James Callis

Last updated

James Callis
JamesCallisCCJuly09.jpg
Callis at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
James Nicholas Callis

(1971-06-04) 4 June 1971 (age 52)
Hampstead, London, England
NationalityEnglish
Education Harrow School
Alma mater University of York (B.A., English and Related Literature, 1993)
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Neha Callis
(m. 1998)
Children3

James Nicholas Callis (born 4 June 1971) is an English actor. He is known for playing Dr. Gaius Baltar in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and television series, and Bridget Jones's best friend Tom in Bridget Jones's Diary , Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason , and Bridget Jones's Baby . He joined the cast of the TV series Eureka , on Syfy, in 2010, and since 2017, he has voiced the character Alucard in the Netflix series Castlevania and Castlevania: Nocturne , based on the video game series of the same name. In 2022, he appeared in Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard as Jean-Luc's father in childhood flashbacks.

Contents

Early life

Callis was born in Hampstead and brought up in London, where he attended St. Martin's Prep School in Northwood and then Harrow School in north-west London. His parents owned a bed-and-breakfast. [1] He is of Russian, Polish and Jewish Ukrainian descent. [2] [3] Callis attended the University of York, graduating in 1993 with a BA in English and Related Literature. He was a member of Derwent College, for which he was an enthusiastic rugby player. At university he was also a keen student actor, director and writer. He was a key member of the University of York Gilbert and Sullivan society and appeared in productions put on by friends at Cambridge University, including a production of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter .

Career

Callis in 2007 James Callis 2007 face cropped.jpg
Callis in 2007

Callis went on to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 1996. In the same year, he was awarded the Jack Tinker Award (Theatre Record Critic of the Year) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in Old Wicked Songs , a two-hander by Jon Marans, in which he starred alongside Bob Hoskins.

Callis has appeared in various West End productions and television series as well as on radio. He has also been involved in writing and directing. His directorial debut was Beginner's Luck , a co-production of his and writer/director Nick Cohen's Late Night Pictures and Angel Eye Film & TV, starring Julie Delpy, Steven Berkoff and Fenella Fielding. Beginner's Luck was critically panned, but ran for almost three weeks on one print (all the low-budget film could afford) in one cinema in central London, then went on a tour of student cinemas around the UK.

Callis finished filming his first role in a cinema film, Bridget Jones's Diary , alongside Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant, in the summer of 2000 and between a few further film and TV roles went back on stage in the Soho Theatre in December 2002.

In 2003, Callis played the role of Dr. Gaius Baltar in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and continued the role in the regular series that followed. In 2006, Callis won the Best Supporting Actor Saturn Award and an AFI award for his performance as Baltar.

Personal life

Callis has two sisters. He married on 30 December 1998 and has two sons and a daughter, born 2003, 2005, and 2009.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Weekend BirdMikeShort film
1999SuretyBenShort film;
Also director and producer
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Tom
Beginner's Luck Mark FeinmanAlso co-director, co-producer and writer
2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Tom
Dead Cool Josh
2006 One Night with the King Haman, the Agagite
2010 Reuniting the Rubins Danny Rubins
Meet Pursuit DelangePursuitShort film
2013 Austenland Colonel Andrews
Believe Man in Mac
2016 The Hollow Vaughn Killinger
Bridget Jones's Baby Tom
2017 House by the Lake Scott

