David Westhead

David Westhead
Born
David William Logan Westhead

(1963-06-01) 1 June 1963 (age 61)
Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
NationalityBritish
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present

David William Logan Westhead (born 1 June 1963) is an English actor.

Early life

Westhead was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire. He studied drama at Bristol University before going on to RADA, from where he graduated in 1987, after which he joined the Actors' Touring Company.

Career

He is notable as having been a member of the regular cast of The Bill, Criminal Justice, Blackeyes, Stanley and the Women, Bramwell, The Silence, Life Begins, The Lakes, Grafters, The Time of Your Life and W1A. He has also had guest appearances in Wycliffe (Wycliffe and the Pea Green Boat as Freddie Tremaine), Doctor Who (The Shakespeare Code, as William Kempe), Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me as Charlie, Foyle's War (A War of Nerves), Midsomer Murders (The House in the Woods), Agatha Christie's Poirot (Cards on the Table) and Lewis (The Gift of Promise). He has also appeared in the film Mrs Brown (as the Prince of Wales), and onstage he has played Tristan Tzara in a 1993 British production of Travesties, which The Observer review said "David Westhead's Tzara [is] blissfully adept and funny".[1]

David has for many years been a leading actor with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National Theatre, and The Royal Court Theatre. His credits include the BAFTA nominated Donovan Quick,[2] Wilde, Stage Beauty, 'Beyond the Sea', Golden Globe winning Gideon's Daughter, Wallis & Edward, 'Beneath the Skin', Emmy Award winning The Lost Prince, 'She's Gone', 'The Time of Your Life', 'The Key', 'Safe House', 'The Lakes', Turning World, Grafters, 'The Unknown Soldier', My Fragile Heart, Blackeyes. David has the title role in "Suicide Man" and has appeared in "The Real McCoy" for the BBC in the Cape Flats Townships of South Africa. In 2010 he starred as Frank Evans in the BBC's flagship drama "The Silence".

In 2002 he and two colleagues founded Wilton Pictures, a production company specialising in making documentaries.

Also a lecturer in drama it was whilst he was teaching in South Africa that he met a group of disadvantaged youngsters with potential as photographers. Along with professional photographer John Cole – who, like David, lives in Brighton – he put them on an eight-week crash course in photography, enabling them to make a professional living from it. The exhibition of their work, entitled 'Wembley to Soweto', was exhibited at London's South Bank in July 2011. He received the Media Society's 2013 bursary award for this project.[3]

In 2014, he played Neil Reid in W1A.

In 2016, Westhead played the role of Tony Blair's minder in the BBC television film Reg.[4] In 2016, he appeared in the Netflix comedy series Lovesick.

