David Haig Collum WardMBE(born 20 September 1955) is an English actor and playwright. He has appeared inWest Endproductions and numerous television and film roles over a career spanning four decades.
David Haig | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Haig Collum Ward 20 September 1955 Aldershot, Hampshire,England |
| Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, playwright |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse |
Jane Galloway (m.2010) |
| Children | 5 |
Haig wrote the playMy Boy Jack,which premièred at theHampstead Theatreon 13 October 1997. OnRemembrance Day2007,ITVbroadcasta television dramabased on the play, in which Haig playedRudyard KiplingandDaniel Radcliffeplayed Kipling's son,John.He went on to star as the Player inRosencrantz and Guildenstern are Deadalongside Radcliffe in 2017.
Haig's second playThe Good Samaritanwas also first staged at the Hampstead Theatre, opening on 6 July 2000. His third playPressurepremiered at theChichester Festivalin 2014, before being revived in 2018 on a UK Tour and then in the West End at theAmbassadors Theatre.In 2018, he portrayed Bill in the critically acclaimedBBC Americathriller seriesKilling Eve(2018).
Haig was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire(MBE) in the2013 Birthday Honoursfor services to drama.[1]
Early life
editHaig was born on 20 September 1955 inAldershot, Hampshire,[2]the son of opera singer Shirley R. C. (née Brooks) and army officer (and later director of theHayward Gallery) Francis W. He had a younger sister who died at 22 of a brain aneurysm when he was 26. He grew up inRugby, Warwickshirewhere he attendedRugby School.[3]
Career
editFilm and television
editHaig appeared in the 1994 filmFour Weddings and a Funeral,[2]and had a supporting role in the BBC television sitcomThe Thin Blue Line(1995),[2]playing Inspector Grim, the inept foil toRowan Atkinson's Inspector Fowler. He also appeared inLove on a Branch Line,a TV series broadcast by the BBC in four episodes. In 2002 he played the brother ofFour Weddings'co-starHugh Grantin the romantic comedyTwo Weeks Notice.[2]In 2007, he appeared in aComic Reliefsketch called "Mr. Bean's Wedding" as the bride's father, reuniting with Atkinson.
Other TV work includesDoctor Who[2]story "The Leisure Hive"(1980);Blake's 7[2]episode "Rumours of Death" (1980);Diamonds(1981 TV series);Campionstory "Sweet Danger"(1990);Inspector Morseepisode "Dead on Time" (1992);[2]andCracker[2]story "To Say I Love You" (1993). In the 1990s, he appeared in series 1 of the TV seriesSoldier Soldier.[2]
He appears in the Richard Fell adaptation of the 1960s science fiction seriesA for Andromeda,on the UK digital television stationBBC Four.
Haig wrote the playMy Boy Jack,[2]and later appeared asRudyard Kipling,alongsideDaniel Radcliffe,intelevision adaptation.[2]
In 2008, he appeared in theBBCfilmDustbin Baby,[2]andThe 39 Steps.[2]He also appeared in theMidsomer Murders,[2]episode "The Glitch". In 2009 he appeared as Steve Fleming in BBC TV'sThe Thick of It,[2]and as Jon, husband to former MPMo Mowlamin the dramaMo,[2]oppositeJulie Walters.Also in 2009, he appeared in two episodes as theheadmasterof Portwenn Primary School, Mr Straine on ITV comedy dramaDoc Martin.[2]
In January 2013, Haig started appearing asJim Hackerin a re-make of classic 1980s comedy seriesYes Prime Minister,broadcast on Gold TV in the United Kingdom.[2]
In 2012 a new sitcom pilot, starring Haig and written byBen Elton,was filmed for the BBC.[4]Filming for a full six-part series of the sitcom,The Wright Way(formerly known asSlings and Arrows) was completed in March 2013, and began airing on BBC One on 23 April.[5]
An August 2018 announcement indicated that Haig would be among the new cast to join the original actors in theDownton Abbeyfilm which started principal photography at about the same time.[6]In September 2018 he appeared as Bill alongsideJodie Comerin theBBC Americathriller seriesKilling Eve.[2]
In September 2024, production started on his film adaptation of his playPressure.[7]
Radio
editIn 2008, he played Maurice Haigh-Wood in the BBC Radio adaptation of Michael Hastings' playTom and Viv,and 2010 he starred asNorman Birkettin "Norman Birkett and the Case of the Coleford Poisoner" onBBC Radio 4'sAfternoon Playseries. He also played the narrator and the older Lewis Eliot inC. P. Snow's "Strangers and Brothers" on Radio 4 in 2003, repeated on Radio 4 Extra every few years.
