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Sean Pertwee
Pertwee at the 2017 Heroes and Villains Fan Fest for Gotham
Born
Sean Carl Roland Pertwee

(1964-06-04) 4 June 1964 (age 59)
Hammersmith, London, England
Education
Alma materBristol Old Vic Theatre School
Occupation(s)Actor, narrator and producer
Years active1975–present
Known for
Spouse
Jacqueline Hamilton-Smith
​
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2[a]
Parent
Relatives

Sean Carl Roland Pertwee[1][2] (born 4 June 1964) is an English actor, narrator and producer with an extensive career since the 1980s in television and cinema productions.

Pertwee is known for the role of Sgt. Wells in the film Dog Soldiers, W.F. "Smitty" Smith in Event Horizon, Inspector Lestrade in CBS's Elementary and Alfred Pennyworth in Fox's Gotham. He is also the narrator of MasterChef: The Professionals and Zero Hour.

Early life

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Pertwee was born on 4 June 1964 in Hammersmith, London, the son of the actor Jon Pertwee (who played the Third Doctor in Doctor Who) and his German second wife, Ingeborg Rhoesa. Playwright and screenwriter Roland Pertwee was his grandfather; his sister is actress Dariel Pertwee, and Dad's Army actor Bill Pertwee was a cousin.

Pertwee received his formal education at Teddington Boys' School in Richmond upon Thames and Sunbury College, Surrey.

Career

Pertwee trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After graduating in 1986, he toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company for three years. He appeared in Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot – The King of Clubs alongside David Suchet (12 March 1989). He later appeared as Hugh Beringar alongside Derek Jacobi in the first series of the television series Cadfael in 1994. In 1999 he portrayed Brutus in the Hallmark Channel film Cleopatra. He co-owned the Natural Nylon film production company along with Sadie Frost, Jude Law, Jonny Lee Miller, and Ewan McGregor.[3] The company folded in 2003. Pertwee is perhaps best known for his portrayal of grimacing death, particularly in the film Dog Soldiers, a skill which led to him being given an award for 'Best Death Face' at Bristol Old Vic.[4]

He appeared in the 2008 film Doomsday as Doctor Talbot. His voice is frequently heard in a variety of television commercials, documentaries and video games, including the medieval empire-building computer game Medieval: Total War and futuristic war games Killzone (as Colonel Gregor Hakha), Killzone 2 (as Colonel Mael Radec) and Fire Warrior (as Governor Severus). He is also the voice behind the Northeast's tourism advertisement which started broadcasting at the start of 2009. He is the narrator of Masterchef: The Professionals, replacing India Fisher from the fourth series onwards. He starred alongside John Hurt as Brother Proteus in the 2010 animated film Ultramarines: a Warhammer 40,000 Movie. He appeared in the film Devil's Playground, a horror film directed by Mark McQueen. He starred alongside Danny Dyer, Jaime Murray, Janet Montgomery and Craig Fairbrass. The film was released in October 2010. Pertwee appeared in the Nazi zombie film The 4th Reich[5] which he filmed in 2010, directed by Shaun Smith.[6]

Pertwee has been in several dramatic works for BBC Radio 4, including playing the actor Oliver Reed in the play Burning Both Ends by Matthew Broughton in 2011.[7]

In 2014, he was cast in Fox's TV series Gotham, a series presenting an origin for the characters of the Batman franchise. Pertwee portrays Alfred Pennyworth, an ex-special forces soldier from London who works as the Wayne family's loyal butler. After Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered, he becomes guardian and mentor to the future Batman.[8]

Personal life

Pertwee married Jacqueline Jane "Jacqui" Hamilton-Smith, a make-up artist, daughter of Anthony Hamilton-Smith, on 12 June 1999 at the House of Lords. His wife gave birth to twins, in 2001. They were born prematurely; one dying four days later.[9]

