Product Code Database
Example Keywords: playstation -tetris $76
   » » Wiki: William Gaminara
Tag Wiki 'William Gaminara'.
Tag
20%

William Gaminara (born 1956) is a British actor, and , probably best known for playing pathologist Professor Leo Dalton on the television series , from 2002 to 2013. His plays include According to Hoyle, The Three Lions and The Nightingales.


Early life and education
Gaminara was born in 1956 in , Northern Rhodesia.Rosie Bannister (22 January 2014). 20 Questions with... William Gaminara. (accessed 9 October 2022) He was educated at Winchester College, Hampshire, England, and Lincoln College at the University of Oxford.


Career

Actor and narrator
Gaminara had a minor role in the 1986 film Comrades, directed by . His early television credits include Dr Andrew Bower in Casualty (1989–92) and Will Newman in Attachments (2000–02).Jason Deans (28 August 2000). Welcome to seethru. (accessed 9 October 2022)

His most notable television role was Professor Leo Dalton in the BBC crime drama series . He played Dalton from 2002 until 2013, and reprised the role in 2017 in the final episode of series 20. The role was at first subsidiary to Sam Ryan, played by , but when Burton left the series and Gaminara's character Dalton headed the laboratory, the drama evolved into a three-hander between Dalton, Harry Cunningham () and Nikki Alexander ().Robert Hampson (1 January 2017). Sites of death in some recent British fiction. (89/90): 212–29

After leaving Silent Witness, Gaminara appeared in several theatrical roles. In 2014, he played the photojournalist Paul Watson in Dan O'Brien's The Body of an American, a two-hander with . Gaminara describes the play as a "challenging and unconventional script which makes challenging and unconventional demands of an actor". , writing in , describes the acting as "knockout", with the "muscular quality of a contest" whilst being "scrupulously generous"; she highlights the way in which the two actors each embody a large number of characters and are required to swap between roles abruptly. (27 January 2014). Review: Theatre: The Body of an American: Gate, London 4/5. , p. 27 The production was also praised by Dominic Maxwell in for "superb" acting on the part of both leads.Dominic Maxwell (22 January 2014). Flashes of the whole picture; The great acting keeps you going in an unfocused play about war photography. , p. 48

The following year, he played the lead character, Pastor Paul, in 's The Christians at the during the Edinburgh Festival, giving a "superbly controlled performance", which "nails the slow, measured but warmly faux-colloquial rhetoric of the American church", according to a review in . , p. 38 (25 August 2015) Gardner, in The Guardian, describes Gaminara as "suggesting both the charisma and the arrogance" of his character, (10 August 2015). Edinburgh festival review: The Christians – a doctrinal drama with little real fervour; Traverse, Edinburgh: Lucas Hnath's play probes the divisions opened among a religious community by their leader's epiphany, but lacks the right emotional intensity. and Dominic Maxwell, in a review for , considers that Gaminara "propels it all with conviction".Dominic Maxwell (19 August 2015). Happy to be converted; The church takes centre stage in this exciting drama, says Dominic Maxwell. , p. 11 Also in 2015, Gaminara took the supporting role of General Groves in the premiere of 's Oppenheimer by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Swan in Stratford-upon-Avon. Michael Billington, in a 5-star review for The Guardian, highlights "outstanding performances" from Gaminara among others,Michael Billington (23 January 2015). Oppenheimer five-star review – father of atomic bomb becomes tragic hero at RSC; The Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon: Tom Morton-Smith's massively impressive play explores the moral chain reactions before and after the bombing of Hiroshima. as does , in a later Guardian review. (1 February 2015). Oppenheimer review – an ache for humanity; Swan theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon: The RSC succeed in making an epic, albeit a remote one, out of this tale of the boffin behind the atomic bomb.