He played Prime Minister John Vosler in the 2018 BBC series Bodyguard.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Mrs Brown Bertie, Prince of Wales
Wilde Edward Carson
Daylight Robbery Alf Short films
1999 Between Dreams
2001 Queen's Messenger Sir Desmond Grey
2004 Stage Beauty Harry
Beyond the Sea Dr. Fields Uncredited role
2009 Suicide Man Frank Richards Short film
2011 The Iron Lady Labour Shadow Minister
Nancy, Sid & Sergio DI Palmer Short films
The North London Book of the Dead Boss
2012 Los Jack Machine (voice)
2013 Dun Punkin: Ep.1 - 'Boys Will Be Boys' The Cook
2017 The Fox and the Rabbit Francis's Father
2020 If It's Not too Late Jimmy
2021 Dust to Dust Peter Woods
2022 Enola Holmes 2 Henry Lyon
2024 Alice Dominic Halford Short film (completed)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Jenny's War Navigator Episodes 1–4. Uncredited role
1989 Blackeyes Mark Wilsher Miniseries; Episodes 2–4
1991 Stanley and the Women Stillsman Miniseries; Episodes 1–4
1994 Wycliffe Freddie Tremaine Series 1; Episode 6: "The Pea Green Boat"
1995 N7 James Television film
Witness Against Hitler Leo Lange Television film[5]
1996 The Bill PC Mick Sampson Series 12; Episode 25: "Confession"
Bramwell Paul Mills Series 2; Episode 1: "The Rule of Thuggery"
1997 Turning World Danny Miller Episode 3
1997–1999 The Lakes Arthur Thwaite Main cast; Series 1 & 2; 5 episodes
1998 The Unknown Soldier Jeff Quinn Episodes 1–3
1999 Grafters Nick Costello Main cast; Series 2; Episodes 1–8
2000 Where the Heart Is Mike Series 4; Episode 2: "No Regrets"
Dalziel and Pascoe Peter Deller Series 5; Episode 4: "Above the Law"
My Fragile Heart DCI Peter Murray 2-part miniseries
Donovan Quick George Mackie Television film[6][2]
McCready and Daughter DCI Alan Kendall Television film (pilot for series)
2001 Episodes 1–5
2002 The Wonderful World of Disney Van Den Meer Episode: "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister"
Always and Everyone Phillip Mallett Series 4; Episode 4: "Against the State"
Safe House Father Television film
2003 The Lost Prince Fred 2-part miniseries
William and Mary Alistair Harper Series 1; Episode 2
Servants Mr. Prothero Miniseries; Episode 2
The Key Neath Miniseries; Episodes 1–3
Blue Dove Malcolm Sharp Miniseries (unknown episodes)
2004 Family Business Tom Williams Episode 2
She's Gone Peter Vine Television film
Foyle's War Mark Talbot Series 3; Episode 4: "A War of Nerves"
2004–2006 Life Begins Brian Middleton Series 1–3; 10 episodes
2005 Beneath the Skin Dominic Hintlesham Television film
Born and Bred Silas Craddock Series 4; Episode 10: "Someone to Watch Over Me"
Rose and Maloney Wallace Canford Series 3; Episodes 1–3: "Carl Callaghan", "Annie Johnson" and "Alan Richmond"
Midsomer Murders Gerry Moore Series 9; Episode 1: "The House in the Woods"
Wallis & Edward Ernest Simpson Television film
2006 Gideon's Daughter Bill Television film
Agatha Christie's Poirot Superintendent Jim Wheeler Series 10; Episode 2: "Cards on the Table"
2007 Wild at Heart Bennett Series 2; Episode 3: 2.3
Doctor Who William Kempe Series 3; Episode 2: "The Shakespeare Code"
The Time of Your Life Dave Miniseries; Episodes 1–6
2008 Criminal Justice Barry Coulter Series 1; Episodes 1–5
2009 Moving Wallpaper Gareth Series 2; Episode 6: "Renaissance Part VI"
New Tricks Mike Barnes Series 6; Episode 5: "Death of a Timeshares Salesman"
Murderland Tony Philips Miniseries; Episodes 1–3. Uncredited role
2010 The Silence Superintendent Frank Evans Miniseries; Episodes 1–4
2011 The Runaway Ron Carver Miniseries; Episodes 1 & 2
Lewis Leon Suskin Series 5; Episode 4: "The Gift of Promise"
Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me Charlie Archer Television film
2012 DCI Banks Gareth Lambert Series 2; Episodes 1 & 2: "Strange Affair": Parts 1 & 2
2013 Silent Witness DI Bob Cherry Series 16; Episodes 7 & 8: "Legacy – Part 1[7] & "Part 2"[8]
2014 Endeavour Val Todd Series 2; Episode 1: "Trove"
Common Barnes-Williams Television film
2014–2020 W1A Neil Reid Series 1–4; 14 episodes
2015 The Coroner Grantham Naseby Series 1; Episode 6: "Capsized"
2016 Jericho Jonas Sorsby Episode 4
Reg Tony Blair's minder Television film[4]
Lovesick Alexander Series 2; Episode 5: "Isabel"
2017 Loaded Lawyer Episode 1: "Lawsuit"
2018 Bodyguard Prime Minister John Vosler Episodes 2–4
2024 Strike Grant Ledwell Series 6; Episodes 1–4

