Kai Owen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kai Owen
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![]() Owen in 2012
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Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1998–present |
Kai Owen (born 4 September 1975) is a Welsh actor. He is well-known for his roles on Welsh TV shows. He is also famous around the world for playing Rhys Williams in the science fiction series Torchwood. He also played Pete Buchanan in the soap opera Hollyoaks.
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About Kai Owen
Kai Owen was born in Llanrwst, a town in North Wales. His family still lives there. His father, Mark, works for a union. His mother, Yvonne, is a cleaner.
Kai went to Watling Street Primary School and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy. He then studied acting for three years. He graduated from Mountview Theatre School in London in 1998. He lives with his son, Bobby.
Kai is also a kind person who helps others. He has run the London Marathon twice. He did this to raise money for CLIC Sargent, a charity for children with cancer. He also supports the Llandudno Youth Musical Theatre group.
Kai Owen's TV Career
Kai Owen first became known in Wales. He played a character named Kev in the Welsh TV show Tipyn O Stad. This show was on the Welsh-language channel S4C. He was a regular on this popular show for many episodes. He also appeared in another S4C show called Treflan. In 2009, he had guest roles in Y Pris and Pobol Y Cwm.
His first role on English TV in the UK was in 2001. He appeared in an episode of Fun at the Funeral Parlour. In 2003, he was a guest star in the BBC One medical drama Casualty. In 2005, he played Dave 'Shiner' Owen in Rocket Man. This BBC One series was about a man trying to send his wife's ashes into space.
Playing Rhys Williams in Torchwood
In 2006, Kai Owen got a big role. He was cast as Rhys Williams in Torchwood. This show is a spin-off from the famous science fiction series Doctor Who. This role made him very well-known.
He became a main star in the third series of Torchwood in 2009. This showed how important his character had become. He played Rhys again in the fourth series, Torchwood: Miracle Day, in 2011.
Kai Owen even appeared on Celebrity Ready Steady Cook. He was on the show with his Torchwood co-star Tom Price.
Other Notable TV Roles
In 2011, Kai Owen appeared in Being Human. He also played Ken Watling in Waterloo Road. This is a long-running BBC school drama. In 2012, he was in the drama The Syndicate on BBC One.
In 2015, Kai Owen joined the cast of Hollyoaks. This is a popular Channel 4 soap opera. He played Pete Buchanan, a character involved in a very serious storyline. To prepare for this challenging role, he worked with the NSPCC. He played the character for about a year. He also made brief returns to the show in 2018 and 2021.
Kai Owen's Work on TV, Radio, and Stage
Television Roles
Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
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2001 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour | P.C Hertz | TV episode - "Death in the Valleys" and "The Jaws of Doom" |
2002 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour | Buster Edwards | TV episode - "Dog Dango Afternoon " |
2003 | Casualty | Danny | TV episode - "Stuck in the Middle with You" |
2003–2006 | Tipyn o Stad | Kev Evans | Series regular; series 2–5 |
2005 | Rocket Man | David 'Shiner' Owen | Six episodes; main role |
2006–2011 | Torchwood | Rhys Williams | Recurring cast series 1-2 Main Cast series 3-4 |
2011 | Being Human | Bob | Episode #3.1 - "Lia" |
Waterloo Road | Ken Watling | Episode #7.14 | |
2012 | The Syndicate | Gareth Powell | Episode #1.4 |
2015 | Doc Martin | Episode #7.4 - "Education, Education, Education" | |
2015–2016, 2018, 2021 | Hollyoaks | Pete Buchanan | Series regular |
2019 | Doctors | Mark Albany | 1 episode |
2022 | Casualty | Sergeant Taylor | 1 episode |
2024 | Mr Bates vs The Post Office | Retail Manager | 1 episode |
Narration and Radio Work
Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
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2007 | Ying Tong: a Walk with the Goons | Harry Secombe | Radio Play by Roy Smiles |
2009 | "The Dead Line" | Rhys Williams | Torchwood Radio Plays (BBC Radio 4) |
2011 | "The Devil and Miss Carew'" | ||
Ghost Train | Narrator | Torchwood audiobook | |
Department X | |||
First Born | |||
2012 | Army of One | ||
2015–present | Torchwood | Rhys Williams | Big Finish Productions |
2017 | Tracks | Ifan | BBC Cymru Wales |
Stage Performances
Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
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1998 | The Tempest | Ariel | Performed at Stafford Castle |
2005 | Life of Ryan... and Ronnie | Ronnie | |
2006 | A Chorus of Disapproval | Crispin Usher | |
2008 | Adam & Steve | Adam | |
2012 | As You Like It | Charles | Clwyd Theatr Cymru |
See also
In Spanish: Kai Owen para niños