In 2016, he appeared in 's An Enemy of the People at the Chichester Festival Theatre, directed by Howard Davies; Gaminara plays the principal antagonist Peter Stockmann "chillingly", according to Christopher Hart's review for The Sunday Times.Christopher Hart (8 May 2016). Bathed in glory; this exhilarating Chichester Ibsen is a savagely articulate success, says Christopher Hart. The Sunday Times, p. 20 , in a review for , describes Gaminara's performance as "finely slippery", (8 May 2016) An Enemy of the People review – all society on a stage; Chichester Festival theatre: Hugh Bonneville as a whistleblower driven by sibling rivalry shows how Ibsen's play switches emphasis with every staging. and in The Times praises his "small-town fury". (5 May 2016). A political morality tale for thinking modern voters. , p. 25

Since his time on Silent Witness, Gaminara has taken occasional television roles, including in The Trial of Christine Keeler (BBC One; 2019–20), the crime drama Honour (ITV; 2020), as well as guest appearances in the sitcom Catastrophe (Channel 4) and the crime drama Death In Paradise (BBC One; 2022).Paul Hirons (21 January 2022). Death In Paradise cast: Why did William Gaminara leave Silent Witness? Entertainment Daily (accessed 9 October 2022) He played Dr Richard Locke in the long-running radio soap opera, . He also voices , including 's Sharpe novelsTheresa Connors (15 May 1999). Sharpe's Triumph. 124 (9): 147Luana Ellis (15 May 1990). Sharpe's Eagle. 115 (9): 118–20 and 's .


Playwright and screenwriter
Gaminara's first play, Back Up the Hearse and Smell the Flowers (1992), about water-purifier salesmen, is influenced by 's Glengarry Glen Ross. Michael Billington, in a review of a 1992 production at Hampstead Theatre for The Guardian, praises its encapsulation of the "guile, bluster and conviction" of a "perfect pitch" but criticises its "heavy-handed tendency to moralise".Michael Billington (14 April 1992). Arts: Hampstead Theatre - Back Up The Hearse. , p. 34 The director Dominic Dromgoole describes it as "smoothly accomplished, but unambitious".Dominic Dromgoole. The Full Room, p. 96 (Bloomsbury Academic; 2000)

His second play, According to Hoyle (1995), takes a comedic approach to male identity and the relationships between men using the setting of a poker game.Graham Saunders. Patrick Marber's Closer, pp. 5–6 (A&C Black; 2013) Glittering night as theatre group collects array of awards. Yorkshire Evening Post (21 July 2007) Dromgoole describes it as "quite wonderful", but overshadowed by the success of Dealer's Choice, a play on the same topic by , which came out at almost the same time. , in a review of a 1995 production at Hampstead Theatre for The Guardian, describes it as a "feisty, sharply entertaining comedy" with a "rather nifty construction" employing interleaved timelines, and praises the "whiplash severity" of its dialogue. (18 December 1995). Theatre: According To Hoyle - Hampstead Theatre. , p. 10 Benedict Nightingale, in a review for The Times, writes that Gaminara has a "gift for funny dialogue" and considers the play's conclusion to demonstrate the independence of his viewpoint.Benedict Nightingale (13 December 1995). Jokers and wild cards are aces: According to Hoyle: Hampstead. (65449), p. 35 During this period Gaminara also wrote episodes for the television series This Life (1997) and The Lakes (1999), as well as the screenplay for the adaptation of Rachel Morris's novel, Ella and the Mothers (2002).William Gallagher (9 August 2002). Ella and the Mothers left wanting, BBC (accessed 10 October 2022)

His play The Three Lions was performed at the Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013, produced by Philip Wilson. A comedy about the unsuccessful English bid for the 2018 World Cup, it brings together David Beckham (Sean Browne), David Cameron (Dugald Bruce-Lockhart) and Prince William (Tom Davey).Fiona Mountford (8 September 2013). Barmy goings-on with Beckham. , 14725223Prince William lampooned in Edinburgh play; A farce, due to premiere at the Edinburgh Festival on Saturday, sees the Duke of Cambridge subjected to a four-letter tirade from David Cameron, swap trousers with Boris Johnson and talk tattoos with David Beckham. The Daily Telegraph (31 July 2013)Lucinda Everett (2 August 2013). What happened in that room? , p. 24 Lucinda Everett, writing in The Daily Telegraph, describes it as a "gleefully irreverent glimpse 'behind the scenes'" with a "zingy script". A reviewer for writes that the "neat script combines light satire with good, old-fashioned farce".The Three Lions. , p. 40 (6 Aug. 2013)

