Jason Merrells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jason Merrells
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| Born |
Jason Scott Merrells
Epping, Essex, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Simon Merrells |
Jason Scott Merrells is an English actor. He is well-known for his roles in popular TV shows. These include Casualty, Queer as Folk, Cutting It, Waterloo Road, and Emmerdale.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jason Merrells was born in Epping, Essex, England. His brother, Simon Merrells, is also an actor. Jason studied at Chichester University.
Acting Career Highlights
Jason Merrells started his acting career in 1994. His first role was a small part in the film To Die For.
He soon became a successful TV actor. He played Matt Hawley, a receptionist, in the medical drama Casualty. In 1999, he appeared as Phil Delaney in the TV series Queer as Folk.
Jason continued to get important roles. He was in films like Do Not Disturb (1999). He also had a regular role as Martin Leach in Clocking Off from 2000 to 2001.
His role as stylist Gavin Ferraday in the BBC One drama Cutting It made him very famous. After this, he appeared in shows like The Afternoon Play, Where the Heart Is, and Murder City. He also starred in the 2005 film The Jealous God.
In 2006, Jason joined the cast of the school drama Waterloo Road. He played the headteacher, Jack Rimmer. He was one of the original actors in the show. In 2009, he appeared in Lark Rise to Candleford as James Dowland.
From 2010 to 2014, Jason played Declan Macey in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale. His character was a clever businessman. In 2014, Jason decided to leave Emmerdale. His character left the show after a very dramatic storyline.
In 2015, Jason appeared as Stuart Howe in the BBC show Death in Paradise. From 2016 onwards, he has played Sir Charles Fraith in Agatha Raisin.
In 2023, Jason was in three episodes of the BBC drama Happy Valley as DC Stead. In 2024, it was announced that he would return to Waterloo Road as Jack Rimmer for the fifteenth series. He is also set to reprise this role in 2025.
Theatre Performances
Jason Merrells has also performed in many plays. From August to October 2007, he worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He played Orsino in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will. His brother, Simon Merrells, also performed in this play.
The Merrells brothers then toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company in A Comedy of Errors. From March to April 2009, Jason was in Measure for Measure as Angelo. This play later moved to the Almeida Theatre in 2010.
From May to June 2015, he starred as Juror number 8 in Twelve Angry Men. This was a touring production. From January to July 2023, he played Frank Galvin in The Verdict. This play was based on a 1980 novel by Barry Reed. In January 2024, he played Juror 8 again in another stage version of Twelve Angry Men.
Personal Life
Jason Merrells lives part-time in London. He also spends time in the North East of England. He has five children from three different relationships.
Filmography
Film Roles
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | To Die For | Nigel | |
| 1999 | Do Not Disturb | Mulder | |
| 2000 | Small Time Obsession | Chris | |
| Calling The Wild | Matt | Television film | |
| 2005 | The Jealous God | Vincent | |
| 2015 | Elsewhere | Traveling Salesman | Short film |
| 2016 | Bumps | Richard | Short film |
| 2019 | Trick or Treat | Bizzie |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1997 | Casualty | Matt Hawley | Series regular; 70 episodes |
| 1997 | Thief Takers | Steve Lunt | Episode: "Road Rage" |
| The Bill | Richard McAuliffe | Episode: "Out" | |
| 1998 | Verdict | Ben Clayton | Episode: "The Doctor's Opinion" |
| 1999 | Queer as Folk | Phil Delaney | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | Clocking Off | Martin Leach | Series regular; 12 episodes |
| 2000–2002 | Fat Friends | Carl Whittaker (later Watkinson) | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2002 | A Touch of Frost | Mike Patterson | Episode: "Mistaken Identity" |
| The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Steve Shepherd | Episode: "Missing Joseph" | |
| The Project | Dougie | Miniseries; 2 episodes | |
| 2002–2005 | Cutting It | Gavin Ferraday | Series regular; 25 episodes |
| 2003 | Sweet Medicine | Dr. Nick Sweet | Series regular; 10 episodes |
| 2005 | The Afternoon Play | John Priestley | Episode: "The Hitch" |
| Where the Heart Is | Ryan Saunders | Episode: "In a Perfect World" | |
| 2006 | Murder City | Mark Drummond | Episode: "Wives and Lovers" |
| 2006–2008, 2025 | Waterloo Road | Jack Rimmer | Main role |
| 2009 | Lark Rise to Candleford | James Dowland | Series regular; 11 episodes |
| 2010 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Dr. Kerrigan | Episode: "The Pale Horse" |
| 2010–2014 | Emmerdale | Declan Macey | Series regular; 622 episodes |
| 2015 | Death in Paradise | Stuart Howe | Episode: "She Was Murdered Twice" |
| Safe House | David Blackwell | Recurring role; 4 episodes | |
| 2016–2022 | Agatha Raisin | Sir Charles Fraith | Recurring role; 15 episodes |
| 2018 | Midsomer Murders | Paul Taylor | Episode: "The Ghost of Causton Abbey" |
| 2019 | Jesus: His Life | Pilate | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2020 | Endeavour | Martin Gorman | Episode: "Raga" |
| 2021 | Finding Alice | Harry | Series regular; 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Happy Valley | DC Stead | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
Awards and Nominations
Jason Merrells has been nominated for several awards for his acting.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Cutting It | Nominated | |
| 2012 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Emmerdale | Nominated | |
| 2014 | 19th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | 20th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Jason Merrells para niños
