Alun Armstrong
Born
July 17, 1946 (78 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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.
The Choral
2025
Tom Jones
Squire Western · (4 episodes)
2023
Sherwood
Gary Jackson · (1 episode)
2022
The Nicky Nack
2021
Breeders
Jim · (27 episodes)
2020
Breaking The Codes
2020
Year of the Rabbit
Chief Inspector Hugh Wisbech · (6 episodes)
2019
Out of Innocence
Detective Callaghan
2019
Possum
Maurice
2018
Funny Cow
Lenny
2018
Prime Suspect 1973
Clifford Bentley · (6 episodes)
2017
Frontier
Lord Benton · (18 episodes)
2016
Dark Angel
George Stot · (2 episodes)
2016
Asunder
Self - Narrator (voice)
2016
Golden Years
Sid
2016
Penny Dreadful
Vincent Brand · (1 episode)
2014
The Hollow Crown
Northumberland · (2 episodes)
2012
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Hiram Grewgious · (2 episodes)
2012
Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary in Concert
Monsieur Thenardier (1985 Cast)
2010
A Passionate Woman
Donald (1980s) · (2 episodes)
2010
Garrow's Law
John Southouse · (12 episodes)
2009
Little Dorrit
Ephraim Flintwinch · (14 episodes)
2008
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story
Ernest Whitehouse
2008
The Dinner Party
Jim
2007
Eragon
Uncle Garrow
2006
The Girls Who Came to Stay
Bob Jenkins
2006
Bleak House
Inspector Bucket · (9 episodes)
2005
Oliver Twist
Magistrate Fang
2005
When I'm Sixty-Four
Jim
2004
Van Helsing: The London Assignment
Cardinal Jinetta (voice)
2004
Van Helsing
Cardinal Jinette
2004
Millions
Saint Peter
2004
Carrie's War
Mr. Samuel Evans
2004
New Tricks
Brian Lane · (87 episodes)
2004
Between The Sheets
Peter Delany · (6 episodes)
2003
It's All About Love
David
2003
Paradise Found
Camille Pissarro
2003
Inquisition
Martin
2002
Sparkhouse
Richard Bolton · (3 episodes)
2002
Extinct
Himself - Narrator · (6 episodes)
2001
Bedtime
Neil Henshaw · (9 episodes)
2001
Strictly Sinatra
Bill
2001
Score
George
2001
Messiah
DCI Charlie McIntyre · (2 episodes)
2001
The Mummy Returns
Baltus Hafez
2001
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
George Mole · (6 episodes)
2001
Proof of Life
Wyatt
2000
Harrison's Flowers
Samuel Brubeck
2000
7 Up 2000
Himself - Narrator
2000
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper
Asst. Chief Const. George Oldfield
2000
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper
Asst. Chief Const. George Oldfield · (3 episodes)
2000
David Copperfield
Dan Peggotty · (2 episodes)
1999
Onegin
Zaretsky
1999
Oliver Twist
Mr. Fleming · (4 episodes)
1999
Sleepy Hollow
High Constable
1999
G:MT Greenwich Mean Time
Uncle Henry
1999
With or Without You
Sammy
1999
Aristocrats
Lord Holland
1999
In the Red
DCI Frank Jefferson · (3 episodes)
1998
Underworld
(6 episodes)
1997
The Saint
Inspector Teal
1997
Brazen Hussies
Jimmy Hardcastle
1996
Breaking the Code
Mick Ross
1996
Witness Against Hitler
Pastor Harold Poelchau
1996
Our Friends in the North
Austin Donohue · (9 episodes)
1996
Sorry About Last Night
Mickey
1995
Les Misérables: 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
Thenardier
1995
Braveheart
Mornay
1995
An Awfully Big Adventure
Uncle Vernon
1995
MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday
Capshaw
1994
Doggin' Around
Charlie Foster
1994
Black Beauty
Reuben Smith
1994
Goggle Eyes
Gerald 'Goggle Eyes' Faulkner · (4 episodes)
1993
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales
Caliban (voice) · (1 episode)
1992
Blue Ice
Osgood
1992
Patriot Games
Owens
1992
Split Second
Thrasher
1992
London Kills Me
John Stone
1991
Stanley and the Women
Rufus Hilton · (4 episodes)
1991
Murder in Eden
Sgt. McGing · (3 episodes)
1991
American Friends
Dr. Weeks
1991
The Widowmaker
Dad
1990
Sticky Wickets
Evans
1990
White Hunter, Black Heart
Ralph Lockhart
1990
Looking After Number One
Dick
1990
Nineteen96
Det. Supt. Frank Burroughs
1989
A Night on the Tyne
Willy
1989
Tales from the Crypt
Inspector Herbert · (1 episode)
1989
The Childeater
Stefano
1989
That Summer of White Roses
Zemba
1989
The Storyteller
Troll (voice) · (1 episode)
1988
Married... with Children
Trevor · (3 episodes)
1987
Inspector Morse
Superintendent Holdsby · (1 episode)
1987
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
Maxwell Randall, The Green Baize Vampire
1985
A.D.
Gamesmaster · (1 episode)
1985
Number One
Blackpool Police Sergeant
1985
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Singer
1985
The House
Mr. Smeth
1984
Krull
Torquil
1983
Mr Moon's Last Case
Narrator
1983
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
(10 episodes)
1982
The French Lieutenant's Woman
Grimes
1981
Get Lost!
Neville Keaton · (4 episodes)
1981
Fear of God
Trahearne
1980
All Day on the Sands
1979
Measure for Measure
Provost
1979
The BBC Television Shakespeare
Provost · (1 episode)
1978
Freedom of the Dig
Quinn
1978
Liza
Mikhalevich
1978
Armchair Thriller
Trahearne · (1 episode)
1978
Enemy at the Door
Louis Mendoza · (1 episode)
1978
Our Day Out
Mr. Briggs
1977
Shooting the Chandelier
Brodovich
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Brodovich · (1 episode)
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Mikhalevich · (1 episode)
1977
The Duellists
Lieutenant Lacourbe
1977
A Sharp Intake of Breath
(12 episodes)
1977
Risking It
Richard Clewes
1977
A Bridge Too Far
Cpl. Davies
1977
The New Avengers
(1 episode)
1976
The Likely Lads
Tommy
1976
Days of Hope
Billy Shepherd · (4 episodes)
1975
The Stars Look Down
Joe Gowlan · (13 episodes)
1975
The Sweeney
Peter Jenner · (1 episode)
1975
Father Brown
Joe · (1 episode)
1974
Porridge
Spraggon · (1 episode)
1974
Easy Go
First docker
1974
The 14
Tommy
1973
The Eyes Have It
Mike
1973
Thriller
Mike · (1 episode)
1973
The Sex Victims
George
1973
Only Make Believe
Michael Biddle
1973
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
Scaife · (1 episode)
1973
Justice
Bob Graham · (1 episode)
1971
Get Carter
Keith
1971
Play for Today
1st Docker · (1 episode)
1970
Play for Today
Mr Briggs · (1 episode)
1970
BBC Play of the Month
Lightborne · (1 episode)
1965
Public Eye
Vince Gregson · (1 episode)
1965