Alun Armstrong
Armstrong in January 2012
Born	Alan Armstrong (1946-07-17)17 July 1946 (age 79) Annfield Plain,County Durham, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1971–present
Spouse	Sue Bairstow
Children	3, includingJoe

Alan Armstrong (born 17 July 1946^[1]), known professionally asAlun Armstrong, is an Englishcharacter actor. He grew up inCounty Durham inNorth East England, and first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at hisgrammar school. Since his career began in the early 1970s, he has played, in his words, "the full spectrum of characters from the grotesque to musicals... I always play very colourful characters, often a bit crazy, despotic, psychotic".^[2]

His credits include severalCharles Dickens adaptations, and the eccentric ex-detective Brian Lane inNew Tricks. He is also an accomplished stage actor who spent nine years with theRoyal Shakespeare Company. He originated the role ofMonsieur Thénardier in theWest End production ofLes Misérables, and won anOlivier Award in thetitle role ofSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Born Alan Armstrong inAnnfield Plain,County Durham, his father was a coal miner and both his parents wereMethodist lay preachers.^[2][3] He attended Annfield Plain Junior School, thenConsett Grammar School, where a teacher inspired him to try acting.^[4] In thelower sixth, he playedPetruchio inThe Taming of the Shrew, a role he later played with theRoyal Shakespeare Company.^[5]

Armstrong took part in theNational Youth Theatre summer school in 1964, but his background andnorthern accent made him feel out of place.^[3] He studied fine art atNewcastle University.^[5] 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.^[2][3]

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 theCambridge Arts Theatre, then went on to a Theatre in Education company affiliated with theSheffield Repertory Theatre. He also performed in severalRadio 4 dramas.^[3]

Armstrong made his screen debut inGet Carter (1971).^[6] On learning that the film was being made in Newcastle, Armstrong wrote a letter toMGM, the studio making the film, and was invited to meet directorMike Hodges, who was keen to cast local actors.^[7]

Armstrong has appeared in a number of films, although usually in supporting roles. InA Bridge Too Far (1977), he had a small role as one of the British troops at theBattle of Arnhem.^[8] He played a French soldier, Lieutenant Lecourbe, inRidley Scott's 1977 filmThe Duellists. He had a supporting role as the bandit leader Torquil in the 1983 fantasy filmKrull.^[9]

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

InPatriot Games (1992), Armstrong played anSO-13 officer. InBraveheart (1995), he played the Scottish noble Mornay who betrayedWilliam Wallace.^[10] He was the villainous Egyptian cult leader Baltus Hafez inThe Mummy Returns (2001),^[11] and he portrayedSaint Peter with aGeordie accent inMillions (2004).^[12] He also had small roles as the High Constable inSleepy Hollow (1999),^[13] Cardinal Jinette inVan Helsing (2004),^[14] Magistrate Fang inRoman Polanski'sOliver Twist (2005) andUncle Garrow inEragon (2006).^[15]

Armstrong has had over 80 roles in television productions.^[16] During the 1970s, he appeared in various TV series, including episodes ofWhatever Happened to the Likely Lads?,Porridge,Public Eye andThe Sweeney.^[17][18]

He was cast in two mini-series dealing with coal miners inNorth East England. He played Joe Gowlan inThe Stars Look Down (1974) based on the novel byA. J. Cronin and he appeared inKen Loach'sDays of Hope (1975) set in his nativeCounty Durham.^[19][20] In a 2007 interview, Armstrong singled outDays 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".^[2]

In the comedy seriesA Sharp Intake of Breath, he played a variety of characters who complicate the life of the main character played byDavid Jason.^[21] In 1977, he was the strict Deputy Headmaster inWilly Russell'sOur Day Out, a television play about a group of poor schoolchildren on a daytrip.^[22] He also starred in the 1981Yorkshire Television dramaGet Lost!^[23]

Armstrong has portrayed characters from the works ofCharles Dickens. He played Wackford Squeers and Mr. Wagstaff in the eight-hour Royal Shakespeare Company stage adaptation ofThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby that was filmed for television in 1982.^[24] He has appeared in two versions ofOliver Twist: the1999 ITV mini-series as Agnes Fleming's father Captain Fleming and the2005 Roman Polanski film as Magistrate Fang.^[25][26] He has had roles in four BBC Dickens adaptations, as Daniel Peggotty inDavid Copperfield (1999);^[27] as Inspector Bucket inBleak House (2005);^[28] as Jeremiah and Ephraim Flintwinch inLittle Dorrit (2008);^[29] and as Hiram Grewgious inThe Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012).^[30] Armstrong has been a fan of Dickens since readingDavid 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 fromClint Eastwood, with whom he had worked onWhite Hunter Black Heart.^[31]

