Michael Smiley(born 1963) is a Northern Irish comedian and actor. He is well known for his roles in the filmsKill List(2011) andThe Lobster(2015). He has also made appearances in British television series such asSpaced,Luther,Utopia,Black MirrorandDoctor Who.
Michael Smiley | |
|---|---|
 Smiley in 2016 | |
| Born | 1963 (age 60–61) Belfast,Northern Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor |
| Spouse | Miranda Sawyer |
| Children | 4 |
Early life
editSmiley was born in 1963 inBelfastand grew up inHolywoodwith an older brother and sister.[1][2]He was raisedCatholic.[3]
He moved toLondonwith his first wife in 1983. He began doing stand-up in 1993, after accepting a bet at anopen-mic night.[2]He had worked as acycle courier,like his character inSpaced,and as anacid houseDJ.[4]
Career
editHe became well known for his role asTyres O'Flaherty,the bicycle riding raver, in two episodes of theChannel 4sitcomSpaced,and for his appearances at theEdinburgh Fringeand theMelbourne Comedy Festival.[4]He played Mac, a former member of theBritish Army'sParachute Regimentin the 2008 horror filmOutpostand as a zombie inShaun of the Dead.[citation needed]
In 2003, he guest starred in theDoctor Whoaudio dramaCreatures of Beauty.In 2004 he appeared in season 2, episode 4 ofHustleas Max the forger.[5]He also was a small character in episode 2 "The Model" of15 Storeys High.[citation needed]
He has appeared in all three series ofThe Maltby Collectionon Radio 4 as Des Wainwright, an eccentric security guard who keeps repeating himself and reminding people he was in theSAS.He plays the part of Benny "Deadhead" Silver in the BBC drama seriesLuther.In 2010, he had a major role in the filmBurke & Harealongside hisSpacedco-starsSimon PeggandJessica Hynes.
In 2011, he starred in British horror filmKill List.The film received critical acclaim, and earned him the"Best Supporting Actor" Awardat the2011 British Independent Film Awards.[6]
In 2013, he has appeared in an episode ofBBC One'sRipper StreetasGeorge Lusk,and the critically acclaimedChannel 4showsUtopiaas Detective Reynolds andBlack Mirrorin the episode "White Bear"as Baxter.[citation needed]He also starred inA Field in Englandas the main antagonist, the alchemist O'Neill. He also played Roddy inFather Figure.In November 2013 he appeared in the third episode of theBBC TwoMitchell and WebbcomedyAmbassadorsas Mr Jackson. In 2014, he played Micky Murray inBBC Four'sThe Life of Rock with Brian Pern.[7]
To coincide with theopening stagesof theGiro d'Italiain May 2014,Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home Aboutwas atravelogprogramme forBBC Northern Ireland,directed byGeorge Kane,featuring Smiley cycling around Northern Ireland and meeting local people.[8][9][10]A second series was commissioned for 2015.[8]
In 2014 Smiley played Colonel Morgan Blue in theDoctor Whoepisode "Into the Dalek".[11]
He also had a major role in British crime seriesLutheracting as “Deadhead”Benny Silverfrom 2010 until 2019.
In 2019, Smiley co-starred withElijah WoodandMartin Donovanin the filmCome to Daddydirected byAnt Timpson.[12]
In 2020, he starred inDead Still,a six-part Irish-Canadian television drama series, alongsideEileen O'Higgins& Kerr Logan. It premiered on May 18, 2020 onAcorn TVand May 15, 2020Citytv.[13]The series is a co-production between Ireland's Deadpan Pictures and Canada'sShaftesbury Filmsand is written by John Morton, and directed byImogen Murphyand Craig David Wallace.[14][15]
In 2021, Smiley appeared in the lead role inThe Toll,a Welsh black comedy film later released in the United States with the titleTollbooth.
