Jeffery Kissoon facts for kids

Jeffery Kissoon (born September 4, 1947) is a talented actor from Trinidad. He is known for his work in British theatre, television, movies, and radio. Kissoon has performed with world-famous groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has worked with great directors such as Peter Brook and Nicholas Hytner.

Kissoon is a very versatile actor. This means he can play many different types of characters. He has acted in plays by William Shakespeare, like The Tempest and Antony and Cleopatra. He has also appeared in modern shows and even science fiction. Many people remember him as Mr Kennedy in the children's TV show Grange Hill or as a judge in EastEnders.

Besides acting, Kissoon is also a theatre director. He helps guide other actors in plays. He is on the board of directors for theatre companies like Shared Experience and the Warehouse Theatre. He enjoys teaching and helping younger actors and writers develop their skills.

From Trinidad to the London Stage

Jeffery Kissoon was born in Trinidad, which is now part of Trinidad and Tobago. When he was young, his family moved to London, England. He went to the Christopher Wren School and joined the student drama group. This is where his love for acting began.

His first movie role was in 1970 in a film called Like You, Like Me. Although he trained to be a drama teacher, he decided to become a full-time actor. In 1972, he joined the Glasgow Citizens Theatre Company. He played leading roles in famous plays like Tamburlaine The Great.

A Career in Theatre and Television

Working with Famous Directors

A major moment in Kissoon's career was working with director Peter Brook. In 1985, he was cast in a nine-hour play called The Mahabharata. This huge project toured all over the world for three years. It was later made into a six-hour movie. This experience led to a long friendship and more work with Brook, including in a production of Hamlet.

Kissoon has often worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the Royal National Theatre. These are two of the most important theatre companies in the United Kingdom. He has played many of Shakespeare's most famous characters, including Mark Antony, Prospero, and Caliban.

Roles on Screen

Kissoon is also a familiar face on television. He played Dr. Ben Vincent in the science-fiction series Space 1999 in the 1970s. In the 1980s, he played the teacher Mr Kennedy in the popular kids' show Grange Hill.

More recently, he has appeared in many popular TV shows. He was in Holby City, Casualty, and the comedy W1A (TV series)'. He has also had two different roles in the famous soap opera EastEnders. In 2015 and 2016, he played Judge Anthony Abego in two major storylines.

His movie credits include Dirty Pretty Things and a role as a captain in Hamlet. Fans of Star Wars might recognize him as Rear Admiral Guich in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Directing and Awards

Jeffery Kissoon is not just an actor but also a respected director. He has directed several plays, including Knock Down Ginger and `...` Soldiers. In 2016, he directed a version of Hamlet with an all-black cast and creative team, which was a first for a British tour.

For his acting, Kissoon has won awards. He won the Best Lead Actor Award at the Peloponnesian International Film Festival for his role in the movie Ham and the Piper. He also won a Best Actor award at the Eko International Film Festival in Nigeria for the same film.

Selected Works

Here are some of Jeffery Kissoon's most well-known roles.

Theatre

• Tamburlaine The Great (as Tamburlaine)
• The Tempest (as Caliban and later as Prospero)
• The Mahabharata (as Karna)
• Antony and Cleopatra (as Antony)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (as Oberon)
• Othello (as Othello)
• Julius Caesar (as Julius Caesar)
• Waiting For Godot

Film

• Hamlet (1996) - Fortinbras's Captain
• Dirty Pretty Things (2002) - Cab Controller
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) - Rear Admiral Guich

Television

• Beryl's Lot (1975) - Sam
• Space: 1999 (1976–1977) - Dr Ben Vincent
• Grange Hill (1986–1987) - Mr Kennedy
• EastEnders (2002-2016) - Judge Anthony Abego / Milton Hibbert
• Holby City (2002–2018) - Various roles
• Agatha Christie's Marple (2006) - Ahmed Ghali
• Casualty (2008) - Lyndon Marshall

Radio

• Rudy's Rare Records (2008–12) - Clifton
• Broken Chain (2008)