Alun Armstrong
Jul 17, 1946 (78 years old) in Annfield Plain, County Durham, England, UK
Alun Armstrong is a prolific English character actor.
Armstrong grew up in County Durham in North East England. He first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began in the early 1970s, he has played, in his words, "the full spectrum of characters from the grotesque to musicals... I always play very colourful characters, often a bit crazy, despotic, psychotic."
His numerous credits include six different Dickens adaptations and seven series as eccentric ex-detective Brian Lane in New Tricks.
Armstrong is also an accomplished stage actor who spent nine years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He originated the role of Thénardier in the London production of Les Misérables and he won an Olivier Award for playing the title role in Sweeney Todd.
Known For
Married... with Children
Trevor
Play for Today
1st Docker
MacGyver
Chief Superintendent Capshaw
BBC Play of the Month
Lightborne
Downton Abbey
Stowell
Tales from the Crypt
Inspector Herbert
The BBC Television Shakespeare
Provost
New Tricks
Brian Lane
Inspector Morse
Superintendent Holdsby
Penny Dreadful
Vincent Brand
Credits
-
The Choral Future★ NR -
Tom Jones 2023Squire Western★ 5.7 -
Sherwood 2022Gary Jackson★ 7 -
The Nicky Nack 2021★ NR -
Breeders 2020Jim★ 7 -
Breaking The Codes 2020★ NR -
Year of the Rabbit 2019Chief Inspector Hugh Wisbech★ 7.2 -
Out of Innocence 2019Detective Callaghan★ 6.6 -
Possum 2018Maurice★ 6.1 -
Funny Cow 2018Lenny★ 6.3 -
Prime Suspect 1973 2017Clifford Bentley★ 7.3 -
Frontier 2016Lord Benton★ 6.8 -
Dark Angel 2016George Stot★ 6.3 -
Asunder 2016Self - Narrator (voice)★ NR -
Golden Years 2016Sid★ 6.3 -
Penny Dreadful 2014Vincent Brand★ 7.8 -
The Hollow Crown 2012Northumberland★ 7.3 -
Hiram Grewgious★ 5.8 -
Monsieur Thenardier (1985 Cast)★ 8.2 -
Downton Abbey 2010Stowell★ 8.1 -
A Passionate Woman 2010Donald (1980s)★ 6.7 -
Garrow's Law 2009John Southouse★ 7.2 -
Little Dorrit 2008Ephraim Flintwinch★ 7.8 -
Ernest Whitehouse★ 6.3 -
The Dinner Party 2007Jim★ 6 -
Eragon 2006Uncle Garrow★ 5.1 -
Bob Jenkins★ 6
-
Bleak House 2005Inspector Bucket★ 8.2 -
Oliver Twist 2005Magistrate Fang★ 6.7 -
When I'm Sixty-Four 2004Jim★ 5.3 -
Cardinal Jinetta (voice)★ 6.1 -
Van Helsing 2004Cardinal Jinette★ 6.4 -
Millions 2004Saint Peter★ 6.4 -
Carrie's War 2004Mr. Samuel Evans★ 7.4 -
New Tricks 2004Brian Lane★ 7.3 -
Between The Sheets 2003Peter Delany★ 5.3 -
It's All About Love 2003David★ 5.4 -
Paradise Found 2003Camille Pissarro★ 6.6 -
Inquisition 2002Martin★ NR
-
Sparkhouse 2002Richard Bolton★ 7.6 -
Extinct 2001Himself - Narrator★ 8
-
Bedtime 2001Neil Henshaw★ 2 -
Strictly Sinatra 2001Bill★ 4.8 -
Score 2001George★ NR
-
Messiah 2001DCI Charlie McIntyre★ 7.2 -
The Mummy Returns 2001Baltus Hafez★ 6.4 -
