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Nathaniel Parker

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This article is about the English actor sometimes known as Nat Parker. For the American actor, see Nate Parker.

Nathaniel Parker
Parker at the 2015 Whatsonstage.com Awards
Born (1962-05-18) 18 May 1962 (age 62)
London, England
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Anna Patrick
​
(m. 1992)​
Children2
Websitewww.nathanielparker.com

Nathaniel Parker (born 18 May 1962) is an English stage and screen actor best known for playing the lead in the BBC crime drama series The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and Agravaine de Bois in the fourth series of Merlin.

Early life

Nathaniel Parker was born in London, the youngest son of the businessman and one-time British Rail chairman Sir Peter Parker and Jillian, a GP and gardener, who wrote The Purest of Pleasures: Creation of a Romantic Garden.[1] He has two older brothers, Alan, chairman of Brunswick Group, and Oliver Parker, a film director, and a sister, Lucy. Parker joined the National Youth Theatre, and after training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art,[2] became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1986.[3]

Career

Stage

Parker portrayed Bassanio in Peter Hall's 1989 production of The Merchant of Venice in London and on Broadway, co-starring with Dustin Hoffman.[4][5]

In 2000, he played Bob in Rupert Goold's West End revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow.[6]

Parker returned to the stage in 2013 for the production of The Audience, starring Helen Mirren, written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry. The play ran for four months at the Gielgud Theatre in London. It was also transmitted worldwide via National Theatre Live and was seen by more than 110,000 viewers in the UK and USA.[2]

Parker played King Henry VIII in Wolf Hall (and Bring up the Bodies) for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2014, earning a 2015 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the London production and appearing in New York City when the show moved on to Broadway,[7] where his performance received a Tony Award nomination.[8] He reprised the role at the Gielgud Theatre in 2021 for The Mirror and the Light, the third and final part of the trilogy.

Parker played Jack Weatherill in James Graham's This House at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester in September 2016 and took the same role to the Garrick Theatre in the West End of London on 19 November 2016.

Film and television

In 1989, Parker portrayed Jamie Jasper in the tenth episode of Inspector Morse. In 1997, he portrayed King David in a made-for-TV film.[9]

Parker played a variety of television costume drama roles, such as: Martin Jordan in the 1995 TV production of Joanna Trollope's A Village Affair,[10] Gabriel Oak in the Granada/WGBH-TV co- production of Far From the Madding Crowd (1997),[11] and Martin Tanley in the comedy film Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) with Chris Farley and Chris Rock.[12] He also played Rawdon Crawley in a BBC version of Vanity Fair (1998). The New York Times reviewer Caryn James said of his performance: "More than anyone else in the series, Nathaniel Parker brings some complexity to his character."[13] He also played Harold Skimpole in the BAFTA-winning BBC1 dramatisation of Bleak House (2005).[14]

In a 2007 Radio Times interview, Parker said that his first big television break came in 1988 when he played a Battle of France pilot in ITV's six-part drama Piece of Cake.[15] Another early role was Wilfred Owen in Derek Jarman's War Requiem, a 1989 film adaptation of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. It co-starred Laurence Olivier, in his last screen role, as an old soldier.[16] Four years later, Parker played Edward Rochester in John Duigan's 1993 film adaptation of Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea. Reviewing this 'prequel' to Jane Eyre, Vincent Canby said in his review that Parker: "is exceptionally good in a difficult, shadowy role".[17]

From 2001 to 2007, Parker played the titular character in the long-running BBC1 crime series The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, perhaps his best-known role. His co-star was Sharon Small as his assistant, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. When the series premiered on PBS in 2002, The Wall Street Journal wrote that it was "fully worthy of the Mystery! label."[18] At the same time, he played Master Gracey in The Haunted Mansion,(2003),[19] Albert Speer in the BBC production of 2006 Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial[20][21] and Dunstan Thorn in the fantasy film Stardust (2007).[21][22] Parker also starred briefly in St Trinian's (directed by his brother, Oliver).

