kids encyclopedia robot

Kai Owen facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Kai Owen
Kai Owen Fedcon.jpg
Owen in 2012
Born (1975-09-04) 4 September 1975 (age 49)
Llanrwst, Conwy, Wales
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.

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
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
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
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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kai Owen para niños

kids search engine
Kai Owen Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.