Neil Pearson
Encyclopedia
Neil Joshua Pearson is a British actor
best known for his work on television.
, London
, the son of a panel beater, who left home when he was five, and a legal secretary, and was educated at Woolverstone Hall School
, Suffolk
, a boarding school, where he first learnt to act, and at the Central School of Speech and Drama
.
After graduating, he made his first television appearance in 1982 and starred alongside Leonard Rossiter
in Joe Orton
's play Loot
at the Lyric Theatre
in London in 1984; Rossiter died during a performance while in his dressing room. Pearson then became an acquaintance of Hat Trick Productions
and won a part in their historical sitcom Chelmsford 123
. He also appeared with Hat Trick executive Jimmy Mulville
in That's Love
. Pearson narrated Colin Wyatt's animated series The Poddington Peas
in 1986.
It was in the roles of associate editor and office lothario, Dave Charnley, in the sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey
- another Hat Trick show - and of Detective Superintendent Tony Clark in the thriller, Between The Lines, that he made his greatest impact on the viewing public.
Since then he has appeared in such varied roles as Dr Jameson in Rhodes (1998), Jack Green in the children's serial The Magician's House (1999), Trevor Heslop in Trevor's World of Sport
(2003) and John Diamond
in A Lump in My Throat (2003). He has also been in several films, including The Secret Rapture (1993), Fever Pitch (1997) and Bridget Jones's Diary
(2001). He recently appeared in the 2006 Radio Four series Vent
as Ben. He played the choir master Michael Caddick in the BBC's recent drama All the Small Things
in 2009.
He is strongly identified with the British left - having made a party election broadcast for the Labour Party
for the 1994 European Elections, though later prominently supported Ken Livingstone
when Livingstone ran as an independent
candidate for Mayor of London
in 2000
. For many years he has also supported the National Council for One Parent Families
, having written about his family background for the organisation, and also raised £32,000 for the charity on a celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
.
Pearson was a 'judge' on Channel 4's The Play's The Thing, which sought to find a play written by an unknown writer for a run in the West End. The winning play, written by Kate Betts, was called On the Third Day and opened at the New Ambassadors Theatre
in London in June 2006. Pearson appeared in a touring revival of Sir Peter Hall's production of Harold Pinter
's Old Times
in 2006, and in a production of Tom Stoppard
's play "Arcadia
" at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, in 2009.
Pearson is the author of a book on the Manchester-born publisher Jack Kahane
, Obelisk: A History of Jack Kahane and the Obelisk Press
.
He is a keen Texas hold'em poker player, who took part in the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe event in London.
Pearson is also a fan of Tottenham Hotspur and regularly attends home games - even though in the film Fever Pitch he plays a man who takes his son to watch their arch-rivals Arsenal
. In 2007 he assisted with fundraising to renovate Bristol Old Vic Theatre.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his work on television.
Biography
Pearson grew up in BatterseaBattersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of a panel beater, who left home when he was five, and a legal secretary, and was educated at Woolverstone Hall School
Woolverstone Hall School
In the early 1950s the London County Council obtained use of Woolverstone Hall near Ipswich, Suffolk, and some of adjoining land for the purpose of establishing a secondary grammar boarding school for London boys...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, a boarding school, where he first learnt to act, and at the Central School of Speech and Drama
Central School of Speech and Drama
The Central School of Speech and Drama was founded in London in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students...
.
After graduating, he made his first television appearance in 1982 and starred alongside Leonard Rossiter
Leonard Rossiter
Leonard Rossiter was an English actor known for his roles as Rupert Rigsby, in the British comedy television series Rising Damp , and Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin...
in Joe Orton
Joe Orton
John Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies...
's play Loot
Loot (play)
Loot is a two-act play by the English playwright Joe Orton. The play is a dark farce that satirises the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death, and the integrity of the police force....
at the Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre (London)
The Lyric Theatre is a West End theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster.Designed by architect C. J. Phipps, it was built by producer Henry Leslie with profits from the Alfred Cellier and B. C. Stephenson hit, Dorothy, which he transferred from the Prince of Wales Theatre to open...
in London in 1984; Rossiter died during a performance while in his dressing room. Pearson then became an acquaintance of Hat Trick Productions
Hat Trick Productions
Hat Trick Productions is a British independent production company that produces television programmes, mainly specialising in comedy.-History:...
and won a part in their historical sitcom Chelmsford 123
Chelmsford 123
Chelmsford 123 is a British television situation comedy produced for Channel 4 by Hat Trick Productions. It ran for two series, of six and seven episodes, in 1988 and 1990....
. He also appeared with Hat Trick executive Jimmy Mulville
Jimmy Mulville
James Thomas "Jimmy" Mulville is an English comedian, comedy writer, producer and television presenter. Jimmy Mulville is best known for co-founding in 1986 the British independent television production company Hat Trick Productions with Denise O'Donoghue and Rory McGrath...
in That's Love
That's Love
That's Love is a British television sitcom about the domestic problems of a young married couple, lawyer Donald and designer Patsy .-Plot:...
