Neil Morrissey

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Neil Morrissey
Born Neil Anthony Morrissey
(1962-07-04) 4 July 1962 (age 61)
Stafford, England
Nationality British
Occupation Actor, Comedian, Businessman, Singer
Years active 1983–present
Notable work See below
Spouse(s) Amanda Noar (m. 1987–91) (divorced)
Partner(s) Elizabeth Carling (1991)
Amanda Holden (2000)
Children 1 son (b. 1989)

Neil Anthony Morrissey (born 4 July 1962) is an English actor, singer and businessman. He is best known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly

He is also known for his role as Rocky in Boon, the voice of Bob, Lofty and Farmer Pickles in Bob the Builder, the voice of Nick in Roary the Racing Car and deputy head Eddie Lawson in Waterloo Road.

Early life

Morrissey was born in Stafford to Irish parents. He and his brother Stephen (who died in 1997) were placed under a care order and later legally separated from their parents (both psychiatric nurses) after they went on multiple theft and burglary sprees.[1] The boys spent much of their childhood in separate foster homes, Morrissey spending most of his time at the Penkhull Children's Home under the care of Margaret Cartlidge (Auntie Margaret).[2] After studying at Thistley Hough High School in Penkhull, he was fostered by the family of his friend Mark Langston. This lasted for nearly two years after leaving the children's home at 17. He studied for his A levels at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. During this time he was an active member of the Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke Schools Theatre, and Stoke Original Theatre and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1979. His successful application to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama resulted in an unconditional offer which paved the way for the next steps in his theatrical career.

Career

Acting

On leaving Guildhall, Morrissey paid off his student debts by landing parts in film productions. His first role in 1984 was Able Seaman Matthew Quintal in The Bounty alongside Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins and Laurence Olivier.

In 1984 he also appeared in episode 5 (of series 5) of the police drama Juliet Bravo, shown on BBC1. Morrissey shot to fame in the mid-1980s as dim biker Rocky in the ITV drama series Boon. In 1990, he played the lead role of Noddy in the British spoof horror film I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle which involved many of the actors from Boon.

His role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly was created to replace the character of Dermot after Harry Enfield's departure from the series. The series became one of the most popular UK sitcoms of the 1990s and turned Morrissey into a national star and a target for the tabloid newspapers. His ongoing romance storyline with co-star Leslie Ash led to the pair appearing in several advertisements for Homebase. In 1997, he starred in the Comedy Premiere The Chest and in 1998 two TV series: My Summer with Des and The Vanishing Man.

Circa 1999, Morrisey starred in a comedy drama called Shakespeare's Birthday, in which he played a coach driver. One of his colleagues was played by Tony Selby.

Morrissey also starred in the John Godber film about rugby league called Up n Under and voiced several characters in the children's television series Bob the Builder, including the lead character, in which role he scored a Christmas 2000 UK number 1 single with "Can We Fix It?". In 2015, he was fired from voicing the character and the role was given to Lee Ingleby. In addition, he provides the narration for Morph (in recent years) and Maisy.

In 2002, Morrissey returned to TV screens in the drama series Paradise Heights which ran for two series. He then had a starring role in the BBC sitcom Carrie and Barry from 2004–2005.

His West End theatre work includes Speed, Robin Hood, The Daughter In-Law and his critically acclaimed West End performance in A Passionate Woman. In 2005 Morrissey performed in Victoria Wood's musical adaptation of Acorn Antiques The Musical alongside Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston and Josie Lawrence. Morrissey took over the role of Nathan Detroit from Nigel Lindsay in the London revival of Guys and Dolls from 6 March 2006 until June 2006.

In 2006 he was the guest host for an episode of Channel 4's The Friday Night Project before taking on the role as presenter on the BBC Two car related game show Petrolheads.

In 2007 he appeared in British TV show Skins as the father of Cassie and made a guest appearance in Neighbours as a priest, remarrying long term characters Susan (Jackie Woodburne) and Karl (Alan Fletcher) on a boat in the River Thames.

On 11 October 2007 he made his first appearance in the BBC's Waterloo Road as new deputy head teacher, Eddie Lawson. He was in this role for two series, making his final appearance in May 2009.

In August 2009 he promoted a national tour of the play Rain Man.[3]

During the 2009 Christmas season he played the role of Buttons in the Pantomime 'Cinderella' at The Assembly Rooms in Derby. Morrisey returned due to popular demand in the pantomime 'Aladdin' playing the character of Wishey-Washey at The Assembly Rooms in Derby.

In January 2012 Morrissey took on the role of "Fagin", in Lionel Barts musical "Oliver" at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

In July 2013, Morrissey reprised his Skins role as Marcus Ainsworth, the father of Hannah Murray's character Cassie Ainsworth. He appeared in both parts of Skins Pure.