In the BBC drama seriesOur Friends in the North (1996), he played Austin Donohue, a character based on the politicianT. Dan Smith.^[32] Armstrong portrayed 18th century politicianHenry Fox in the BBC serialAristocrats (1999). In the 2000 TV filmThis Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, he portrayedGeorge Oldfield, the Assistant Chief Constable for Crime atWest Yorkshire Police whose health deteriorated during the investigation as he received messages purportedly from the killer.^[33] He was nominated for aRoyal Television Society award for his role inThis Is Personal.^[34]

In the second series ofBedtime (2002), he played a widower concerned about his son's suspicious behaviour.^[35] He andBrenda Blethyn co-starred inBetween the Sheets (2003) as a frustrated married couple in sex therapy.^[36] In an adaptation ofCarrie's War, he played a strict man who reluctantly takes in two children evacuated toWales duringWorld War II.^[37]

Armstrong is known for his role as Brian Lane in the BBC One seriesNew Tricks about a group of former police detectives who help investigate unsolved and open cases for London'sMetropolitan 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 theRadio Times that criticised some of the series' writing,^[38] and which drew an angry rebuttal from the show's writer-director Julian Simpson.^[39]

During the run ofNew Tricks, Armstrong continued to take on other projects. He starred in the 2004 TV filmWhen 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-starPaul Freeman, because he thought it was a lovely and thought-provoking story.^[3][40] He also starred inThe Girls Who Came to Stay (2006), about a British couple who take in two girls exposed to the effects of theChernobyl disaster,^[41] andFilth (2008), as the husband of "Clean-Up TV" activistMary Whitehouse.^[42]

For three series from 2009 to 2011, he playedWilliam Garrow's mentor John Southouse in the BBC period legal dramaGarrow's Law.^[43] In 2012, he played theEarl of Northumberland in the BBC2 adaptations ofHenry IV, Parts I and II. His sonJoe Armstrong^[44] played Northumberland's sonHotspur.^[45] In the 2014Showtime horror seriesPenny Dreadful, Armstrong played Vincent Brand, an actor who givesFrankenstein's monster a job at theGrand Guignol.^[46] He guest starred in the 2014 Christmas special ofDownton Abbey,^[47] and took the role of Clifford Bentley in ITV police dramaPrime Suspect 1973.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to his film and television work, Armstrong has acted in many theatre productions. One of his early roles was Billy Spencer inDavid Storey's playThe Changing Room at theRoyal Court Theatre directed byLindsay Anderson in 1971.^[48] In 1975, he playedTouchstone inAs You Like It directed byPeter Gill at theNottingham Playhouse.^[49]

Armstrong spent nine years with theRoyal Shakespeare Company from 1979 to 1988. On tour and at theWarehouse in 1979–80, he playedDogberry inMuch Ado About Nothing^[50] and Azdak inThe Caucasian Chalk Circle.^[51]

In 1981, Armstrong joined the cast of the eight-hour production ofThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby as Wackford Squeers. The company went on tour to perform onBroadway at thePlymouth Theatre.^[52] The play was filmed for television at theOld Vic Theatre in 1982.

In productions at theRoyal Shakespeare Theatre, theTheatre Royal, Newcastle, and theBarbican Theatre in 1982–83, Armstrong played Trinculo inThe Tempest^[53] andPetruchio inThe Taming of the Shrew withSinéad Cusack asKate.^[54] In 1983, he played Ralph Trapdoor inThe Roaring Girl starringHelen Mirren.^[55] He performed the roles ofLeontes inThe Winter's Tale andJohn Proctor inThe Crucible on a national tour that includedChrist Church, Spitalfields in 1984 and on tour toPoland in 1985.^[56][57] In 1985–86, he playedThersites inTroilus and Cressida.^[58]

In the autumn of 1985, Armstrong took on what is perhaps his best-known stage role:Thénardier in the original London production ofLes Misérables. Thénardier and his wife, played bySusan 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."^[59]

