Rafe Joseph Spall (/ˈreɪf ˈspɔːl/ RAYF SPAWL; born 10 March 1983) is an English actor.
Rafe Spall | |
|---|---|
 Spall in 2013 | |
| Born | Rafe Joseph Spall 10 March 1983 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Esther Smith (2022–present) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Timothy Spall (father) |
Spall has appeared in films including Kidulthood (2006), A Good Year (2006), Hot Fuzz (2007), One Day (2011), Anonymous (2011), Prometheus (2012), Life of Pi (2012), The World's End (2013), The Big Short (2015), The BFG (2016), The Ritual (2017), and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018). Spall played the title role of Pete Griffiths in Pete versus Life from 2010–2011, and has portrayed characters on the TV series The Shadow Line and Black Mirror. Spall also appeared in the Men in Black spin-off film Men in Black: International (2019).
Since May 2020, Spall has starred in the Apple TV+ comedy series Trying.
Early life
editRafe Joseph Spall[1][better source needed] was born on 10 March 1983[2] at 12 Dunstan's Road in East Dulwich, London,[3] the second of three children of Shane (née Baker) and actor Timothy Spall. Named after the protagonist in The Knight of the Burning Pestle, a role his father played in the Royal Shakespeare Company and one he would later play himself, he always had ambitions to act. His father was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia when Rafe was 14, and spent the next 18 months in treatment.[4]
Rafe was overweight as a teen, which he calls a "painful" experience.[5] Having achieved poor grades at his school, Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College,[6] he left to become an actor and joined the National Youth Theatre at 15. He failed to get into his chosen drama schools, such as RADA, at 17, but worked anyway. After being perennially cast in "fat" roles, he lost 77 lbs (35 kg) at age 19, which brought more acting opportunities.[5]
Career
editSpall has frequently collaborated with Edgar Wright, appearing in his films Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Spall was also featured in Wright's segment in the 2007 Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez film Grindhouse.
In 2007, Spall performed for the first time with his father in the ITV adaptation of A Room with a View playing father and son.[7]
In 2011, Spall starred in the romantic tragedy film One Day opposite Anne Hathaway.
In 2012, Spall portrayed Canadian author Yann Martel in the Academy Award-winning drama film Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee. The film was a critical and financial success, winning four Academy Awards and making over $600 million at the box office. In 2013, he played the newlywed husband in I Give It a Year, a comedy about the trials and tribulations of a couple during their first year of marriage.[8]
In 2014, Spall appeared in the coming-of-age drama X+Y, alongside Asa Butterfield and Sally Hawkins, and the seasonal family comedy Get Santa. In 2015, he played John Hancock in the History Channel three-part series, Sons of Liberty, alongside Jim Broadbent, and appeared in the Academy Award-winning biographical comedy-drama The Big Short, alongside Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. Also that year, Spall played Harry Price in Harry Price: Ghost Hunter, ITV's adaptation of Neil Spring's debut novel, The Ghost Hunters. The film aired on ITV1 on 27 December.[9]
Spall portrayed Eli Mills in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), the fifth instalment of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park series, and directed by The Impossible helmer J. A. Bayona.[10]
Since 2020, Spall has a leading role in the Apple TV+ comedy series Trying, opposite Esther Smith and Imelda Staunton. The first season premiered on 1 May 2020. The second season premiered on 12 May 2021.
