Pete Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Peter Sullivan is a British theatre, film and television actor known mainly for new work with theatre companies and writers from both Europe and the United States.
in 1982 where he played Edmond in King Lear and then joined the Old Vic Youth Theatre playing the title role in Macbeth. He studied at Central School of Speech and Drama
from 1983–1986 and then in New York under Uta Hagen
at HB Studio
.
In 1988 he joined the Catalan performance group La Fura Dels Baus
and toured the world with them in their trilogy of spectacles Accions, Suz/O/Suz and Tier Mon. In 1990 he was asked by Deborah Warner
to join the National Theatre
in London to tour King Lear and Richard III, directed by Richard Eyre
, staying on to play in Napoli Millionaria as part of the Lyttelton Theatre company. He also worked extensively at the National Theatre Studio with Simon Usher and where he formed The Actors' Group. He left the National to work with David Freeman
, playing Pentheus in Opera Factory's Bacchae at the Queen Elizabeth Hall before moving into television to play the lead in Dick Clement
and Ian Le Frenais' sit-com Over The Rainbow.
He was nominated for the Evening Standard Best Newcomer award for his portrayal of Ray in Simon Bennet's Drummers directed by Max Stafford-Clark
at the New Ambassadors in London's West End. He also played SS Colonel Karl Schoengarth
in the multi-award winning B.B.C./H.B.O film Conspiracy written by Loring Mandel
and directed by Frank Pierson. He then played Jack the Ripper
in Jonathan Kent
's revival of Wedekind
's Lulu in a new version by Nicolas Wright
which started at the Almeida
theatre before transferring to the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C.
He has worked extensively for Peter Gill
, appearing in both Way of the World and Certain Young Men at the Almeida Theatre, as well as in a number of plays at the Royal Court Theatre
, contributing to their recent book Inside Out. At the Court he played The Husband in Debbie Tucker Green's Stoning Mary directed by Marianne Elliott
, originated the role of Ferdinand in Tom Stoppard
's Rock n Roll directed by Trevor Nunn
which transferred to the West End and Broadway as well as playing Cash in Dominic Cooke
's first play as artistic director, The Pain and The Itch by the American writer Bruce Norris
. He played Mortensgaard in Antony Page's acclaimed revival of Ibsen's Rosmersholm in a new version by Mike Poulson
, once again at the Almeida.
He has appeared in numerous television shows, both as regular and guest characters and in a number of films, both studio pictures as well as lower budget films in the U.K. and Spain.
From 1987-1993 he was married to the Catalan writer and broadcaster Anna Klamburg.They have one son, the musician Jake "Jacobo" Sullivan.
Biography
He joined the National Youth TheatreNational Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
in 1982 where he played Edmond in King Lear and then joined the Old Vic Youth Theatre playing the title role in Macbeth. He studied at 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...
from 1983–1986 and then in New York under Uta Hagen
Uta Hagen
Uta Thyra Hagen was a German-born American actress and drama teacher. She originated the role of Martha in the 1963 Broadway premiere of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee...
at HB Studio
HB Studio
Founded in 1945 by Herbert Berghof, the HB Studio is a school that offers professional training in the performing arts. Located in Greenwich Village in New York City, its curriculum includes classes in a variety of areas, including acting, directing, playwrighting, screenwriting, musical theatre,...
.
In 1988 he joined the Catalan performance group La Fura Dels Baus
La Fura dels Baus
La Fura dels Baus is a Catalan theatrical group founded in 1979 in Barcelona, known for their urban theatre, use of unusual settings and blurring of the boundaries between audience and actor. "La Fura dels Baus" in Catalan means "vermin from the sewers"....
and toured the world with them in their trilogy of spectacles Accions, Suz/O/Suz and Tier Mon. In 1990 he was asked by Deborah Warner
Deborah Warner
Deborah Warner CBE is a British director of theatre and opera known for her interpretations of the works of Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht, Georg Büchner, and Henrik Ibsen, and for her long-term working relationship with the Irish actress Fiona Shaw.-Early years:Warner was born in Oxfordshire,...
to join the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
in London to tour King Lear and Richard III, directed by Richard Eyre
Richard Eyre
Sir Richard Charles Hastings Eyre CBE is an English director of film, theatre, television, and opera.-Biography:Eyre was educated at Sherborne School, an independent school for boys in the market town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset in south-west England, followed by Peterhouse at the University...
