Tom Ellis (actor)

Summary

Thomas John Ellis (born 17 November 1978) is a Welsh actor. He first became known for playing Gary Preston in the BBC One sitcom Miranda (2009–2015) before achieving wider recognition for his role as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox urban fantasy series Lucifer (2016–2021), a role he reprised in the Arrowverse franchise's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover (2019).

Tom Ellis
Ellis in September 2022
Born
Thomas John Ellis

(1978-11-17) 17 November 1978 (age 45)
Cardiff, Wales
OccupationActor
Years active2000–present
Spouses
  • (m. 2006; div. 2014)
  • (m. 2019)
Children4

Early life edit

Thomas John Ellis was born in Cardiff on 17 November 1978, the son of Marilyn Jean (née Hooper) and Christopher John Ellis.[1] He has three sisters, one of whom is his twin. His father, uncle, and one of his sisters are all Baptist ministers.[2] Shortly after his birth, the family left Wales for England and settled in Sheffield,[3] where he attended Sheffield's High Storrs School and played the French horn in the city's youth orchestra.[4] He later earned a BA in Dramatic Studies from Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.[4]

Career edit

Ellis' breakout role was that of Gary Preston on the BBC One sitcom Miranda (2010–2015). He also appeared as King Cenred on the BBC fantasy series Merlin (2008), Justyn in Channel 4's No Angels, and Thomas Milligan in the Doctor Who episode "Last of the Time Lords". He has appeared in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, the BBC sketch comedy show The Catherine Tate Show, and the BBC medical drama Holby City. In July and August 2009, he starred in the ITV comedy drama Monday Monday.[5][6] He was cast as Detective Inspector Bland in Agatha Christie's Poirot.

In February 2015, Ellis was cast as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox series Lucifer, based on DC Comics' publication and character of the same name, which premiered on 25 January 2016.[7] The show later moved to Netflix. On 23 June 2020, it was announced that Netflix had renewed the show for a sixth and final season.[8] He reprised the role of Lucifer during The CW's The Flash episode of the Arrowverse crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths".[9]

In 2021, Ellis won the Tell-Tale TV Award for Favorite Actor in a Cable or Streaming Sci-fi/Fantasy/Horror Series.[10] He starred as war correspondent Nick in the Netflix romantic comedy film Players (2024).

Personal life edit

In 2006, Ellis married English actress Tamzin Outhwaite, to whom he was introduced by Scottish actor James McAvoy.[11] They had two daughters together before she filed for divorced in September 2013, citing adultery after he admitted to having an affair with an unnamed co-star while filming Gothica.[12][13][14] The divorce was finalised in April 2014.[11] Ellis also has a third daughter from an earlier relationship.[15][16]

Ellis married American screenwriter Meaghan Oppenheimer on 2 June 2019,[15][17] and their daughter (her first and his fourth) was born via surrogate in November 2023.[18]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role
2001 High Heels and Low Lifes Uniformed Officer
2001 Buffalo Soldiers Squash
2003 I'll Be There Ivor
2004 Vera Drake Police Constable
2005 The Best Man Groom
2006 Calon Gaeth Edward
2008 Miss Conception Zak
2019 Isn't It Romantic Dr. Todd
2024 Players Nick Russel

