Richard Armitage was born and raised in Leicester, England. He attended Pattison College in Binley Road, Coventry, and studied at LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). His first appearance on the screen was in a small role in This Year's Love (1999), but it was Sparkhouse (2002) (TV) that gave him a break-through role as the charming but a bit odd character of John Standring opposite Sarah Smart. After two guest-roles in "Cold Feet" (1997) in 2003 and "Between the Sheets" (2003), he landed a role as Steven in Frozen (2005/I), which eventually led him to play the lead role in the big hit BBC drama "North & South" (2004). Other than appearing on screen, he has also appeared on stage--in, for example, Macbeth and Hamlet.
Known For

The Boy in the Woods
Jasko
2023

The Man from Rome
Father Quart
2022

The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out
Self
2021

Space Sweepers
James Sullivan / The CEO of UTS
2021

Uncle Vanya
Astrov
2020

The Lodge
Richard
2020

My Zoe
James Lewis
2019

Ocean's Eight
Claude Becker
2018

I Am Urban
Chop
2018

Sleepwalker
Dr. Scott White
2017

Pilgrimage
Raymond De Merville
2017

Brain on Fire
Tom Cahalan
2017

Alice Through the Looking Glass
King Oleron
2016

Getting the Old Scent Again: Reimagining Red Dragon
Self
2015

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Thorin Oakenshield
2014

The Crucible
John Proctor
2014

Into the Storm
Gary Morris
2014

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Thorin Oakenshield
2013

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Thorin Oakenshield
2012

Captain America: The First Avenger
Heinz Kruger
2011

Lost Land of the Tiger
Self - Narrator · (3 episodes)
2010

Leopards of Dead Tree Island
Narrator
2010

The Great Sperm Race
Narrator (Voice)
2009
Miss Marie Lloyd: Queen of the Music Hall
Percy Courtenay
2007

Macbeth
Peter Macduff
2005

Frozen
Steven
2005

Ultimate Force
(2 episodes)
2002

Spooks
Lucas North · (24 episodes)
2002

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Philip Turner · (1 episode)
2002

Macbeth
Angus
2001

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Tonra
1999

This Year's Love
Smug Man at Party
1999

Now & Then
Chris

VE Day 80
Himself · (1 episode)
2025

Missing You
Ellis Stagger · (5 episodes)
2025

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Charles Devereaux (voice) · (7 episodes)
2024

Red Eye
Matthew Nolan · (6 episodes)
2024

Fool Me Once
Joe Burkett · (8 episodes)
2024

Obsession
William Farrow · (4 episodes)
2023

Stay Close
Ray Levine · (8 episodes)
2021

Between the Covers
Self · (1 episode)
2020

The Stranger
Adam Price · (8 episodes)
2020

Castlevania
Trevor Belmont (voice) · (32 episodes)
2017

Berlin Station
Daniel Miller · (29 episodes)
2016

Hannibal
Francis Dolarhyde · (6 episodes)
2013

HMS Ark Royal
Himself - Narrator · (9 episodes)
2011

Strike Back
John Porter · (16 episodes)
2010

Moving On
John Mulligan · (1 episode)
2009

Inspector George Gently
(1 episode)
2008

Robin Hood
Sir Guy of Gisbourne · (39 episodes)
2006

The One Show
Self · (1 episode)
2006

The Impressionists
Claude Monet · (3 episodes)
2006

ShakespeaRe-Told
(1 episode)
2005

The Golden Hour
Dr. Alec Track · (4 episodes)
2005

Malice Aforethought
William Chatford · (2 episodes)
2005

North & South
John Thornton · (4 episodes)
2004

Between The Sheets
Paul Andrews · (6 episodes)
2003

Ultimate Force
Capt. Ian Macalwain · (3 episodes)
2002

Sparkhouse
John Standring · (3 episodes)
2002

Spooks
Armed Police Officer · (1 episode)
2002

Cleopatra
Epiphanes · (2 episodes)
1999

Cold Feet
(4 episodes)
1998

The Vicar of Dibley
Harry Kennedy · (0 episode)
1994

GMTV
Self · (1 episode)
1993

This Morning
Self · (1 episode)
1988

Casualty
Craig Parker · (1 episode)
1986

Natural World
Narrator · (2 episodes)
1983

Great Performances
Astov · (1 episode)
1971