Peter Firth's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Spooks (UK) Harry Pearce World Without End Earl Roland Mayday Malcolm Here Come the Double Deckers (UK) Scooper South Riding (UK) Anthony Sna… That's Life Victor Leski The Battle for Rome Vespasian And the Beat Goes On (UK) Francis Holding On (UK) Mick Resort to Murder (UK) Peter Denni… The Broker's Man (UK) Alex 'Godzi… The Flaxton Boys (UK) Archie Weekes Tickets For The Titanic (UK) Michael

Main Movie Roles 2005 - The Greatest Game Ever Played 2001 - Pearl Harbor 1999 - Chill Factor 1998 - Mighty Joe Young 1997 - Amistad 1995 - An Awfully Big Adventure 1993 - Shadowlands 1990 - The Hunt for Red October 1990 - The Rescuers Down Under 1985 - Lifeforce 1984 - Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 1979 - Tess 1977 - Joseph Andrews 1977 - Equus

BIOGRAPHY:

Peter Firth was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1953. His parents owned a pub and he attended local grammar school. Firth took weekend classes at the Bradford Playhouse near his Pudsey home and by his mid-teens was playing in "Camelot" at the Bradford Alhambra. Leaving school at 16, he became a major child star in television series such as The Double Deckers, which was shot at a number of film studios in the UK. He made his film debut at the age of 18 in Franco Zeffirelli's Fratello sole, sorella luna (1972). In July 1973 he received his big break by winning the leading role of disturbed adolescent Alan Strang in Peter Shaffer's play "Equus," which was performed by the National Theatre at the Old Vic in London. In October 1974, the play opened on Broadway to sensational reviews, with Firth playing opposite Anthony Hopkins as the middle-aged Dr. Martin Dysart. Firth returned to the play at the Plymouth Theater on Broadway with Richard Burton (I) as Dysart, and then starred in several other plays by the National Theatre including versions of "Romeo and Juliet" (as Romeo) and "Spring Awakening." After taking leading roles in several films such as Aces High (1976) and Joseph Andrews (1977), Firth reprized the role of Alan Starng in the movie version of Equus (1977), directed by Sidney Lumet and again co-starring with Burton. Receiving a Bafta Award and an Academy Award nomination, Firth next played Angel Clare in Roman Polanski's Tess (1979). In 1981, he replaced Simon Callow as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Peter Shaffer's play "Amadeus" on Broadway, co-starring with Sir Ian McKellen. He gave other notable performances as a Russian sailor in the kitchen sink drama Letter to Brezhnev (1985), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Shadowlands (1993) and as a sinister theater manager in An Awfully Big Adventure (1995) with Hugh Grant (I). In 1994, he returned to British television with a major role in the hugely popular series "Heartbeat" (1992). He is married with four children and is good friends with his Equus (1977) co-star Jenny Agutter, who also starred with him in "Spooks" (2002). He has continued to appear in major movies, including Amistad (1997) and Pearl Harbor (2001).


TRIVIA:

• Received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters for his film and television work from the University of Bradford on 17 July 2009.
• Replaced 'Tim Curry (I)' (qv) in the role of Mozart in the Broadway run of 'Peter Shaffer' (qv) 's play "Amadeus" in 1981, with 'Ian McKellen' (qv) as Salieri.
• (1977) Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1977" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 29.
• Peter admits that he initially became interested in acting because he liked a girl who was apart of a local theater group, and joined to impress her!
• Firth and 'Simon Callow' (qv) were initially considered for the lead roles in "The Romans in Britain." However, filming schedules meant that both actors were unavailable.
• Twice divorced father of four children.
• He has one sister.
• Was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Equus," a role he recreated in an Oscar-nominated performance in the film version of the same title, _Equus (1977)_ (qv).