Alun Armstrong
Alan Armstrong
Alun Armstrong is a prolific English character actor.
Armstrong grew up in County Durham in North East England. He first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar 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."
His numerous credits include six different Dickens adaptations and seven series as eccentric ex-detective Brian Lane in New Tricks.
Armstrong is also an accomplished stage actor who spent nine years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He originated the role of Thénardier in the London production of Les Misérables and he won an Olivier Award for playing the title role in Sweeney Todd.
Biography
Birthday:
17/07/1946
Place of birth:
Annfield Plain, County Durham, England, UK
Biography
Birthday:
Place of birth:
Date of death:
Acting
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025
|
The Choral |
Herbert Trickett
|
6.435
/ 10
|
|
2024
|
After the Flood |
Alan Benson
|
7
/ 10
|
|
2023
|
Tom Jones |
Squire Western
|
6
/ 10
|
|
2022
|
Sherwood |
Gary Jackson
|
6.901
/ 10
|
|
2021
|
The Nicky Nack |
-
|
-
|
|
2020
|
Breeders |
Jim
|
6.816
/ 10
|
|
2020
|
Breaking The Codes |
-
|
-
|
|
2019
|
Year of the Rabbit |
Chief Inspector Hugh Wisbech
|
7.009
/ 10
|
|
2019
|
Out of Innocence |
Detective Callaghan
|
6.6
/ 10
|
|
2018
|
Possum |
Maurice
|
6.178
/ 10
|
|
2018
|
Funny Cow |
Lenny
|
6.309
/ 10
|
|
2017
|
Prime Suspect 1973 |
Clifford Bentley
|
7.31
/ 10
|
|
2016
|
Frontier |
Lord Benton
|
6.812
/ 10
|
|
2016
|
Dark Angel |
George Stot
|
6.163
/ 10
|
|
2016
|
Asunder |
Self - Narrator (voice)
|
-
|
|
2016
|
Golden Years |
Sid
|
6.3
/ 10
|
|
2014
|
Penny Dreadful |
Vincent Brand
|
7.807
/ 10
|
|
2012
|
The Hollow Crown |
Northumberland
|
7.4
/ 10
|
|
2012
|
The Mystery of Edwin Drood |
Hiram Grewgious
|
5.9
/ 10
|
|
2010
|
Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary in Concert |
Monsieur Thenardier (1985 Cast)
|
8.265
/ 10
|
|
2010
|
A Passionate Woman |
Donald (1980s)
|
5.909
/ 10
|
|
2009
|
Garrow's Law |
John Southouse
|
7.667
/ 10
|
|
2008
|
Little Dorrit |
Ephraim Flintwinch
|
7.88
/ 10
|
|
2008
|
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story |
Ernest Whitehouse
|
6.3
/ 10
|
|
2007
|
The Dinner Party |
Jim
|
6
/ 10
|
|
2006
|
Eragon |
Uncle Garrow
|
5.14
/ 10
|
|
2006
|
The Girls Who Came to Stay |
Bob Jenkins
|
8
/ 10
|
|
2005
|
Bleak House |
Inspector Bucket
|
8.03
/ 10
|
|
2005
|
Oliver Twist |
Magistrate Fang
|
6.755
/ 10
|
|
2005
|
Millions |
Saint Peter
|
6.388
/ 10
|
|
2004
|
New Tricks |
Brian Lane
|
7.328
/ 10
|
|
2004
|
Van Helsing |
Cardinal Jinette
|
6.428
/ 10
|
|
2004
|
Van Helsing: The London Assignment |
Cardinal Jinetta (voice)
|
6.2
/ 10
|
|
2004
|
When I'm Sixty-Four |
Jim
|
5.382
/ 10
|
|
2004
|
Carrie's War |
Mr. Samuel Evans
|
7.7
/ 10
|
|
2003
|
Between The Sheets |
Peter Delany
|
5.2
/ 10
|
|
2003
|
It's All About Love |
David
|
5.421
/ 10
|
|
2003
|
Paradise Found |
Camille Pissarro
|
6.452
/ 10
|
|
2002
|
Sparkhouse |
Richard Bolton
|
7.786
/ 10
|
|
2002
|
Inquisition |
Martin
|
7
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
The Mummy Returns |
Baltus Hafez
|
6.415
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
Messiah |
DCI Charlie McIntyre
|
7.442
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
Bedtime |
Neil Henshaw
|
4.333
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years |
George Mole
|
6
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
Extinct |
Himself - Narrator
|
8
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
