Danny Dyer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Danny Dyer
Dyer at Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2023
Born	Danial John Dyer (1977-07-24) 24 July 1977 (age 48) London, England
Occupation	Actor presenter
Years active	1993–present
Spouse(s)	Joanne Mas ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	3, including Dani
Relatives	Jarrod Bowen (son-in-law)

Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is a famous English actor and TV presenter. He first became well-known for his role as Moff in the movie Human Traffic (1999). He also played Billy the Limpet in Mean Machine (2001) and Tommy Johnson in The Football Factory (2004).

After The Football Factory, Dyer was often chosen for "hard man" roles. This tough-guy image led him to host TV shows like The Real Football Factories and Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men. Dyer also has a love for theatre and was a close friend of the famous playwright Harold Pinter.

In 2013, he joined the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders as Mick Carter, a role he played until 2022. For his performance, he won the Serial Drama Performance award at the National Television Awards three times. From 2019 to 2022, he also hosted the BBC game show The Wall. In 2024, he starred in the TV shows Mr. Bigstuff and Rivals, winning a BAFTA award for Mr. Bigstuff.

Early Life and Royal Connections

Danial John Dyer was born in the Custom House area of London on 24 July 1977. He has a younger brother, Tony, and a younger sister, Kayleigh. His parents separated when he was nine, and he was raised by his mother. He started acting as a teenager.

In 2016, Dyer appeared on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are?, which researches family histories. The show discovered that his family has amazing roots. He is a descendant of Thomas Cromwell, who was a powerful advisor to King Henry VIII.

The family tree also connects him to Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour. This means Dyer is related to English royalty. His family line can be traced all the way back to King Edward III, William the Conqueror, and even the famous European ruler Charlemagne.

However, scientist Adam Rutherford pointed out that it's not that unusual for an English person to be descended from a king. He said that almost everyone in Britain could probably trace their family back to royalty if they looked far enough.

Career in Television and Film

First Steps in Television

Dyer's acting career began when he was just 16. An agent discovered him at his school and cast him in the TV series Prime Suspect 3 in 1993. After that, he appeared in many popular shows, including Cadfael (1994), A Touch of Frost (1995), and Skins.

From 2007, Dyer began hosting documentary shows. In The Real Football Factories, he traveled around the world to interview football fans. This was followed by Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men, where he met some of Britain's most well-known tough guys.

Dyer in 2007

Joining the EastEnders Cast

On 1 October 2013, the BBC announced that Dyer would join the cast of EastEnders. He played Mick Carter, the new landlord of The Queen Victoria pub, from Christmas 2013 until 2022. The role made him one of the most recognized actors in Britain.

In 2018, Dyer appeared on a TV show to discuss Brexit, which is the term for Britain leaving the European Union. He called the situation a "mad riddle" and shared his strong opinions on the politicians involved.

Famous Movie Roles

Dyer at Upton Park in 2010

Dyer is well-known for playing "bad boy" or "hard man" characters in movies. His first big film role was in Human Traffic (1999).

He worked with director Nick Love on four films: Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001), The Football Factory (2004), The Business (2005), and Outlaw (2007). Some of his other movies include Severance (2006) and Adulthood (2008).

Work in Theatre and Video Games

Dyer has also performed on stage. He appeared in several plays by Harold Pinter, a famous writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. These plays were shown in London and New York City. In 2009, he played the punk rock star Sid Vicious in a play called Kurt and Sid.

Many gamers will recognize his voice. Dyer voiced the character Kent Paul in the popular video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).

Personal Life

Dyer lives in Debden, Essex. He married his longtime partner, Joanne Mas, on 3 September 2016. They have three children. Their oldest daughter, Dani Dyer, is also a well-known television personality.

Dyer is a huge football fan and supports West Ham United. In 2007, he became the chairman of the football club Greenwich Borough to help raise the club's profile.

In 2016, Dyer traveled to Sierra Leone for the charity event Sport Relief. He said it was an "honour to be asked" and hoped his visit would make a difference. He has also written two autobiographies about his life: Straight Up (2011) and The World According to Danny Dyer (2016).

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Danny Dyer para niños