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Kiss Me Kate Ben Episode: "Kate's Niece"
2001 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby John Browdie Television film
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story Bigger boy 1 Miniseries; 2 episodes
2001–2002 Nice Guy Eddie Frank Bennett Main role
2002 Wild West Bungee jump instructor Episode: "Fear of Bungee"
Linda Green Marko Episode: "Viva Espana"
2003 Pollyanna Timothy Television film
Holby City David Jones Episode: "Endgame"
2004 Messiah III: The Promise Dr. Phillip Ryder 2 episodes
2005 Twisted Tales Alex Episode: "The Irredeemable Brain of Dr Heinrich Hunsecker"
Doctors Ricky Adams Episode: "Slim Chance"
Midsomer Murders Lee Smeeton Episode: "Midsomer Rhapsody"
Waking the Dead Harry Taylor Episode: "Straw Dog"
Love Soup Mike Episode: "Take Five"
ShakespeaRe-Told Claudio Episode: "Much Ado About Nothing"
2005–2006 No Angels Justyn 4 episodes
2006 EastEnders Dr. Oliver Cousins 29 episodes
Pulling Sam 2 episodes
2006–2007 Suburban Shootout PC Haines Main role
2006–2007 The Catherine Tate Show Detective Sergeant Sam Speed 2 episodes
2007 Casualty Joe Kelsall Episode: "Combat Indicators: Part 1"
Doctor Who Tom Milligan Episode: "Last of the Time Lords"
2008 Trial & Retribution Nick Fisher 2 episodes
The Passion Apostle Philip 4 episodes
Harley Street Dr Ross Jarvis 5 episodes
2009 Monday Monday Steven McColl Main role
2009–2015 Miranda Gary Preston Main role
2010 Dappers[citation needed] Marco Episode: "Proper Job"
Merlin Cenred 4 episodes
Accused Neil McGray Episode: "Liam's Story"
2011 Sugartown Max Burr Main role
The Fades Mark Etches Main role
2012 Silent Witness Father Jacobs Episode: "Fear"
Playhouse Presents Bill Episode: "The Other Woman"
Gates Mark Pearson 5 episodes
The Secret of Crickley Hall Gabe Caleigh Miniseries; 3 episodes
2013 Once Upon a Time Robin Hood S2 Episode 19 "Lacey"
Agatha Christie's Poirot Detective Inspector Bland Episode: "Dead Man's Folly"
Gothica Victor Frankenstein Television film
2014 Under Milk Wood Mr. Ogmore Television film
Rush Dr. William Rush Main role
2015 The Strain Rob Bradley Episode: "Identity"
2016–2021 Lucifer Lucifer Morningstar / Michael Demiurgos Main role
2018 Family Guy Oscar Wilde (voice) Episode: "V Is for Mystery"[19]
Queen America Andy 2 episodes
2019 The Flash Lucifer Morningstar Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three"
2022 Robot Chicken Michelin Man (voice) Episode: "May Cause Indecision...Or Not"
2022 The Great North Rick Chateau (voice) (The character “Dick Chateau”’s brother) Episode: “Dick, Rick, Groom Adventure”
2024 Exploding Kittens GodCat (voice) Post-production
TBA Tell Me Lies Oliver Series regular (Season 2), pre-production[20]
Washington Black Christopher 'Titch' Wilde Post-production
Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

References edit

  1. ^ "10 Things You Never Knew About Tom Ellis, Star of 'Lucifer' and 'Miranda'". BBC America. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ Cox, Emma (25 October 2016). "Miranda's Tom Ellis on mixing his religious upbringing with playing the Devil in Lucifer". Radiotimes. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Well known alumni". High Storrs School. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Emma (23 September 2015). "The Devil in Tom Ellis". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. ^ Hibberd, James (22 February 2013). "TV's Pilot Season Goes (Very) High-Concept". Entertainment Weekly. p. 26.
  6. ^ Thompson, Zac (2 March 2015). "DC Comics' "Lucifer" Pilot Finds Its Star At FOX". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  7. ^ Barton, Steve (27 February 2015). "Lucifer – Tom Ellis Gets His Horns". Dread Central. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. ^ Nellie, Andreeva (29 July 2018). "Netflix Chief On Cancelling 'Everything Sucks' & 'Lady Dynamite', Rescuing 'Lucifer' & 'Shadowhunters' Future – TCA". Deadline. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  9. ^ Moore, Trent (10 December 2019). "Surprise! Crisis on Infinite Earths crossed over with Netflix's Lucifer with a perfect cameo". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  10. ^ "The 2021 Tell-Tale TV Awards: Results! 'Julie and the Phantoms,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Lucifer,' and 'WandaVision' Among Winners". telltaletv.com. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Tamzin Outhwaite breaks silence after ex-husband Tom Ellis remarries". Hello! magazine. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Tamzin To Divorce Hubby After 'One-Night Stand'". HuffPost UK. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  13. ^ McNally, Kelby (10 September 2013). "Tamzin Outhwaite 'files for divorce from Tom Ellis, citing adultery'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  14. ^ McNally, Kelby (19 September 2013). "'We're all moving forward' Tom Ellis speaks out about Tamzin Outhwaite". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  15. ^ a b Heller, Corrine (3 June 2019). "Lucifer Star Tom Ellis Marries Meaghan Oppenheimer in Star-Studded Ceremony". E! News.
  16. ^ Crosbie, Eve (27 May 2021). "Lucifer star Tom Ellis looks almost unrecognisable in first-ever television role". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  17. ^ Murphy, Nichola (2 June 2021). "Lucifer's Tom Ellis shares never-before-seen wedding photo with wife Meaghan". HELLO!. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  18. ^ Cook, Sam (10 November 2023). "Actor Tom Ellis and wife welcome baby daughter via surrogate". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Family Guy [Deleted]". The Futon Critic. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  20. ^ Rice, Lynette (24 January 2024). "'Tell Me Lies': Tom Ellis Joins Season 2 Of Hulu Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

External links edit