BB
Brian Blessed
Actor, DirectorBorn October 9, 1936 (89 years)
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.
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.
Known For
Filmography
| 2024 | Time Travel Is Dangerous · as Gavin The Octopus (voice) |
| 2024 | Peppa Pig: Wedding Party! · as Grampy Rabbit (voice) |
| 2024 | Peppa's Cinema Party · as Grampy Rabbit (voice) |
| 2022 | Best & Bester (TV Series) · as Shouty Shirt (voice) |
| 2021 | Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans · as Charlemagne (voice) |
| 2020 | Close Enough (TV Series) · as Sir Jack Kleghorn (voice) |
| 2020 | Wizards: Tales of Arcadia (TV Series) · as Charlemagne |
| 2019 | Worzel Gummidge (2019) (TV Series) · as Abraham Longshanks |
| 2019 | Shed of the Dead · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2019 | Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun · as Grampy Rabbit |
| 2018 | Robin Hood: The Rebellion · as Friar Tuck |
| 2016 | The Lodge (TV Series) · as Walter |
| 2016 | The Harklets in Reality Capture for Cinema · as Unnamed |
| 2015 | A Life on Screen: Stephen Fry · as Cast |
| 2015 | Danger Mouse (2015) (TV Series) · as Santa Claus (voice) |
| 2015 | Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots · as Grampy Rabbit (voice) |
| 2015 | The Lost Worlds of Gerry Anderson · as Dr. Tom Bowen |
| 2015 | The Big Knights · as Sir Morris |
| 2014 | Decline of an Empire · as Modern Day Priest |
| 2013 | Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return · as Judge Jawbreaker (voice) |
| 2013 | Henry Hugglemonster (TV Series) · as Eduardo Enormomonster |
| 2013 | Showreel (TV Series) · as Duck |
| 2012 | Wizards vs Aliens (TV Series) · as The Nekross King (voice) |
| 2012 | Santa's Blotto · as Santa |
| 2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out · as Boss Nass (voice) |
| 2012 | Toast of London (TV Series) · as Col. Gonville Toast |
| 2012 | So You Want to Be a Pirate! · as The Pirate King |
| 2012 | The Pirates! Band of Misfits · as The Pirate King (voice) |
| 2011 | Wojtek: The Bear That Went to War · as Narrator |
| 2011 | Sooty (2011) (TV Series) · as Father Christmas |
| 2011 | The Amazing World of Gumball (TV Series) · as Santa Claus (voice) |
| 2010 | In Confidence (TV Series) |
| 2010 | Take Me Out (TV Series) · as Announcer (voice) |
| 2009 | Mr. Bojagi · as Mr. Bojagi |
| 2009 | The Legend of Dick and Dom (TV Series) · as King |
| 2008 | Blackadder Rides Again · as Richard Iv |
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | Trials and Tribulations · as King Yrcanos |
| 2008 | The Wrong Door (TV Series) · as Captain Goiter |
| 2008 | All Star Mr & Mrs (TV Series) |
| 2008 | Agent Crush · as Boris Goudphater (voice) |
| 2007 | Kika & Bob (TV Series) · as Bob |
| 2007 | Back in Business · as Trevor Pilkington |
| 2006 | Little Princess (TV Series) · as Great Uncle Walter |
| 2006 | The Conclave · as Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomin |
| 2006 | As You Like It · as Duke Senior/duke Frederick |
| 2006 | Day of Wrath · as Lord Francisco Del Ruiz |
| 2005 | Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy · as Sir Gregory |
| 2005 | Midsummer Dream · as Cast |
| 2005 | The Funny Blokes of British Comedy · as King Richard Iv (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2004 | 448 BC: Olympiad of Ancient Hellas · as Narrator |
