Christopher Villiers

Last updated
Christopher Villiers
Born
Christopher Francis Villiers

(1960-09-07) 7 September 1960 (age 64)
London, England, UK
Occupation(s)Actor, screenwriter, producer
Relatives Villiers family

Christopher Francis Villiers (born 7 September 1960) is an English actor, screenwriter and producer.

Contents

Biography

Villiers was born in London, the son of Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Wing commander David Hugh Villiers (1921–1962) and his second wife, Elizabeth Barbara, daughter of Leonard Hobbins. His sister, Cat Villiers, is a film producer; brother Jay Villiers is also an actor. A direct descendant of the politician and diplomat Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon, he is a second great-grandson of the Right Reverend Henry Montagu Villiers, Bishop of Durham from 1860 to 1861, whose brothers were George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon, and Charles Pelham Villiers. [1] Through Henry Montagu Villiers' mother, the brothers descend from Oliver Cromwell. He was educated at Stowe School.

In 1983, he played Tom Bertram in a television serial adaptation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park . Villiers may be best known for his former role on Emmerdale , in which he played Grayson Sinclair. He played Captain Nigel Croker in Mile High (2004–2005) and appeared in such films as The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), Top Secret! (1984), A Hazard of Hearts (1987) and First Knight (1995). In 2003, he co-wrote (with actor/playwright/producer Richard Everett) and co-produced (again, with Everett) British feature film, Two Men Went to War (2002). [2] He also continued to appear in films such as Sliding Doors (1998), Bloody Sunday (2002), Kidulthood (2006) and Land Gold Women (2011).

In 1983, he starred in Sweet Sixteen with Penelope Keith. In 1996, he had a role in Sharpe's Siege . He has also appeared in an episode of Adventure Inc. when filming transferred to the UK for four episodes.

In 1995, Villiers co-founded 2020 Casting, Ltd. [3] The company's credits include Gladiator , Bridget Jones's Diary , Shakespeare in Love , Star Wars , United 93 . He appeared in two episodes of Midsomer Murders as David Whitely in both "The Killings at Badger's Drift" in 1997 and "Death's Shadow" in 1999. In 2007, he guest-starred in the Doctor Who audio drama Absolution after having previously appeared in the 1983 TV two-part serial The King's Demons . In 2009, he was seen in the five-part drama series Collision for ITV. [2] In 2013, he appeared in the Father Brown episode "The Blue Cross" as Justin De Vey. He appeared in By Any Means . [2] In 2014, Villiers returned to Doctor Who when he guest starred as Professor Moorhouse in the story "Mummy on the Orient Express". In 2019, he married journalist Caroline Daniel. [4]

Emmerdale

On 29 March 2008, ITV released a statement saying Villiers would be written out of Emmerdale as Grayson Sinclair in a summer storyline. Upon the termination of his contract, Villiers stated; "Grayson has been a great character to play but we've agreed that the current storyline is going to provide an exciting exit for him. I've got several projects that I'm looking at but you never know, this might not be the last we see of Gray." [ citation needed ]

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<i>The Scarlet Pimpernel</i> 1905 novel by Emma Orczy

The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title enjoyed a long run in London, having opened in Nottingham in 1903.

<i>Emmerdale</i> British TV soap opera (since 1972)

Emmerdale is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale, a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale Farm was first broadcast on 16 October 1972. Interior scenes have been filmed at the Leeds Studios since its inception. Exterior scenes were first filmed in Arncliffe in Littondale, and the series may have taken its name from Amerdale, an ancient name of Littondale. Exterior scenes were later shot at Esholt, but are now shot at a purpose-built set on the Harewood estate.

Matthew King (<i>Emmerdale</i>) Fictional character from Emmerdale

Matthew King is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Matt Healy. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 March 2004. Matthew arrived as part of the King family, a family of successful businessmen. During his time on the show, Matthew had relationships with several women and was engaged to Anna De Souza when he died. Matthew's last appearance was on 16 December 2008.

Christopher John Chittell is an English actor, known for his role as Eric Pollard in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He has portrayed the role since 1986, making him the longest-serving cast member in the soap's history.