In 2018, his comedy–drama The Nightingales was produced at the New Theatre in , directed by Christopher Luscombe and starring . Jones, an acquaintance of Gaminara's, describes the play as "gripping" and "really funny", saying that Gaminara has a "wonderful ear for naturalistic dialogue" and "has tuned in with such insight to human nature and the ways we behave in groups and also how we relate to each other and what we choose to reveal about ourselves." (16 November 2018). 'I was expecting to decline but fell in love with this play' Ruth Jones is taking to the stage for the first time in more than a decade to play the title role in a brand new play. As it tours to Cardiff, we ask the Stella and Gavin & Stacey star some questions about The Nightingales and performing in her home city. Western Mail, p. 2 Sam Marlowe, in a critical review for of a production at the Theatre Royal, Bath, describes the play as "an inconsequential, darkish comedy" with "cardboard" characters and dialogue reminiscent of a "dated sitcom".Sam Marlowe (8 November 2018). The Nightingales; Theatre. , p. 11


Personal life
Gaminara is married to Kate Lock, also an actor; they have two sons. Silent Witness: Characters & Actors: Leo Dalton/William Gaminara, BBC (2014) (accessed 9 October 2022)


Filmography

Film
1986ComradesJames Loveless
2002The LawAlan VineTV film


Television
1986Paradise PostponedPeterEpisode: "Death of a Saint"
1987The MistressCustomerEpisode: "Series 2, Episode 2"
Willie BruceRecurring role, 2 episodes
1988Tim SageEpisode: "Dead Lucky"
1989-1993CasualtyAndrew BowerSeries regular, 13 episodes
1991Inspector BruceRecurring role, 2 episodes
Major Harry 'Dickie' BirdEpisode: "Fun and Games"
The House of EliottRobert AdamsRecurring role, 2 episodes
1994A Dark-Adapted EyeAndrewMini-series, 2 episodes
1996Dr. Anthony PerryEpisode: "Helping Hands"
DangerfieldMatthew DavidsonEpisode: "Games"
1997Rag NymphMr. QuintonMini-series, 2 episodes
1998The Broker's ManSuperintendent StaplesEpisode: "Pensioned Off"
1999Hope and GloryColin Ward
2000AttachmentsWill Newman
2001People Like UsCaptain Paul ConnorsEpisode: "The Airline Pilot"
2002-2017Leo DaltonSeries regular, 107 episodes
2003SpooksVictor GleesonEpisode: "Spiders"
2015Father BrownSamuel HarrogateEpisode: "The Paradise of Thieves"
2017Electric DreamsDr. El GanolEpisode: "Human Is"
The TunnelWesley PollingerRecurring role, 2 episodes
2018The AlienistAlexander MacLeodEpisode: "Hildebrandt's Starling"
Becca's BunchUncle Ned (voice)Series regular, 21 episodes
2019CatastropheStephenEpisode: "Series 4, Episode 4"
Summer of RocketsDick ArmstrongRecurring role, 2 episodes
Additional rolesRecurring, 5 episodes
2020The Trial of Christine KeelerJohn HobsonRecurring role, 2 episodes
HonourDavid LedermanEpisode: "Part Two"
2022Death in ParadiseChris DarlowEpisode: "Series 11, Episode 3"


Radio
1992Dr. Richard Locke


Video games
2022Kenneth Haight


Theatre credits
1984Dr. William PolidoriHampstead Theatre,
1990A Single ManJimGreenwich Theatre,
More Than One AntoinetteRochester,
1991Stanley JeromeGreenwich Theatre,
1994The Children's HourDr. Joseph CardinRoyal National Theatre,
2013Less Than KindSir JohnUK Tour
2014The Body of an AmericanPaul WatsonThe Gate Theatre, & Royal & Derngate,
Twelve Angry MenJuror 10,
The Shoemaker's HolidaySir Roger OtleySwan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
2015OppenheimerSwan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Pastor Paul, & The Gate Theatre,
2016An Enemy of the PeoplePeter StockmannChichester Festival Theatre,


Further reading
  • . "Plays about men: Mark Ravenhill, Kevin Elyot, William Gaminara". In State of Play: Playwrights on Playwriting (David Edgar, ed.), pp. 48–51 (Faber; 1999)

External links
Page 1 of 1
1
Post Comment
Font Size...
Font Family...
Font Format...

Page 1 of 1
1

Account

Social:
Pages:  ..   .. 
Items:  .. 

Navigation

General: Atom Feed Atom Feed  .. 
Help:  ..   .. 
Category:  ..   .. 
Media:  ..   .. 
Posts:  ..   ..   .. 

Statistics

Page:  .. 
Summary:  .. 
1 Tags
10/10 Page Rank
5 Page Refs