James Dreyfus
| James Dreyfus | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 October 1968 France |
| Years active | 1993–present |
James Dreyfus (born 9 October 1968) is an English actor.
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Early life and career [edit]
He was born in France but moved to England at an early age and was educated at Harrow School[1] and then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2] His parents divorced when he was very young.[3] He is openly homosexual.[4]
In 1998, Dreyfus won the Best Supporting Performance in a Musical Olivier Award for his work in The Lady In The Dark at the National Theatre. In the same year he was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award for his performance as Cassius in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at the Birmingham Rep.
Comedy [edit]
Dreyfus has created some memorable comedy characters, particularly on British television, including Constable Kevin Goody in Ben Elton's sitcom The Thin Blue Line and Tom Farrell, the gay flatmate of Linda (Kathy Burke) in Gimme Gimme Gimme. Dreyfus played opposite Bette Midler in the short-lived American sitcom Bette.
In November 2004, Dreyfus played Carmen Ghia in the London premiere of Mel Brooks' musical The Producers, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He played the role for 10 months until August 2005.
He played as Thermoman in the BBC One comedy My Hero, a role he took over in the sixth series from Ardal O'Hanlon. Although the same character, he used the name George Monday, as opposed to Ardal O'Hanlon's character's name, George Sunday. After disappointing ratings following his appointment, the show was axed from the BBC's schedule. Dreyfus also starred as Mr. Teasy-Weasy in the 2004 comedy film Churchill: The Hollywood Years.
In March 2006, he returned to the West End stage in a revival of Michael Frayn's comedy Donkeys' Years at the Comedy Theatre alongside Samantha Bond, David Haig and Mark Addy. He left in August of that year to prepare for his new lead role as the Emcee in a West End revival of Cabaret. In 2008 he appeared in revival of Simon Gray's The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
From September 2009 to January 2010 he appeared in Breakfast At Tiffany's at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London.
In January 2012 he appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "A Rare Bird" as Ralph Ford.
Selected works [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Thin Ice | Greg | |
| 1995–1996 | The Thin Blue Line | Constable Kevin Goody | TV series (14 episodes) |
| 1995–1996 | Absolutely Fabulous | Christopher | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1996 | Boyfriends | Paul | |
| 1999 | Notting Hill | Martin | |
| 1999–2001 | Gimme Gimme Gimme | Tom Farrell | TV series (19 episodes) |
| 2000 | Gormenghast | Professor Fluke | TV |
| 2000 | Bette | Oscar | US TV series (18 episodes) |
| 2004 | Fat Slags | Fidor | TV |
| 2004 | Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London | Gordon | |
| 2005 | Willo the Wisp | Voice | |
| 2006 | Colour Me Kubrick | Melvyn Prescott | |
| 2006-2007 | My Hero | George Monday / Thermoman | TV series (8 episodes) |
| 2007 | Cabaret | Emcee | West End theatre production |
| 2007 | Double Time | Lawrence Nixon/George McCabe | |
| 2007 | Nina and the Neurons | Felix (voice) | |
| 2009 | Casualty | Rory | TV |
| 2011 | The Sarah Jane Adventures | Harrison | TV |
| 2012 | Midsomer Murders | Ralph Ford | TV |
| 2012 | Casualty | Felix | TV |
| 2013 | Shameless | School Inspector | TV |
References [edit]
- Notes
- ^ "How We Met: James Dreyfus & Robert Portal". The Independent. 11 May 2008.
- ^ Wylie, Ian. "Double trouble for James". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ Fletcher, Mary, Why life's looking Goody for James, TV Times, pg 31.
- ^ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview%3A+James+Dreyfus+-+The+phone+call+that+destroyed+my+Hollywood...-a079734702
External links [edit]
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- 1968 births
- Living people
- English film actors
- English television actors
- English stage actors
- English musical theatre actors
- English voice actors
- English radio actors
- People from Chiswick
- Actors from London
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- Laurence Olivier Award winners
- People educated at Harrow School
- Shakespearean actors
- British people of Egyptian descent
- Gay actors
- LGBT people from England