Jeff Rawle

Jeffrey Alan Rawle (born 20 July 1951) is a British actor. He is known for playing Billy in Billy Liar (1973–1974), and for portraying George Dent in the news-gathering sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998), and Silas Blissett in Hollyoaks (2010–2022). Other credits include Minder (1993), Doc Martin (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Grantchester (2023), and Beyond Paradise (2024).

Early life

Rawle was born on 20 July 1951,^[1] in Birmingham.^[1] His first secondary school was King Edward VI School in Aston, Birmingham. When he was 15, his family moved to Sheffield, and it was at High Storrs Grammar School that he first became interested in drama when he appeared in school plays. He worked at the Sheffield Playhouse before training at LAMDA.^[2]

Career

Rawle landed his first significant role in 1973 as the protagonist in the television version of Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall's Billy Liar.^[3] He played Billy Fisher for two seasons, 26 episodes from 1973 to 1974.^[3]

In 1979, he appeared as Rudy with Ian McKellen and Tom Bell in the premiere production of Bent at the Royal Court Theatre, London. In 1984, he appeared in the story Frontios as the character Plantaganet in Doctor Who.^[1] In 1980, he appeared in the Hammer House of Horror,^[1] episode "Charlie Boy." In 1981, he appeared in an episode of Juliet Bravo.^[1] In 1983, He starred as Jeff Harris in three episodes of Angels and appeared in Bergerac (1983).^[4]

In 1989, he starred as W.O. Wilson in the three-part miniseries Vote for Them, which was about allied troops still based in Cairo in 1943.^[5] He appeared in Minder (1993)^[4] and Faith in the Future on ITV from 1995 to 1998.^[4] In 2004, Rawle appeared as Roger Fenn in the ITV series Doc Martin.^[1] The actor made a guest appearance as lawyer Jonathan Blunt in the fourth episode of the fourth series of New Tricks (2007).^[4]

In 2005, Rawle portrayed Amos Diggory, father of Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.^[4]

2008 saw Rawle play Gilbert Murray in the National Theatre's production of Tony Harrison's play Fram. The following year, he guested in The Bill and appeared in The Sarah Jane Adventures on CBBC. During 2010, Rawle joined the cast of Hollyoaks as serial killer Silas Blissett.^[6] He stated that he was delighted to be playing such a sinister character. He has won various awards for his portrayal of Silas.^[7] He initially left the role in 2012, before making guest returns from January to May 2016, and from October 2020 to January 2021. He reprised the role in September 2022, when his grandson, Bobby, finally killed off his character.^[8]

In October 2012, it was announced that Rawle had joined the Doctors' cast as Rory Bishton, a road sweeper with something to hide.^[9] Rawle made his screen debut as Rory in early 2013.^[9] He had previously appeared in the series in 2004.^[9]

Rawle has provided numerous narrations, including A Bear Called Paddington, three series of the Duchess of York's Budgie the Little Helicopter, Stephen Hawking's Universe and Tom Fort's The Grass is Always Greener for BBC Radio 4. Rawle's writing credits include The Young Poisoner's Handbook in 1995 and Who Goes There?

Filmography and television

References

1. ^ "Jeff Rawle". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
2. ^ "Jeff Rawle". castaway.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10.
3. ^ "Billy Liar". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
4. ^ "Jeff Rawle Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
5. ^ "Vote for Them". Radio Times. 2 June 1989. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022.
6. ^ "Silas". Hollyoaks. E4.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
7. ^ "Jeff Rawle thrilled with 'Oaks Silas role". Digital Spy. 2011-09-20.
8. ^ "Silas is dead! Hollyoaks star Jeff Rawle reacts to shock exit". Radio Times. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
9. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 October 2012). "'Doctors' role for 'Hollyoaks' star Jeff Rawle". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
10. ^ "Testimony of a Child", BBC Radio Times, 5 July 1989
11. ^ "The Gift", BBC Radio Times, 28 March 1990
12. ^ "The Screen Guide: Bottersnikes and Gumbles". Screen Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
13. ^ "Lost Sitcoms". BBC Four.

External links

• Jeff Rawle at IMDb

1. ^ Jeff Rawle is not in the Radio Times listing for "Testimony of a Child"