John Rhys-Davies facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Rhys-Davies
Rhys-Davies in 2018
Born	(1944-05-05) 5 May 1944 (age 81) Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Alma mater	University of East Anglia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–present
Spouse(s)	Suzanne Wilkinson ​ ​ (m. 1966; separated 1985)​
Partner(s)	Lisa Manning (2004–present)
Children	3
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John Rhys-Davies (born 5 May 1944) is a Welsh actor. He is famous for playing the tough but lovable dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also played the friendly excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies.

His powerful voice has been used for many characters. He voiced the tree-like Ent Treebeard in The Lord of the Rings. He was also the voice of Cassim in Aladdin and the King of Thieves and Man Ray in SpongeBob SquarePants.

Over his long career, Rhys-Davies has won several awards. These include a Screen Actors Guild Award for his work with the cast of The Lord of the Rings.

Early Life and Education

John Rhys-Davies was born in Salisbury, England, on 5 May 1944, to Welsh parents. His mother, Phyllis Jones, was a nurse. His father, Rhys Davies, was an engineer and a colonial officer.

Because of his father's job, he spent part of his childhood in Tanzania, a country in Africa. His family lived in several towns there before moving to Ammanford in Wales.

He went to Truro School in Cornwall. Later, he attended the University of East Anglia, where he helped start the school's drama club. After teaching for a short time, he earned a spot at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London to study acting.

Acting Career

Rhys-Davies (right) signing autographs in Sweden in 2005

In the 1970s, Rhys-Davies began appearing on British television. One of his early major roles was in the TV series I, Claudius. He also played a Portuguese navigator in the 1980 miniseries Shōgun. This role helped him become known to audiences around the world.

From 1995 to 1997, he starred as Professor Maximillian Arturo in the science-fiction show Sliders. He has also appeared in many other shows, including Star Trek: Voyager where he played a hologram of Leonardo da Vinci.

Famous Movie Roles

Rhys-Davies speaking at Galaxy Con Richmond in 2023

Rhys-Davies is well-known for playing memorable characters in major film series. His roles as Sallah and Gimli are his most famous.

Sallah in Indiana Jones

In 1981, Rhys-Davies played Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Sallah is a cheerful and loyal friend who helps Indiana Jones on his adventures. He returned to play Sallah in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and again in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).

Gimli in The Lord of the Rings

Rhys-Davies played the dwarf warrior Gimli in all three The Lord of the Rings movies. To make him look like a dwarf, the filmmakers used clever camera tricks. Rhys-Davies is over six feet tall, which helped create the right size difference next to the actors playing hobbits.

Playing Gimli was not easy. The heavy makeup and prosthetics caused him skin problems. Because of this, he decided not to return as Gimli for The Hobbit movies. However, he is the only main actor from the Fellowship of the Ring who played two characters, as he also provided the voice for Treebeard.

Voice Work

Rhys-Davies in 2012

John Rhys-Davies has a deep, powerful voice that is instantly recognizable. He has used it in many animated movies, TV shows, and video games.

Some of his famous voice roles include:

• Treebeard in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Cassim (Aladdin's father) in Aladdin and the King of Thieves
• Man Ray in SpongeBob SquarePants
• Macbeth in the animated series Gargoyles
• Hades in the cartoon Justice League

He has also narrated documentaries and lent his voice to video games like Wing Commander and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.

Personal Life

Rhys-Davies in Krakow, Poland, in 2013

In 1966, Rhys-Davies married Suzanne Wilkinson, and they had two sons. They separated in 1985 but remained married and were good friends. He cared for her before she passed away in 2010.

Since 2004, his partner has been Lisa Manning, and they have a daughter. The family lives on the Isle of Man and in Waikato, New Zealand.

Rhys-Davies has said that he is not religious but has great respect for Christianity. He believes it has had a positive impact on the world. In politics, he supported Brexit, which was the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of John Rhys-Davies's most well-known movies and shows.

Film

• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) as Sallah
• Victor/Victoria (1982) as Andre Cassell
• King Solomon's Mines (1985) as Dogati
• The Living Daylights (1987) as General Leonid Pushkin
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) as Sallah
• Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) as Cassim (voice)
• Cats Don't Dance (1997) as Woolie the Mammoth (voice)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) as Gimli
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) as Gimli and Treebeard (voice)
• The Jungle Book 2 (2003) as the Village Leader (voice)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as Gimli and Treebeard (voice)
• The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) as Viscount Mabrey
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) as Sallah
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) as the Brine King (voice)

Television

• I, Claudius (1976) as Macro
• Shōgun (1980) as Vasco Rodrigues
• Murder, She Wrote (1988–1994) in various roles
• Gargoyles (1995–1996) as Macbeth (voice)
• Sliders (1995–1997) as Professor Maximillian Arturo
• Star Trek: Voyager (1997) as Leonardo da Vinci
• SpongeBob SquarePants (2000–2002) as Man Ray (voice)
• The Shannara Chronicles (2016) as King Eventine Elessedil
• Wizards: Tales of Arcadia (2020) as Galahad (voice)

Awards

See also

In Spanish: John Rhys-Davies para niños