Alun Armstrong
Acting
Born July 17, 1946 · Annfield Plain, County Durham, England, UK
Alun Armstrong is a prolific English character actor. Armstrong grew up in County Durham in North East England. He first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began in the early 1970s, he has played, in his words, "the full spectrum of characters from the grotesque to musicals... I always play very colourful characters, often a bit crazy, despotic, psychotic." His numerous credits include six different Dickens adaptations and seven series as eccentric ex-detective Brian Lane in New Tricks. Armstrong is also an accomplished stage actor who spent nine years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He originated the role of Thénardier in the London production of Les Misérables and he won an Olivier Award for playing the title role in Sweeney Todd.
Films (86)
The Choral
2025
The Nicky Nack
2021
Breaking The Codes
2020
Out of Innocence
2019
Possum
2018
Funny Cow
2018
Asunder
2016
Golden Years
2016
Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary in Concert
2010
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story
2008
The Dinner Party
2007
Eragon
2006
The Girls Who Came to Stay
2006
Oliver Twist
2005
Millions
2005
When I'm Sixty-Four
2004
Van Helsing: The London Assignment
2004
Van Helsing
2004
Carrie's War
2004
It's All About Love
2003
Paradise Found
2003
Inquisition
2002
Strictly Sinatra
2001
Score
2001
The Mummy Returns
2001
Proof of Life
2000
Harrison's Flowers
2000
7 Up 2000
2000
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper
2000
Onegin
1999
Sleepy Hollow
1999
G:MT Greenwich Mean Time
1999
With or Without You
1999
Aristocrats
1999
The Saint
1997
Brazen Hussies
1996
Breaking the Code
1996
Witness Against Hitler
1996
Sorry About Last Night
1995
Les Misérables: 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
1995
Braveheart
1995
An Awfully Big Adventure
1995
MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday
1994
Doggin' Around
1994
Black Beauty
1994
The Tempest
1993
Blue Ice
1992
Patriot Games
1992
Split Second
1992
London Kills Me
1991
American Friends
1991
The Widowmaker
1990
Sticky Wickets
1990
White Hunter, Black Heart
1990
Looking After Number One
1990
Nineteen96
1989
A Night on the Tyne
1989
The Childeater
1989
That Summer of White Roses
1989
Number 27
1988
The Storyteller: The True Bride
1988
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
1985
Number One
1985
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
1985
The House
1984
Krull
1983
Mr Moon's Last Case
1983
The French Lieutenant's Woman
1981
Fear of God
1980
All Day on the Sands
1979
Measure for Measure
1979
Freedom of the Dig
1978
Liza
1978
Our Day Out
1977
Shooting the Chandelier
1977
The Duellists
1977
Risking It
1977
A Bridge Too Far
1977
The Chester Mystery Plays
1976
The Likely Lads
1976
Easy Go
1974
The 14
1973
The Eyes Have It
1973
The Sex Victims
1973
Only Make Believe
1973
Get Carter
1971