- Neil Roberts (actor)
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Neil Roberts Occupation Actor Years active 1986–present Website http://www.neilrobertsactor.co.uk Neil Roberts is an English actor, known for portraying Rex Buckland in Charmed, Gavin Arnold in Family Affairs and Richard in Life Bites.
Contents
Background
Roberts trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School between 1983 and 1986.[1] He is of Welsh descent.[2]
Acting career
Roberts spent the first seven years of his professional career working in theatre.[3] His stage credits include the title role in Hamlet, Winnie the Pooh, and the pantomimes Robin Hood and Beauty and the Beast.[2][4]
Roberts' first television job was playing Jeremy Bamber in The White House Farm Murders.[3] His other British television credits include Love Soup, Mayo, The Impressionists and Doctors. In 2001 he joined the regular cast of Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs, playing Gavin Arnold. Roberts also appeared as cardiothoracic specialist Dr Philip Lawlor in three episodes of Holby City, and as Richard, aka Dad, in the Disney Channel series Life Bites.[5]
Roberts moved to Los Angeles, despite not having any roles lined up, after seeing how successful fellow English actor Hugh Grant had become.[4] During his time working in the US, he appeared in shows including Party of Five, Sliders, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Babylon 5. He also played the recurring role of Rex Buckland in six episodes of the first season of Charmed.[6]
Discussing his time in Los Angeles, Roberts said: "Everything I went up for was an American character that could be played English ... there would be ten people auditioning for a role who were all American, and then little ol' me. I found a real niche."[6]
On the differences between working in British and American television, he said: "It's much quicker working on things in America ... there’s lots of energy and enthusiasm there and people are always ready to tell you that you’re the best thing since sliced bread, even if perhaps you aren’t really."[4]
Roberts' other credits include secret agent Max Meltus in the television commercials for cough medicine Meltus, and a 1998 commercial for Nescafé Gold Blend, opposite Simone Bendix.[7] He has also lent his voice to the Doctor Who audio drama Kingdom of Silver,[3] and the Stargate Atlantis audio drama The Kindness of Strangers.
Personal life
Roberts lives in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire,[5] with his wife and two sons.[4]
He is a director of a communications training company.[1][8]
Filmography
Television
Year Show Role Notes 1993 Crime Story: The White House Farm Murders Jeremy Bamber Television film 1994 A Breed of Heroes Lieutenant Philip Lamb Television film 1996 Party of Five Gary Prescott
- Not So Fast (1996)Teen drama Sliders Ted Bernsen
- Season's Greedings (1996)Sci-fi drama 1997 Baywatch Nights John
- Mobius (1997)Drama The Second Civil War Tony Phillips Television film Diagnosis Murder Dr Shurmur
- Looks Can Kill (1997)Police drama Babylon 5 Brother Michael
- The Deconstruction of Falling Stars (1997)Sci-fi drama 1998 Beverly Hills, 90210 Jacob Wallenfels
- The Wedding: Part One (1998)
- The Wedding: Part Two (1998)Teen drama Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Alexander Goodwin Pierce Television film Privates Jim (2 episodes) TV series Charmed Rex Buckland
- 6 episodes (1998–1999)Supernatural drama 1999 The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax Television film 2000 The Bill James Spiller
- All Fall Down: Part Two (2000)Police drama 2001 Family Affairs Gavin Arnold Soap opera 2003 Keen Eddie Nicholas Ritter
- Achtung Baby (2003)Comedy-drama Doctors Harry Mawer
- An Early Frost (2003)Soap opera Holby City Duncan Lewis
- Just Getting By (2003)Medical drama 2005 Love Soup Clive
- There Must Be Some Way Out of Here (2005)
- Death and Nurses (2005)Comedy-drama The Impressionists Durranty Docudrama 2006 Holby City Dr Philip Lawlor
- Extreme Measures (2006)
- Complications Ensue (2008)
- On a Mission (2008)Medical drama 2007 Doctors Laurent Cohen
- Ménage à Trois (2007)Soap opera 2008 Life Bites Richard (2008–2009) Children's TV series 2010 Doctors James Forth
- Legacy (2010)Soap opera I Shouldn't Be Alive Eddie
- Boys Adrift (2010)Docudrama New Tricks Anthony Vernon
- Left Field (2010)Crime drama Film
Year Film Role Notes 2002 Killing Me Softly Philip Uncredited 2007 IntraVenus James Short film References
- ^ a b Neil Roberts LinkedIn; Retrieved 10 March 2010
- ^ a b "Cast of Beauty and the Beast prepare for Porthcawl run". Glamorgan Gazette. 24 December 2009. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/bridgend-maesteg/2009/12/24/cast-of-beauty-and-the-beast-prepare-for-porthcawl-run-91466-25457768/. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ a b c "An interview with... Neil Roberts", Sci Fi Now, Issue 26, p22.
- ^ a b c d "Confessions of a panto star". South Wales Echo. 22 December 2009. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/theatre-in-wales/2009/12/22/confessions-of-a-panto-star-91466-25447721/. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Rickmansworth actor prepares for starring role". Watford Observer. 3 July 2009. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/4473296./. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ a b Simpson, Paul "Going...going...gone!", Charmed Magazine, Issue 10, p55
- ^ Bentley, Stephanie (11 June 1998). "Nestle scraps Gold Blend couple ads". Marketing Week. http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/home/nestle-scraps-gold-blend-couple-ads/2009398.article. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ Pattullo, Katie (October 2008). "Life bites back in the work place". Talent Management Review. http://www.talentmanagementreview.com/articles/20080922. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
External links
Categories:- Living people
- English people of Welsh descent
- Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
- English television actors
- English soap opera actors
- English film actors
- English stage actors
- English voice actors
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