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Brian Blessed

Acting 89 years old Mexborough, Yorkshire, England, UK ★ 1.8
Born: October 9, 1936

Biography

Brian Blessed OBE (born 9 October 1936)is an English actor. He is known for his distinctive bushy beard, booming voice, and exuberant personality and performances. He portrayed PC "Fancy" Smith in Z-Cars; Augustus in the 1976 BBC television production of I, Claudius; King Richard IV in the first series of Blackadder; Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon; Bustopher Jones and Old Deuteronomy in the 1981 original London production of Cats at the New London Theatre; Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, in Henry V; Boss Nass in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace; and the voice of Clayton and the Tarzan yell in Disney's Tarzan.

In 2016, Blessed was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the arts and charity.

Blessed was born on 9 October 1936 at Montagu Hospital in Mexborough, West Riding of Yorkshire, the son of William Blessed, a socialist coal miner at Hickleton Main Colliery (and himself the son of a coal miner) and cricketer for the Yorkshire second team, and Hilda (née Wall). He had a brother Alan, seven years younger, and the pair "went everywhere together" when they were growing up. Alan Blessed died from leukaemia aged 52; their mother died aged 87, and their father died aged 99. Blessed's great-great-grandfather, Jabez Blessed, was the father of 13 children and worked as a china and glass dealer in Brigg, Lincolnshire; many of Blessed's relatives hail from Brigg.

Blessed went to Bolton on Dearne Secondary Modern School, and completed his national service in the RAF, in Bicester, before enrolling at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1956.

Filmography

Acting Credits (180)