, staying on to play in Napoli Millionaria as part of the Lyttelton Theatre company. He also worked extensively at the National Theatre Studio with Simon Usher and where he formed The Actors' Group. He left the National to work with David Freeman
David Freeman
David Freeman is the name of:*David Freeman , collector, historian, and authority on old-time and bluegrass music*David Freeman, musician, member of The Flys and The Lover Speaks, writer of "No More I Love You's"...
, playing Pentheus in Opera Factory's Bacchae at the Queen Elizabeth Hall before moving into television to play the lead in Dick Clement
Dick Clement
Dick Clement, OBE is an English writer.Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, Clement was educated at Bishop's Stortford College and is best known for his writing partnership with Ian La Frenais. Generally, Clement and La Frenais write comedies, or dramas with a comic tone...
and Ian Le Frenais' sit-com Over The Rainbow.
He was nominated for the Evening Standard Best Newcomer award for his portrayal of Ray in Simon Bennet's Drummers directed by Max Stafford-Clark
Max Stafford-Clark
Maxwell Robert Guthrie Stewart Stafford-Clark is an English Theatre Director.-Life and career:He went to school at Felsted and Riverdale Country School in New York City. He has worked as a theatre director since he left Trinity College, Dublin.His directing career began as associate director of...
at the New Ambassadors in London's West End. He also played SS Colonel Karl Schoengarth
Karl Eberhard Schöngarth
Eberhard Karl Schöngarth was a German Nazi, appointed SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Polizei on Himmler’s orders in 1943. He was a war criminal who perpetrated mass murder and genocide in occupied Poland during the Holocaust.Schöngarth was born in Leipzig, Saxony...
in the multi-award winning B.B.C./H.B.O film Conspiracy written by Loring Mandel
Loring Mandel
Loring Mandel is an American playwright and screenwriter whose notable works include the TV movie Conspiracy.-Career:...
and directed by Frank Pierson. He then played Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
in Jonathan Kent
Jonathan Kent (director)
Jonathan Kent is an English theatre director and opera director. He is best known as a director/producer partner of Ian McDiarmid at the Almeida Theatre from 1990 to 2002.-Early life:...
's revival of Wedekind
Frank Wedekind
Benjamin Franklin Wedekind , usually known as Frank Wedekind, was a German playwright...
's Lulu in a new version by Nicolas Wright
Nicolas Wright
Nicolas Wright is a Canadian actor. Wright has performed on stage, television and film. In 2004, he received the "most promising newcomer" award at the Just for Laughs film festival in Montreal for his short film, Toutouffe...
which started at the Almeida
Almeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325 seat studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diverse range of drama and holds an annual summer festival of...
theatre before transferring to the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C.
He has worked extensively for Peter Gill
Peter Gill (playwright)
Peter Gill, theatre director, playwright and former actor, was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 7 September 1939, son of George John Gill and his wife Margaret Mary .He was educated at St Illtyd's College, Cardiff.-Career:...
, appearing in both Way of the World and Certain Young Men at the Almeida Theatre, as well as in a number of plays at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, contributing to their recent book Inside Out. At the Court he played The Husband in Debbie Tucker Green's Stoning Mary directed by Marianne Elliott
Marianne Elliott
For the theatre director, see Marianne Elliott .Marianne Elliott is an Irish historian....
, originated the role of Ferdinand in 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 Rock n Roll directed by Trevor Nunn
Trevor Nunn
Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, CBE is an English theatre, film and television director. Nunn has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed musicals and dramas for the stage, as well as opera...
which transferred to the West End and Broadway as well as playing Cash in Dominic Cooke
Dominic Cooke
Dominic Cooke is an English theatre director and playwright. He won the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for best director for his revival of The Crucible while working at the RSC...
's first play as artistic director, The Pain and The Itch by the American writer Bruce Norris
Bruce Norris
Bruce Arthur Norris was owner of the Detroit Red Wings from 1952 to 1982. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of James D. Norris. Members of the Norris family owned the Red Wings for almost fifty years before selling the franchise to Mike Ilitch in 1982. Bruce and Marguerite Norris...
. He played Mortensgaard in Antony Page's acclaimed revival of Ibsen's Rosmersholm in a new version by Mike Poulson
Mike Poulson
Michael Poulson is an American "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981-1987.-Racing career milestones:...
, once again at the Almeida.
He has appeared in numerous television shows, both as regular and guest characters and in a number of films, both studio pictures as well as lower budget films in the U.K. and Spain.
From 1987-1993 he was married to the Catalan writer and broadcaster Anna Klamburg.They have one son, the musician Jake "Jacobo" Sullivan.