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Steve Toussaint

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Steve Toussaint
Toussaint at the 2022 German Comic Con Dortmund
Born
Stephen Toussaint

(1965-03-22) 22 March 1965 (age 59)
Birmingham, England
EducationUniversity of Sussex (BA)
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
Websitestevetoussaint.com

Stephen Toussaint (born 22 March 1965) is a British actor and writer. He first gained prominence through his role in the ITV crime drama The Knock (1994–2000). Currently, he plays Lord Corlys Velaryon in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon.

His films include Shooting Dogs (2005) and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010). On television, he appeared in the second series of Line of Duty (2014), the ninth series of Lewis (2015), the Australian series Pine Gap (2018), and Small Axe: Red, White and Blue (2020).

Early life

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Toussaint was born in Birmingham to Barbadian parents and grew up on an estate in the New Cross[1] area of South London,[2] where his father worked for the London Underground and his mother worked as a nurse. His first taste of acting came in a school nativity play as a Roman centurion in a suit of Armour made from cardboard.[1] He studied politics at the University of Sussex.[1] During his time there, he was scouted for a role in a play and joined the drama society.[1] After graduating, he briefly worked in merchant banking and hospital administration before deciding to try acting again. He took evening drama classes.[3]

Toussaint changed his surname to Toussaint because his birth name conflicted with a pre-existing member of his actors' union. He chose the name from Toussaint Louverture, the Haitian revolutionary leader (as at the time he had been reading about him in The Black Jacobins by C. L. R. James).[4]

Career

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Toussaint's first professional role in acting, was as the Genie in the Lamp in Aladdin at the Churchill Theatre in 1990 in a cast that included John Inman, Paul Shane, Susan Maughan, Eli Woods and David Janson.[1] His other extensive theatre career included performances in A Doll's House at the Young Vic, Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Twelfth Night at the Nottingham Playhouse, and more.[5]

Toussaint's big break on television was starring as Barrie Christie in all 37 episodes of the ITV crime drama The Knock from 1994 to 2000.[1] He appeared in Waking the Dead in 2002,[1] My Dad's the Prime Minister in 2004,[5] and Mutant Chronicles in 2008.[5]

In 2010, Toussaint starred in the Mike Newell-directed film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley.[1] Toussaint appeared as CS Ray Mallick in the second season of the BBC2 police drama series Line of Duty in 2014.[1] In 2015 he starred in Lewis,[5] In 2018 he starred in 6 episodes of Pine Gap.[5]

In 2022, Toussaint began starring as Corlys Velaryon, the head of House Velaryon, in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones spin-off.[1] He then appeared in the BBC One series Rain Dogs as the Duke.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 I.D. Shadwell Fan
Judge Dredd Hunter Squad Leader
You'll Soon Get the Hang of It: The Technique of One to One Training Camera Operator Documentary short
2000 Circus Black
2001 Dog Eat Dog Darcy
2002 The Perfect Moment News Anchor Short Film
2003 The Order New York Detective
2005 Shooting Dogs Roland
2007 Flight of Fury Col. Ratcher
Roadblock Sgt Garret Young Short Film
2008 Mutant Chronicles Capt John McGuire
Broken Lines Physio
2010 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Seso
2012 A Doll's House Dr. Rank Recording
2014 Asylum Powell
Darkness Short Film
2015 Point Break FBI Dept. Director #1
2016 A Viable Candidate Sylvan Bradshaw Short Film

Also credited as writer [6]

