Craig Parkinson
Parkinson in May 2018
Born (1976-03-11) 11 March 1976 (age 47)
Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Occupation(s)Actor, podcaster
Spouse
​
(sep. 2019)​
Children1

Craig Parkinson (born 11 March 1976) is an English actor and podcaster. He has played Shaun in the E4 series Misfits, twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV series Whitechapel, and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan in Line of Duty. He has also acted in several independent films, including Control, Soulboy, The Unloved and Four Lions.

Early life

Parkinson was born on 11 March 1976 in Blackpool, Lancashire. He began acting at an early age in school plays.[1] He studied at Blackpool and The Fylde College before moving to London aged 17 to attend the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.[2]

Acting career

Parkinson's early roles were small parts in long-running British television series such as Dalziel and Pascoe, The Bill, and Holby City. He made his film debut in Control (2007), a biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in which he played the role of Tony Wilson. He starred in the 2008 independent film The Taxidermist, playing The Taxidermist. The film won several awards, including Palm Springs International Short Film Festival 'Best Live Action Film over 15 minutes' and Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival 'Best Short Film'.[3][4]

In 2009 he played the abusive care worker Ben in the television drama The Unloved, the directorial debut of Samantha Morton. Parkinson had previously starred alongside her in Control. The Unloved also featured Lauren Socha, with whom Parkinson would later star alongside in Misfits, as well as his wife, Susan Lynch.

In 2010 Parkinson played twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV television series Whitechapel. The role involved a boxing scene which he prepared for by taking boxing lessons and going on a no-carb diet.[5] He played Alan in the film SoulBoy and Cubitt in the film Brighton Rock. Towards the end of 2010 he began playing the probation worker Shaun in the E4 television series Misfits. He continued this role throughout 2011.

In 2011 he starred in the independent film Ghosted, playing the psychotic and violent prisoner Clay. The film also starred John Lynch, Parkinson's brother-in-law, and Martin Compston, with whom Parkinson had previously starred in Soulboy. In the same year, Parkinson played Tommy Flynn in the BBC sitcom In with the Flynns. Parkinson's character was described as "the star of the show" by David Butcher of the Radio Times and "the standout character of the show" by Harry Hamburg of On the Box_.[6][7]

In 2011 Parkinson appeared as DS Matthew 'Dot' Cottan in the BBC Two series Line of Duty.[8]

In 2012 he appeared as the Reverend Horace in the BBC supernatural thriller The Secret of Crickley Hall, adapted from the novel of the same name written by James Herbert. The Secret of Crickley Hall also featured his wife. Parkinson also starred in the music video for the song "Two Fingers" by Jake Bugg.[9]

In 2013 he starred in the ITV1 comedy drama series Great Night Out as Glyn.[10] He also appeared as Charles Crout in Channel 4 drama The Mill.

He reprised his role as Matthew 'Dot' Cottan in 2013 for the second series of Line of Duty, and in 2015 for the third series. Cotton was promoted to the rank of DI, known now as DI Dot Cotton.

In 2015, he originated the role of Inspector Fry in Martin McDonagh's acclaimed play Hangmen, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre before transferring to London's West End after a sold-out run, and being broadcast by National Theatre Live. He also played the compassionate missionary Dougie Raworth in Indian Summers.

In 2017, he appeared on the panel show Would I Lie to You?. Parkinson also starred as The Piano Man (Si) in the action/comedy drama Wild Bill.

In 2021, he guest-starred in several episodes of Series 13 of Doctor Who, as the Grand Serpent.[11]

Podcasting

Parkinson hosts the Two Shot Podcast, episodes of which typically feature interviews with actors. The Guardian favourably reviewed the podcast, describing it as the "antithesis of a luvvie-darling discussion" and Parkinson himself as a "natural interviewer".[12] It won best culture podcast at the 2018 British Podcast Awards.[13][14] The podcast is sometimes recorded at live events, such as Paddy Considine's episode at North by Northwich compered by The Charlatans.[15]

In 2021, Parkinson hosted the "Obsessed with... Line of Duty" podcast for series 6 of Line of Duty on BBC Sounds.[16]

