Tony Pitts
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Tony Pitts | |
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Born | Sheffield,England | 10 October 1962
Occupation(s) | Actor, screenwriter |
Years active | 1981–present |
Anthony Pitts(born 10 October 1962) is an English actor, most notable for playingArchie Brooksin the long-running British soapEmmerdale Farmbetween 1983 and 1993.[1]
Early life[edit]
Pitts was born inSheffield,England. His family was working-class, his parents worked as ajoinerand amidwife.Pitts originally intended to become a physician but ended up working as a car mechanic in his early career. He wrote a letter to the college to get out of college classes to become an actor. His family were livid at this. During his time at Stannington College, SheffieldBarry Hinespaid a visit looking for extras for his upcoming dramaLooks and Smiles.Pitts was cast and soon upgraded to a bigger role in the production. He decided to follow his ambition to become an actor in 1983.[citation needed]
Emmerdale[edit]
In 1983, Pitts was landed in the role of loveable young rogueArchie Brooksin the British soap operaEmmerdale.Pitts was chosen for the role byKevin Laffan,who watched Pitts portray thetitle characterin a theatrical adaptation ofNicholas Nickleby,and believed that Pitts' versatile acting ability and his strongYorkshireaccent, meant he was well suited for the role. The role was Pitts' very first role in a television series, and he first appeared on the show on 18 November 1983, and remained in the show for a total of ten years, involved in storylines that included his prison sentence in 1989 for setting fire toSeth Armstrong's property, becoming a suspect of whether or not he was the father ofElsa Feldmann's child in 1990, and his relationship with lesbianZoe Tatein 1993.
In 1993, Pitts' character Archie was killed in the infamousEmmerdale plane crash.Pitts' last appearance on the show was on 30 December 1993.
Other work[edit]
During his time away fromEmmerdale,Pitts had notable guest appearances in shows includingCasualtyas Aidan Phillips in 1996,EastEndersas Cliff in 1996,The Billas Chris Riley in 1999,The Royalas Alec Glazer in 2004 andUnforgivenin 2009 as Adam Boothroyd. Tony was the original choice for Terry Duckworth inCoronation Street,but Nigel Pivaro ended up playing the role instead. Pitts starred inLilyhammeras Danny Croc Hammer, the brother of Duncan Hammer.
Pitts has appeared in the police dramaHeartbeaton two occasions, the first time in 1998 as Carl Southall and the second time in 2005 as Brian Gilbert. In 2002, he appeared as DI Healey in the miniseriesIn DeepalongsideNick BerryandStephen Tompkinson.
He is a screenwriter, as well as an actor.[2]
Pitts appeared inScott & Baileyon ITV1/ITV1HD as Adrian Scott (the husband ofLesley Sharp's character, DC Janet Scott). He also had a small role in the 2012 filmWar Horse.In 2012 Pitts starred in the third episode ofDirk Gentlyas Robbie Glover. In 2012 he also appeared as the Chief Superintendent in theSherlockepisode "The Reichenbach Falls". In 2013 he appeared as Sergeant Moss in the BBC drama seriesPeaky Blinders.Pitts played Captain Patero inRogue One: A Star Wars Storyin 2016.[3]He also appeared as Detective Chief Superintendent Les Hargreaves in the 2014 second series of BBC'sLine of Duty,made an appearance in the series finale of series four in 2017, and then appeared in series five in 2019. From 2017 he appeared in two seasons of the seriesJamestownas Edgar Massinger. Pitts also appeared inWild Billon ITV in 2019.[citation needed]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Looks and Smiles | Alan Wright | |
2003 | Johnny Vegas: Who's Ready For Ice Cream | Paramount | |
2011 | Powder | Roger | |
2011 | War Horse | Sgt. Martin | |
2012 | When the Lights Went Out | Hilary Barnes | |
2014 | Hyena | Keith | |
2016 | Triple 9 | Major Crimes Detective | |
2016 | Away | Col | |
2016 | Rogue One | Captain Pterro | |
2017 | Funny Cow | Bob | |
2017 | Journeyman | Richie |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983–1993 | Emmerdale | Archie Brooks | Series regular |
1996 | Casualty | Aidan Phillips | |
1996 | EastEnders | Cliff | |
1998 | Heartbeat | Carl Southall | |
1999 | The Bill | Chris Riley | |
2002 | In Deep | DI Healey | |
2004 | The Royal | Alec Glazer | |
2005 | Heartbeat | Brian Gilbert | |
2009 | Unforgiven | Adam Boothroyd | |
2011–2013 | Scott & Bailey | Adrian Scott | Series 1-3 |
2012 | Dirk Gently | Robbie Glover | Episode 3 |
2012 | Sherlock | Chief Superintendent | Episode:"The Reichenbach Falls" |
2013-2017 | Peaky Blinders | Sergeant Moss | |