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996 Murder Most Horrid MarkEpisode: "Confess"
Soldier Soldier Maj Tim Forrester9 episodes
1997A Dance to the Music of Time]]GwinnettEpisode: "Post War"
1998 Heat of the Sun Asst. Supt. Clive LanyardEpisode: "Private Lives"
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Guy CurranEpisodes: "Going Wrong: Part 1", "Going Wrong: Part 2" and "Going Wrong: Part 3"
1999 Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll The WolfMiniseries
The Scarlet Pimpernel HenriEpisode: "Valentin Gautier"
2000 Arabian Nights Prince AhmedMiniseries
Jason and the Argonauts Aspyrtes Miniseries
2001 As If SebastianEpisode: "Nicki's POV"
Victoria & Albert Ernest of Saxe-Coburg-GothaTelevision film
2002 Relic Hunter RaoulEpisode: "Faux Fox"
2003 Helen of Troy Menelaus Miniseries
Battlestar Galactica Dr. Gaius Baltar Miniseries
Blue DoveDominic PascoMiniseries
2004–2010 Battlestar Galactica Dr. Gaius Baltar73 episodes
2007 Battlestar Galactica: Razor Dr. Gaius BaltarTelevision film
2008 Late Show with David Letterman Gaius Baltar / Top Ten PresenterUncredited
2009Merlin and the Book of Beasts Merlin Television film
Numb3rs Mason DuryeaEpisode: "Angels and Devils"
2010 FlashForward Gabriel McDowEpisodes: "The Garden of Forking Paths", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Course Correction" and "The Negotiation"
2010–2012 Eureka Dr. Trevor Grant10 episodes
2011 Merlin Julius BordenEpisode: "Aithusa"
17th Precinct Jeff BossonTV pilot
2012 Midsomer Murders Toby & Julian DeQuettevilleEpisode: "The Dark Rider"
DCI Banks Owen PierceEpisodes: "Innocent Graves – Part 1" and "Innocent Graves – Part 2"
2013 Arrow The DodgerEpisode: "Dodger"
Key & Peele Shakespeare Episode #3.8
2013–2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation John MerchistonEpisodes: "Skin in the Game", "The Devil and D.B. Russell" and "Boston Brakes"
2014–2016 The Musketeers Emile BonnaireEpisodes: "Commodities" and "The Queen's Diamonds"
2015 A.D. The Bible Continues Herod AntipasMiniseries
Gallipoli Ellis Ashmead-BartlettMiniseries
Rick and Morty Pat Gueterman (voice)Episode: "The Wedding Squanchers"
2017–2021 Castlevania Alucard (voice)27 episodes
2017–2018 12 Monkeys Athan / The Witness5 episodes
2017Once Upon a DateEd HollandTelevision film
2019–2022 Blood & Treasure Simon Hardwick / Karim FaroukMain cast
2020 MacGyver The MerchantEpisodes: "Soccer + Desi + Merchant + Titan" and "Psy-Op + Cell + Merchant + Birds"
2022 Star Trek: Picard Maurice PicardEpisodes: "Monsters" and "Hide And Seek"
2023 Castlevania: Nocturne Alucard (voice)Episode: "Devourer of Light"
TBA Slow Horses Claude WhelanSeason 4

Radio

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Daisy MillerWinterbourne
1997 HMS Ulysses Kid CarpenterRadio 4 Saturday Playhouse [4]

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014CaperDoc EnglishThrough Geek and Sundry

Related Research Articles

Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. It began with the original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel series, Galactica 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games. A reimagined version aired as a two-part, three-hour miniseries developed by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick in 2003, followed by a 2004 television series, which aired until 2009. A prequel series, Caprica, aired in 2010.

<i>Galactica 1980</i> American sci-fi TV series (1980)

Galactica 1980 is an American science fiction television series and a spin-off from the original Battlestar Galactica television series. It was first broadcast on ABC in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980, lasting for 10 episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaius Baltar</span> Character in Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Dr. Gaius Baltar is a fictional character in the TV series Battlestar Galactica played by James Callis, a reimagining of Lord Baltar from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series. He is one of the show's primary characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Bamber</span> British actor (born 1973)

Jamie St John Bamber Griffith, known professionally as Jamie Bamber, is a British actor, known for his roles as Lee Adama in Battlestar Galactica and Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin in the ITV series Law & Order: UK. He also had a supporting role as 2nd Lt. Jack Foley in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, as Lieutenant Archie Kennedy in the Hornblower series and was a regular on the British series Ultimate Force and Peak Practice. In 2013, Bamber starred in the TNT medical drama Monday Mornings, and in 2014, in the Sky 1 drama The Smoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Adama</span> Character in Battlestar Galactica

Leland Joseph "Lee" Adama is a fictional character in the television series Battlestar Galactica. He is portrayed by actor Jamie Bamber, and is one of the main characters in the series. His first appearance was in the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries.