In 2011, Parker joined the cast of Merlin,[23] to play the character of Agravaine de Bois for all 13 episodes of the fourth series. He also appeared in the independent comedy-drama The Perfect Host, alongside David Hyde Pierce.[19]

In 2012, Parker was cast alongside YouTube reviewer Stuart Ashen in the Alienware-sponsored sci-fi thriller series The Proxy.[24] He also appeared as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec in the film adaptation of Louise Penny's murder mystery novel Still Life, set in rural Quebec.[25] He also starred in the TV series, Me and Mrs Jones broadcast in 2012.[2]

In July 2015, Parker played the domestic bully Dicky Carmichael in the BBC's two-part television adaptation of Sadie Jones’ debut novel The Outcast.[26] In June 2015 it was announced that Parker would play the role of King Achish in ABC TVs series Of Kings and Prophets.[27]

In 2018, Parker appeared in two films, firstly as King Hamlet (better known as the Ghost), in Ophelia opposite Daisy Ridley, then as Lewis in sports comedy-drama Swimming with Men. He also played Lord Chiltern in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre; the production received positive reviews from critics and was later broadcast in cinemas.[28][29][30]

In 2019, he played civil servant Sir Robert Hamilton in The Warrior Queen of Jhansi, a period drama about the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai, one of the leading figures in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. That same year, he appeared in ITV drama A Confession as Richard Latham QC.[31]

In 2021, Parker appeared on television in Spanish-language romantic drama series The Vineyard as Edward Clayton, as well as ITV thriller The Beast Must Die. He also had a supporting role as Sir Robert de Thibouville in historical drama The Last Duel, directed by Ridley Scott. In 2022, he played Whale in romantic comedy Up on the Roof.

In 2023, Parker played Miles Dewson in British sci-fi thriller T.I.M.. The film was released on Netflix on 16 August. On television, he featured in Paramount+ period thriller The Doll Factory as Liston, and guest starred in one episode of Midsomer Murders, playing Brian Havergal.

In 2024, Parker is due to appear in period wartime drama Desperate Journey, directed by Annabel Jankel.[32]

Audio and voiceover work

Parker is a voiceover artist and has done work on audiobooks, including Eoin Colfer's children's Artemis Fowl series, the five books in Charlie Higson's Young James Bond series, and The Gardens of The Dead by William Brodrick. He read Mark Haddon's novel A Spot of Bother for BBC Radio Four's Book at Bedtime and played Axel in Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth, first broadcast on BBC Radio Four Extra on 20 November 2011 and again on 12 November 2012.[33] He has also voiced numerous video games and made many radio appearances as an interviewee and in radio dramas.[2] A complete listing of Parker's extensive audio work can be found online.[34]

Personal life

Parker is married to actress Anna Patrick. The couple live in Gloucestershire with their two daughters.[2]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes main role
1989 War Requiem Wilfred Owen
1990 Hamlet Laertes
1992 The Bodyguard Clive Healy
1993 Wide Sargasso Sea Edward Rochester
1994 Squanto: A Warrior's Tale Thomas Dermer
1995 Othello Cassio
1997 Beverly Hills Ninja Martin Tanley
1997 David King David
2001 Lover's Prayer Father
2003 The Haunted Mansion Master Edward Gracey
2006 Fade to Black Viola
2007 Flawless Oliver Ashtoncroft
Stardust Dunstan Thorn
I Really Hate My Job Guy II
St Trinian's Chairman of the National Gallery
2009 Malice in Wonderland Harry Hunt
2010 The Perfect Host Detective Morton
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Caspian IX
2018 Swimming with Men Lewis
2018 Ophelia King Hamlet
2019 The Warrior Queen of Jhansi Sir Robert Hamilton
2021 The Last Duel Sir Robert D'Thibouville
2021 Hunting Bears Kenny
2023 T.I.M. Dewson