Politics

Pertwee presented a television party political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party in the 2010 UK general election.[10][11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
1991 Coping with Cupid Peter Short sci-fi romance film [12][13]
London Kills Me
  • Uncredited
  • Critically panned and a failure at the box office
1992 Leon the Pig Farmer Keith Chadwick British comedy [14][15]
1993 Dirty Weekend The Quiet One
Swing Kids
1994 Shopping Tommy
[16]
1995 Blue Juice J.C. British film directed by Carl Prechezer
ID Martin British film made by BBC Films about football hooliganism, directed by Philip Davis [17]
1997 Event Horizon Pilot Smith
  • British-American science fiction horror film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson
  • Budget=$60 million
  • Worldwide total. US domestic figure only: $26,673,242
  • Gross Box Office=$47,073,85
 [18][19][20]
1998 Soldier Mace American science fiction action film directed by Paul Anderson
Tale of the Mummy Bradley Cortese British-American horror film, directed by Russell Mulcahy
Stiff Upper Lips George
  • A broad parody of British period films, especially the lavish Merchant Ivory productions of the 'eighties and early 'nineties.
  • Stiff Upper Lips received mixed reviews. Alexander Walker of the Evening Standard called it "A Spot of Spiffing Spoofery" while the Time Out reviewer said "it is beautifully acted and consistently spot on".
  • Stephen Holden of the New York Times, however, lamented "If only it were funnier".
 [21][22]
1999 Cleopatra Brutus
2000 Five Seconds to Spare Piers [23]
Love, Honour and Obey Sean [24]
Seven Days to Live [de] Martin Shaw [25]
2001 The 51st State Detective Virgil Kane
[26]
2002 Equilibrium Father American dystopian science fiction film written and directed by Kurt Wimmer
Dog Soldiers Sergeant Harry G. Wells British horror film written and directed by Neil Marshall
2005 Goal! Barry Rankin
  • Also known as Goal! The Dream Begins in the United States was a film directed by Danny Cannon
  • The first instalment of a trilogy also named Goal!
  • This film was made with full co-operation from FIFA, which is one of the reasons actual teams and players are used throughout the film.
The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby Duncan Smithie Family-based Scottish film released in the US in 2005 as Greyfriars Bobby directed by John Henderson.
The Prophecy: Uprising Dani Simionescu
The Last Drop Sgt Bill McMillan British-Romanian war adventure film by Colin Teague that went directly to DVD release.
2006 Renaissance Montoya (English Language) French black-and-white animated science fiction film by French director Christian Volckman.
Wilderness Jed British-Irish horror film directed by Michael J. Bassett and written by Dario Poloni.
2007 Dangerous Parking Ray Molina Drama film based on the novel of the same name by Stuart Browne.
Goal! 2: Living the Dream... Barry Rankin The second part of the football film trilogy Goal!.
Botched Mr. Groznyi Horror comedy
2008 Doomsday Dr. Talbot Science fiction action film set a future Scotland, which has been quarantined because of a deadly virus [27]
Mutant Chronicles Nathan Rooker Independent science fiction horror film, loosely based on the role-playing game of the same name.
2010 4.3.2.1. Mr. Richards British crime thriller film directed by Noel Clarke and Mark Davis
Just for the Record Sensei [28]
Ultramarines: The Movie Brother Proteus Science fiction CGI film set in Games Workshop's fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe and based around the Ultramarines. [29]
Devil's Playground Rob British horror film directed by Mark McQueen
Heaven and Earth
  • Uncredited
  • Also known as Videsh
  • Canadian film directed and written by Deepa Mehta.
2011 Four Detective British independent film directed by John Langridge.
Wild Bill Jack British film directed by Dexter Fletcher.
2012 The Seasoning House Goran British horror film directed by Paul Hyett. [30]
Naked Harbour Robert Finnish film directed by Aku Louhimies
St George's Day Proctor British Gangster Film [31]
2013 UFO Tramp
  • Re-titled Alien Uprising in 2013.
  • British science fiction film about an alien invasion, written and directed by independent British filmmaker Dominic Burns.
 [32][citation needed]
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa SFO Steve Stubbs
  • Released as Alan Partridge in the United States.
  • British action comedy film
  • Directed by Declan Lowney
  • Sequel to various BBC radio and television shows since 1991.
 [33]
2013/2014 The 4th Reich
  • In pre-production[5]
  • Directed by Shaun Smith.[6]
2015 Howl Train Driver Tony
  • Small role in horror film
2020 The Reckoning Moorcroft
2022 The Invitation Mr. Fields

