David Suchet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Suchet
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Suchet in 2006
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| Born |
David Courtney Suchet
2 May 1946 Paddington, London, England
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| Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Sheila Ferris
(m. 1976) |
| Children | 2 |
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Sir David Courtney Suchet (born May 2, 1946) is a famous English actor. He is well-known for his many roles on stage and in television shows. One of his most famous roles was playing the detective Hercule Poirot in the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot from 1989 to 2013. He also won awards for his acting in shows like The Way We Live Now and Oppenheimer.
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Early Life and Family
David Suchet was born in Paddington, London, England. His father, Jack Suchet, was a doctor who moved from South Africa. His mother, Joan Patricia, was an actress. David's father had Lithuanian-Jewish family roots. His mother was born in England and had both Russian-Jewish and English family history.
David and his brothers, John Suchet and Peter, went to boarding schools. David became interested in acting at age 16. He joined the National Youth Theatre. He later studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Acting Career
David Suchet has had a long and successful acting career. He has performed in many plays and television shows.
Theatre Roles
Suchet started his acting career in 1969. In 1973, he joined the famous Royal Shakespeare Company. He played many different characters in plays like Richard II and Oleanna.
He also performed in London's West End. He starred in Separation and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. From 1998 to 2000, he played Salieri in the Broadway show Amadeus. More recently, he played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in 2015.
Television and Film Roles
Suchet has appeared in many TV shows and films. In 1985, he played Blott in Blott on the Landscape. He also appeared in an episode of Tales of the Unexpected.
His most famous role began in 1989. He started playing Agatha Christie's detective, Hercule Poirot, in the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot. Before playing Poirot, Suchet studied the character very carefully. He read all of Agatha Christie's books about Poirot. He even wrote a five-page study of Poirot's personality. He played Poirot for 24 years, appearing in every story written by Agatha Christie about the detective.
Other notable TV roles include Augustus Melmotte in The Way We Live Now (2001). He played Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII (2003). In 2006, he played the real-life newspaper owner Robert Maxwell in the TV drama Maxwell. He also played the vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing in a BBC adaptation of Dracula.
In films, Suchet has appeared in Harry and the Hendersons (1987). He also had roles in A Perfect Murder (1998) and The In-Laws (2003). In 2007, he was in the disaster film Flood.
Between 2014 and 2015, Suchet narrated two BBC documentaries. These shows followed the journeys of the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul around the Mediterranean Sea. In 2017, he guest starred in an episode of Doctor Who called Knock Knock.
Canal Trust and River Thames Alliance
David Suchet has a special interest in canals and rivers. He once lived on a narrowboat. He is the vice-president of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Trust. This group works to reopen old canals.
He was also the chairman of the River Thames Alliance. This group helps manage and protect the River Thames. He is also a patron of the River Thames Boat Project.
Awards and Honours
David Suchet has received many awards for his acting. In 1985, he won the Royal Television Society's award for best male actor. His role as Hercule Poirot earned him a nomination for a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) in 1991.
He won a Variety Club Award in 1994 for his role in the play Oleanna. He also received a Tony Award nomination for his role in Amadeus in 2000.
In 2002, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special honour from the British Queen. In 2008, he won an International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his role as Robert Maxwell.
In 2009, he was given the Freedom of the City of London. In 2011, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 2014, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television Society for his work as Poirot. In 2020, he was made a Knight for his services to drama and charity. This means he can be called "Sir David Suchet".
Personal Life
Family
David Suchet met his wife, Sheila Ferris, in 1972. They were married in 1976. They have two children, a son named Robert and a daughter named Katherine. Robert used to be a captain in the Royal Marines. Katherine is a physiotherapist.
David's brother, John Suchet, is a well-known news presenter. His maternal grandfather, James Jarché, was a famous photographer. He took many important pictures, including the first photos of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
Religious Beliefs
David Suchet was not raised with any religion. However, in 1986, he became a Christian after reading a part of the Bible. He was later baptized into the Church of England. He believes that his faith helps him in his life.
In 2012, Suchet made a documentary for the BBC about Saint Paul. In 2014, he made another documentary about Saint Peter. He also recorded an audio version of The Bible's New International Version.
Political Views
In 2014, David Suchet was one of many public figures who signed a letter. The letter expressed hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in their independence vote.
Images for kids
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Suchet in 2006
See also
In Spanish: David Suchet para niños