Morrissey is starring alongside Adrian Edmonson, Robert Webb and Miles Jupp in the play Neville's Island at Duke of York's Theatre, London during Autumn 2014.[4]

In 2015 he portrayed an evil man named Keith in CBBC's The Dumping Ground, just for one episode.

In December 2015, Morrissey will star in BBC Two's comedy drama A Gert Lush Christmas where he will play the father of Russell Howard's character.

Spoof show

On 1 April 2006, a BBC Three spoof programme titled Neil Morrissey's Secret documented sides of Morrissey's life that were previously unknown to the world at large.[5] It alleged he has a house, wife and two children in Jordan as well as a degree in Botany for which he had studied for 20 years. These studies were integral to his motivation to find a breakthrough in anti-ageing. According to the documentary he has invented a cream called 'The Essence' which contains extracts of a plant found only in a remote Jordanian village. In the documentary the cream's acolytes include celebrities such as Jane Seymour, Gloria Hunniford and Philippa Forrester. The show followed Morrissey as he carried out his research which involved years of study and crossing continents, funded by his lucrative acting career. Ultimately Morrissey launches the cream only to have his friends concerned for his health, his laboratory broken into, and a trip to Jordan where he finds that the villagers whose trust he had gained through time spent with them, have abandoned their homes because of the fall-out of his discovery. This hoax was launched on 1 April and despite the suspicions caused by this date as April Fool's Day, it still managed to convince some people that it was true.

Business

Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn, The lease of which was part owned by Morrissey

Morrissey has invested his earnings successfully in various projects, including production companies and his own television advertising and production company, Cactus Media Group.[citation needed]

He lives in a two bedroom flat in Crouch End, has no mortgage, and bought his first 'flash' car in 2002. He has investments in Babington House, Somerset; and has money in stocks and shares.[citation needed] He has also bought his mother a home in Stafford.[citation needed]

Morrissey's love of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas led to him and his business partners Matt Roberts and Kevin Roos buying up numerous properties in the village of Laugharne, including the Hurst Hotel, the New Three Mariners pub and Brown's Hotel in April 2004 for £670,000.[6] In October 2006 it was announced that the business had put Brown's Hotel on the market in order to finance the redevelopment of the Hurst Hotel,[7] and the expansion of the private members' club, Hurst House in Covent Garden, London.[8] In July 2008, with delays encountered on the construction of Hurst House-at-the-Mill, a luxury hotel in Hertfordshire due to open in 2009, the Laugharne-based assets of the Hurst House group went into a packaged administration. The assets were subsequently bought by new investors backing Roberts, resulting in the end of Morrissey's association with Laugharne.[9]

Morrissey part owned the lease on the Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn in Marton, North Yorkshire. From this base came the Morrissey Fox range of real ale beer, developed by Morrissey and chef Richard Fox which is still in production. In June 2009, it was reported that his Welsh pub had failed and that the company owed £250,000,[10] and the lease to Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn was handed back to the owner after just 18 months on 22 October 2009.[11]

Morrissey avoided bankruptcy over his failed business ventures but entered an IVA.[12]

Personal life

Morrissey married Amanda Noar in 1987 after meeting her when she guested in an episode of Boon; the couple have a son born in 1989. He also has five nieces and a nephew. The couple divorced in 1991. He then became engaged to actress Elizabeth Carling whom he had first met in 1989 when she too was working on Boon. They parted on good terms: she later guested alongside him on Men Behaving Badly. His subsequent affairs have been well documented by the British tabloids, including dating Rachel Weisz after starring together in My Summer with Des in 1998: they lived together at his flat in Crouch End.[13]

The tabloid interest peaked with Morrissey's affair with actress Amanda Holden at the height of his fame in 2000 and when her husband, comedian Les Dennis was taking part in Celebrity Big Brother. The affair was the primary reason for Holden's and Dennis's separation and subsequent divorce. At the story's height, there were 35 photographers outside his apartment block, and he had to ask a neighbour to buy him milk and other essentials – he later asked the police to help him get to his car.