| 2004 | Alexander · as Wrestling Trainer |
| 2004 | The Paul O'Grady Show (TV Series) |
| 2004 | Peppa Pig (TV Series) · as Grampy Rabbit (voice) |
| 2004 | The Legend of the Tamworth Two · as Wild Boar (voice) |
| 2003 | Winter Solstice · as Max |
| 2003 | Franny's Feet (TV Series) · as Father Christmas |
| 2003 | The Royal (TV Series) · as Sir Edward Fawcett |
| 2003 | Devil's Harvest · as Father Gabriel Norton |
| 2002 | Timeshift (TV Series) · as Pc Fancy Smith, 'z Cars' |
| 2001 | Seven Swords of Wayland · as King Oswine |
| 2001 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour (TV Series) |
| 2000 | The Mumbo Jumbo · as Lucifer Bounder |
| 2000 | Doctors (TV Series) · as Dominic Duvall |
| 1999 | The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything · as King Henry Viii |
| 1999 | The Greatest Store in the World · as Mr. Scottley |
| 1999 | The Big Knights (TV Series) · as Sir Morris |
| 1999 | Tarzan · as Clayton (voice) |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace · as Boss Nass (voice) |
| 1999 | King Lear · as King Lear |
| 1999 | Family Guy (TV Series) · as Prince Vultan (voice) |
| 1998 | Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh · as Old Deuteronomy |
| 1997 | The History of Tom Jones (TV Series) · as Squire Western |
| 1997 | Macbeth · as Edward The Confessor |
| 1997 | Adam's Family Tree (TV Series) · as Cavalier |
| 1996 | Hamlet · as Ghost Of Hamlet's Father |
| 1996 | The Bruce · as Edward I |
| 1996 | Dennis the Menace and Gnasher (TV Series) · as Captain (voice) |
| 1995 | Catherine the Great · as Bestuzhev |
| 1995 | Kidnapped · as Cluny Macpherson |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | Johnny and the Dead (TV Series) · as William Stickers |
| 1994 | Chasing the Deer · as Maj. Elliot |
| 1994 | MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis · as Atticus |
| 1994 | David Macaulay: Roman City · as Gaius Valerius (voice) |
| 1993 | Rosamunde Pilcher (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1993 | Sooty & Co. (TV Series) · as Santa Claus |
| 1993 | Lady Chatterley (TV Series) · as Petty Officer |
| 1993 | Much Ado About Nothing · as Antonio |
| 1992 | Freddie as F.R.O.7. · as El Supremo (voice) |
| 1992 | Back in the U.S.S.R. · as Chazov |
| 1991 | Galahad of Everest · as George Mallory/self |
| 1991 | Prisoner of Honor · as Gen. Gonse |
| 1991 | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves · as Lord Locksley |
| 1991 | Waiting for Godot · as Pozzo |
| 1990 | Stars in Their Eyes (TV Series) · as Luciano Pavarotti |
| 1990 | The Castle Of Adventure (TV Series) · as Sam |
| 1989 | Henry V · as Exeter |
| 1989 | Asterix and the Big Fight · as Caous |
| 1988 | David Macaulay: Pyramid · as Ankhaf (voice) |
| 1988 | War and Remembrance (TV Series) · as Gen. Yevlenko |
| 1987 | My Family and Other Animals (TV Series) · as Spiro |
| 1987 | Crossbow (TV Series) |
| 1986 | Doctor Who: Mindwarp · as King Yrcanos |
| 1986 | David Macaulay: Cathedral · as Master Guillaume (voice) |
| 1986 | Return to Treasure Island (TV Series) · as Long John Silver |
| 1986 | Boon (TV Series) · as Lambert Sampson |
| 1986 | Lovejoy (TV Series) · as Harry Catapodis |
| 1985 | Blake's 7: The Beginning · as Vargas |
| 1984 | The Last Days of Pompeii (TV Series) · as Olinthus |
| 1984 | The Master of Ballantrae · as Captain Teach |
| 1983 | The Hound of the Baskervilles · as Geoffrey Lyons |
