- Nick Berry
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For Australian sportsman, see Nic Berry.For other people named Nicholas Berry, see Nicholas Berry (disambiguation).
Nick Berry 
Nick Berry as Nick Rowan, at Cochrane, AlbertaBorn Nicholas Berry
16 April 1963
Woodford, Essex, EnglandNationality British Ethnicity White British Occupation Actor/Musician Years active 1976–2003 Spouse Rachel Robertson (m. 1994–present) Children 2 sons Nicholas "Nick" Berry (born 16 April 1963) is a British television actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Wicks in the British soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1990 and as PC Nick Rowan in the British drama television series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998.
Contents
Career
Berry started acting at the age of eight. After attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London he played minor parts on television, film, and stage before he got his big break playing Simon 'Wicksy' Wicks in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders (1985–90). Berry's character was thought up overnight and was introduced to restore the cast balance distorted by the unexpected departure of actor David Scarboro who played the original Mark Fowler. Scarboro's departure meant many of his functions as the slightly eldest of the young characters would need to be taken over by another character and thus Wicksy was invented and Berry was cast with minimal delay.[1] He was quickly hailed as EastEnders' top pin-up and during this time was besieged by fanmail from female admirers.[2]
Berry took a break from EastEnders to tour and make an album from which the number one single 'Every Loser Wins' came in 1986. The song was heavily featured within EastEnders in a plotline referred to as The Banned in which the youths of Walford all formed a pop group and performed the songs on screen.[1] It was the second biggest selling single in the UK that year, remaining at number one for three weeks. Its composer Simon May received an Ivor Novello Award. The self-titled album, from which "Every Loser Wins" hails, has never been released in CD format. The single contains a non-LP B-side, an instrumental version of "Every Loser Wins", with guitars substituting on melody instead of Berry's voice. It also has yet to see a release on CD.
Berry returned to EastEnders after his musical career stalled but left again in an 'open to return' storyline in 1990, although his character has yet to reappear. In 1992, Berry was cast in the role of Yorkshire policeman PC (later Sgt) Nick Rowan in ITV's drama series Heartbeat (1992–98). Berry recorded the title song 'Heartbeat' in 1992, a cover of the 1959 Buddy Holly hit, which reached number two in the UK singles chart and spawned a second album.[3] His wife Rachel Robertson also appeared in the series in small one-off roles.
In 1998 Berry left Heartbeat for the BBC 1 self-written, produced, and directed series Harbour Lights. Shot around the area of Bridport he played a harbour master. Less successful than his two previous character-based programmes, it ran for two series. Berry returned to Heartbeat for a one-off twin episode special in 2002, the episodes based on his character's new career as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer.
Berry's other credits include The Mystery of Men with Neil Pearson and Warren Clarke, Paparazzo, The Black Velvet Band with Todd Carty, and playing the maverick cop Liam Ketman alongside Stephen Tompkinson in the BBC crime drama In Deep.
Berry runs his own production company called Valentine Productions.
Personal life
Berry had a car crash when he was twenty-one: he fractured his skull when he was thrown through a windscreen; he survived the experience unscarred.[2]
During his time in EastEnders Berry dated his co-star Gillian Taylforth who played Kathy Beale.[2]
Berry married actress Rachel Robertson in 1994 they have two boys, Louis and Finley and the family resides in Epping, Essex.
Berry is a supporter of West Ham United F.C. [4]
Popular culture references
In the song Random Celebrity Insult Generator by noise rock band mclusky, which featured as a b-side to the song Alan Is A Cowboy Killer and on their retrospective anthology Mcluskyism,[5] the main vocal line repeated many times throughout the song is "Nick Berry had talent in a previous life".[6]
Filmography
Films
Year Film Role Notes 1983 Forever Young Boy at school Party Party Ralph 1989 Tank Malling Joe McGrath 1995 Paparazzo Rick Caulker TV
Year Show Role Notes 1976 BBC2 Playhouse Carter 1 episode: Kites 1983 Dramarama Lance Boyle 1 episode: Rip It Up 1984 Dramarama Paul Walker 1 episode: The Purple People Eater The Box of Delights Pirate Rat 3 episodes: When the Wolves Were Running
Where Shall the 'Knighted Showman Go?
In Darkest Cellars Underneath1985 Cover Her Face Tony 1 episode: 1.2 1985–1990 EastEnders Simon Wicks Series regular 1991 Cluedo Ben the Window-Cleaner 1 episode: Charity Begins at Home 1992–1998 Heartbeat Nick Rowan Series regular 1996 Respect Bobby Carr 1997 Black Velvet Band Martin Tusco 1998 Heartbeat: Changing Places Nick Rowan Spin-off video 1999 The Mystery of Men Colin Dunbar 1999–2000 Harbour Lights Lt. Cmdr. Mike Nicholls Series regular 2001–2003 In Deep Liam Ketman Series regular Discography
Albums
Year Information UK Albums Chart[7] Position 1986 Nick Berry - Debut studio album
- Released: 8 December 1986
- Formats: LP, Cassette
#99 1992 Nick Berry #28 * The two identically titles albums are different.
Singles
Year Single UK Singles Chart[7] Position Album 1986 "Every Loser Wins" - Released: 22 September 1986
#1 Nick Berry 1992 "Heartbeat" - Released: 1 June 1992
#2 Nick Berry "Long Live Love" - Released: 19 October 1992
#47 References
- ^ a b Smith, Julia; Holland, Tony (1987). EastEnders - The Inside Story. Book Club Associates. ISBN 0-563-20601-2.
- ^ a b c Kingsley, Hilary (1990). The EastEnders Handbook. BBC books. ISBN 0-563-36292-8.
- ^ 'Nick Berry chart positions', everyhit.com. Retrieved 2006-12-15.
- ^ http://www.ave-it.net/west_ham_united%20famous%20fans.htm
- ^ Spofity stream of the song Random Celebrity Insult Generator. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ Lyrics to the song Random Celebrity Insult Generator, songmeanings.net. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 55. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
- Nick Berry at the Internet Movie Database
- Nick Berry - BBC Drama
- Nick Berry as Nick Rowan - 'Heartbeat'
Categories:- 1963 births
- Living people
- English television actors
- English soap opera actors
- English actors
- Alumni of the Sylvia Young Theatre School
- People from Epping
- People from Woodford, London
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