George Mole★ 3 -
Proof of Life 2000Wyatt★ 6.1 -
Harrison's Flowers 2000Samuel Brubeck★ 6.5 -
7 Up 2000 2000Himself - Narrator★ NR -
Asst. Chief Const. George Oldfield★ NR -
David Copperfield 1999Dan Peggotty★ 7.1 -
Onegin 1999Zaretsky★ 6.2 -
Sleepy Hollow 1999High Constable★ 7.2 -
Uncle Henry★ 5.8 -
With or Without You 1999Sammy★ 5.5 -
Aristocrats 1999Lord Holland★ 6 -
In the Red 1998DCI Frank Jefferson★ 6.2 -
Underworld 1997★ 7 -
The Saint 1997Inspector Teal★ 6.1 -
Brazen Hussies 1996Jimmy Hardcastle★ 3.3 -
Breaking the Code 1996Mick Ross★ 5.4 -
Pastor Harold Poelchau★ 6 -
Austin Donohue★ 7.3 -
Mickey★ 6 -
Thenardier★ 8.5 -
Braveheart 1995Mornay★ 7.9 -
Uncle Vernon★ 6.7 -
Capshaw★ 6 -
Doggin' Around 1994Charlie Foster★ 6 -
Black Beauty 1994Reuben Smith★ 6.7 -
Goggle Eyes 1993Gerald 'Goggle Eyes' Faulkner★ NR
-
Caliban (voice)★ 6.8 -
Blue Ice 1992Osgood★ 5.1 -
Patriot Games 1992Owens★ 6.7 -
Split Second 1992Thrasher★ 5.9 -
London Kills Me 1991John Stone★ 6.1 -
Rufus Hilton★ 6 -
Murder in Eden 1991Sgt. McGing★ 6
-
American Friends 1991Dr. Weeks★ 6.2 -
The Widowmaker 1990Dad★ NR -
Sticky Wickets 1990Evans★ NR -
Ralph Lockhart★ 6.4 -
Dick★ NR -
Nineteen96 1989Det. Supt. Frank Burroughs★ NR -
A Night on the Tyne 1989Willy★ NR -
Tales from the Crypt 1989Inspector Herbert★ 8 -
The Childeater 1989Stefano★ 7 -
Zemba★ 5.3 -
The Storyteller 1988Troll (voice)★ 8.1 -
Trevor★ 7.7 -
Inspector Morse 1987Superintendent Holdsby★ 7.8 -
Maxwell Randall, The Green Baize Vampire★ 5.7 -
MacGyver 1985Chief Superintendent Capshaw★ 7.7 -
A.D. 1985Gamesmaster★ 5.1 -
Number One 1985Blackpool Police Sergeant★ 5 -
Singer★ NR -
The House 1984Mr. Smeth★ 5 -
Krull 1983Torquil★ 6.1 -
Mr Moon's Last Case 1983Narrator★ NR -
-
Grimes★ 6.4 -
Get Lost! 1981Neville Keaton★ 5 -
Fear of God 1980Trahearne★ NR
-
All Day on the Sands 1979★ NR -
Measure for Measure 1979Provost★ 6 -
Provost★ 5.2 -
Freedom of the Dig 1978Quinn★ NR -
Liza 1978Mikhalevich★ NR -
Armchair Thriller 1978Trahearne★ 4.2 -
Enemy at the Door 1978Louis Mendoza★ 7.8 -
Our Day Out 1977Mr. Briggs★ 7.6 -
Brodovich★ NR -
The Duellists 1977Lieutenant Lacourbe★ 7.3 -
★ 6.7 -
Risking It 1977Richard Clewes★ NR -
A Bridge Too Far 1977Cpl. Davies★ 7.2 -
The New Avengers 1976★ 6.9 -
The Likely Lads 1976Tommy★ 6.1 -
Days of Hope 1975Billy Shepherd★ 6.2 -
The Stars Look Down 1975Joe Gowlan★ NR -
The Sweeney 1975Peter Jenner★ 7.7 -
Father Brown 1974Joe★ 6.6 -
Porridge 1974Spraggon★ 8.1 -
Easy Go 1974First docker★ NR -
The 14 1973Tommy★ 6.1 -
The Eyes Have It 1973Mike★ 7 -
Thriller 1973Mike★ 6.6 -
The Sex Victims 1973George★ 4.3 -
Only Make Believe 1973Michael Biddle★ NR -
Scaife★ 7.7 -
Justice 1971Bob Graham★ 6 -
Get Carter 1971Keith★ 7 -
Play for Today 19701st Docker★ 6.3 -
Lightborne★ 5 -
Public Eye 1965Vince Gregson★ 7.8