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Piece of Cake Flying Officer 'Flash' Gordon Miniseries, 6 episodes
1990 Inspector Morse Jamie Jasper 1 episode
1990 Never Come Back Desmond Thane Miniseries, 3 episodes, directed by Ben Bolt.
1990 Harry Enfield & Chums Fire Man 4 episodes
1991 Agatha Christie's Poirot Chris Davidson 1 episode
1991 Heroes II: The Return Ivan Lyon Miniseries, 2 episodes
1993 Dancing Queen Nigel Television film
1994 Dangerous Games Thomas Cranmer Television film
1995 A Village Affair Martin Jordan Television film
1995 A Touch of Frost Stephen Fillmore 1 episode
1997 Into Thin Air: Death on Everest Rob Hall Television film
1998 Far from the Madding Crowd Gabriel Oak Television film
1998 Vanity Fair Rawdon Crawley Miniseries, 5 episodes
1998 McCallum Dr. Dan Gallagher 1 episode
2001-2007 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries DI Thomas Lynley Main cast, 24 episodes
2003 The Private Life of Samuel Pepys Charles II Television film
2004 Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde Himself Television film
2005 Bleak House Harold Skimpole Miniseries, 10 episodes
2005 Dickens in America Charles Dickens (voice) Documentary series, 10 episodes
2006 Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial Albert Speer 1 episode
2008 Hotel Babylon Alexander Crawfield 1 episode
2009 The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Dr. Majkowski Television film
2009 Land Girls Lord Lawrence Hoxley Main cast, 5 episodes
2009 Lewis Lieutenant Philip Coleman 1 episode
2009 My Family Richard Harper 1 episode
2011 Injustice Martin Newall Miniseries, 4 episodes
2011 Merlin Agravaine de Bois Main cast, 13 episodes
2012 Me and Mrs Jones Tom Marshall Main cast, 6 episodes
2013 Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Television film
2015 The Outcast Dicky Carmichael Miniseries, 2 episodes
2016 Of Kings and Prophets King Achish Main cast, 9 episodes
2019 Grantchester Mr. Davenport 1 episode
2021 The Vineyard Edward Claydon Main cast
2023 Midsomer Murders Brian Havergal 1 episode

Theatre work

Unless noted otherwise, details of Parker's theatre work can be found here.[35]

Year Title Role Company Theatre Notes
1981 Richard III Richard III National Youth Theatre
1982 Macbeth Macbeth National Youth Theatre
1984 Trumpets and Drums (based on The Recruiting Officer) Captain Brazen London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
1985 Claw Ludsby Theatre Clwyd / Mold Theatre Clwyd / Mold
1985 Trumpets and Drums (based on The Recruiting Officer) Captain Brazen Theatre Clwyd / Mold Theatre Clwyd / Mold
1986 Romeo and Juliet Tybalt Young Vic, London Old Vic 11.02.86
1986 The Gift Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [36]
1986 The Kiss Oliver RSC
1986-1987 The Winter's Tale Florizel RSC Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyne Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, Barbican Theatre, London [36]
1986-1987 Every Man in His Humour Wellbred RSC Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Mermaid Theatre, London, The People's Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne [36]
1986-1987 The Rover Don Pedro RSC Swan Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon, The People's Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne [36]
1986 Richard III Harry Percy RSC Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyne Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, Barbican Theatre, London [36]
1987 The Storm Vanya Kudryash RSC Pit, London [36]
1987 A Midsummer Night's Dream Lysander RSC Barbican Theatre, London [36]
1989 The Merchant of Venice[37] Bassanio Peter Hall Company Phoenix Theatre, London, 46th Street Theater, New York (UK) 01.06.1989, (US) 20.12.1989 to 24.02.1990
1997 Cargo Cult Barbican Theatre 02.09.1987
1999 50 Revolutions Oxford Stage Company Whitehall Theatre, London 07.09.1999 to 25.09.1999
2000 Speed the Plow Duke of York's Theatre, London 29.06.2000 to 19.08.2000
2008 Quartermaine's Terms Quartermaine Bill Kenwright 2008 Ltd. Theatre Royal, Windsor; New Victoria Theatre, Woking; The Richmond Theatre, Theatre Royal, Bath, Theatre Royal, Brighton 13.05.2008 to 21.06.2008
2013 The Audience Gordon Brown Gielgud Theatre, London 15.02.2013 to 15.06.2013
2013/14 Wolf Hall[38] Henry VIII RSC Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 11.12.2013 to 29.03.2014
2013/14 Bring Up the Bodies Henry VIII RSC Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon 19.12.2013 to 29.03.2014
2014 Wolf Hall Henry VIII RSC The Aldwych Theatre, London 10.05.2014 to 04.10.2014
2014 Bring Up the Bodies Henry VIII RSC The Aldwych Theatre, London 10.05.2014 to 04.10.2014
2015 Wolf Hall 1 & 2 Henry VIII RSC Winter Garden Theater, New York 20.03.2015 to 05.07.2015
2016 This House Jack Weatherill Headlong Minerva Theatre, Chichester 25.09.2016 to 29.10.2016
2016 This House Jack Weatherill Headlong Garrick Theatre, London 19.11.2016 to 25.02.2017
2021 The Mirror and the Light Henry VIII RSC Gielgud Theatre, London 23.9.2021 to 28.11.2021
2023 Operation Epsilon Otto Hahn Southwark Playhouse, London 15.09.2023 to 21.10.2023