. Pearson narrated Colin Wyatt's animated series The Poddington Peas
The Poddington Peas
The Poddington Peas is an animated British children's television series made by Paul Needs and Colin Wyatt; the single series has 13 episodes and was first aired on the BBC in 1989. A second season using CGI animation was planned in 2008....
in 1986.
It was in the roles of associate editor and office lothario, Dave Charnley, in the sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey
Drop the Dead Donkey
- Major characters :* Gus Hedges — The unctuous Chief Executive of the company, and yes-man to Sir Roysten Merchant. A management stereotype, complete with clichés and clumsy metaphors, he swiftly transforms GlobeLink from a serious news network to a ratings-chasing tabloid channel...
- another Hat Trick show - and of Detective Superintendent Tony Clark in the thriller, Between The Lines, that he made his greatest impact on the viewing public.
Since then he has appeared in such varied roles as Dr Jameson in Rhodes (1998), Jack Green in the children's serial The Magician's House (1999), Trevor Heslop in Trevor's World of Sport
Trevor's World of Sport
Trevor's World of Sport began as a 2003 BBC television sitcom written and directed by Andy Hamilton and starring Neil Pearson as Trevor. Only one television series was made, and Hamilton felt mistreated by the BBC over the scheduling of the show. The first episode attracted an average of 3.4...
(2003) and John Diamond
John Diamond (journalist)
John Diamond was a British broadcaster and journalist.- Education and training :Diamond was the son of a biochemist and a fashion designer. He grew up in Upper Clapton and Woodford Green, he then attended the City of London School and trained as an English teacher at Trent Park College of...
in A Lump in My Throat (2003). He has also been in several films, including The Secret Rapture (1993), Fever Pitch (1997) and Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Diary (film)
Bridget Jones's Diary is a 2001 British romantic comedy film based on Helen Fielding's novel of the same name. The adaptation stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget, Hugh Grant as the caddish Daniel Cleaver, and Colin Firth as Bridget's "true love", Mark Darcy...
(2001). He recently appeared in the 2006 Radio Four series Vent
Vent (radio series)
Vent is a dark comedy series produced for BBC Radio 4 in 2006. It is written by Nigel Smith. The producer is Gareth Edwards.The story revolves around an unsuccessful writer named Ben , who is in a coma...
as Ben. He played the choir master Michael Caddick in the BBC's recent drama All the Small Things
All the Small Things
"All the Small Things" is a song by American pop punk band Blink-182. It was the second single released from the band's third album Enema of the State...
in 2009.
He is strongly identified with the British left - having made a party election broadcast for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
for the 1994 European Elections, though later prominently supported Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
when Livingstone ran as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate for Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
in 2000
London mayoral election, 2000
The first election to the office of Mayor of London took place on 4 May 2000.-Results:¹Under the Supplementary Vote system, if no candidate receives 50% of 1st choice votes, 2nd choice votes are added to the result for the top two 1st choice candidates...
. For many years he has also supported the National Council for One Parent Families
One Parent Families
is a registered charity which provides advice, support and campaigns for single parent families. Following a merger with One Parent Families in 2007 it was briefly known as "One Parent Families|Gingerbread" before relaunching as Gingerbread in January 2009.J. K...
, having written about his family background for the organisation, and also raised £32,000 for the charity on a celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
.
Pearson was a 'judge' on Channel 4's The Play's The Thing, which sought to find a play written by an unknown writer for a run in the West End. The winning play, written by Kate Betts, was called On the Third Day and opened at the New Ambassadors Theatre
New Ambassadors Theatre
The Ambassadors Theatre , is a West End theatre located in West Street, near Cambridge Circus on the Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster...
in London in June 2006. Pearson appeared in a touring revival of Sir Peter Hall's production of Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
's Old Times
Old Times
Old Times is a play by the Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter. It was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Aldwych Theatre in London on June 1, 1971. It starred Colin Blakely, Dorothy Tutin, and Vivien Merchant, and was directed by Peter Hall...
in 2006, and in a production of Tom Stoppard
Tom Stoppard
Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
's play "Arcadia
Arcadia (play)
Arcadia is a 1993 play by Tom Stoppard concerning the relationship between past and present and between order and disorder and the certainty of knowledge...
" at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, in 2009.
Pearson is the author of a book on the Manchester-born publisher Jack Kahane
Jack Kahane
Jack Kahane was a Manchester-born writer and publisher who founded the Obelisk Press in Paris in 1929.He was the son of Selig and Susy Kahane, both Romanian-born immigrants. Kahane, a novelist, began the Obelisk Press after his publisher, Grant Richards, went bankrupt...
, Obelisk: A History of Jack Kahane and the Obelisk Press
Obelisk Press
Obelisk Press was an English language press based in Paris, France, which was founded by Jack Kahane in 1929.Kahane, a novelist, began the Obelisk Press after his publisher, Grant Richards, went bankrupt. Going into partnership with a printer, Kahane, as Cecil Barr, published his next novel...
.
He is a keen Texas hold'em poker player, who took part in the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe event in London.
Pearson is also a fan of Tottenham Hotspur and regularly attends home games - even though in the film Fever Pitch he plays a man who takes his son to watch their arch-rivals Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. In 2007 he assisted with fundraising to renovate Bristol Old Vic Theatre.