Personal life
editSmiley has been married twice and has four children: two with his first wife and childhood sweetheart Merilees, and two with his second wife, journalist/broadcasterMiranda Sawyer.[2]He resides near Brockwell Park inHerne Hill,London.[16]
He shared a flat withSimon PeggandNick Frostin the 1990s.[17]He is an avidcyclist.[2]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Heist | Detective | Television film; uncredited |
| 1999–2001 | Spaced | Tyres O'Flaherty | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Burnside | Matthew Hutchins | Episode: "Back with a Vengeance: Part 1" |
| 2000–2002 | Time Gentlemen Please | Martin | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | 15 Storeys High | Insistent Irish visitor | Episode: "The Model" |
| 2004 | Murder Prevention | DC Maurice Gibney | 4 episodes |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Phil Squod | 8 episodes |
| Hustle | Max | Episode: "Missions" | |
| ShakespeaRe-Told | Peter | Episode: "Much Ado About Nothing" | |
| Rose and Maloney | DS Mallam | Episode: "Rise & Fall" | |
| 2007 | In the Spider's Web | Phil | Television film |
| Y Pris | Captain | Episode: "Episode #1.3" | |
| Nearly Famous | Danny | Episode: "Episode #1.5" | |
| 2008 | The Wrong Door | 2 episodes | |
| HolbyBlue | Brendan Duffy | Episode: "Episode #2.10" | |
| Wire in the Blood | Dr. Liam Kerwin | 7 episodes | |
| 2009 | Law & Order: UK | Danny Doyle | Episode: "Unsafe" |
| 2010 | One Night in Emergency | Mortuary Attendant | Television film |
| 2010–2019 | Luther | Benny Silver | 16 episodes |
| 2011 | Stolen | Sean | Television film |
| 2012 | Coming Up | Ricky | Episode: "Spoof or Die" |
| Good Cop | Tom Lomax | Episode: "Episode Two" | |
| New Tricks | Tinker | Episode: "Part of a Whole" | |
| 2013 | Ripper Street | George Lusk | Episode: "In My Protection" |
| Utopia | Detective Reynolds | Episode: "Episode 1" | |
| Black Mirror | Baxter | Episode: "White Bear" | |
| Father Figure | Roddy | 6 episodes | |
| Ambassadors | Mr Jackson | Episode: "The Tazbek Spring" | |
| 2013–2014 | Monumental | Self | |
| 2014 | The Life of Rock with Brian Pern | Micky Murray | 2 episodes |
| Doctor Who | Colonel Morgan Blue | Episode: "Into the Dalek" | |
| Edge of Heaven | Snowy | 2 episodes | |
| 2014–2015 | Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About | Self | |
| 2015 | Comedy Feeds | Les | Episode: "Fishbowl" |
| 2016 | The Aliens | Antoine Berry | 5 episodes |
| Murder | Whitmore Harris | Episode: "The Big Bang" | |
| 2020 | Dead Still | Brock Blennerhasset | Series lead |
| 2021 | Bloodlands | Dinger | 4 episodes |
| Intergalactic | Professor Hague Blake | 1 episode | |
| 2022 | The Curse | 1 episode | |
| Bad Sisters | Roger Muldoon | 5 episodes | |
| Ragdoll | DS Finlay | 6 episodes | |
| 2023 | Obituary | Ward Clancy | 6 episodes |
| 2024 | Generation Z | Wrollen | 6 episodes |
Films
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Zombie Tyres O’Flaherty | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Breaking and Entering | Thaddeus | Uncredited |
| Perfume: The Story of a Murderer | Porter | ||
| Land of the Blind | Thorne's Lieutenant | ||
| 2008 | Outpost | McKay | |
| The Other Boleyn Girl | Physician | ||
| Terra Firma | Quentin | Short film | |
| 2009 | Down Terrace | Pringle | |
| Believe | Lewis | Short film | |
| 2010 | Burke & Hare | Patterson | |
| 2011 | Kill List | Gal | |
| Big Fat Gypsy Gangster | Mad Mick | ||
| 2012 | Shell | Hugh | |
| The ABCs of Death | Father Tom | Segment: "" U Is for Unearthed " | |
