Phil Daniels

Philip Daniels (born 25 October 1958, Islington)^[1][2] is an English actor, most noted for film roles as "cockneys" such as Jimmy in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, and for his collaborations with Britpop band Blur.

Education

Daniels attended Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington, North London^{[citation needed]} alongside other actors such as Susan Tully, Todd Carty, Patsy Palmer, Sid Owen, Judith Jacob, Gillian Taylforth and Adam Woodyatt.

Career

Daniels has made appearances in many films and television series. He made his film debut in 1976, aged 18, as a waiter in Bugsy Malone,^[3] That same year he had significant roles in three television series: The Molly Wopsies, Four Idle Hands, and The Flockton Flyer; however, he had enjoyed an incidental appearance (with fellow drama students) the previous year (1975) in Thames Television's You Must Be Joking! In the next few years he appeared in the films Quadrophenia, Breaking Glass, and Scum. He was notable for appearing in the 1970s TV drama serial Raven.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Daniels was a member of new wave band The Cross along with fellow actor Peter Hugo Daly, the band releasing a single, "Kill Another Night" on RCA Records in 1979.^[4] His musical inclinations were revealed when he starred in a little known 1985 British snooker musical Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire. He also narrated tracks on the Parklife and Think Tank albums for Blur.

He contributed the voice of a rat to the animated film Chicken Run. In recent years he has turned his attention to comedy, appearing in the series Sunnyside Farm and alongside Al Murray in the cult sitcom Time Gentlemen Please. He also starred as Freddy Windrush in an episode of Gimme Gimme Gimme (Series 2 Episode 3- "Prison Visitor").

Daniels has performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in plays such as The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta and A Clockwork Orange. In 2004 he appeared in the BBC comedy-drama Outlaws as a criminal solicitor.

In 2006 he joined the cast of the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders playing Kevin Wicks. The actor temporarily left the show in early 2007, however, he returned in March 2007. On 18 August 2007, it was revealed in The Sun that Daniels was to leave the show.^[5] His character died in a car crash on 31 December 2007.

Daniels, along with his co-stars, attended a Quadrophenia Reunion at London Film and Comic Con at Earls Court on 1st and 2 September 2007.

In May 2008 Daniels ran The Flora London Marathon on behalf of the "Sparks" Charity, and in December 2008 he is starring in Sheffield Theatre and Evolution Pantomimes co-production of Aladdin as 'Abanazar' at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre. ^[6]

In late 2008 Daniels voiced a major character in the English language DVD re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film Free Jimmy, alongside Woody Harrelson and with dialogue written by Simon Pegg.

Daniels appears as the Magic Mirror in the pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Marlowe Theatre, which also includes former Eastenders colleague Emma Barton playing the title role.

He appeared on Celebrity Mastermind: 2008/2009, finishing on 24 points in 2nd place. Also on 26 June 2009 appeared on stage with Blur at the M.E.N. Arena then on 28 June 2009 at Glastonbury 2009 on their song Parklife, as well as on the 2nd and 3rd July 2009 in their Hyde Park Concerts.

Daniels is set to play Del Boy's Grandfather in a prequel to comedy series Only Fools and Horses called Sex, Drugs and Rock and Chips which is to be screened by the BBC in 2010.

Strictly Come Dancing

Daniels appeared in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Flavia Cacace. He was, however, the first to be evicted from the show on 21 September 2008.^[7]

Filmography

TV

• Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Chips — (2010) Edward "Grandad" Trotter^[8]
• Strictly Come Dancing (2008) — Himself
• EastEnders (TV) (2006 - 2008) — Kevin Wicks
• Wickham Road (2005) — Narrator
• Outlaws (TV) (2004) — Bruce Dunbar
• The Long Firm (2004) — Jimmy
• Gimme Gimme Gimme (TV) (2000) — Freddy (Fritz) Windrush (Episode: "Prison Visitor")
• Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001) — Eddie
• Time Gentlemen Please (2000) — Terry
• Nasty Neighbours (2000) — Robert Chapman
• Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll (TV) (1999) — Larry Valentine
• Holding On (1997) — Gary Rickey
• Sunnyside Farm (1997) — Raymond Sunnyside
• The World of Lee Evans (1995) - Hitcher
• One Foot In The Grave: The Wisdom Of The Witch (1995) — Melvin
• Bad Behaviour (1993) — Nunn Brother
• The Pickwick Papers (1985) — Sam Weller
• I Remember Nelson (TV) (1982) — Will Blackie
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981) — Puck
• The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978) — Stewart
• Raven (1977) — Raven
• The Flockton Flyer (1976, broadcast 1977) — Don Davis
• Four Idle Hands (1976) — Mike Dudds
• The Molly Wopsies (1976) — Alan Musgrove

Radio

• The Tin Drum (1999) - Oskar Matzerath^[9]

On The Ceiling - Saturday Play, BBC Radio 4, 7 February 2008 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/saturday_play.shtml

Theatre

• Aladdin Sheffield Lyceum
• Fresh Kills
• True West
• The Green Man
• The Winter's Tale
• Dealer's Choice
• Carousel
• The Closing Number
• Johnny Oil Strikes Back
• The Lucky Ones
• The Merchant of Venice
• The Jew of Malta
• Measure for Measure
• The Revenger's Tragedy
• A Clockwork Orange
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Personal life

Phil is married to Jan Stevens. Their daughter, Ella, was born in 1990.^{[citation needed]}.

References

External links

• Phil Daniels at the Internet Movie Database
• What's on TV profile