<i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (miniseries) 2003 American science fiction miniseries

Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries is a three-hour television miniseries starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, written and produced by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Michael Rymer. It was the first part of the Battlestar Galactica remake based on the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, and served as a backdoor pilot for the 2004 television series. The miniseries aired originally on Sci Fi in the United States starting on December 8, 2003. The two parts of the miniseries attracted 3.9 and 4.5 million viewers, making the miniseries the third-most-watched program on Syfy.

<i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (2004 TV series) 2004 American science fiction television series

Battlestar Galactica (BSG) is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore and executive produced by Moore and David Eick as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson. The pilot for the series first aired as a three-hour miniseries in December 2003 on the Sci-Fi Channel, which was then followed by four regular seasons, ending its run on March 20, 2009. The cast includes Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, and Grace Park.

"33" is the first episode of the first season and the pilot episode of the reimagined military science fiction television show Battlestar Galactica, immediately following the events of the 2003 miniseries. "33" follows Galactica and its civilian fleet as they are forced to contend with constant Cylon pursuit for days without sleep; they are forced to ultimately destroy one of their own ships to foil the Cylons and earn their first respite of the series.

"Kobol's Last Gleaming" is the two-part first-season finale of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valley of Darkness</span> 2nd episode of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Valley of Darkness" is the second episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on July 22, 2005.

Fragged (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 3rd episode of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Fragged" is the third episode of the second season of the Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on July 29, 2005. It is the first episode in which Starbuck does not appear.

Resistance (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 4th episode of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Resistance" is the fourth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on August 5, 2005.

Pegasus (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 10th episode of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Pegasus" is the tenth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on September 23, 2005. Following "Pegasus", the series went on hiatus until January 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resurrection Ship</span> 11th and 12th episodes of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Resurrection Ship" is a two-part episode of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. Part 1 aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on January 6, 2006, and Part 2 aired on January 13, 2006. It was the first episode broadcast after a hiatus following the broadcast of the previous episode, "Pegasus", on September 23, 2005.

Downloaded (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 18th episode of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Downloaded" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on February 24, 2006.

"Occupation" is the third season premiere and 34th episode of the re-imagined American science fiction drama television series Battlestar Galactica. The episode was written by re-imagined creator Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan. It first aired on October 6, 2006 on the Sci-Fi Channel along with the following episode "Precipice". In the episode, the Cylons are in their fourth month of a military occupation on New Caprica, where the majority of the human population are residing. A resistance movement is trying to drive the Cylons away. Meanwhile, Admiral William Adama continues his plan to rescue everybody there. Unlike most episodes up to this point, it does not include a survivor count, leaving it unclear as to how many died when several ships were destroyed in the previous episode.

"Precipice" is the second part of the third season premiere and 35th episode of the re-imagined American science fiction drama television series Battlestar Galactica. The episode was written by re-imagined creator Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan. It first aired on October 6, 2006 on the Sci-Fi Channel along with the preceding episode "Occupation". In "Precipice", the Cylons respond to the suicide attack in the previous episode by rounding up over 200 civilians believed to be affiliated with the resistance, and later decide to have them executed. Meanwhile, Galactica is to send a squadron to meet with the resistance on New Caprica. Unlike most episodes, it does not include a survivor count.

<i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the reimagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica, was commissioned by Sci Fi in February 2004. The first episode, "33", was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2004, on Sky1, three months before its premiere in the United States on January 14, 2005 on Sci Fi. Sky1 had negotiated first-broadcast rights of season 1 as part of its financial backing terms. The first episode of the series received a Hugo Award and the season's 13 episodes were recognized with a Peabody Award "for pushing the limits of science fiction and making it accessible to all."

<i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the reimagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica premiered on Sci Fi in the United States on July 15, 2005, and concluded on March 10, 2006. The season was split into two parts, each containing 10 episodes. "Season 2.0" aired from July to September 2005, and "Season 2.5" aired from January to March 2006.

References

  1. "James Callis Biography (1971-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  2. "Message 27: 30-Sep-2002". Jamescallis.tripod.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  3. "It is a matter of opinion for time being. But doesn't look like it's going to plan... and consequence we've never seen? I'm a descendent of Ukrainian Jews – I've seen it. Nuclear war – he won't see that either! I think the aggressor is afraid! I'd be – in his position". Twitter.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 14 June 1997. Retrieved 30 October 2022.