Time Travel Is Dangerous!
Time Travel Is Dangerous! Gavin the Octopus (voice) 2025
Peppa Pig: Wedding Party!
Peppa Pig: Wedding Party! Grampy Rabbit (voice) 2024
Peppa's Cinema Party
Peppa's Cinema Party Grampy Rabbit (voice) 2024
Peter O'Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba
Peter O'Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba Self 2022
Bug-Eyed Monsters Invade the Earth!
Bug-Eyed Monsters Invade the Earth! Narrator 2022
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Self – Actor 2022
Best & Bester
Best & Bester Shouty Shirt (Voice) 2022
The Queen: 70 Glorious Years
The Queen: 70 Glorious Years Self 2022
Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank Self - Panellist 2021
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Charlemagne (voice) 2021
Dear Mr. Burton
Dear Mr. Burton Narrator 2020
Close Enough
Close Enough Sir Jack Kleghorn (voice) 2020
Eugenius!
Eugenius! Space Lord 2020
Shed of the Dead
Shed of the Dead Narrator (voice) 2019
Robin Hood: The Rebellion
Robin Hood: The Rebellion Friar Tuck 2018
Life After Flash
Life After Flash Self 2017
The Russell Howard Hour
The Russell Howard Hour Self 2017
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse Santa Claus (voice) 2015
Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots
Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots Grampy Rabbit (voice) 2015
Brian Cox: Space, Time & Videotape
Brian Cox: Space, Time & Videotape Self 2014
The Seventeenth Kind
The Seventeenth Kind The Voice (voice) 2014
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return Judge Jawbreaker (voice) 2014
The Kumars
The Kumars Self 2014
Wizards vs Aliens
Wizards vs Aliens The Nekross King (voice) 2012
LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out Boss Nass (voice) 2012
So You Want To Be A Pirate!
So You Want To Be A Pirate! The Pirate King 2012
Tales of Television Centre
Tales of Television Centre Self 2012
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! The Pirate King (voice) 2012
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Self - Participant 2011
Wojtek: The Bear That Went to War
Wojtek: The Bear That Went to War Narrator 2011
Sooty
Sooty Father Christmas 2011
The Amazing World of Gumball
The Amazing World of Gumball Santa Claus (voice) 2011
Fee Fi Fo Yum
Fee Fi Fo Yum GTV Announcer 2010
Mr. Bojagi
Mr. Bojagi Mr. Bojagi 2010
Take Me Out
Take Me Out Announcer (voice) 2010
Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments
Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments Self 2008
The Making of The Trial of a Time Lord
The Making of The Trial of a Time Lord 2008
The Underdog Show
The Underdog Show 2008
All Star Mr & Mrs
All Star Mr & Mrs 2008
Agent Crush
Agent Crush Boris Goudphater (voice) 2008
Saving Planet Earth UK
Saving Planet Earth UK Himself - Presenter 2007
Would I Lie to You?
Would I Lie to You? Self 2007
Britain's Got More Talent
Britain's Got More Talent Self - Narrator 2007
Back in Business
Back in Business Trevor Pilkington 2007
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas Self 2007
The Conclave
The Conclave Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomin 2006
As You Like It
As You Like It Duke Senior/Duke Frederick 2006
Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy
Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy Sir Gregory 2006
Day of Wrath
Day of Wrath Lord Francisco del Ruiz 2006
Mist: The Story of a Sheepdog Puppy
Mist: The Story of a Sheepdog Puppy Sir Gregory(voice) 2005
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy King Richard IV (archive footage) (uncredited) 2005
448 BC: Olympiad of Ancient Hellas
448 BC: Olympiad of Ancient Hellas Narrator 2004
Alexander
Alexander Wrestling Trainer 2004
Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are? Self 2004
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show 2004
Peppa Pig
Peppa Pig Grampy Rabbit (voice) 2004
The Legend of the Tamworth Two
The Legend of the Tamworth Two Wild Boar (voice) 2004
QI
QI Self 2003
The Royal
The Royal Sir Edward Fawcett 2003
Devil's Harvest
Devil's Harvest Father Gabriel Norton 2003
The Dark Side of Everest
The Dark Side of Everest Self 2003
I, Claudius: A Television Epic
I, Claudius: A Television Epic Self 2002
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Self 2002
Fun at the Funeral Parlour
Fun at the Funeral Parlour 2001
The Mumbo Jumbo
The Mumbo Jumbo Lucifer Bounder 2000
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything 2000
The Greatest Store in the World
The Greatest Store in the World Mr. Scottley 1999
The Big Knights
The Big Knights Sir Morris 1999
Tarzan
Tarzan Clayton (voice) 1999
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Boss Nass (voice) 1999
Family Guy
Family Guy Prince Vultan (voice) 1999
King Lear
King Lear King Lear 1999
Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh
Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh Old Deuteronomy 1998
The Heaven and Earth Show
The Heaven and Earth Show 1998
Fantasy World Cup
Fantasy World Cup Self 1998
The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling
The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling Squire Western 1997
Macbeth
Macbeth Edward the Confessor 1997
Hamlet
Hamlet Ghost of Hamlet's Father 1996
Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great Bestuzhev 1996
The Bruce
The Bruce Edward I 1996
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher Captain (voice) 1996
Genius: Pythagoras
Genius: Pythagoras Self 1996
Kidnapped
Kidnapped Cluny MacPherson 1995
The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond
The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond 1995
Soccer AM
Soccer AM Self 1995
Johnny and the Dead