| 1983 | Natural World (TV Series) |
| 1983 | David Macaulay: Castle · as Voice |
| 1983 | Blackadder (TV Series) · as King Richard Iv |
| 1983 | High Road to China · as Suleman Khan |
| 1982 | Cosmic Princess · as Mentor |
| 1980 | Flash Gordon · as Prince Vultan |
| 1980 | The Joy of Bach · as J.s. Bach |
| 1979 | Minder (TV Series) · as Freddie Dyer |
| 1979 | Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) · as Detective Sergeant Jack Nolan |
| 1979 | The Aphrodite Inheritance (TV Series) · as Basileos |
| 1978 | Blake's 7 (TV Series) · as Vargas |
| 1977 | A Christmas Carol · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1976 | The Eagle Has Landed · as Arthur Seymour (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1976 | Nobody's House (TV Series) · as Jack Treadful |
| 1976 | Nobody’s House (TV Series) · as Jack Treadful |
| 1976 | I, Claudius (TV Series) · as Augustus |
| 1976 | The Story of David · as Abner |
| 1975 | The Day After Tomorrow · as Dr. Tom Bowen |
| 1975 | NBC Special Treat (TV Series) · as Dr. Tom Bowen |
| 1975 | Space: 1999 (TV Series) · as Cabot Rowland |
| 1975 | Survivors (TV Series) · as Brod |
| 1975 | The Sweeney (TV Series) · as Frank Kemble |
| 1975 | King Arthur, the Young Warlord · as Mark Of Cornwall |
| 1974 | Notorious Woman (TV Series) · as Albert Grzymala |
| 1973 | Thriller (1973) (TV Series) · as Det Sgt George Briggs |
| 1973 | Leap in the Dark (TV Series) · as Thomas Myers |
| 1972 | Man of La Mancha · as Pedro |
| 1972 | Henry VIII and His Six Wives · as Suffolk |
| 1972 | Arthur of the Britons (TV Series) · as Mark Of Cornwall |
| 1972 | Jackanory Playhouse (TV Series) · as Sir Godfrey De Gules |
| 1971 | The Bristol Entertainment · as Cabot / Wolstan / Pocock / Colston / Pope Gregory / Dr. Beddoes |
| 1971 | Justice (1971) (TV Series) · as Tiger Lawson |
| 1971 | Shirley's World (TV Series) |
| 1971 | The Trojan Women · as Talthybius |
| 1971 | The Last Valley · as Korski |
| 1970 | Brotherly Love · as Jack Baird |
| 1969 | Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969) (TV Series) · as Jim Lawsey |
| 1969 | Hadleigh (TV Series) · as Joseph Roper |
| 1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Ted Gissing |
| 1968 | Alf 'n' Family · as Sergeant |
| 1968 | The Expert (TV Series) · as Hubert Innes |
| 1968 | Cold Comfort Farm (TV Series) · as Reuben Starkadder |
| 1968 | The Basil Brush Show (TV Series) · as Captain Hook |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouse (TV Series) · as Jim Carter |
| 1967 | The Further Adventures of the Musketeers (TV Series) · as Porthos |
| 1966 | |
| 1966 | The Three Musketeers (1966) (TV Series) · as Porthos |
| 1965 | Jackanory (TV Series) · as Storyteller |
| 1965 | Play of the Month (TV Series) · as Sgt. Kite |
| 1965 | The Troubleshooters (TV Series) · as Eddie Barnaby |
| 1965 | Public Eye (TV Series) · as Rev. William Pratt |
| 1964 | The Wednesday Play (TV Series) · as Peter |
| 1964 | Horizon (TV Series) · as Brunel |
| 1963 | Doctor Who (TV Series) · as King Yrcanos |
| 1963 | Love Story (1963) (TV Series) · as Andrew |
| 1962 | The Valiant · as Cast |
| 1962 | Z Cars (TV Series) · as Pc William "fancy" Smith |
| 1961 | Ghost Squad (TV Series) · as Policeman |
| 1961 | The Avengers (TV Series) · as Mark Dayton |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame (TV Series) · as Captain Teach |