- Darren Boyd
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Darren Boyd (born 30 January 1971 in Hastings, East Sussex) is an English actor well known for his roles in Smack the Pony, Green Wing, Whites and most recently for playing the role of John Cleese in Holy Flying Circus. He is a classically trained singer, and played a jazz musician in NBC’s Watching Ellie. He is 6'4" tall, likes performing his own stunts and exploring the use of physical comedy in his characters.
Contents
Acting career
Television
Boyd co-starred in the BBC comedy sitcom Kiss Me Kate (1998), which ran for three years and established him as new comedy talent in the UK. This led to starring roles in popular British comedies such as Hippies (1999) and Smack the Pony (1999).
In 2001, Boyd collaborated with Victoria Pile on new comedy Los Dos Bros, a quirky, off-beat sitcom exploring physical comedy and the relationship between Boyd and Cavan Clerkin as the titular (half-)brothers. Boyd was co-creator and co-writer. During this time Boyd was cast in NBC comedy Watching Ellie a vehicle for former Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as Ben Radfield. Other cast included Steve Carell and Peter Stormare.
Boyd returned to the UK in 2005 and took on notable comedy characters including Dr. Jake Leaf in the second series of Green Wing (2006) and neighbour Jonathan in Steve Coogan's Saxondale.
In 2009, Boyd took a turn towards more serious leading roles with two-part adaptation "May Contain Nuts", based on John O'Farrell's best-selling novel, "Personal Affairs" for BBC3 and "Royal Wedding" (2010), a 1980s period drama written by BAFTA winner Abi Morgan, starring Jodie Whittaker.
Recent roles include the well received chef sitcom Whites and the television adaptation of Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency in October 2010, in which he played Richard Macduff.[1][2]
In April 2011, Boyd co-starred Olivia Williams in crime drama Case Sensitive, a two-part drama adaptation of Sophie Hannah's novel Point of Rescue for ITV. It was reported that Case Sensitive has been recommissioned for an additional two episodes to be filmed by the end of 2011.
The BBC announced in June 2011 that Boyd would play the role of John Cleese in Holy Flying Circus,[3] a 90-minute dramatisation of the controversy that arose when Monty Python's Life of Brian was released in 1979.
Boyd also plays the lead in Sky 1's half-hour sitcom SPY[4]. He plays Tim, a single father who is accidentally recruited by MI5.
Memorable cameos include playing an evangelical vicar in Rev. and cringeworthy ex-athlete Dave Wellbeck in BBC's olympic mocumentary Twenty Twelve.
Film
Feature films Boyd has appeared in include High Heels and Low Lifes (2002), Imagine Me & You (2005), Spoon (2006), Magicians (2007) and Chris Morris' Four Lions (2010).
Radio
Boyd currently stars in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series ElvenQuest (as Vidar the Elf Lord) and Safety Catch.
Awards and Recognition
Los Dos Bros was winner of a Silver Rose for Best Sitcom at the Montreux Festival in 2002.
Personal Life
Boyd is an only child. He began acting at age 17 in amateur theatre and performed in local productions from 1989 to 1995. He currently lives in London with his wife Amanda Ashy-Boyd whom he met in Los Angeles. He has a cat.
References
- ^ "Stephen Mangan to star as detective Dirk Gently". BBC News. 6 October 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11482882.
- ^ "BBC - BBC Four Programmes - Dirk Gently". BBC Web site. British Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wqfl2. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ "BBC to dramatise unholy row over Monty Python's Life of Brian". Guardian.co.uk. 21 June 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jun/21/bbc-monty-python-life-of-brian.
- ^ "Sky orders new MI5 spy sitcom". The British Comedy Guide. 10 May 2011. http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000537/sky1_spy_darren_boyd_robert_lindsay/.
External links
Categories:- 1971 births
- Living people
- People from Hastings
- British actors
- English vegans
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