Television

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
1975 Billy Smart's Children's Circus
1981 "Worzel Gummidge" Uncredited – He plays one of the scarecrows that is going to dig Worzel into the compost heap. Series 4 Episode 3 – The Jumbly Sale
1989 Poirot: The King of Clubs Ronnie Oglander
Casualty Nick Series 4 Episode 3 - "Chain Reaction"
Hard Cases Dominic Lutovski
1990 Chancer Jamie Douglas Recurring
Harry Enfield's Television Programme
Cluedo Richard Forrest Episode: "Christmas Past, Christmas Present" (S 1:Ep 7)
1991 The Chief Det. Sgt. Kevin Powers Episode: "Episode 2" (S 2:Ep 2)
Clarissa John Belford
1992 Virtual Murder Matt Andries Episode: "Dreams Imagic" (S 1:Ep 6)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Captain Heinz Episode: "Trenches of Hell, Part 2)" (S 2:Ep 3)
Boon David Kennedy Episode: "Whispering Grass" (S 8:Ep 12)
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Det Sgt Barry Vine Episodes:
  • "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter, Part One" (S 6:Ep 8)
  • "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter, Part Two" (S 6:Ep 9)
  • "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter, Part Three" (S 6:Ep 10)
  • "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter, Part Four" (S 6:Ep 11)
A Touch of Frost Episode: "Quarry"
1993 Peak Practice Episode: "Hope to Die"
1994 Cadfael Sheriff Hugh Beringar Series 1
1996 Deadly Voyage Ion Plesin TV film directed by John Mackenzie and written by Stuart Urban
1997 Bodyguards Ian Worell Main cast
1998 Macbeth Macbeth UK TV
2000 Operation Good Guys Episode: "The Leader" (S 3:Ep 4)
In the Beginning Isaac Two-part biblical TV Mini-series directed by Kevin Connor
2001 Cold Feet (2001) Mark Cubitt Guest star; Series 4
2003 Cold Feet (2003) Mark Cubitt Guest Star; Series 5
Waking The Dead Carl Mackenzie Episodes:
  • "Multistorey, Part One" (S 3:Ep 1)
  • "Multistorey, Part Two" (S 3:Ep 2)
Julius Caesar (2003) Titus Labienus Two-part TV Mini-series directed by Uli Edel [34]
2004 Bo' Selecta! Himself Episode: "Episode Five" (S 3:Ep 5)
2004–2005 A Bear's Tail Richard Head Series 4 – Episodes:
  • "A Bear's Christmas Tail" (S 1:Ep 1)
  • "The Good, The Bear & The Ugly" (S 1:Ep 2)
  • "Adventures in Bearbysitting" (S 1:Ep 3)
  • "The Son of Bear-elzebub (S 1:Ep 4)
  • "Meet the Bearents" (S 1:Ep 5)
  • "Blame it on the Bearboy" (S 1:Ep 6)
  • "Two Weddings, a Bear and No Funeral" (S 1:E 7)
2006 Agatha Christie's Marple Dr. Owen Griffith Episode: "The Moving Finger"
Ancient Rome–The Rise And Fall of an Empire: Caesar Julius Caesar
2007 Nuclear Secrets Narrator Five-episode TV mini-series
The Tudors English ambassador in the Italian Duchy of Urbino Episode: "In Cold Blood" (S 1:EP 1)
When Evil Calls The Janitor TV mini-series [35]
2008 Honest DS. Ed Bain
The Wrong Door
  • Guest star
  • Episode: "The Smutty Aliens" (S 1:Ep 3)
Skins Soldier on the Train and Simon the Lecturer Episode: "Tony" (S 2:Ep 6)
A Journey To The Edge Of The Universe Narrator
2009 Law & Order: UK Josh Pritchard Episode: "Vice" (S 1:Ep 3)
2010 Luther Terry Lynch Episode: "Episode 2" (S 1:Ep 2)
2011 National Geographic: Islands Series Narrator Cyprus
Camelot Sir Ector recurring; Series 1
2013 Jo Charlie Six episodes
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot Himself
Agatha Christie's Poirot Sir George Stubbs Episode: "Dead Man's Folly"
Himself Episode: "Being Poirot"
Death in Paradise Malcolm Powell Episode: "A Deadly Party" (S 2:EP 8) [36]
The Job Lot Sergeant Steve Fox Episode: "Army" (S 1:EP 2)
2013–2014 Elementary Inspector Lestrade Episodes:
  • "Step Nine" (S 2:Ep 1)
  • "The One Percent Solution" (S 2:Ep 16)
  • "Ears to You" (S 2:Ep 17)
2014–2019 Gotham Alfred Pennyworth Main cast [8]
2014 The Musketeers Sarazin Episode: "Musketeers Don't Die Easily" (S 1:EP 10)
2019 Prodigal Son Owen Shannon Episode: "Silent Night" (S 1:EP 10)
2020 Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse Inspector Lejeune
2020 Two Weeks to Live Jimmy
2023 You Vic
2023– Naked, Alone and Racing to Get Home Narrator