2014–2015 | My Mad Fat Diary | Chloe's Dad | Series 2, 3 |
2014–2019 | Line of Duty | DCS Lester Hargreaves | Series 2, 4, 5 |
2017–2018 | Jamestown | Edgar Massinger | |
2020 | Roadkill | Mick 'the Mouth' Murray | |
2020- | All Creatures Great and Small (2020) | Richard Alderson | Series on PBS Masterpiece |
Writing/Directing Credits[edit]
Year | Title | Company and Format | Role | Cast | Nominations/Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Night Class | Radio 4
Comedy Series 6x30 mins episodes |
Creator & Co-writer | Johnny Vegas, Rebecca Front, Nicola Stephenson, Tony Pitts, Tony Burgess, Lyndsey Marshal, Gwyneth Powell, Christian Knowles | |
2003 | Johnny Vegas: Who’s Ready For Ice Cream? | Paramount Video | Writer | Johnny Vegas, Tony Pitts, Tony Burgess, Adrian Manfred
Director - Stewart Lee |
|
2005 | 18 Stone of Idiot | Channel 4
6hrs Entertainment |
Writer
& Performer |
Guest Include: Elvis Costello, Ray Winstone, Kathy Burke, Rhys Ifans, David Soul, Huey Morgan | NOMINATED- Golden Rose of Montreal |
2009 | The Gemma Factor | BBC
6x30min episode sitcom |
Writer/Actor | Gwyneth Powell, Angus Barnett, Philip McGinley, Ross Adams, Claire King, Tony Pitts | |
2012 | Shedtown - Series1[4] | Radio 4
Comedy Series 6x35 mins |
Writer/Director | Tony Pitts, Kevin Eldon, Johnny Vegas, Suranne Jones, Shaun Dooley, Ronni Ancona, Emma Fryer, Adrian Manfredi, Caron May Carly, Jessica Knappett, James Quinn, Warren Brown | |
2012 | On It[5] | Radio 4 Afternoon play | Writer/Director | Tony Pitts, Adam Gillen, Maxine Peake, Joanne Mitchell, Gwyneth Powell | WON - BBC Best Audio Drama (Single Play) 2013
WON - Sony Gold at the Sony Awards 2012 (Best Radio Drama) |
2013 | Shedtown - Series 2 | Radio 4 Comedy Series
6x35 mins |
Writer/Director | Tony Pitts, Stephen Mangan, Ronni Ancona, Johnny Vegas, Emma Fryer, Adrian Manfredi, Rosina Carbone, Shaun Dooley, James Quinn, Warren Brown, Eleanor Samson, Maxine Peake | |
2013 | Shedtown - Series 3 | Radio 4
Comedy Series 6x35 mins |
Writer/Director | Stephen Mangan, Tony Pitts, Warren Brown, James Quinn, Shaun Keaveny, Rosina Carbone, Debra Stephenson, Seymour Mace, Emma Fryer, Neil Maskell, Juliet Oldfield, Maxine Peake | |
2014 | Pact[6] | Radio 4
Afternoon Play |
Writer/Director | Richard Hawley, Tony Pitts, Maxine Peake, Gwyneth Powell, Dominic Brunt, Polly Maberly | WON - Bronze
BBC Audio Drama Awards 2014 |
2015 | Monster[7] | Radio 4
Afternoon Play |
Writer/Director | Neil Maskell, Sean Dooley, Richard Hawley | Nominated - BBC Audio Awards 2016, Best Audio Drama, Single Play |
2018 | Funny Cow | Feature Film | Writer/Producer/Actor | Maxine Peake, Stephen Graham, Paddy Considine, Tony Pitts | Nominated - BIFA Best Actress and Best Music 2018 |
2019 | A Badge[8] | Radio 4
Afternoon Play |
Writer/Director | Katherine Kelly (actress),Corinne Bailey Rae, Warren Brown, Kate Hardie, Isaac Whitmore, Tony Pitts, Caleb Potter Williams | Nominated - BBC Audio Awards 2020, Best Actress (Katherine Kelly) |
2022 | Curl Up And D.I[9] | Podcast
6 episodes Scripted Comedy |
Writer/Director | Vic Reeves, Morgana Robinson, Mark Benton,Katherine Kelly (actress),Burn Gorman, Nancy Sorrell, Jennifer Saayeng | |
2022 | Let Her Go[10] | Short Film | Writer/Director | Katherine Kelly (actress),Lisa Allen, Gracie Kelly | |
2021-Current | Three Little Words[11] | Podcast, Biographical | Creator &
Co-Presenter |
WithJohn Bishopand many special guests including Ian McKellen, Robbie Williams | |
2024 | Classic
(In development) |
Feature Film | Creator Writer/Director/Producer | Sally Philips, David Morrissey, Leigh Francis, Robbie Williams, Mark Benton, Morgana Robinson, Burn Gorman |
References[edit]
- ^Stuart Golland obituary–The Independent,9 October 2003
- ^– "Diary: Wicked bad girl"–Manchester Evening News,16 June 2009
- ^Tony PittsatIMDb
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - Shedtown - Episode guide".BBC.Retrieved12 January2024.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, On It".BBC.Retrieved12 January2024.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Pact".BBC.Retrieved12 January2024.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Monster".BBC.Retrieved12 January2024.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, A Badge".BBC.Retrieved12 January2024.
- ^Curl Up & D.I.(Comedy), Folding Pocket, 30 June 2022,retrieved12 January2024
- ^Pitts, Tony (18 November 2022),Let Her Go(Short, Comedy), Lisa Allen, Gracie Kelly, Make Me Films,retrieved12 January2024
- ^Three Little Words(Talk-Show), Amazon Music, Folding Pocket, Wondery, 14 December 2020,retrieved12 January2024