Armstrong was one of the first to be cast, along with fellow Royal Shakespeare Company members Sue Jane Tanner andRoger Allam.^[60] He was involved in fleshing out his role, particularly in the second act song "Dog Eats Dog."^[61] He was surprised by the success ofLes 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."^[59] He left the production after a year because he became bored with the repetition and wanted to move on to other things.^[59]

He sings onOriginal London Cast Recording. He reprised the role, paired withJenny Galloway as Mme. Thénardier, inLes Misérables - The Dream Cast in Concert at theRoyal Albert Hall in October 1995, which was filmed and released on DVD. He also appeared in the 25th anniversary concert, thoughMatt Lucas performed the role of Thénardier.^[62]

Armstrong received nominations in two categories for the 1985Olivier Award: Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical forLes Misérables and Actor of the Year forThe Crucible andThe Winter's Tale.^[63] In 1988, he was again nominated for the Olivier Award for the roles ofBarabas in an RSC production ofThe Jew of Malta and the Captain in aNational Theatre production ofThe Father byAugust Strindberg.^[64] TheNew York Times review ofThe 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..."^[65]

During the short run of the musicalThe Baker's Wife at thePhoenix Theatre in 1989–90, he played the role of the baker Aimable Castagnet. The production, directed byTrevor Nunn, received positive reviews but did not attract large audiences and closed after 56 performances.^[66] He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical.^[67]

Armstrong won theOlivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1994 for his performance asSweeney Todd in the 1993 London revival of themusical at the National Theatre. The play also won for Best Musical Revival and his co-starJulia McKenzie won Best Actress in a Musical.^[68]

At theDonmar Warehouse, Armstrong appeared asAlbert Einstein inTerry Johnson'sInsignificance in 1995,^[69] and he played Hamm inSamuel Beckett'sEndgame in 1996.^[70] He starred asWilly Loman in a 1996–97 National Theatre production ofDeath of a Salesman.^[71] In 1997–98, he appeared in a production of the comedyThe Front Page directed bySam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse. TheIndependent 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."^[72]

Armstrong took the lead role at short notice inShelagh Stephenson's playMappa Mundi in 2002, replacingIan Holm, who withdrew due to illness.^[73] In 2006, he returned to the stage to star in Trevor Nunn's production ofThe Royal Hunt of the Sun at the National Theatre.^[74] Atthe Proms in 2012, he played Alfred Doolittle in a performance ofMy Fair Lady starring Annalene Beechey andAnthony Andrews.^[75] Armstrong stars in a 2014 production ofIonesco's black comedyExit the King at theTheatre Royal, Bath'sUstinov Studio.^[76]

Armstrong and his wife, Sue, have three sons: Tom,Joe (also an actor), and Dan. Father and son played older and younger versions of the same character in the 2010 BBC dramaA Passionate Woman,^[77] and they played Northumberland and his son Hotspur in the 2012 BBC adaptation ofHenry IV.^[45] Dan was a musician in the bandClock Opera.^[77][78] Armstrong appeared in the music video for their song "The Lost Buoys".^[79]

In July 2009, Armstrong was awarded two honorary degrees in recognition of his contributions to the arts. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from theUniversity of East Anglia^[80] and an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from theUniversity of Sunderland.^[81] The theatre at the Civic Hall inStanley, County Durham, near Armstrong's hometown, was named after him in 2014.^[47]

Armstrong is a supporter ofAFC Wimbledon, as is his character inNew Tricks.^[82]

• 2018The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. BBC Radio 4.

• Alun Armstrong atIMDb
• Alun Armstrong at the BFI Database

• 1946 births
• Living people
• Alumni of Newcastle University
• People from Annfield Plain
• Male actors from County Durham
• English male film actors
• English male stage actors
• English male television actors
• English male voice actors
• Laurence Olivier Award winners
• People educated at Consett Grammar School
• Royal Shakespeare Company members
• 20th-century English male actors
• 21st-century English male actors
• National Youth Theatre members
• Actors from County Durham (district)

• Webarchive template wayback links
• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from August 2021
• Articles with dead external links from December 2017
• Articles with permanently dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from September 2018
• CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes)
• Webarchive template archiveis links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use British English from January 2012
• All Wikipedia articles written in British English
• Use dmy dates from October 2020
• Articles with hCards
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from January 2020