Alun Armstrong

 ( 1946 Births ) 

Armstrong took part in the National Youth Theatre summer school in 1964, but his background and northern accent made him feel out of place. He studied fine art at Newcastle University. He found the course pretentious and felt that he did not fit in, and he was sent down after two years when he stopped attending classes.

Armstrong had jobs with a bricklayer and as a gravedigger before he decided to try acting again. He started out as an assistant stage manager at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, then went on to a Theatre in Education company affiliated with the Sheffield Repertory Theatre. He also performed in several Radio 4 dramas.

Armstrong has appeared in a number of films, although usually in supporting roles. In A Bridge Too Far (1977), he had a small role as one of the British troops at the Battle of Arnhem.Cummings, Mike, "Alun Armstrong", All Movie Guide. Retrieved 2011-02-12. He played a French soldier, Lieutenant Lecourbe, in Ridley Scott's 1977 film The Duellists. He had a supporting role as the bandit leader Torquil in the 1983 fantasy film Krull.Maslin, Janet, "Movie Review: Krull (1983): Adventure with Magic and a Beast", The New York Times, 29 July 1983. Retrieved 2011-02-10.

His first cinematic lead role was as Maxwell Randall, the titular vampire in Alan Clarke's snooker musical Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire (1987). Armstrong sang "I Bite Back".

In Patriot Games (1992), Armstrong played an SO-13 officer. In Braveheart (1995), he played the Scottish noble Mornay who betrayed William Wallace.Travers, Peter, " Braveheart" , Rolling Stone, 1 January 1995. Retrieved 2011-02-10. He was the villainous Egyptian cult leader Baltus Hafez in The Mummy Returns (2001), " The Mummy Returns", Theiapolis Cinema. Retrieved 2011-02-11. and he portrayed Saint Peter with a Geordie accent in Millions (2004). " Millions Film Review", Film4. Retrieved 2011-02-10. He also had small roles as the High Constable in Sleepy Hollow (1999),Horrod, Marion, " Sleepy Hollow", Planet Origo, 1 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-11. Cardinal Jinette in Van Helsing (2004),Geary, Christopher, " Van Helsing" , The Zone. Retrieved 2011-02-10. Magistrate Fang in Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist (2005) and Uncle Garrow in Eragon (2006).Warren, Bill, " Eragon" , Audio Video Revolution, 15 December 2006. Retrieved 2011-02-10.

He was cast in two mini-series dealing with coal miners in North East England. He played Joe Gowlan in The Stars Look Down (1974) based on the novel by A. J. Cronin and he appeared in Ken Loach's Days of Hope (1975) set in his native County Durham. " The Stars Look Down", BFI Film and TV Database. Retrieved 2011-02-10.Williams, Tony, " Days of Hope", Senses of Cinema. Retrieved 2011-02-06. In a 2007 interview, Armstrong singled out Days of Hope as a favourite: "I loved that because it was my own history and background that was being dramatised and, in a way, nothing gets better than that".

In the comedy series A Sharp Intake of Breath, he played a variety of characters who complicate the life of the main character played by David Jason. "Britain's Best Sitcom", BBC, January 2004. Retrieved 2001-02-12. In 1977, he was the strict Deputy Headmaster in Willy Russell's Our Day Out, a television play about a group of poor schoolchildren on a daytrip. " Our Day Out", Willy Russell website. Retrieved 2011-02-10. He also starred in the 1981 Yorkshire Television drama Get Lost! " The Beiderbecke Tapes", BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 2011-02-10.

Armstrong has portrayed characters from the works of Charles Dickens. He played Wackford Squeers and Mr. Wagstaff in the eight-hour Royal Shakespeare Company stage adaptation of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby that was filmed for television in 1982.Sinyard, Neil, " The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby", BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 2011-02-10. He has appeared in two versions of Oliver Twist: the 1999 ITV mini-series as Agnes Fleming's father Captain Fleming and the 2005 Roman Polanski film as Magistrate Fang. " Oliver Twist" , PBS. Retrieved 2011-02-10.Romney, Jonathan, " Oliver Twist", The Independent, 9 October 2005. Retrieved 2011-02-10. He has had roles in four BBC Dickens adaptations, as Daniel Peggotty in David Copperfield (1999); " David Copperfield" , PBS. Retrieved 2011-02-10. as Inspector Bucket in Bleak House (2005); " Bleak House" , PBS. Retrieved 2011-02-10. as Jeremiah and Ephraim Flintwinch in Little Dorrit (2008); " Little Dorrit" , PBS. Retrieved 2011-02-10. and as Hiram Grewgious in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012). "Cast announced for The Mystery Of Edwin Drood on BBC Two", BBC Press Office, 2 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-02. Armstrong has been a fan of Dickens since reading David Copperfield aloud in school. He particularly remembered Dan Peggotty's houseboat on the beach, and in order to play the role he turned down an offer from Clint Eastwood, with whom he had worked on White Hunter Black Heart. "Dan Peggotty: Alun Armstrong" , PBS. Retrieved 2011-02-12.

