Philip Goldacre was born in January 1954 in Sittingbourne, Kent, England, as the younger son of Leslie Gordon Goldacre and Iris Violet Beatrice Goldacre, nee Thomas. His father, a carpenter and joiner, later built houses on his own account, while his mother, Iris, was the owner and principal of the Iris Thomas School of Dance and Drama.
Growing up, Philip's mother restarted the school once he began school, and she wanted to be at home with her sons until they started school. Philip was educated at Ufton Lane Infants School, Barrow Grove Primary School, and Borden Grammar School, all in Sittingbourne, between 1959 and 1970.
After completing his secondary education, Philip attended Medway and Maidstone College of Technology before joining the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME),British Army, in 1971 at the age of 17. During his training, he decided to leave the Army and became a Clerk REME until his discharge in 1975 with Exemplary service grading.
Following his time in the Army, Philip worked as an information systems analyst, designer, and developer for 10 years, working on large systems for organizations such as the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority and the National Health Service. He earned his MSc in Business Information Systems with the University of East London in 1999.
Philip's entry into the world of acting began in amateur theatre after leaving the Army. He discovered a passion for acting and decided to pursue it as a career. Since then, he has experienced both ups and downs, but overall, he has enjoyed the journey, working with wonderful people and having a lot of fun along the way.