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
1997 Tom Jones Captain Fitzpatrick A BBC adaptation for the stage by playwright Joan Macalpine. [37]

Radio

Year Title Role Refs.
2011 Burning Both Ends Oliver Reed [7]

Video games

Year Title Role Refs.
1996 The Gene Machine Piers Featherstonehaugh
2001 Shadowman:2econd coming Asmodeus & additional voices
2002 Medieval: Total War Narrator
2003 Primal Jared
Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior Governor Severus
Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance Invictus Thrax
2004 Killzone Colonel Gregor Hakha [38]
2008 Fable II Additional Voices
2009 Killzone 2 Colonel Mael Radec [38]
2010 Fable III Captain Saker [38]
2012 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Colonel Mael Radec [38]
2013 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Peter Chamberlaine

Notes

  1. ^ One child is deceased.

References

  1. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007
  2. ^ "Sean Carl PERTWEE – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  3. ^ Boehm, Erich (18 February 2002). "Natural Nylon to go public".Variety. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  4. ^ "32 Things We Learned from Neil Marshall's Dog Soldiers Commentary". 22 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b "The 4th Reich Steps It Up with Some Concept Artwork". DreadCentral. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b "SHORT CUTS #3: THE SOLDIER". Fangoria. Retrieved 30 December 2012.[dead link]
  7. ^ a b "Burning Both Ends: When Oliver Reed Met Keith Moon". BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. ^ a b Marechal, AJ (11 February 2014). "Fox's 'Gotham' Casts Classic 'Batman' Characters the Penguin, Alfred Pennyworth". Variety. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. ^ McGarrigle, Clyde (12 February 2016). "Sean Pertwee: my family values". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "General Election 2010: David Tennant and Sean Pertwee star in Labour advert". The Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  11. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "The Road Ahead". YouTube. April 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Coping with Cupid – BFI – British Film Institute". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Coping with Cupid (1991) Digital – LOVEFiLM". LoveFilm.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Leon the Pig Farmer". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Leon the Pig Farmer". Time Out London. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  16. ^ "Shopping". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  17. ^ "I.D. (1995) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  18. ^ "Event Horizon – Box Office Data". The Numbers. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Event Horizon (1997)". Box Office Mojo. 19 September 1997. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Event Horizon". Boxoffice.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Stiff Upper Lips Review. Movie Reviews". Time Out. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  22. ^ Holden, Stephen (27 August 1999). "Stiff Upper Lips – FILM REVIEW". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Five Seconds to Spare". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  24. ^ "Love, Honour and Obey". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  25. ^ "Seven Days to Live". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  26. ^ "The 51st State". London: British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  27. ^ "Doomsday". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  28. ^ "Just for the Record". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  29. ^ "Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie". Allmovie. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  30. ^ "The Seasoning House". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  31. ^ "St George's Day". IMDb.com. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Jean-Claude Van Damme to Shoot UFO Film in Derby". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  33. ^ Chitwood, Adam (20 August 2013). "Steve Coogan Comedy ALAN PARTRIDGE Set for Early 2014 U.S. Release". Collider.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  34. ^ "Julius Caesar (2002)". IMDb.com. 29 June 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  35. ^ "When Evil Calls". IMDb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  36. ^ "BBC Media Centre Programme Information". BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  37. ^ "Tom Jones (Macalpine)". Samuelfrench-london.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  38. ^ a b c d "Sean Pertwee". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 22 May 2016.

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