Stage
editHe also won anOlivier Awardin 1988 forActor of the Year in a New Play,for his performance inOur Country's Goodat theRoyal CourtinSloane Square.[8]He toured Britain with the stage version ofMy Boy Jack,which he wrote, and in which he playedRudyard Kiplingand directed a production ofPrivate LivesbyNoël Coward,which made a national tour in 2005.
Haig has appeared in several stage productions in London's West End, includingHitchcock Blondeat the Royal Court,Life X 3at theSavoy Theatre,as the character Osborne inR.C. Sherriff's playJourney's Endat theComedy Theatre,and as Mr George Banks inMary Poppinsat thePrince Edward Theatrefor which he received anOlivier Awardnomination. He was also nominated for playing Christopher Headingley in a revival ofMichael Frayn's comedyDonkeys' Yearsat the Comedy Theatre. Having appeared in the role of Pinchwife in the comedyThe Country Wifeat theRoyal Haymarket Theatrein London, he appeared inThe Seaat the same theatre. Haig's next role was Truscott in theJoe Ortonblack farceLootat London'sTricycle Theatrefrom 11 December 2008 to 31 January 2009 and at theTheatre Royal, Newcastle,2 to 7 February 2009.
In 2010 he played the role ofJim Hackerin the stage version ofYes, Prime Minister,[9]at the Chichester FestivalGielgud Theatre,in London's West End from 17 September 2010.[10]
In September 2023, it was announced that Haig was adaptingPhilip K. Dick's novella "The Minority Report"for the stage, to premiere at theLyric Hammersmiththe following spring.[11]
Filmography and stage credits
editTheatre
editTV and film
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Moon Stallion | Todman | TV series |
| 1980 | Blake's 7 | Forres | TV series (1 episode: "Rumours of Death") |
| Doctor Who | Pangol | TV series (4 episodes of "The Leisure Hive") | |
| 1981 | Diamonds | Alex Randolph | TV series |
| 1983 | Chessgame | Colin Jenkins | TV series (1 episode: "Flying Blind" ) |
| A Flame to the Phoenix | Mirek Grabinski | ||
| 1984 | Dark Enemy | Ash | |
| 1985 | Morons from Outer Space | Palatial House Flunkey | Film |
| 1986 | The Alamut Ambush | Colin Jenkins | TV film |
| Cold War Killers | Colin Jenkins | TV film | |
| 1989 | Hannay | Conrad Smyth | TV series (1 episode: "The Good Samaritan") |
| Dramarama | Bill Brock | TV series (1 episode: "Badger" ) | |
| 1990 | Campion | Cully Randall/Guffy Randall | TV series (2 episodes) |
| Portrait of a Marriage | Harold Nicolson | TV series (4 episodes) | |
| 1991 | Chancer | Dr. Haselden | TV series (1 episode: "Remembrance") |
| Soldier Soldier | Major Tom Cadman | TV series (7 episodes) | |
| 1992 | Inspector Morse | Peter Rhodes | TV series (1 episode: "Dead on Time") |
| Boon | Jim Fisk | TV series (1 episode: "Is There Anybody There?") | |
| 1993 | The Darling Buds of May | Captain Robert Battersby | TV series (2 episodes) |
| The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries | Arthur Wilde | TV series (1 episode: "A Man Lay Dead") | |
| Cracker | Graham | TV series (2 episodes) | |
| 1994 | Four Weddings and Funeral | Bernard, the Groom – Wedding Two | |
| The Bill | Brian Linton | TV series (1 episode: "Secrets" ) | |
| Love on a Branch Line | Lionel Virley | TV series (4 episodes) | |
| Nice Day at the Office | Chris Selwyn | TV series (6 episodes) | |
| 1995 | Wycliffe | David Millar | TV series (1 episode: "Charades") |
| The Four Corners of Nowhere | Nick | ||
| The Thin Blue Line | D.I. Grim | TV series (14 episodes: 1995–1996) | |
| 1997 | Keeping Mum | Richard Beare | TV series (16 episodes: 1997–1998) |
| 1998 | Talking Heads 2 | Wilfred Paterson | TV mini-series (1 episode: "Playing Sandwiches") |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Tales of Innocence | Colonel Bonnet | video |
| 2000 | Dalziel and Pascoe | David Hallingsworth | TV series (1 episode: "A Sweeter Lazarus") |
| 2001 | Ivor the Invisible | Park Keeper | voice |
| Station Jim | Riorden Jnr | TV film | |
| 2002 | Crime and Punishment | Luhzin | TV film |
| Rachel's Attic | Adam | ||
| Two Weeks Notice | Howard Wade | ||
| 2004 | Hustle | Sir Anthony Reeves | TV series (1 episode: "The Last Gamble") |
| 2006 | A for Andromeda | General Vandenburg | |
| 2007 | Comic Relief 2007: The Big One | Kate's Dad | TV film |
| Church Going | Priest | short | |
| My Boy Jack | Rudyard Kipling | TV film | |
| 2008 | Dickens Secret Lover | Charles Dickens | TV film |
| Agatha Christie's Marple:Murder Is Easy | Major Hugh Horton | TV film | |