Theatre

Date Title Role Director Company / Theatre
1981 – 1982 The Critic [9] Richard Brandon Drama Department, Bristol University
1981 – 1982 All the Interesting Characters Are Already Dead [9] Frank Stirling Drama Department, Bristol University
1982 – 1983 The Cuckoo and the Owl [9] Oliver Neville Drama Department, Bristol University
1982 – 1983 The Bloom of the Diamond Stone [9] Emer Gillespie Drama Department, Bristol University
1983 – 1984 Ivanov [9] Oliver Neville Drama Department, Bristol University
1983 – 1984 The Innocent Mistress [9] Martin White Drama Department, Bristol University
1983 – 1984 Four Doctors [9] Edward Braun Drama Department, Bristol University
1989 – 1990 The School for Wives [9] Annie Castledine Derby Playhouse
30 November 1989 – 20 January 1990 A Study in Scarlet [10] Dr. John Watson Michael Crompton Greenwich Theatre
16 January 1992 – All My Sons [11] George Deever David Thacker Young Vic, London
21 April 1992 – A Jovial Crew Randall Max Stafford-Clark Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [12]
1992 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London [13]
22 February 1993 – 27 February 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / Newcastle Playhouse [14]
22 April 1993 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London [15]
2 July 1992 – The Odyssey Nestor Gregory Doran Royal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon [16]
1992 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London [17]
22 June 1993 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London [18]
1 September 1992 – 1993 Tamburlaine Cosroe & Orcanes Terry Hands Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [19]
14 October 1993 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London [20]
3 November 1992 – 1993 The Changeling Antonio Michael Attenborough Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [21]
1992 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London [22]
1 March 1993 – 9 March 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / Newcastle Playhouse [23]
25 May 1993 – 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London [24]
4 Jan 1993 – 17 Jan 1993 A Corpse with Feet [25] Performer Ron Cook Buzz Goodbody Studio, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
16 September 1993 – 1994 Travesties [1] Tristan Tzara Adrian Noble Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London [26]
24 March 1994 – 4 June 1994 Royal Shakespeare Company / Savoy Theatre, London [27]
22 September 1994 – 18 February 1995 The Man of Mode [28] Mr. Dorimant Max Stafford-Clark Out of Joint and Royal Court Theatre /
Royal Court Theatre, London, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, and other locations
October 1994 – 18 February 1995 The Libertine [29] John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester Max Stafford-Clark Out of Joint and Royal Court Theatre /
Royal Court Theatre, London, Warwick Arts Centre, and other locations
13 April 1996 – 1996 The Prince's Play [30][31] HRH The Prince of Wales Richard Eyre National Theatre / Olivier Theatre, London
29 April 1998 – Talk of the City Robbie Stephen Poliakoff Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [32]
10 February 1999 – Royal Shakespeare Company / Young Vic, London [33]
Jan 2003 – Almost Nothing [34] Royal Court Theatre, London
28 February 2007 – 24 March 2007 Macbeth [35][36][37] Macbeth Ian Brown West Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre, Leeds

Audio work

Voice talent : Eric Ambler's Topkapi for BBC Radio 4 Extra

References

  1. ^ a b Usurpation supreme – Michael Coveney, The Observer, 19 Mar 1993
  2. ^ a b BAFTA Awards – nominated – Single Drama in 2001
  3. ^ "The Media Society's 2013 bursary award was presented to David Westhead's Wembley to Soweto, project" – Ami Sedghi, The Guardian, 24 Oct 2013
  4. ^ a b "BBC One: Reg". BBC Online. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. ^ BFI – "Witness against Hitler"
  6. ^ Donovan Quick – Radio Times
  7. ^ BBC One – Silent Witness, Series 16, Legacy, Part 1
  8. ^ BBC One – Silent Witness, Series 16, Legacy, Part 2
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h David Westhead – Theatricalia
  10. ^ A Study in Scarlet – Theatricalia
  11. ^ All My Sons – Theatricalia
  12. ^ A Jovial Crew – Theatricalia
  13. ^ A Jovial Crew at Barbican Theatre, London – Theatricalia
  14. ^ A Jovial Crew at Newcastle Playhouse – Theatricalia
  15. ^ A Jovial Crew at The Pit, London – Theatricalia
  16. ^ The Odyssey – Theatricalia
  17. ^ The Odyssey at Barbican Theatre, London – Theatricalia
  18. ^ The Odyssey at The Pit, London – Theatricalia
  19. ^ Tamburlaine – Theatricalia
  20. ^ Tamburlaine at Barbican Theatre, London – Theatricalia
  21. ^ The Changeling – Theatricalia
  22. ^ The Changeling at Barbican Theatre, London – Theatricalia
  23. ^ The Changeling at Newcastle Playhouse – Theatricalia
  24. ^ The Changeling at The Pit, London – Theatricalia
  25. ^ A Corpse With Feet – Theatricalia
  26. ^ Travesties – Theatricalia
  27. ^ Travesties at Savoy Theatre, London – Theatricalia
  28. ^ The Man of Mode – Theatricalia
  29. ^ The Libertine – Theatricalia
  30. ^ The Prince's Play – Theatricalia
  31. ^ Theatre: The Prince's Play, Royal National Theatre – Paul Taylor, The Independent, 22 April 1996
  32. ^ Talk of the City –Theatricalia
  33. ^ Talk of the City at Young Vic, London – Theatricalia
  34. ^ Theatre Review: Almost Nothing – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 22 Jan 2003
  35. ^ Macbeth – Theatricalia
  36. ^ Sleepwalking into tragedy – Theatre Review: Macbeth, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds – Clare Brennan, The Guardian, 18 Mar 2007
  37. ^ Theatre review: Macbeth at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds – J. D. Atkinson, British Theatre Guide