Kai Owen
| Kai Owen | |
|---|---|
 Kai Owen at 'The Hub', a Torchwood convention] |
|
| Born | 4 September 1975 Llanrwst, Conwy, North Wales |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2001 – present |
| Website | |
| http://www.kaiowen.com | |
Kai Owen (4 September 1975, Llanrwst, Conwy, North Wales) is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh-language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in Torchwood.
Contents |
[edit] Background and personal life
Owen is originally from the village of Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley in North Wales, where his family still lives.[1] His father Mark is a GMB union official and his mother Yvonne is a cleaner at the British Legion Club.[2] He was educated at Watling Street Primary School, Llanrwst and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy.[2] He attended Mountview Theatre School, London for three years, graduating in 1998.[2] Owen lived with his actor fiancée Sarah Wilson in East Finchley, London[2] and in 2010 moved with son Bobby to Warwickshire.[3] During 2011, Owen stayed in West Hollywood California for filming of Torchwood: Miracle Day.[4]
He ran the 2009 London Marathon for the children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent,[5] and also ran the Virgin London Marathon on 25 April 2010.[6] He is a patron of Llandudno Youth Musical Theatre.[6]
[edit] Television career
He became first known as Kev, a gay roofer in Tipyn O Stad, shown on Welsh-language channel S4C. He was a regular in several series (52 episodes) of this popular gritty Welsh television programme; he also appeared in S4C's Treflan as character Bob Lewis.[7] In 2009 he guested as Harri in the second series of Y Pris and as violent loan shark Craig Turner in Pobol Y Cwm (one episode, broadcast 11 September 2009).
Owen's first appearance on English-language UK television came in 2001, when he appeared as Buster Edwards in the episode Dog Dago Afternoon of series Fun at the Funeral Parlour.[8] In 2003 he guested in an episode of BBC One television series Casualty[2] (episode 392, Stuck In The Middle With You, 19 April 2003, as Danny).[9] In 2005 he played the character of Dave 'Shiner' Owen in all six episodes of the series Rocket Man, a BBC One television series about a man trying to launch his dead wife's ashes into space.[10]
2006 saw Owen cast as recurring character Rhys Williams in Torchwood, a spin-off from the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role for which he has become most renowned.[11] He was elevated to star billing for the third series, broadcast on BBC One in Summer 2009, reflecting his growing role in the series.[12] A fourth series of Torchwood — Torchwood: Miracle Day — was commissioned in June 2010[13] with confirmed involvement of Owen.[1]
Owen starred in an episode of Celebrity Ready Steady Cook with Torchwood co-star Tom Price (Andy) (recorded 26 August 2009, broadcast 8 January 2010).[6][14]
In 2011 Owen appeared in the first episode of the third series of Being Human as the character Bob, leader of a dogging pack.[15] He appears in the 14th episode of the seventh series of long running BBC school drama Waterloo Road as ex rugby pro Ken Watling. [16] He will next appear in the 2012 Kay Mellor scripted drama The Syndicate to be broadcast on BBC1. [17]
[edit] Other work
Owen regularly works on stage and in radio. Notable productions include:
- as Ronnie in Life of Ryan... and Ronnie by Meic Povey, 2005.[18][19][20][21]
- A Chorus Of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, 2006[22]
- as Harry Secombe in Ying Tong: a Walk with the Goons by Roy Smiles, BBC Radio 4, 4 April 2007[23][24]
- Adam & Steve by John Cusworth and Paul Telfer, 2008[25]
- Reprising the role of Rhys Williams for The Dead Line, a Torchwood radio play.[26]
[edit] Selected Filmography
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Syndicate | Unknown | Upcoming BBC Drama | |
| 2011 | Waterloo Road | Ken Watling | Episode #7.14 | |
| Being Human | Bob | Episode #3.1 - Lia | ||
| 2006 - 2011 | Torchwood | Rhys Williams | Series regular Children of Earth onwards | |
| 2005 | Rocket Man | David 'Shiner' Owen | Six episodes; main role | |
| 2003 | Casualty | Danny | TV episode - "Stuck in the Middle with You" | |
| 2001 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour | P.C Hertz | TV episode - The Jaws of Doom |
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Kai Owen Biography". Kai Owen. http://www.kaiowen.com/biography.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ a b c d e "Wales NW Hall Of Fame". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/halloffame/showbiz/kaiowen.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Kai moved to Warwickshire". Kai Owen. http://www.kaiowen.com/biography.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ Duralde, Alfonso (9/7/2011). "On the Set of "Torchwood: Miracle Day" With Eve Myles, Kai Owen and Bill Pullman". After Elton. http://www.afterelton.com/people/2011/06/torchwood-miracle-day-eve-myles-kai-owen-bill-pullman?page=0%2C0. Retrieved 10/7/2011.
- ^ "Kai enters Flora London Marathon 2009". Kai Owen. http://www.kaiowen.com/Marathon2009.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ a b c "Kai News". Kai Owen. http://www.kaiowen.com/news.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ "IMDB Resumee". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544523/resume. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ^ John Toon (2006-10-02). "Fun at the Funeral Parlour". http://www.ghostglass.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fparlour2.html. Retrieved 2008-05-18.[dead link]
- ^ "Casualty Stuck In The Middle With You". CNET. http://www.tv.com/casualty/stuck-in-the-middle-with-you/episode/245954/summary.html. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ Rob Driscoll (2005-10-29). "Rocket Man: Journey to the stars". Western Mail. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/whats-on/tm_objectid=16309338&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=rocket-man--journey-to-the-stars-name_page.html. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ "Coming Up". The Custard TV. 2006. http://www.thecustard.tv/comingup_4.html. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ "Cast list and Production team" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 2009-06-18. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/06_june/15/torchwood2.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ Paul Millar (7 June 2010). "'Torchwood' confirmed for fourth series". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s8/torchwood/news/a224000/torchwood-confirmed-for-fourth-series.html. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ "Ready Steady Cook, Series 21, Episode 22". BBC. 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00psqdh. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ "Being Human - Lia (Series 3, episode 1)". BBC. 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00y3756. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- ^ "Network TV BBC Week 40: Wednesday 5 October 2011". http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2011/wk40/wed.shtml. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ "Kai Owen news". http://www.kaiowen.com/news.htm. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ "Ryan and Ronnie relived on stage". BBC. 2005-10-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4311946.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ Jon Holliday (2005-10-19). "Life of Ryan… and Ronnie". The Stage. http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/10084/life-of-ryanand-ronnie. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ "Life of Ryan...and Ronnie". University of the Arts London. 2005. http://www.arts.ac.uk/events/23103.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ "Archif atodiadau theatr bARN ers 1992". Theatre in Wales. 2006. http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/barn/manylion.asp?barnID=155. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ Gill Isted (2006-02-10). "Where the laughs are...". icNorthWales. http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/stage/tm_headline=where-the-laughs-are&method=full&objectid=16689749&siteid=50142-name_page.html. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ Gillian Reynolds (2007-04-04). "Today's TV & radio choices". Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/04/04/nosplit/bvtv04.xml. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ Moira Petty (2007-04-04). "Radio review - drama". The Stage. http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/16443/radio-review-drama. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ Lee Neville (2008-02-07). "Adam and Steve: A Poorly Presented Potential Masterpiece". Remotegoat. http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=1159. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ "Afternoon Play: Torchwood - The Dead Line". BBC. 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lg4vz. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