Christopher Paul Bisson is a British actor, known for portraying the roles of Vikram Desai in Coronation Street (1999–2002), Kash Karib in Shameless, and Jai Sharma in Emmerdale (2009–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zak Dingle</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Zachariah Bartholomew "Zak" Dingle is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Steve Halliwell. He first appeared on 20 October 1994. Halliwell initially joined the show as part of the Dingle family and was only initially supposed to appear for a few episodes, but has become a key part of the soap since his introduction. He has been nominated for several awards for his portrayal of Zak. Some of Zak's storylines have included his wife Nellie divorcing him in 1997, marrying Lisa Clegg in 1998, having a daughter, Belle in 1998, the death of his son, Butch in 2000, Lisa being raped in 2011, assaulting his son Cain and leaving him temporarily paralysed in 2011, suffering a mental breakdown in 2012, trying to control his rebellious daughter and dealing with the death of Lisa. Halliwell died on 15 December 2023, with Zak having made his final appearance on 27 June 2023. On 2 July 2024, it was announced that Zak would be killed off in the programme with a funeral as a tribute to Halliwell. His death was revealed on 15 October 2024.

Lorraine Chase is an English actress and former model. She became well known for her strong south east London accent and frequent use of cockney slang, and found fame through a series of television adverts for Campari before embarking on an acting career. She is best known for playing the role of Steph Stokes in ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 2002 to 2006, with a brief return in 2013. Her partner, John Knight, died from cancer in 1996.

Paul Lambert (<i>Emmerdale</i>) Fictional character from Emmerdale

Paul Lambert is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Mathew Bose. Paul appeared between 2004 and 2009. He arrives as the son of existing characters Val Lambert and Rodney Blackstock, and in 2008, Paul, who is openly gay, enters into a civil partnership with Jonny Foster, the first of any primetime soap opera. The character departed in 2009, but made brief returns in 2010, March 2015 and September 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Villiers</span> English actor (1933–1998)

James Michael Hyde Villiers was an English character actor. He was particularly known for his plummy voice and ripe articulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hari Prasad</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Hari Prasad is a fictional character from British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by John Nayagam. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 December 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perdita Hyde-Sinclair</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Perdita Hyde-Sinclair is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Georgia Slowe. Slowe joined the main cast alongside Christopher Villiers as Perdy's husband Grayson Sinclair. She made her first appearance in the lead up to the wedding between Sadie King and Grayson's brother Alasdair Sinclair, which was broadcast on 1 March 2006. Perdy received immediate comparisons to Sadie, and an Inside Soap columnist pointed out that just like her, Perdy also "loves money, men and getting her way." Slowe bemoaned her and Villiers' slow introduction to the show, saying they had nothing to do for the first six months as producers let viewers get used to their characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grayson Sinclair</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Grayson Sinclair is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Christopher Villiers.

Mathew Bose is a British actor. He is best known for his role as Paul Lambert in the soap opera Emmerdale from 2004 to 2010 and again in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Skilbeck</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Dolly Skilbeck is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale. Dolly made her first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 22 February 1977. The character was initially played by Katharine Barker, before Jean Rogers took over the role in 1980. She remained in the role until her departure from Emmerdale in 1991. Dolly is characterised as kind, generous and a homemaker. She is a "townie" from Darlington who arrives in Beckindale to work at the local pub, The Woolpack. Writers quickly developed a romance with Matt Skilbeck. He was a widower and had previously has two children that had died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Phillips</span> British actor (1925–2016)

Conrad Philip Havord, known professionally as Conrad Phillips, was an English television and film actor. He is best known for playing William Tell in the adventure series The Adventures of William Tell (1958–1959).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Foster</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Jonathan "Jonny" Foster is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Richard Grieve. He appeared from 2007 to 2008 and in 2009. Openly gay, in 2008 Jonny enters into a civil partnership with Paul Lambert, the first of any primetime soap opera.

Anthony Pitts is an English actor, most notable for playing Archie Brooks in the long-running British soap Emmerdale Farm between 1983 and 1993.

<i>The Scarlet Pimpernel</i> (1982 film) 1982 British film

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a 1982 British romantic adventure television film set during the French Revolution. It is based on the novels The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905) and Eldorado (1913) by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, and stars Anthony Andrews as Sir Percy Blakeney/the Scarlet Pimpernel, the protagonist, Jane Seymour as Marguerite St. Just, the love interest, and Ian McKellen as Chauvelin, the antagonist.

George IV of the United Kingdom has been depicted many times in popular culture.

References

  1. ↑ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 801
  2. 1 2 3 Christopher Villiers at IMDb
  3. ↑ 2020 Casting website; accessed 27 May 2014,
  4. ↑ Guardian; accessed 20 July 2024,
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.