Johnny and the Dead William Stickers 1995
Chasing the Deer
Chasing the Deer Maj. Elliot 1994
MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis
MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis Atticus 1994
David Macaulay: Roman City
David Macaulay: Roman City Gaius Valerius (voice) 1994
Sooty & Co.
Sooty & Co. Santa Claus 1993
Lady Chatterley
Lady Chatterley Petty Officer 1993
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing Antonio 1993
GMTV
GMTV Self 1993
Blood and Dust
Blood and Dust Chatillon 1992
Freddie As F.R.O.7.
Freddie As F.R.O.7. El Supremo (voice) 1992
Exam Conditions
Exam Conditions Mr. Carksdale 1992
Back in the USSR
Back in the USSR Chazov 1992
Old Rococo: The Life of Gioacchino Rossini
Old Rococo: The Life of Gioacchino Rossini Voice of Rossini 1992
Galahad of Everest
Galahad of Everest George Mallory/Self 1991
Prisoner of Honor
Prisoner of Honor Gen. Gonse 1991
Pebble Mill
Pebble Mill Self 1991
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Lord Locksley 1991
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You Self - Host 1990
The Castle of Adventure
The Castle of Adventure Sam 1990
Henry V
Henry V Exeter 1989
David Macaulay: Pyramid
David Macaulay: Pyramid Ankhaf (voice) 1989
The Old Man Of The Mountain
The Old Man Of The Mountain Narrator 1989
A Question of Entertainment
A Question of Entertainment 1988
My Family and Other Animals
My Family and Other Animals Spiro 1987
Crossbow
Crossbow 1987
The Gnostics
The Gnostics Guilhabert De Castres 1987
Doctor Who: Mindwarp
Doctor Who: Mindwarp King Yrcanos 1986
David Macaulay: Cathedral
David Macaulay: Cathedral Master Guillaume (voice) 1986
John Silver's Return to Treasure Island
John Silver's Return to Treasure Island Long John Silver 1986
Lovejoy
Lovejoy Harry Catapodis 1986
Blake's 7: The Beginning
Blake's 7: The Beginning Vargas 1985
The Last Days of Pompeii
The Last Days of Pompeii Olinthus 1984
The Master of Ballantrae
The Master of Ballantrae Captain Teach 1984
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Hound of the Baskervilles Geoffrey Lyons 1983
Natural World
Natural World 1983
Blackadder
Blackadder King Richard IV 1983
High Road to China
High Road to China Suleman Khan 1983
David Macaulay: Castle
David Macaulay: Castle Voice 1983
Cosmic Princess
Cosmic Princess Mentor 1982
The Kenny Everett Television Show
The Kenny Everett Television Show Self 1982
The Little World of Don Camillo
The Little World of Don Camillo Peppone 1981
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon Prince Vultan 1980
Minder
Minder Freddie Dyer 1979
Tales of the Unexpected: Lamb to the Slaughter
Tales of the Unexpected: Lamb to the Slaughter Detective Jack Noonan 1979
Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected Detective Sergeant Jack Nolan 1979
The Aphrodite Inheritance
The Aphrodite Inheritance Basileos 1979
Blake's 7
Blake's 7 Vargas 1978
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol Narrator (voice) 1977
The Eagle Has Landed
The Eagle Has Landed Arthur Seymour (voice) (uncredited) 1976
I, Claudius
I, Claudius Augustus 1976
Nobody's House
Nobody's House Jack Treadful 1976
Into Infinity
Into Infinity Dr. Tom Bowen 1975
The Day After Tomorrow
The Day After Tomorrow Dr. Tom Bowen 1975
A Midsummer Nightmare
A Midsummer Nightmare Det Sgt George Briggs 1975
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 Mentor 1975
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 Cabot Rowland 1975
Survivors
Survivors Brod 1975
The Sweeney
The Sweeney Frank Kemble 1975
King Arthur, the Young Warlord
King Arthur, the Young Warlord Mark of Cornwall 1975
Churchill's People
Churchill's People Guthrum 1974
Notorious Woman
Notorious Woman Albert Grzymala 1974
Boy Dominic
Boy Dominic William Woodcock 1974
European Heritage
European Heritage Narrator (voice) 1973
Thriller
Thriller Det Sgt George Briggs 1973
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha Pedro 1972
Arthur of the Britons
Arthur of the Britons Mark of Cornwall 1972
Henry VIII and His Six Wives
Henry VIII and His Six Wives Suffolk 1972
Shirley's World
Shirley's World 1972
The Bristol Entertainment
The Bristol Entertainment Cabot / Wolstan / Pocock / Colston / Pope Gregory / Dr. Beddoes 1971
Justice
Justice Tiger Lawson 1971
The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women Talthybius 1971
The Last Valley
The Last Valley Korski 1971
Wine of India
Wine of India Will 1970
Brotherly Love
Brotherly Love Jack Baird 1970
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Jim Lawsey 1969
The Double Agent
The Double Agent Reg Sugden 1969
Son of Man
Son of Man Peter 1969
Till Death Us Do Part
Till Death Us Do Part Sergeant 1969
The Expert
The Expert Hubert Innes 1968
Cold Comfort Farm
Cold Comfort Farm Reuben Starkadder 1968
The Further Adventures of the Musketeers
The Further Adventures of the Musketeers Porthos 1967
The Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree 1966
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers Porthos 1966
BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month Sgt. Kite 1965
The Troubleshooters
The Troubleshooters Eddie Barnaby 1965
Public Eye
Public Eye Rev. William Pratt 1965
The Wednesday Play
The Wednesday Play Peter 1964
Doctor Who
Doctor Who King Yrcanos 1963
Z-Cars
Z-Cars PC Smith 1962
Z-Cars
Z-Cars PC Fancy Smith 1962
Z-Cars
Z-Cars PC William "Fancy" Smith 1962
The Avengers
The Avengers Sergeant Hearn 1961
The Avengers
The Avengers Mark Dayton 1961
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Captain Teach 1951
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
Have I Got a Bit More News for You Self - Presenter

Directing Credits (1)

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