Kai Owen | |
|---|---|
 Owen in 2012 | |
| Born | (1975-09-04)4 September 1975 (age 49) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Website | www |
Kai Owen (born 4 September 1975) is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles onWelsh language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal ofRhys Williams inTorchwood andPete Buchanan inHollyoaks.
Owen was born in the town ofLlanrwst in theConwy Valley in North Wales, where his family still lives.[1] His father Mark is aGMB union official and his mother Yvonne is a cleaner at theBritish Legion Club.[2] He was educated at Watling Street Primary School, Llanrwst andYsgol Dyffryn Conwy.[2]He attendedMountview Theatre School, London for three years, graduating in 1998.[2] Owen lived with his actor fiancée Sarah Wilson inEastFinchley, London[2] and in 2010 moved with son Bobby toWarwickshire.[3]
He ran the 2009London Marathon for the children's cancer charityCLIC Sargent,[4] and also ran the Virgin London Marathon on 25 April 2010.[5] He is a patron ofLlandudno Youth Musical Theatre.[5]
He became first known as Kev, a gay roofer inTipyn O Stad, shown on Welsh-language channelS4C. He was a regular in several series (52 episodes) of this popular gritty Welsh television programme; he also appeared inS4C'sTreflan as character Bob Lewis.[6] In 2009 he guested as Harri in the second series ofY Pris and as violent loan shark Craig Turner inPobol Y Cwm (one episode, broadcast 11 September 2009; he appeared in a similar guest role in the show in August and in October 2012).
Owen's first appearance on English-language UK television came in 2001, when he appeared as Buster Edwards in the episodeDog Dago Afternoon of seriesFun at the Funeral Parlour.[7] In 2003 he guested in an episode ofBBC One television seriesCasualty[2] (episode 392,Stuck in the Middle With You, 19 April 2003, as Danny).[8] In 2005 he played the character of Dave 'Shiner' Owen in all six episodes of the seriesRocket Man, a BBC One television series about a man trying to launch his dead wife's ashes into space.[9]
2006 saw Owen cast as recurring characterRhys Williams inTorchwood, a spin-off from the science fiction television seriesDoctor Who, a role for which he has become most renowned.[10] He was elevated to star billing for the third series, broadcast on BBC One in summer 2009, reflecting his growing role in the series.[11] He reprised his role in the fourth series ofTorchwood -Torchwood: Miracle Day, broadcast during summer 2011.
Owen appeared in an episode ofCelebrityReady Steady Cook withTorchwood co-starTom Price (Andy) (recorded 26 August 2009, broadcast 8 January 2010).[5][12]
In 2011, Owen appeared in the first episode of the third series ofBeing Human as Bob, leader of a dogging pack.[13] He appears in the 14th episode of theseventh series of long running BBC school dramaWaterloo Road as former rugby pro Ken Watling.[14] He appeared in an episode of the 2012Kay Mellor dramaThe Syndicate, broadcast onBBC One.[15]
In 2015, Owen joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap operaHollyoaks playingPete Buchanan, the ex-partner ofReenie McQueen (Zöe Lucker) and a perpetrator of child abuse. In preparation for the role, he liaised with theNSPCC.[16] After portraying the role until a year later, he made a brief return in 2018. He is also set to reprise the role in April 2021.[17]
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour | P.C Hertz | TV episode - "Death in the Valleys" and "The Jaws of Doom" |
| 2002 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour | Buster Edwards | TV episode - "Dog Dango Afternoon " |
| 2003 | Casualty | Danny | TV episode - "Stuck in the Middle with You" |
| 2003–2006 | Tipyn o Stad | Kev Evans | Series regular; series 2–5 |
| 2005 | Rocket Man | David 'Shiner' Owen | Six episodes; main role |
| 2006–2011 | Torchwood | Rhys Williams | Recurring cast series 1-2 Main Cast series 3-4 |
| 2011 | Being Human | Bob | Episode #3.1 - "Lia" |
| Waterloo Road | Ken Watling | Episode #7.14 | |
| 2012 | The Syndicate | Gareth Powell | Episode #1.4 |
| 2015 | Doc Martin | Episode #7.4 - "Education, Education, Education" | |
| 2015–2016, 2018, 2021 | Hollyoaks | Pete Buchanan | Series regular |
| 2019 | Doctors | Mark Albany | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Casualty | Sergeant Taylor | 1 episode |
| 2024 | Mr Bates vs The Post Office | Retail Manager | 1 episode |
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ying Tong: a Walk with theGoons[18][19] | Harry Secombe | Radio Play byRoy Smiles |
| 2009 | "The Dead Line" | Rhys Williams | Torchwood Radio Plays (BBC Radio 4) |
| 2011 | "The Devil and Miss Carew'" | ||
| Ghost Train | Narrator | Torchwood audiobook | |
| Department X | |||
| First Born | |||
| 2012 | Army of One | ||
| 2015–present | Torchwood | Rhys Williams | Big Finish Productions |
| 2017 | Tracks | Ifan | BBC Cymru Wales |
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Tempest[20] | Ariel | Performed atStafford Castle |
| 2005 | Life of Ryan... and Ronnie[21][22][23][24] | Ronnie | |
| 2006 | A Chorus of Disapproval[25] | Crispin Usher[20] | |
| 2008 | Adam & Steve | Adam[20] | |
| 2012 | As You Like It | Charles | Clwyd Theatr Cymru[20] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