Morrissey has numerous tattoos. According to one version of their origin, Morrissey applied them himself with needles and Indian ink. On his left arm is his first name and a blob which was going to be his initials before it became infected causing him to require an anti-tetanus injection. On his right is a squiggle which is a reversed version of The Saint logo.[13] Morrissey himself says the tattoos were done by other boys at the children's home. The boys there apparently saw that he did not have a tattoo and so gave him the option of a tattoo or a beating. He decided on the tattoo and now regrets not taking the other option.[14]

In 2006 Morrissey was awarded an honorary degree from Staffordshire University.[15][16][17]

He is a supporter of the London-based football club Crystal Palace.[18] A fan of real ale, in 2011 he produced a real ale with the club called Palace Ale.[19]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Bounty Seaman Matthew Quintal Film debut
1987 Playing Away Ian
1990 I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Noddy, aka Nick Oddie
1992 The Ballad of Kid Divine: The Cockney Cowboy Cass Malone
1993 Liberation: Captive 2 Video game (voice only)
1994 Staggered Video Biographer
1995 Trafford Tanzi Dean Rebel TV movie
Toy Story Announcer
1996 The Vanishing Man Nick Cameron TV movie
Roger Roger Phil TV movie
1997 The Chest John Croft TV movie
1998 Jack and the Beanstalk Jack TV movie
Up 'n' Under Steve
My Summer with Des Martin TV movie
1999 Hunting Venus Charlotte TV movie
The Match Piss-Off
The Flint Street Nativity Adrian Atherton/Wise Man TV movie
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything Director TV movie
2000 Happy Birthday Shakespeare Will Green TV movie
2001 Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember Bob/Lofty/Farmer Pickles Direct-to-video animated film (voice only)
Another World Captain Ronald Brimstone Animated film (voice only)
2002 Triggerman Pete Maynard
2003 Bob the Builer: The Knights of Can-A-Lot Bob/Lofty/Farmer Pickles Animated TV movie (voice only)
2004 Monkey Trousers Various roles
Bob the Builder: The Big Dino Dig Bob/Lofty/Farmer Pickles Direct-to-video animated film (voice only)
2005 The Adventures of William Shakespeare Richard III
2006 Acorn Antiques: The Musical John/Tony Direct-to-video film
2008 Clubbed Simon
2010 Inn Mates Brian TV movie
2011 The Adventures of William Shakespeare Vol. 2 Richard III
Care for Kids Himself
2012 Run for Your Wife Gary

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Juliet Bravo Oliver Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1985 Roll Over Beethoven Youth Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1985 Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Policeman Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1985 Travellers by Night Flick Miniseries – Recurring Role
1986 C.A.T.S. Eyes Trevor Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1987 Pulaski Tarquin Taylor Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1987–95 Boon Rocky Cassidy Recurring Role
1992–99 Men Behaving Badly Tony Smart Leading Role
1992 Cluedo Gordan Ferrar Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1993 Comedy Playhouse Danny Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1993 The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer Himself Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1995 The Morph Files Narrator Recurring Role (Voice Only)
1995 Noel's House Party Sammy Shammy Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
1997 Brambly Hedge Wilfred Toadflax Guest Appearance – 1 Episode (Voice Only)
1997 Rugrats Wheezy Davis "Send in the Clouds"
1997 Soul Music Mort Recurring Role (Voice Only)
1998 The Vanishing Man Nick Cameron Recurring Role
1998–2012 Bob the Builder Bob/Lofty/Scruffty/Farmer Pickles Recurring Role (Voice Only)
1999 Maisy Mouse Narrator (British Version) (Voice Only)
2001 Look and Read Zzaap Guest Appearance – 1 Episode (Voice Only)
2002 Paradise Heights Charlie Eustace Recurring Role
2003 Murder in Mind Stephen Kite Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
2003 The Eustace Bros. Charlie Eustace Recurring Role
2004 Unsolved History Narrator Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
2004 Carrie & Barry Barry Miniseries – Recurring Role
2005 Bob the Builder: Project Build It Bob/Lofty/Farmer Pickles Recurring Role (Voice Only)
2007 Skins Marcus Ainsworth Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
2007 Neighbours Vicar Guest Appearance – 1 Episode
2007–09 Waterloo Road Eddie Lawson Series regular
2011 Supersize Grime Narrator Recurring Role
2011 Inspector George Gently Tony Hexton Guest Appearance
2012 Line of Duty DC Nigel Morton 5 Episodes
2012 Me and Mrs Jones Jason 6 Episodes
2013 Skins: Pure Marcus Ainsworth 2 Episodes
2014 Over to Bill Jez
2015 The Dumping Ground Keith 1 episode; series 3
2015 Death in Paradise Disco Biscuit Episode 4.5
2015 A Gert Lush Christmas Dave Colman

References

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  3. Interviewed BBC TV Breakfast, 12 August 2009
  4. http://www.dukeofyorkstheatre.co.uk/event.html
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  6. Morrissey buys Dylan Thomas' local BBC NEWS
  7. [1] youtube.com
  8. Actor Morrissey to sell Dylan pub bbc.co.uk
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  13. 13.0 13.1 Interview: Neil Morrissey The Observer
  14. Neil Morrissey on Bob and behaving badly abc.net.au
  15. Recipients of Honorary Awards staffs.ac.uk
  16. Horizon staffs.ac.uk
  17. Honorary degree for media stars BBC
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External links