He also played DS Bailey in the 2020 BBC drama The Salisbury Poisonings.[11]
Personal life
editSpall says he has always struggled with his weight, going up to 18 stone (114 kg (251 lb)), but said that he was given so many character parts that he attempted to slim down, losing over 5st (32 kg (71 lb)).[12] Like his father, he is a keen supporter of Crystal Palace. He is a patron of the Actors' Centre.[13]
In February 2008, Spall met actress Elize du Toit; they were married on 14 August 2010[14] and lived in West Kensington, London.[15] They have three children: a daughter born in 2011, a son born in 2012 and another son born in 2015.[14] The marriage ended in 2021 and Spall is now in a relationship with Trying co-star Esther Smith, who as of May 2024 is pregnant with their first child.[16]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Beginner's Luck | Danny | |
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Noel | |
| The Calcium Kid | Stan Parlour | ||
| 2005 | Green Street Hooligans | Swill | |
| The Last Drop | Pvt. David Wellings | ||
| 2006 | Kidulthood | Lenny | |
| A Good Year | Kenny | ||
| 2007 | Hot Fuzz | D.C. Andy Cartwright | |
| Grindhouse | Featured Ghost | Segment: "Don't" | |
| 2008 | Close | Eric | [17] |
| 2009 | The Scouting Book for Boys | Steve | |
| Modern Life Is Rubbish | Liam | [18] | |
| 2010 | Behind the Door | Bobby | |
| Sus | D.C. Wilby | ||
| 2011 | Anonymous | William Shakespeare | |
| One Day | Ian Whitehead | ||
| 2012 | Prometheus | Millburn | |
| Life of Pi | Writer | ||
| Earthbound | Joe Norman | ||
| 2013 | I Give It a Year | Josh Moss | |
| The World's End | Young Man | ||
| The F Word | Ben | Also released as What If | |
| 2014 | X+Y | Martin Humphreys | Nominated — BIFA for Best Supporting Actor[19] |
| Get Santa | Steve | ||
| 2015 | The Big Short | Danny Moses | Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2016 | The BFG | Mr. Tibbs | |
| Swallows and Amazons | Jim Turner / Captain Flint | ||
| Mum's List | Singe | ||
| 2017 | The Ritual | Luke | |
| 2018 | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | Eli Mills | |
| 2019 | Men in Black: International | Agent C | [20][21] |
| Just Mercy | Tommy Chapman | ||
| Denmark | Herb | Also released as One Way to Denmark[22][23] | |
| 2021 | Long Story Short | Teddy | |
| 2024 | William Tell | TBA | Post-production |
| TBA | Rich Flu |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Out of Control | Ray | Television film |
| 2003 | The Lion in Winter | Prince John | |
| 2004 | The Legend of the Tamworth Two | Crustie | |
| 2005 | The Rotters' Club | Sean Harding | 3 episodes |
| Twisted Tales | Dominic | Episode: "Death Metal Chronicles" | |
| 2006 | The Romantics | John Clare | Miniseries |
| The Chatterley Affair | Keith | Television film | |
| Cracker | DS McAllister | Episode: "Nine Eleven" | |
| Wide Sargasso Sea | Edward Rochester | Television film | |
| Dracula | Jonathan Harker | ||
| 2007 | A Room with a View | George Emerson | |
| 2008 | He Kills Coppers | Frank Taylor | |
| Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me | Dennis Heymer | ||
| 2009 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Roger Bassington | Episode: "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" |
| Desperate Romantics | William Holman Hunt | 6 episodes | |
| 2010–2011 | Pete Versus Life | Pete Griffiths | 11 episodes |
| 2011 | The Shadow Line | Jay Wratten | 6 episodes |
| 2014 | Black Mirror | Joe Potter | Episode: "White Christmas"[24] |
| 2015 | Harry Price: Ghost Hunter | Harry Price | Television film |
| Sons of Liberty | John Hancock | Miniseries | |
| 2016 | Roadies | Reg Whitehead | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | Grandpa's Great Escape | Adult Jack (voice) | Television special |
| 2019 | The War of the Worlds | George | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | The Salisbury Poisonings | DS Bailey | TV series |
| 2020–present | Trying | Jason Ross | Main role |
| 2022 | The English | David Melmont | |
| TBA | Firebug | TBA | Upcoming miniseries |
| TBA | Under Salt Marsh | Detective Eric Bull | Upcoming TV series |
Stage
edit- A Prayer for Owen Meany by Simon Bent at the National Theatre as Harold Crosby/Coach Chickering/Larry Lish (2002)[25]
- Just a Bloke by David Watson at the Royal Court Theatre as Nathan (2002)[26]
- The Knight of the Burning Pestle by Francis Beaumont at the Young Vic Theatre/Barbican Theatre as Rafe (2005)[27]
- John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen at the Donmar Warehouse as Erhart Borkman (2007)[28]
- Alaska by DC Moore at the Royal Court Theatre as Frank (2007)[29]
- Hello and Goodbye by Athol Fugard with the English Touring Theatre as Johnny (2008)[30]