| Dustbin Baby | Elliot | TV film | |
| The 39 Steps | Sir George Sinclair | TV film | |
| 2009 | My Family | Jeremy Livingstone | TV series (1 episode: "The Guru" ) |
| Midsomer Murders | George Jeffers | TV series (1 episode: "The Glitch") | |
| Doc Martin | Mr Straine (Headmaster of Portwenn Primary School) | TV series (2 episodes) | |
| The Thick of It | Steve Fleming | TV series (2 episodes) | |
| 2010 | Mo | Jon Norton | TV film |
| 2011 | The Half-Light | Man | short |
| Strike Back | Christopher Manning | TV series (2 episodes) | |
| 2013 | Yes Minister | Jim Hacker | TV series (6 episodes) |
| 2013 | The Wright Way | Gerald Wright | TV series (6 episodes) |
| 2016 | Florence Foster Jenkins | Carlo Edwards | |
| 2016 | The Witness for the Prosecution | Sir Charles Carter | TV mini series (2 episodes) |
| 2018 | Killing Eve | Bill Pargrave | TV series (3 episodes) |
| 2019 | Downton Abbey | Mr Wilson | |
| 2020 | COBRA | Archie Glover-Morgan | Series regular |
References
edit- ^"No. 60534".The London Gazette(Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 24.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrs"David Haig Credits".tvguide.com.Retrieved25 May2024.
- ^Walker, Tim (18 April 2014)."David Haig says Rugby did not want him to become an actor".ISSN0307-1235.Archivedfrom the original on 22 September 2018.Retrieved19 May2020.
- ^"New sitcom from Ben Elton".TV Tonight.3 August 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 25 October 2012.Retrieved2 February2013.
- ^Patrick Munn (5 January 2013)."Kacey Ainsworth, Rufus Jones & Michael Falzon Cast in BBC One's Ben Elton Sitcom".Archivedfrom the original on 12 May 2016.Retrieved28 January2013.
- ^McNary, Dave (30 August 2018)."Imelda Staunton, Geraldine James Join 'Downton Abbey' Movie".Archivedfrom the original on 1 September 2018.Retrieved4 September2018.
- ^Mensah, Katelyn (12 September 2024)."Wolf Hall and Sharp Objects stars join Andrew Scott in WWII film Pressure".Radio Times.Retrieved13 September2024.
- ^"Olivier Winners 1988".The Society of London Theatre.Archivedfrom the original on 18 March 2018.Retrieved30 September2018.
- ^"Stage plan for Yes Prime Minister".BBC News.18 February 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 21 February 2010.Retrieved22 July2010.
- ^"Chicester Minister Bound for Gielgud, 17 Sep".Whats on Stage website.11 June 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2012.Retrieved12 June2010.
- ^Akbar, Arifa (25 September 2023)."Minority Report drama to feature in Lyric Hammersmith's 'really bold' spring lineup".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2023.Retrieved28 September2023.
- ^Spencer, Charles (24 January 2012)."The Madness of George III".Telegraph.London.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^Benedictus, Leo (25 May 2010)."Yes Prime Minister".Guardian.co.uk.London.Archivedfrom the original on 9 August 2014.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Loot".The Times.Retrieved24 October2012.[dead link]
- ^Taylor, Paul (25 January 2008)."The Sea".Independent.London.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"The Country Wife".Britishtheatreguide.info.Archivedfrom the original on 17 November 2011.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Donkey's Years".Britishtheatreguide.info.Archivedfrom the original on 18 November 2011.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Mary Poppins".Musicalheaven.com. August 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 20 March 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Journey's End".Indielondon.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 2 September 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Hitchcock Blonde".Royalcourttheatre.com. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2013.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Life x3".Whatsonstage.com. Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Art".Londontheatre.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2019.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"My Boy Jack".Nritishtheatreguide.info. Archived fromthe originalon 7 February 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Measure for Measure".Rscshakespeare.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 28 April 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"Tom and Viv".Thebeautifulchanges.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.