Strictly Sinatra |
Bill
|
5
/ 10
|
|
2001
|
Score |
George
|
7
/ 10
|
|
2000
|
Proof of Life |
Wyatt
|
6.156
/ 10
|
|
2000
|
Harrison's Flowers |
Samuel Brubeck
|
6.511
/ 10
|
|
2000
|
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper |
Asst. Chief Const. George Oldfield
|
7.429
/ 10
|
|
2000
|
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper |
Asst. Chief Const. George Oldfield
|
7
/ 10
|
|
2000
|
7 Up 2000 |
Himself - Narrator
|
8
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
Sleepy Hollow |
High Constable
|
7.2
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
David Copperfield |
Dan Peggotty
|
7.117
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
Oliver Twist |
Mr. Fleming
|
6.3
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
Onegin |
Zaretsky
|
6.099
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
G:MT Greenwich Mean Time |
Uncle Henry
|
5.579
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
With or Without You |
Sammy
|
5.294
/ 10
|
|
1999
|
Aristocrats |
Lord Holland
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1998
|
In the Red |
DCI Frank Jefferson
|
6.143
/ 10
|
|
1998
|
The Destruction of Troy and the Adventures of Odysseus |
-
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1997
|
The Saint |
Inspector Teal
|
6.1
/ 10
|
|
1997
|
Underworld |
-
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1996
|
Our Friends in the North |
Austin Donohue
|
7.7
/ 10
|
|
1996
|
Brazen Hussies |
Jimmy Hardcastle
|
3.8
/ 10
|
|
1996
|
Breaking the Code |
Mick Ross
|
5.579
/ 10
|
|
1996
|
Witness Against Hitler |
Pastor Harold Poelchau
|
8
/ 10
|
|
1995
|
Braveheart |
Mornay
|
7.9
/ 10
|
|
1995
|
An Awfully Big Adventure |
Uncle Vernon
|
6.497
/ 10
|
|
1995
|
Les Misérables: 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall |
Monsieur Thénardier
|
8.78
/ 10
|
|
1995
|
Sorry About Last Night |
Mickey
|
8
/ 10
|
|
1994
|
Black Beauty |
Reuben Smith
|
6.724
/ 10
|
|
1994
|
MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday |
Capshaw
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1994
|
Doggin' Around |
Charlie Foster
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1993
|
Goggle Eyes |
Gerald 'Goggle Eyes' Faulkner
|
8
/ 10
|
|
1993
|
The Tempest |
Caliban
|
5
/ 10
|
|
1992
|
Patriot Games |
Owens
|
6.677
/ 10
|
|
1992
|
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales |
Caliban (voice)
|
6.471
/ 10
|
|
1992
|
Split Second |
Thrasher
|
5.953
/ 10
|
|
1992
|
Blue Ice |
Osgood
|
5.265
/ 10
|
|
1992
|
Goodbye Cruel World |
Roy Grade
|
7.5
/ 10
|
|
1992
|
The Life and Times of Henry Pratt |
Uncle Teddy
|
10
/ 10
|
|
1991
|
Stanley and the Women |
Rufus Hilton
|
6.5
/ 10
|
|
1991
|
Murder in Eden |
Sgt McGing
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1991
|
American Friends |
Dr. Weeks
|
6.292
/ 10
|
|
1991
|
London Kills Me |
John Stone
|
5.9
/ 10
|
|
1990
|
White Hunter, Black Heart |
Ralph Lockhart
|
6.406
/ 10
|
|
1990
|
The Widowmaker |
Dad
|
10
/ 10
|
|
1990
|
Looking After Number One |
Dick
|
-
|
|
1990
|
Sticky Wickets |
Evans
|
-
|
|
1989
|
Tales from the Crypt |
Inspector Herbert
|
7.98
/ 10
|
|
1989
|
Screen One |
Det Supt Frank Burroughs
|
7.2
/ 10
|
|
1989
|
The Jim Henson Hour |
The Troll (archive audio)
|
9
/ 10
|
|
1989
|
The Childeater |
Stefano
|
7.667
/ 10
|
|
1989
|
A Night on the Tyne |
Willy
|
9
/ 10
|
|
1989
|
That Summer of White Roses |
Zemba
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1989
|
Nineteen96 |
Det. Supt. Frank Burroughs
|
-
|
|
1988
|
The Storyteller |