- If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet by Nick Payne at the Bush Theatre as Terry (2009)[31]
- Constellations by Nick Payne at the Royal Court Theatre as Roland (2012)[32]
- Betrayal by Harold Pinter at the Ethel Barrymore Theater as Jerry (2013)
- Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen at the Royal National Theatre as Brack (2016)
- Death of England by Roy Williams and Clint Dyer at the Royal National Theatre (2020)
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Aaron Sorkin at the Gielgud Theatre (2022)[33]
Radio
edit- The Real Thing BBC Radio 4 as Billy (2006)
- Hide BBC Radio 3 as the convict (2007)
- Words and Music: Crushed BBC Radio 3 as a guest reader (2008)
- Capital narrator (2012)
- Amok Audible.co.uk as Oliver (2015)
References
edit- ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
- ^ Yahoo! Movies profile Archived 22 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Spall, Shane (Mother of Rafe) [@pastafa] (19 February 2020). "Ambiguity? We lived in Dunstans Grove, East Dulwich, London SE22. That's where our son was born, number 12 to be exact. #fact" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Radio interview "Comfort Eating with Grace Dent", Retrieved 2nd November 2021.
- ^ a b "Rafe Spall: From fat boy to slim son of Tim". Evening Standard. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ Raphael, Amy (25 May 2012). "Rising son: Rafe Spall's time has come". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ Raphael, Amy (27 October 2007). "Rafe and Timothy Spall joint interview". Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ "I give it a year next year". www.stephenmerchant.com. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ Blanket, Jo (27 August 2015). "Rafe Spall to star in new ITV drama Harry Price: Ghost Hunter". ITV. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (7 November 2016). "Toby Jones and Rafe Spall in Talks to Join Sequel to 'Jurassic World' (Exclusive)". Variety.
- ^ McIntosh, Steven (14 June 2020). "TV drama revisits Salisbury poison attack 'horror'". BBC News. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Babb, Fran (19 August 2011). "Rafe Spall One Day Interview". Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ "Rafe Spall, Patron". actorscentre.co.uk/. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ a b Gilbert, Gerard (20 August 2011), "Rafe Spall Profile", Independent, London
- ^ "Rafe Spall My London", Evening Standard, 2009, archived from the original on 25 November 2009
- ^ Williams, Zoe (14 May 2024), "'It's great!' Rafe Spall on having a baby with his co-star in Trying, the infertility sitcom", Guardian
- ^ "Close", Pollibee Pictures, 2008[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Modern Life Is Rubbish", BBC, 2009, archived from the original on 8 March 2012
- ^ "X Plus Y announces cast". 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ Kit, Borys (29 June 2018). "'Men in Black' Movie Spin-Off Adds 'Jurassic' Actor to Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ Chitwood, Adam (5 December 2018). "The 'Men in Black' Reboot Is Titled 'Men in Black International'". Collider. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Dunschen, Tobias (27 September 2019). "Dinard 2019 : Denmark". Critique Film (in French). Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ Crow, Roget. "One Way to Denmark (2019) - film review". On Yorkshire. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "'Mad Men' Star Jon Hamm Joins 'Black Mirror'", Variety, 2004
- ^ "A Prayer for Owen Meany - Productions". National Theatre. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Just a Bloke at The Royal Court Theatre". royalcourttheatre.com. 17 November 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "The Knight of the Burning Pestle". British Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "John Gabriel Borkman". Donmar Warehouse. 14 April 2007. Archived from the original on 14 December 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Alaska at The Royal Court Theatre". royalcourttheatre.com. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Hello and Goodbye - Athol Fugard - 2008 - Productions - English Touring Theatre". Ett.org.uk. 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Bush Theatre". Bush Theatre. 21 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Constellations at The Royal Court Theatre". royalcourttheatre.com. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Rafe Spall to star in West End premiere of To Kill a Mockingbird". The Guardian. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
External links
edit- Rafe Spall at IMDb
- Interview about the BBC's The Rotters' Club