In the BBC drama series Our Friends in the North (1996), he played Austin Donohue, a character based on the politician T. Dan Smith.O'Neill, Martin, "Labour's Friends in the North", New Statesman, 3 December 2007. Retrieved 2011-01-29. Armstrong portrayed 18th century politician Henry Fox in the BBC serial Aristocrats (1999). In the 2000 TV film , he portrayed George Oldfield, the Assistant Chief Constable for Crime at West Yorkshire Police whose health deteriorated during the investigation as he received messages purportedly from the killer.Sloan, Billy, "TV preview; Policeman who ended up Ripper's 14th victim", Yorkshire Post, 23 January 2000. Retrieved 2011-02-02. He was nominated for a Royal Television Society award for his role in This Is Personal.

In the second series of Bedtime (2002), he played a widower concerned about his son's suspicious behaviour. " Bedtime", BBC. Retrieved 2011-02-10. He and Brenda Blethyn co-starred in Between the Sheets (2003) as a frustrated married couple in sex therapy.Grant, Frances, "Sexual Healing in the 'burbs", The New Zealand Herald, 9 December 2004. Retrieved 2011-02-11. In an adaptation of Carrie's War, he played a strict man who reluctantly takes in two children evacuated to Wales during World War II. " Carrie's War", PBS. Retrieved 2011-02-11.

Armstrong is known for his role as Brian Lane in the BBC One series New Tricks about a group of former police detectives who help investigate unsolved and open cases for London's Metropolitan Police. The character of Brian Lane is an obsessive and socially inept recovering alcoholic who has a great capacity for remembering details of old cases and colleagues. In August 2012, Armstrong announced he would leave the show after the tenth series. The announcement followed comments by the cast in an interview with the Radio Times that criticised some of the series' writing, and which drew an angry rebuttal from the show's writer-director Julian Simpson.

During the run of New Tricks, Armstrong continued to take on other projects. He starred in the 2004 TV film When I'm 64 about a lonely retired schoolteacher who starts a relationship with another man. He chose the role, despite his apprehension about filming a love scene with co-star Paul Freeman, because he thought it was a lovely and thought-provoking story. " When I'm 64", BBC Press Office, 2 July 2004. Retrieved 2001-02-13. He also starred in The Girls Who Came to Stay (2006), about a British couple who take in two girls exposed to the effects of the Chernobyl disaster, "Alun Armstrong on The Girls Who Came to Stay" , Memorable TV, 14 April 2006. Retrieved 2011-02-12. and (2008), as the husband of "Clean-Up TV" activist Mary Whitehouse.Wiegand, David, "TV Review: Filth and a Crusading Housewife", San Francisco Chronicle, 14 November 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-12.

For three series from 2009 to 2011, he played William Garrow's mentor John Southouse in the BBC period legal drama Garrow's Law. " Garrow's Law", BBC. Retrieved 2011-02-10. In 2012, he played the Earl of Northumberland in the BBC2 adaptations of Henry IV, Parts I and II. His son Joe Armstrong played Northumberland's son Hotspur. In the 2014 Showtime horror series Penny Dreadful, Armstrong played Vincent Brand, an actor who gives Frankenstein's monster a job at the Grand Guignol. He guest starred in the 2014 Christmas special of Downton Abbey, and took the role of Clifford Bentley in ITV police drama Prime Suspect 1973.

Armstrong spent nine years with the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1979 to 1988. On tour and at the Donmar Warehouse in 1979–80, he played Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing "The RSC Shakespeare Staging History – Much Ado About Nothing" , Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 2011-02-01. and Azdak in The Caucasian Chalk Circle. " Caucasian Chalk Circle", Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archive. Retrieved 2011-02-01.

In 1981, Armstrong joined the cast of the eight-hour production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby as Wackford Squeers. The company went on tour to perform on Broadway theatre at the Plymouth Theatre. " The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby", Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2011-02-01. The play was filmed for television at the Old Vic Theatre in 1982.

In productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, and the Barbican Theatre in 1982–83, Armstrong played Trinculo in The Tempest "The RSC Shakespeare Staging History – The Tempest" Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 2011-02-01. and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew with Sinéad Cusack as Kate. "The RSC Shakespeare Staging History – The Taming of the Shrew" Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 2011-02-01. In 1983, he played Ralph Trapdoor in The Roaring Girl starring Helen Mirren. " The Roaring Girl", Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archive. Retrieved 2011-02-01. He performed the roles of Leontes in The Winter's Tale and John Proctor in The Crucible on a national tour that included Christ Church, Spitalfields in 1984 and on tour to Poland in 1985. "The RSC Shakespeare Staging History – The Winter's Tale" Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 2011-02-01. " The Crucible", Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archive. Retrieved 2011-02-01. In 1985–86, he played Thersites in Troilus and Cressida. "The RSC Shakespeare Staging History – Troilus and Cressida" Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 2011-02-01.