Troll (voice)
|
8.224
/ 10
|
|
1988
|
The Storyteller: The True Bride |
Troll (Voice)
|
-
|
|
1988
|
Number 27 |
Murray Lester
|
9
/ 10
|
|
1987
|
Married... with Children |
Trevor
|
7.733
/ 10
|
|
1987
|
Inspector Morse |
Superintendent Holdsby
|
7.877
/ 10
|
|
1986
|
ScreenPlay |
Willy
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1985
|
A.D. |
Gamesmaster
|
5.417
/ 10
|
|
1985
|
The Caucasian Chalk Circle |
Singer
|
-
|
|
1985
|
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire |
Maxwell Randall, The Green Baize Vampire
|
6.133
/ 10
|
|
1985
|
Number One |
Blackpool Police Sergeant
|
6.667
/ 10
|
|
1984
|
Sharing Time |
Luke
|
-
|
|
1984
|
The House |
Mr. Smeth
|
5.667
/ 10
|
|
1983
|
Krull |
Torquil
|
6.061
/ 10
|
|
1983
|
Mr Moon's Last Case |
Narrator
|
-
|
|
1982
|
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby |
-
|
7.667
/ 10
|
|
1981
|
The French Lieutenant's Woman |
Grimes
|
6.47
/ 10
|
|
1981
|
Get Lost! |
Neville Keaton
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1980
|
Fear of God |
Trahearne
|
10
/ 10
|
|
1979
|
All Day on the Sands |
-
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1979
|
Measure for Measure |
Provost
|
5.857
/ 10
|
|
1978
|
The BBC Television Shakespeare |
Provost
|
6
/ 10
|
|
1978
|
Enemy at the Door |
Louis Mendoza
|
8.2
/ 10
|
|
1978
|
Armchair Thriller |
Trahearne
|
4.2
/ 10
|
|
1978
|
Freedom of the Dig |
Quinn
|
-
|
|
1978
|
Liza |
Mikhalevich
|
-
|
|
1977
|
BBC2 Play of the Week |
Brodovich
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1977
|
A Bridge Too Far |
Cpl. Davies
|
7.201
/ 10
|
|
1977
|
The Duellists |
Lieutenant Lacourbe
|
7.251
/ 10
|
|
1977
|
A Sharp Intake of Breath |
Arthur Clegg
|
7.2
/ 10
|
|
1977
|
Premiere |
Quinn
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1977
|
Romance |
Weaver
|
-
|
|
1977
|
Risking It |
Richard Clewes
|
-
|
|
1977
|
Our Day Out |
Mr. Briggs
|
7.833
/ 10
|
|
1977
|
Shooting the Chandelier |
Brodovich
|
-
|
|
1976
|
The New Avengers |
Private George Harris
|
7.163
/ 10
|
|
1976
|
The Chester Mystery Plays |
Lightborne
|
-
|
|
1976
|
The Likely Lads |
Tommy
|
6.3
/ 10
|
|
1975
|
The Sweeney |
Peter Jenner
|
8.071
/ 10
|
|
1975
|
The Stars Look Down |
Joe Gowlan
|
8
/ 10
|
|
1974
|
Father Brown |
Joe
|
6.8
/ 10
|
|
1974
|
Porridge |
Spraggon
|
8.134
/ 10
|
|
1974
|
Easy Go |
First docker
|
-
|
|
1973
|
Thriller |
Mike
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1973
|
Centre Play |
Richard Clewes
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1973
|
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? |
Scaife
|
7.682
/ 10
|
|
1973
|
Second City Firsts |
Ken
|
-
|
|
1973
|
Armchair 30 |
Glazier
|
-
|
|
1973
|
Sporting Scenes |
Bernie
|
-
|
|
1973
|
Only Make Believe |
Michael Biddle
|
10
/ 10
|
|
1973
|
The Eyes Have It |
Mike
|
7.286
/ 10
|
|
1973
|
The 14 |
Tommy
|
5.867
/ 10
|
|
1973
|
The Sex Victims |
George
|
5
/ 10
|
|
1972
|
New Scotland Yard |
Ray Davies
|
6.3
/ 10
|
|
1972
|
Villains |
Terence 'Tel' Bolden
|
7.5
/ 10
|
|
1972
|
Six Days of Justice |
P.C. Williamson
|
10
/ 10
|
|
1971
|
Great Performances |
Thénardier
|
6.1
/ 10
|
|
1971
|
Justice |
Bob Graham
|
7.333
/ 10
|
|
1971
|
Get Carter |
Keith
|
7
/ 10
|
|
1970
|
Play for Today |
1st Docker
|
6.6
/ 10
|
|
1965
|
BBC Play of the Month |
Lightborne
|
5.2
/ 10
|
|
1965
|
Public Eye |
Vince Gregson
|
8.167
/ 10
|
|
-
|
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole |
Bert Baxter
|
-
|
|
-
|
My Little Eye |
Dad
|
9
/ 10
|
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