Douglas Reith is a British actor and teacher. He is best known for his role as Lord Merton in the television series Downton Abbey (2010–2015), as well as its two follow-up films.
Douglas Reith | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, teacher |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Early life
editReith was born in Melton, Suffolk. He studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[1] He began acting in the late 1970s, beginning with an appearance in International Velvet (1978) alongside Tatum O'Neal and Christopher Plummer.[2]
Career
editHe worked as an announcer and presenter at BBC Radio 3 for five years before leaving to study Greats at Christ Church, Oxford for four years beginning in 1989. He worked as a teacher, including at Westminster School, before resuming his acting career.[3]
Reith joined the cast of Downton Abbey as Lord Merton in 2012, and alongside the cast was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards.[4] He reprised the role in the films Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).[5][6] In 2017, Reith was cast in Tim Burton's live-action remake Dumbo (2019).[7] In 2019, he was cast in SAS: Red Notice (2021).[8]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | International Velvet | Howard | |
| 2006 | The Queen | David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie | |
| 2011 | W.E. | Lord Brownlow | |
| 2012 | Tezz | Railway Minister | |
| 2013 | Rush | Awards Presenter | |
| 2015 | Serial Teachers 2 | Head of Security | |
| 2017 | 55 Steps | Chief Judge Justice Wilson | |
| 2019 | Dumbo | Sotheby | |
| Downton Abbey | Lord Merton | ||
| 2021 | SAS: Red Notice | Sir Charles Whiteside | |
| The War Below | Field Marshal Douglas Haig | ||
| 2022 | Downton Abbey: A New Era | Lord Merton | |
| 2025 | Untitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel | Filming |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Angels | Simon Lloyd-Smith | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Rumpole of the Bailey | Sergeant Downs | 1 episode |
| 1980 | Minder | Bellars | 1 episode |
| 1980 | BBC2 Playhouse | Fitzgeorge | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Rentaghost | Auctioneer | 1 episode |
| 1983 | An Englishman Abroad | Toby | Television film |
| 1984 | Amy | Jimmy Martin | Television film |
| 1984 | Cold Warrior | Ferris | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Juliet Bravo | Dr. Benson | 1 episode |
| 1999 | CI5: The New Professionals | Newscaster | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Real Crime | Royal Courtier | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Rose and Maloney | Sir Andrew Ross | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Elizabeth I | Judge | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2005 | The Queen's Sister | Horace Featherstonehaugh | Television film |
| 2006 | Poirot | Serge Mureau | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire | Lucius Metellius | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2008 | The Bill | Clifford Peers | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Enid | BBC Interviewer | Television film |
| 2012–2015 | Downton Abbey | Lord Merton | Recurring role, 16 episodes |
| 2016 | Agatha Raisin | Lord Pendlebury | 1 episode |
| 2016 | Sense8 | Fischer the Consigliere | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Fearless | Justice Angus Hill | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Outlander | Professor Brown | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Pandora | Fleming | 1 episode |
| 2020 | The Crown | Admiral Henry Leach | 1 episode |
| 2021–present | Professor T. | The Dean | Recurring role, 18 episodes |
References
edit- ^ "Douglas Reith". Creative Arts Management. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (July 19, 1978). "Film: Tatum O'Neal". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Alumni Profiles". University of Oxford. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 14, 2016). "SAG Awards Nominations: Manchester, Fences & Moonlight Tops; Game Of Thrones & Newbies Lead TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture". PBS. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ Appelo, Tim (December 22, 2021). "Spend Christmas With the Crawleys — Plus a Sneak Peek at the 2022 Downton Abbey Film". AARP. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (July 26, 2017). "Tim Burton's Live-Action Dumbo Adds Game Of Thrones Actor DeObia Oparei". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 5, 2019). "Ruby Rose, Andy Serkis, More Join Action-Thriller SAS: Red Notice, Sky Cinema Boards UK Rights, First Look – EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 May 2022.