2018 Forgive Me, Father Father Matthew Short Film
2019 Masters of Love Dad
2023 Gassed Up Roy Amazon Prime film[7]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Steve Dixie Episode: The Three Gables
1994–2000 The Knock Barrie Christie 37 episodes
1994–2005 The Bill Clive Isley / Mike Hurley / Nick Austin 11 episodes
1995 Backup Ralf Johnson Episode: "Toleration Zone"
1996 Crucial Tales Robert Episode: "Spiders and Flies"
1998 Macbeth Lennox Television Film
Dangerfield P.C. Lyle Episode: "Harvest Time"
1999 Maisie Raine Barry Wills Episode: "The Witness"
Jack of Hearts Joe 5 episodes
Doomwatch: Winter Angel Luke Television Film
Casualty Martin Devern Episode: "Peace on Earth"
1999–2009 Holby City Charles Harrison / Sean Horton / Martin Devern 4 episodes
2002 Waking the Dead Charlie Bellows 2 episodes
2002–2010 Doctors D.I. Mike Trent / Tom Dumasai / D.I. Mike Trent 16 episodes
2003 Murder in Mind DC Chris Hewson Episode: "Suicide"
Murphy's Law Sammy Episode: "Kiss and Tell"
Rosemary & Thyme D.I. Scott Episode: "Sweet Angelica"
2004 Family Affairs Caleb Andrew 3 episodes
England Expects Pete Television Film
My Dad's the Prime Minister Transport Secretary 7 episodes
2005 Broken News Adam Lockwood - PVS 6 episodes
2007 Them Uriah Selleck Television Film
2007–2008 CSI: Miami Judge Hugo Kemp 3 episodes
2007–2014 Silent Witness Richard Parkwood / Pastor Funmi Lambo 4 episodes
2009 New Tricks Grant Lindon Episode: "The Last Laugh"
2010 Skins Father Babajide Episode: "Thomas"
Spooks Felix Osuba Season 9 Episode 2
2014 Line of Duty CS Ray Mallick 3 episodes
Scott & Bailey DSI Will Pemberton 4 episodes
2015 Banana Pete Monroe 1 episode
DCI Banks Michael Osgood 2 episodes
A.D. The Bible Continues Julius 1 episode
Tut King Tushratta 3 episodes
Lewis CS Joseph Moody / Ch. Supt. Moody / Ch. Supt. Joe Moody 6 episodes
2016 Midsomer Murders Victor Campbell Episode: "The Incident at Cooper Hill"
Grantchester Dicky Evans 1 episode
Berlin Station Benjamin Taylor 3 episodes
2017 Fortitude Lamont Bailey 2 episodes
Upstart Crow Otello Episode: "The Green-Eyed Monster"
2018 Death in Paradise Steadman King Episode: "The Healer"
Killed by My Debt Bentley Duncan
Our Girl Roger Mendez 2 episodes
Pine Gap Ethan James 6 episodes
2019 Deep Water Adam 3 episodes
2020 Doctor Who Feekat Episode: "Ascension of the Cybermen"
In the Long Run Charles Lander / Charles Quigley 3 episodes
Small Axe Kenneth Logan Episode: "Red, White and Blue"
2021 It's a Sin Alan Baxter 2 episodes
Before We Die Kane 3 episodes
2022–present House of the Dragon Corlys Velaryon Main Role
2023 Rain Dogs The Duke
2025 Eyes of Wakanda TBA (voice) In production

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Jurassic World Evolution George Lambert voice
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth voice
2021 Jurassic World Evolution 2 George Lambert voice
2022 Battlefield 2042 Charlie Crawford Season 2

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 The No Boys Cricket Club Michael Theatre Royal Stratford East
2000–2001 The Servant to Two Masters Florindo Royal Shakespeare Company tour
2002 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned Theatre Royal Stratford East
2003 Urban Afro-Saxons Dennis Talawa Theatre Company, Theatre Royal Stratford East
2004 Fix Up Kwesi Cottesloe at the National Theatre, London
2008 Hapgood The American Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
2010 Ruined Commander Osembenga Almeida Theatre, London
Twelfth Night Orsino Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
2011 The Merchant of Venice Salerio Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Macbeth Banquo
2011–2012 The Riots Stafford Scott Tricycle Theatre / Bernie Grant Arts Centre, London
2012–2014 A Doll's House Dr. Rank Young Vic / Duke of York's Theatre, London
BAM Harvey Theater, New York
2016 Father Comes Home from the Wars Hero Royal Court Theatre, London

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cheesman, Neil (23 January 2014). "Interview with Steve Toussaint star of Line of Duty and A Doll's House". London Theatre. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Steve Toussaint – interview Father Comes Home From the Wars, Royal Court Theatre". Afridiziak Theatre News. 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  3. ^ Heritage, Stuart (19 August 2022). "'Nothing is too big to fail': Steve Toussaint on starring in the Game of Thrones prequel". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  4. ^ Toussaint, Steve [@StevieToussaint] (9 December 2021). "@TheTonyTeflon Toussaint was the name I chose, as my own legal name would have clashed with an existing member of our actors' union. I was reading "The Black Jacobins" by CLR James at the time. You're right, a real hero" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Steve Toussaint, Royal Court Theatre". royalcourttheatre.com/. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ A Viable Candidate Interview, retrieved 2 September 2022
  7. ^ "Steve Toussaint on Instagram: "So. There's a film. It's called "Gassed Up". It's gonna be exclusively on @primevideouk. It's got these lovely people in it. And a bit of me! @steviegambles @taz_skylar @officiallymagic @tobiasjowett @mohammed_mansaray @maemuller @jelenagavrilovicofficial @yungfilly @harrypinero @arrdeegram @msbanks @tomi.may @rxwdat @davidmonteith"". Instagram. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
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