References

  1. ^ "Nathaniel Parker Biography (1962-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Nathaniel Parker Biography". nathanielparker.com. Nathaniel Parker. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Nathaniel Parker star of Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies, on playing Henry VIII". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. ^ Whitney, Craig R. (3 June 1989). "Hoffman as Shylock". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Dustin Hoffman and Peter Hall". bufvc.ac.uk. British University Film and Videos Council. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Archive Reviews Speed-the-Plow". londontheatrearchive.co.uk. London Theatre Archive Co. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Olivier awards 2015 – full list of winners". The Guardian. 12 April 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Tony Award Nominees". tonyawards.com. IBM Corp/Tony Award Productions. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  9. ^ "David". rottentomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  10. ^ "A Village Affair". acorn-tv.com. Acorn TV. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Television Productions". thomashardyfilms.com. Paul J. Niemeyer. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Beverly Hills Ninja". sonymoviechannel.com. Sony Movie Television. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  13. ^ James, Caryn (22 October 1999). "TV WEEKEND; Ruthless in a Greedy World. Sounds Familiar, Doesn't It?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  14. ^ "BBC Drama Bleak House Characters". BBC.co.uk. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Derek Robinson of 'Piece of Cake'". jeremynorthern.co.uk. Jeremy Northern. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  16. ^ Canby, Vincent (26 January 1990). "Review/Film; Britten's 'War Requiem,' To Images by Derek Jarman". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Review/Film; Mrs. Rochester No. 1, Long Before 'Jane Eyre'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Masterpiece-The Inspector Lynley Mysteries". pps.org. PBS. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  19. ^ a b "The Perfect Host - Cast & Crew". theperfecthostmovie.com. Stacey Testro Mark Victor. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial". imdb.com. imdb. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Nathaniel Parker Lists of Work (filmography)". Nathaniel Parker Official Homepage. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Stardust (2007)". imdb.com. imdb. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  23. ^ "Nathaniel Parker joins Merlin". Sci-Fi Bulletin. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  24. ^ "Interview with Stuart Ashen". mcmbuzz.com. MCM Buzz. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Video Sneak Peek". cbc.ca. CBC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  26. ^ "BBC One: The Outcast: Episode 1 credits". BBC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  27. ^ "'Of Kings & Prophets' Casts Nathaniel Parker As Regular". deadline.com. Penske Business Media LLC. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  28. ^ Billington, Michael (4 May 2018). "An Ideal Husband review – Wilde's dandies and fat cats verge on the preposterous". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  29. ^ "An Ideal Husband, Vaudeville Theatre, London, review: Edward and Freddie Fox create a delicious double act". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  30. ^ An Ideal Husband Live Cinema Trailer. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "A Confession". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  32. ^ Ritman, Alex (1 May 2024). "Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Clara Rugaard, Til Schweiger Lead WWII Thriller 'Desperate Journey,' Written by 'Il Postino' Director Michael Radford (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  33. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Jules Verne - Journey to the Centre of the Earth". BBC. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  34. ^ "Nathaniel Parkrer Take Aways". nathanielparker.com. Nathaniel Parker. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  35. ^ "Nathaniel Parker Lists of Work (theatregraphy)". Nathaniel Parker Official Homepage. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ a b c d e f g "RSC Archive (Name Search)". RSC Archive Catalogue. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  37. ^ "The Merchant of Venice". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  38. ^ "Wolf Hall RSC". RSC. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
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