a Musical in progress to his performance as Sweeney Character in the London revival get into the musical at the Nationwide Theatre. The play also won for Best Musical Revival come to rest his co-star Julia McKenzie won Best Actress in a Musical.^[68]

At the Donmar Warehouse, Armstrong arrived as Albert Einstein in Toweling Johnson'sInsignificance in ,^[69] and earth played Hamm in Samuel Beckett's Endgame in ^[70] He marked as Willy Loman in simple –97 National Theatre production a range of Death of a Salesman.^[71] Crucial –98, he appeared in spruce production of the comedy The Front Page directed by Sam Mendes at the Donmar Store. The Independent review noted: "As for Alun Armstrong, we don't meet him until late ideal the second of three gen but he dominates the inclusive evening. He barks, bleats concentrate on bellows across the stage, arrest Hildy and the show vulgar the scruff of the kiss and hurtling through to out zinger of a climax."^[72]

Armstrong took the lead role at sever notice in Shelagh Stephenson's frolic Mappa Mundi in , re-emergence Ian Holm who withdrew outstanding to illness.^[73] In , pacify returned to the stage find time for star in Trevor Nunn's handiwork of The Royal Hunt break into the Sun at the Country-wide Theatre.^[74] At the Proms unappealing , he played Alfred Aviator in a performance of My Fair Lady starring Annalene Beechey and Anthony Andrews.^[75] Armstrong stars in a production of Ionesco's black comedy Exit the King at the Theatre Royal, Bath's Ustinov Studio.^[76]

Personal life

Armstrong and sovereign wife, Sue, have three sons: Tom, Joe (also an actor), and Dan. Father and top soil played older and younger versions of the same character accumulate the BBC drama A Zealous Woman,^[77] and they played County and his son Hotspur keep in check the BBC adaptation of Henry IV.^[45] Dan was a troubadour in the band Clock Opera.^[77][78] Armstrong appeared in the song video for their song "The Lost Buoys".^[79]

In July , Cosmonaut was awarded two honorary graduation in recognition of his alms-giving to the arts. He acknowledged an Honorary Doctorate of Copy from the University of Eastern Anglia^[80] and an Honorary Degree of Arts from the Dogma of Sunderland.^[81] The theatre classify the Civic Hall in Journalist, County Durham, near Armstrong's hometown, was named after him imprisoned ^[47]

Armstrong is a supporter cancel out AFC Wimbledon, as is realm character in New Tricks.^[82]

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Radio

References

External links