| 2013 | For Those in Peril | Frank | |
| A Field in England | O'Neil | ||
| Svengali | Irish Pierre | ||
| We Are the Freaks | Killer Colin | ||
| The World's End | Reverend Green | ||
| 2014 | Glassland | Jim | |
| Black Sea | Reynolds | ||
| 2015 | The Hallow | Garda Davey | |
| The Lobster | Loner Swimmer | ||
| Orthodox | Shannon | ||
| My Name is Emily | Robert | ||
| Tank 432 | Capper | ||
| 2016 | Free Fire | Frank | |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Dr. Cornelius Evazan | ||
| 2017 | Madame | David | |
| Jawbone | Eddie | ||
| 2018 | Birthmarked | Gertz | |
| The Nun | Priest | ||
| 2019 | Come to Daddy | Jethro | |
| Rialto | Noel | ||
| 2021 | Censor | Doug Smart | |
| Gunpowder Milkshake | Dr. Ricky | ||
| The Toll | Toll Booth | ||
| 2022 | The Silent Twins | Tim Thomas | |
| 2024 | Bookworm | Jethro | [18] |
Radio
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Eye Witness | BBC Radio 3 | |
| 2007–2009 | The Maltby Collection | Des Wainwright | BBC Radio 4 |
References
edit- ^"BBC One - Monumental - Michael Simley".BBC One.Retrieved18 August2013.
- ^abcd"Michael Smiley: 'I'm an overnight success after 20 years!'".Belfast Telegraph.21 April 2014.Retrieved9 June2015.
- ^Nolan, Larissa."Michael Smiley: My Holywood love story had hardship and a happy ending".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Retrieved4 June2021.
- ^ab"Living the life of Smiley".BBC News.10 August 1998.Retrieved18 August2013.
- ^"Hustle - what time is it on TV? Episode 4 Series 2 cast list and preview".RadioTimes.Retrieved10 September2016.
- ^Exley, Gemma (5 December 2012)."British Independent Film Awards 2011: Fassbender, Ramsey & Sophie from Peep Show win".Holy Moly.Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2014.Retrieved18 August2013.
- ^"BBC Four - Brian Pern, the Life of Rock with Brian Pern, Birth of Rock".
- ^ab"'Michael Smiley: Something To Ride Home About' Gets Second Series ".Irish Film and Television Network.18 August 2014.Retrieved22 October2014.
- ^Jarlath Regan(14 October 2013)."Michael Smiley".An Irishman Abroad(Podcast) (7 ed.).SoundCloud.Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2014.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^Jarlath Regan(11 June 2014)."George Kane".An Irishman Abroad(Podcast) (56 ed.).SoundCloud.Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2014.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^Mulkern, Patrick (30 August 2014)."Into the Dalek ****".Radio Times.London, UK.Retrieved30 August2014.
- ^Come to Daddy Reviewby Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, February 6, 2020.
- ^Yeo, Debra (15 May 2020)."He shoots dead people: Acorn TV's delightful 'Dead Still' blends the macabre art of post-mortem photography with period mystery".Toronto Star.Retrieved30 May2020.
- ^Clarke, Stewart (30 May 2020)."Acorn TV, Ireland's RTE Team for Morbidly Comic Drama 'Dead Still'".Variety.Retrieved30 May2020.
- ^Keller, Joel (18 May 2020)."Stream It Or Skip It: 'Dead Still' On Acorn TV, Where A Memorial Photographer Looks Into Murders In Victorian Dublin".Decider.Retrieved30 May2020.
- ^Tyler, Simon (7 June 2013)."Miranda Sawyer Interview".Not a Bad Dad.Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2013.Retrieved18 August2013.
- ^Marsh, Hannah."Welcome to the bonkers world of Michael Smiley".The Echo.Basildon.Retrieved18 August2013.
- ^"Bookworm".New Zealand Film Commission.Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2024.Retrieved7 August2024.