John Andrew Light (born 30 September 1973) is an English television, theatre, and film actor. He has received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his supporting performance in the play Taken at Midnight (2014).

John Light
Born
John Andrew Light

(1973-09-30) 30 September 1973 (age 51)
Birmingham, England
EducationKing Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
Spouse
(m. 2007; div. 2011)

Career

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Light appeared as Henry Lennox (with Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe) in the BBC production North and South from the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell. He played the title character (the son of Rudyard Kipling) in the original Hampstead Theatre production of David Haig's My Boy Jack (1997).

An early screen role came in Cider with Rosie (1998). He played Lord Edward Fitzgerald in the 1999 serialised adaptation of “Aristocrats” by Stella Tillyard. He portrayed British pilot Robert Newman in the German film Dresden, in which he spoke German; and played Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany in the 2003 film The Lion in Winter alongside Patrick Stewart, Glenn Close and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He played Satan in two films released in 2005 which were titled The Prophecy: Uprising and The Prophecy: Forsaken. He also appeared in the title role of the 2009 play A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine.[1]

In 2011, he appeared in an episode of BBC TV series Silk as Alan Bradley, a man accused of rape.[citation needed]

In 2013, he appeared as Chief Inspector Roger Nelson in the BBC TV series WPC 56 (series 1), and he appeared as Hercule Flambeau, nemesis of Father Brown, in the BBC TV series Father Brown, a role he has reprised in a recurring capacity.[2]

Has appeared as Professor Felix Garwood in Lewis (2014 series 8 episode 2, both parts (The Lions of Nemea))[3] and in the pilot episode of the prequel Endeavour.

In 2016, he appeared as Dacourt in the ITV series Maigret episode 1.2 "Maigret's Dead Man".[4]

Light is a prolific stage actor.[5] His theatre performances include the Complete Works Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he starred in Sean Holmes' Julius Caesar as Brutus and in Rupert Goold's The Tempest as Caliban. In 2012, he appeared as the titular character in Thom Pain (based on nothing), a role for which critics praised him.[6]

In 2015, Light starred in the play Taken at Midnight with Penelope Wilton. He received a nomination for an Olivier for Best Supporting Actor in a Play.[7] Soon after he starred as Escamillo in Carmen Disrupted with Sharon Small.[8]

In late 2016 through early 2017, he was in a limited run of Mary Stuart along with Juliet Stevenson and Lia Williams at the Almeida.[9] He continued the role after the play transferred to the West End's Duke of York's Theatre in 2018.[10][11]

In January 2019, it was announced that John Light would join the cast of Florian Zeller's "The Son." The play ran at the Kiln Theatre from 20 February 2019 through 6 April 2019.[12] He reprised the role in the West End production in autumn 2019 at the Duke of York's Theatre.[13]

He also appeared in Agatha Raisin "The Curious Curate" as Richard Binser (2019) and in Midsomer Murders "Death of the small Coppers" as Luke Fawcett (2018)

Light joined the cast of "Uncle Vanya" at the Theatre Royal Bath for a limited run in summer 2019. The production marked the directorial debut of Rupert Everett.[14] During rehearsals, Everett accidentally injured Light's eye, which later led to Light falling off stage. Light performed using a crutch.[15]

In 2022, Light appeared as a Confederate soldier in Around the World in 80 Days.

Personal life

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In 2005, Light began dating Canadian film and television actress Neve Campbell. They became engaged in December 2005, and married on 5 May 2007 in Malibu, California.[16] Campbell filed for divorce from Light on 30 June 2010 in Los Angeles.[17]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 The Bill Tony Rourke Episode "In The Firing Line"
Five Seconds to Spare Paisley
2001 Investigating Sex Peter
Band of Brothers Lieutenant Colonel O. Dobie Episode 5 "Crossroads"
2002 Purpose John Elias
2003 Cambridge Spies James Angleton TV miniseries
The Lion in Winter Geoffrey TV movie
2004 North & South Henry Lennox TV miniseries
2005 Heights Peter
The Prophecy: Uprising John Reigart/Satan
The Prophecy: Forsaken John Reigart/Lucifer
2006 Scoop Poker Player
Dresden Robert Newman
2007 Partition Walter Hankins
2008 Four Seasons Simon Maxwell
2011 Albert Nobbs Mr. Smythe-Willard
Silk Alan Bradley
Vera Andrew Franks
2012 Agent Hamilton: But Not If It Concerns Your Daughter Jason Fox
2013 Jo Pierre Lambert Season 1, episode 6
WPC 56 Chief Inspector Roger Nelson 5 episodes
2014 Lewis Felix Garwood 2 episodes
Atlantis Diagoras 2 episodes
2016 Mars Paul Richardson 2 episodes
Maigret Dacourt Season 1, episode 2
2018 Midsomer Murders Luke Fawcett Season 20, episode 2
2019 Agatha Raisin Richard Bilsner Season 2, episode 3
2021 There's Always Hope Luke TV movie
Around the World in 80 Days Ambrose Abernathy Season 1, episode 7
2022 Murder in Provence Dr. Marcel Vannier Season 1, episode 3
2024 Showtrial Adrian Gilligan Season 2, 5 episodes
2013-2024 Father Brown Hercule Flambeau Recurring, 12 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Carpenter, Julie (7 September 2009). "A New World - A Life Of Thomas Paine: Globe Theatre". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ Hoffman, Grace (18 January 2022). "Father Brown actor's life and ex-marriage to major Hollywood movie star". oxfordshirelive. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Inspector Lewis: "Lions of Nemea"". Criminal Element. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Maigret's Dead Man, ITV". theartsdesk.com. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  5. ^ http://www.uktw.co.uk/biog/ Archived 7 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine; http://www.markhamfroggattandirwin.com/cv/client_john-light_id_100119.htm Archived 10 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ https://www.ayoungertheatre.com/review-thom-pain-based-on-nothing-the-print-room-will-eno/ Archived 9 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine; http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Theatre-Review/thom-pain-based-on-nothing-the-print-room Archived 14 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ http://www.trh.co.uk/uncategorized/taken-at-midnight-receives-three-olivier-award-nominations/[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Carmen Disruption". Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Mary Stuart". Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Mary Stuart". Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Tour archive for Mary Stuart (Play). 15th January 2018-28th April 2018 [TOUR]". Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  12. ^ https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Full-Cast-Announced-For-Uk-Premiere-Of-Florian-Zellers-THE-SON-20190114 Archived 31 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine, https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/amanda-abbington-to-star-in-florian-zellers-the-son/ Archived 31 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Book Tickets Now for THE SON in the West End".
  14. ^ "New Productions and Further Casting Announced for Theatre Royal Bath's Summer Season 2019". Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  15. ^ Treneman, Ann. "Uncle Vanya review — tantalising set, shame about the production".
  16. ^ people.com Archived 9 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine "Neve Campbell & John Light Marry in Malibu"
  17. ^ "Neve Campbell Files Divorce On the Down Low". TMZ. 1 December 2010. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
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