Timothy Leonard Spall is a renowned classical character actor born on February 27, 1957, in London, England. His parents, Joseph L. Spall, a postal worker, and Sylvia R. (Leonard),a hairdresser, instilled in him a passion for acting from an early age.
Spall's interest in acting led him to audition and secure a spot with the National Youth Theatre. He later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA),where he showcased his talent by playing the title roles in "Macbeth" and "Othello".
In 1979, Spall joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing in various plays such as "The Merry Wives of Windsor", "Cymbeline", "The Three Sisters", "Nicholas Nickleby", and "The Knight of the Burning Pestle". He also appeared in other rep companies, including "The Merchant" and "St. Joan".
Spall's film debut came in 1978 with a filmed version of the play "The Life Story of Baal". He went on to play featured roles in offbeat films such as "Quadrophenia" (1979),"Remembrance" (1982),"The Missionary" (1982),"The Bride" (1985),"Body Contact" (1987),"Crusoe" (1988),"To Kill A Priest" (1988),"Dream Demon" (1988),and "1871" (1990).
In the 1990s, Spall's career surged forward, largely due to his association with acclaimed writer/director Mike Leigh. He appeared in several of Leigh's award-winning films, including "Life Is Sweet" (1990),"Secrets & Lies" (1996),"Topsy-Turvy" (1999),and "All or Nothing" (2002).
Spall also worked with other notable directors, such as Ken Russell, Clint Eastwood, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Kenneth Branagh. He impressed on television as well, starring in series such as "Frank Stubbs Promotes" (1993),"Nice Day at the Office" (1994),and "Outside Edge" (1994).
Spall's momentum was temporarily halted by a battle with myeloid leukemia, but he returned to acting in the early 2000s. He played a range of characters, including Peter Pettigrew in the "Harry Potter" franchise, the charitable Cheeryble brothers in "Nicholas Nickleby" (2002),and the villainous Beadle in the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007).
Spall's more recent notable roles include Sir Winston Churchill in "The King's Speech" (2010),werewolf hunter Sid in the horror comedy "Love Bite" (2012),and the eccentric painter J.M.W. Turner in Mike Leigh's "Mr. Turner" (2014). He has also appeared in TV shows such as "The Street" (2006),"Blandings" (2013),and "Summer of Rockets" (2019).
Spall is the father of three children, including actor Rafe Spall.
