William Beck (actor)

William Beck
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1999–present
Children2

William Beck is a British actor, known for his appearances in the BBC drama series Robin Hood and as Dr. Dylan Keogh in Casualty.

Early life

Beck has a family history of employment in medicine and states that his earliest memories are of hospitals.[1] This encouraged him to join medical school, which he later quit, despite maintaining an interest. On quitting medical school, Beck explained, "I didn't give up medical school because I couldn't do it, I just think at that age I got bored with things very quickly."[2] He added that he did not want to waste time and resources after realising he did not want to continue.[2]

Career

After deciding to quit medical school, Beck pursued a career in acting. He was inspired to become an actor by some people he met during medical school.[1] His move to acting was criticised as it was thought that Beck was "giving up the most secure profession for perhaps the least secure".[2] Beck has since featured in films Northanger Abbey, Snatch and Goal II: Living the Dream, as well as drama series Red Cap, Robin Hood and Vital Signs.[2] Beck felt "fortunate" to receive such employment and was pleased to "work pretty consistently over the last 10 years".[2] In March 2011, he stated that his favourite job was Robin Hood, praising his fellow cast members. His character was killed off early in the series, disappointing Beck.[1] Beck also starred in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, which he felt gave him the opportunity to learn from other actors.[1]

Beck was introduced as "shambolic" consultant Dylan Keogh in the BBC medical drama Casualty in March 2011.[2] The actor felt that his medical school background helped him in his role.[2] He left the drama in 2012 and Dylan departed in December.[3] Two years later, Beck reprised the role and Dylan returned in October 2014. The actor told David Brown of the Radio Times that he found it strange to return to Casualty, but looked forward to portraying the character again.[4]

Filmography

Film roles
Year Title Role
2000 Snatch Neil
2001 Gypsy Woman Gary
2003 Quicksand Nicoli
2004 Fallen Dave Walker
2006 The Truth Scott
2007 More More More Scott
Northanger Abbey John Thorpe
Goal II: Living the Dream Steve Parr
2008 The Agent Alexander Joyce
2009 Infidel David
2017 Bitter Harvest Stefan
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Bill Adam Thwaite Episode: "All Change"
2000 Attachments Reece Wilson
2003 Serious and Organised Billy English 1 episode
The Canterbury Tales Colin Episode: "The Pardoner's Tale"
Second Generation Nick
2003–2004 Red Cap Sgt. Maj. Steve Forney
2004 The Murder Room DI Piers Tarrant
2006 Johnny and the Bomb Dr. Harris
Vital Signs Dr. Harris
Robin Hood Roy 4 episodes
2008 Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story David Turner
2011 M.I. High Theo Phantom Episode: "Ghosts"
Hustle Jiles Episode: "Clearance from a Deal"
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher Dolly Williamson
2011–2012, 2014–present Casualty Dylan Keogh Series regular
2012 Holby City Dylan Keogh Episode: "Unsafe Haven: Part Two"
2013 Whitechapel John Washington 2 episodes
2014 Midsomer Murders Michael Dewar Episode: "Let Us Prey"
Death in Paradise Matthew Webster 1 episode
The Devil's Harvest
The Great Fire Richard Smith
Kim Philby - His Most Intimate Betrayal Nicholas Elliot 2 episodes
2019 Pointless Celebrities Himself 1 episode

Theatre

Radio

  • Filthy Rich: A BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation

References

  1. ^ a b c d "William Beck Interview". Holby.tv. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Med student turned actor William Beck scrubs up for Casualty" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  3. ^ Ellis, Sarah (8–21 December 2012). "Goodbye Dylan!". Inside Soap. Vol. 2012, no. 49–50. p. 15.
  4. ^ Brown, David (28 October 2014). "Casualty spoilers: Dylan Keogh set to clash with Connie, reveals actor Will Beck". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 January 2020.