In the autumn of 1985, Armstrong took on what is perhaps his best-known stage role: Thénardier in the original London production of Les Misérables. Thénardier and his wife, played by Susan Jane Tanner, are innkeepers whose shady practices are revealed in the song "Master of the House." Armstrong described Thénardier as "a gruesome and comic character."Jansen, Rochelle, "Making of Thenadier" (sic), The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), 3 March 2002. Retrieved 2011-02-12.

Armstrong was one of the first to be cast, along with fellow Royal Shakespeare Company members Sue Jane Tanner and Roger Allam.Behr, Edward (1989). The Complete Book of Les Misérables, p. 94. Arcade Publishing. . He was involved in fleshing out his role, particularly in the second act song "Dog Eats Dog."Behr, p. 86 He was surprised by the success of Les Misérables "because it is different to other musicals. Different because it is a sung musical throughout and also a little operatic; I didn't think it would be very popular." He left the production after a year because he became bored with the repetition and wanted to move on to other things.

He sings on Original London Cast Recording. He reprised the role, paired with Jenny Galloway as Mme. Thénardier, in Les Misérables - The Dream Cast in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in October 1995, which was filmed and released on DVD. He also appeared in the 25th anniversary concert, though Matt Lucas performed the role of Thénardier.Masters, Tim, "Bon anniversaire! 25 facts about Les Mis", BBC News, 1 October 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-02.

Armstrong received nominations in two categories for the 1985 Olivier Award: Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical for Les Misérables and Actor of the Year for The Crucible and The Winter's Tale. In 1988, he was again nominated for the Olivier Award for the roles of Barabas in an RSC production of The Jew of Malta and the Captain in a National Theatre production of The Father by August Strindberg. The New York Times review of The Father said: "At its imploding center is the superb actor Alun Armstrong... 'To eat or be eaten, that is the question,' says the captain. By evening's end, Mr. Armstrong seems to have been devoured alive by his inner demons..."Rich, Frank, "Review/Theater; The Father", The New York Times, 22 December 1988. Retrieved 2001-02-02.

During the short run of the musical The Baker's Wife at the Phoenix Theatre in 1989–90, he played the role of the baker Aimable Castagnet. The production, directed by Trevor Nunn, received positive reviews but did not attract large audiences and closed after 56 performances.de Giere, Carol (2008). Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, p. 481. Applause Books, Milwaukee. . He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical.

Armstrong won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1994 for his performance as Sweeney Todd in the 1993 London revival of the at the National Theatre. The play also won for Best Musical Revival and his co-star Julia McKenzie won Best Actress in a Musical.

At the Donmar Warehouse, Armstrong appeared as Albert Einstein in Terry Johnson's Insignificance in 1995,Rees, Jasper, "Theatre: Einstein's Theory of Relationships", The Independent, 9 June 1995. Retrieved 2011-02-27. and he played Hamm in Samuel Beckett's Endgame in 1996.Taylor, Paul, "Theatre Endgame Donmar Warehouse", The Independent, 19 April 1996. Retrieved 2011-02-02. He starred as Willy Loman in a 1996–97 National Theatre production of Death of a Salesman.Zoglin, Richard, "Theater: The Kindness of Foreigners", Time, 3 February 1997. Retrieved 2011-02-02. In 1997–98, he appeared in a production of the comedy The Front Page directed by Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse. The Independent review noted: "As for Alun Armstrong, we don't meet him until late in the second of three acts but he dominates the entire evening. He barks, bleats and bellows across the stage, grabbing Hildy and the show by the scruff of the neck and hurtling through to a zinger of a climax."Benedict, David, "Bold, The Front Page", The Independent, 17 December 1997. Retrieved 2011-02-02.

Armstrong took the lead role at short notice in Shelagh Stephenson's play Mappa Mundi in 2002, replacing Ian Holm, who withdrew due to illness.Wolf, Matt, " Mappa Mundi Review", Variety, 17 November 2002. Retrieved 2011-02-02. In 2006, he returned to the stage to star in Trevor Nunn's production of The Royal Hunt of the Sun at the National Theatre. " The Royal Hunt of the Sun" , National Theatre. Retrieved 2011-01-30. At the Proms in 2012, he played Alfred Doolittle in a performance of My Fair Lady starring Annalene Beechey and Anthony Andrews. "Armstrong, Fleet et al. Join Cast of BBC PROMS", Broadway World West End, 28 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-03. Armstrong stars in a 2014 production of Ionesco's black comedy Exit the King at the Theatre Royal, Bath's Ustinov Studio.