Personal life

Parkinson is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall.[2] In his youth, he lived in Camden and Crouch End before moving to Gloucestershire with his wife. He was married to actress Susan Lynch and they have a son.[2][17] They separated in 2019.[18]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Dalziel and Pascoe Paul Collingwood Series 6, Episode 2: "Home Truths"
2002 Attachments Darren Series 2, Episode 10: "Logan's Run"
The Bill Detroitz Series 18, Episode 71 and 72
2002–2003 Ed Stone Is Dead Scotty Wilmslow Series 1, Episodes 1, 9, 10, and 11
2003 Holby City Gaz Simpson Series 5, Episode 29: "Desperate Measures"
2004 No Angels Mick Series 1, Episode 1
Hustle Art Tutor Series 1, Episode 5: "A Touch of Class"
Black Books Martin the Tout Series 3, Episode 4: "A Little Flutter"
Born and Bred Eric Series 3, Episode 6: "And Is There Still Honey for Tea?"
2005 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Simon Dawkins Series 4, Episode 1: "In Divine Proportion"
2007 Lead Balloon Simon Russell Series 2, Episode 6: "Debacle"
2008 Lark Rise to Candleford Young Amos Series 1, Episode 3
2010 Whitechapel Jimmy Kray/Johnny Kray Series 2
2010–2011 Misfits Shaun Series 2; Series 3, episodes 1–5
2011 In with the Flynns Tommy Flynn Series 1
2012 The Secret of Crickley Hall Reverend Horace Episode 3
2013 Endeavour Reg Tracepurcel Series 1, Episode 3: "Rocket"
Great Night Out Glyn
The Mill Charles Crout
2014 Prey DI Sean Devlin
2012–2021 Line of Duty DS/DI Matthew 'Dot' Cottan Series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
2016 Uncle Cyril
Resistance Captain David McLeod
2015–2016 Indian Summers Dougie Raworth Series 1 and Series 2, all episodes
2018 Killed by My Debt Bailiff
Sick of It Neil Series 1, Episode 1
2019 Year of the Rabbit Patrick Levant Series 1, Episode 5
Wild Bill Piano Man Series 1, Episode 2: "Piano Man"
Temple Keith Sullivan Series 1, Episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8
2020 The English Game James Walsh Series 1
2020–present Sandylands Terry Chino
2021–present Grace DS Norman Potting
2021 Intergalactic Dr. Benedict Lee
2021 Doctor Who The Grand Serpent Series 13
2022 Vera Phil Swann Series 11 [19]
Life and Death in the Warehouse Danny Television film[20]
TBA The Ballad Of Renegade Nell Mr. Jackson
2023 Mrs. Sidhu Investigates DCI Peter Burton

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Control Tony Wilson
Virgin Territory Tindaro
2008 The Other Man George
2009 The Taxidermist The Taxidermist Short film
The Unloved Ben TV film
Desert Flower Neil
2010 Four Lions Matthew 'Matt' Jaggard
SoulBoy Alan
Brighton Rock Cubitt
2011 When the Lights Went Out Brian
Ghosted Clay
2016 The Flag The Don See IMDB for more.
2018 Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Peter Butler Standalone film from TV series Black Mirror
2019 Wild Rose

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Martin Guerre Ensemble Prince Edward Theatre[21]
2000 Much Ado About Nothing Watchman Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[22]
The Pirates of Penzance Policeman Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[22]
A Midsummer Night's Dream Francis Flute Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[22]
2006 Measure for Measure Provost Complicite/National Theatre[23]
2006 Everything is Illuminated Alex Perchov/Sofiowka Hampstead Theatre, London. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, adapted by Simon Block.[24]
2011 Ecstasy Len Hampstead Theatre, London[25]
2015 Hangmen Inspector Fry Royal Court Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, London

References

  1. ^ Horn, Matt. "Interview: Craig Parkinson". Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Wolf, Matt. "Craig Parkinson on Standing Tall and Finding Ecstasy on the London Stage". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  3. ^ The Taxidermist at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  4. ^ "The Taxidermist". Bertie Films. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Whitechapel Interviews: Craig Parkinson". Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  6. ^ Butcher, David. "In with the Flynns Review: The New My Family?". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  7. ^ Hamburg, Harry. "In with the Flynns: In the Press". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Cast announced for new BBC Two drama Line of Duty" (Press release). BBC Press Office. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  9. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Jake Bugg - Two Fingers (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
  10. ^ "Great Night Out Synopsis". Hat Trick Productions. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Doctor Who: Flux Media Pack". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Two Shot Podcast: Craig Parkinson's luvvie-free chat about acting". The Guardian. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  13. ^ "British Podcast Awards 2018: Cariad Lloyd's Griefcast sweeps the board". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  14. ^ "The week in radio and podcasts: Mental Health Minute; Chris Hawkins; Jo Whiley and Simon Mayo; British podcast awards and more". The Guardian. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  15. ^ "The Charlatans announce four Northwich homecoming gigs". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Obsessed With... - Line of Duty - Welcome to Obsessed With Line of Duty - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  17. ^ Tate, Gabriel (26 April 2016). "Line of Duty's Craig Parkinson on playing TV's nastiest man: 'I'm a master at lurking'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  18. ^ Domachowski, Lucy (27 October 2020). "Line Of Duty actor Craig Parkinson 'splits from wife Susan Lynch after 12 years'". Mirror Online. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  19. ^ "'I looked odd' Vera star Craig Parkinson on bizarre preparation for ITV role". 15 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Life and Death in the Warehouse review – the terrible true cost of online shopping". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  21. ^ "NathanTaylor.co.uk - Martin Guerre". www.nathantaylor.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  22. ^ a b c "Craig Parkinson". Troika Talent.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "National Theatre | London, UK". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Cast & Creative Team for Everything is Illuminated, Hampstead Theatre". Retrieved 17 February 2021.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "Cast & Creative Team for Ecstasy, Hampstead Theatre". Archived from the original on 7 October 2010.

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