Neil Morrissey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neil Morrissey
Morrissey in 2011
Born	Neil Anthony Morrissey (1962-07-04) 4 July 1962 (age 63) Stafford, Staffordshire, England
Occupation	Actor businessman narrator presenter
Years active	1983–present
Notable work	Men Behaving Badly Bob the Builder Waterloo Road
Spouse(s)	Amanda Noar ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1991)​
Children	1

Neil Morrissey, born on July 4, 1962, is a well-known English actor, businessman, and TV presenter. He is famous for playing characters like Rocky in the TV show Boon and Tony in Men Behaving Badly. Neil also played Deputy Head Eddie Lawson in the BBC One drama Waterloo Road and Nigel Morton in Line of Duty. Many people also know his voice as the main character, Bob, and other characters like Lofty and Roley, in the children's show Bob the Builder.

Early Life and Education

Neil Morrissey was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, England. He was the third of four sons. When he was young, he spent six years at Penkhull Children's Home.

School Days

Neil went to Thistley Hough Academy in Penkhull. He did very well in his exams there. He then continued his studies at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.

Starting Acting Young

From his teenage years, Neil developed his acting skills. He performed at Stoke Schools Theatre and the Stoke Repertory Theatre. He even performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1979. Later, he studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Acting Career Highlights

Neil Morrissey has had a long and successful acting career in films, TV shows, and theatre.

Early Roles and Big Breaks

In 1984, Neil made his film debut in The Bounty. He acted alongside famous stars like Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. In 1987, he became well-known for his role as Rocky in the ITV drama series Boon. He also starred in the 1990 film I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle.

Becoming a TV Star

In 1992, Neil took on the role of Tony in Men Behaving Badly. This show became one of the most popular UK sitcoms of the 1990s. His role made him a national celebrity. During the early 1990s, he also appeared on Noel Edmonds' Noel's House Party.

Voice Acting and Music

Neil Morrissey is also famous for his voice work. He voiced characters in Brambly Hedge in 1997. After that, he became the voice of several characters in the children's TV series Bob the Builder. He voiced Bob, Lofty, Roley, and Farmer Pickles from 1999 to 2011.

Number One Hits

While voicing Bob the Builder, Neil even had two UK number one songs! These were "Can We Fix It?" in 2000 and "Mambo No 5" in 2001. He also provided voices for other children's shows like Morph and Maisy.

More TV and Theatre Work

In 2000, Neil starred in the TV comedy film Happy Birthday, Shakespeare. He then appeared in the drama series Paradise Heights (2002-2003) and the BBC sitcom Carrie and Barry (2004-2005).

On Stage

Neil has performed in many West End theatre shows. These include Speed, Robin Hood, and A Passionate Woman. In 2005, he was in Victoria Wood's musical Acorn Antiques. He also took on the role of Nathan Detroit in the London musical Guys and Dolls in 2006.

Later TV Roles

From 2007 to 2009, Neil played Eddie Lawson, the deputy headteacher, in the BBC One drama Waterloo Road. He also appeared in Skins in 2007 and 2013. In 2012, he played Fagin in the musical Oliver in Manchester.

More recently, Neil played Keith in the CBBC sitcom The Dumping Ground in 2015. He joined the cast of Grantchester in 2016. From 2017 to 2022, he played Greg McConnell in ITV's The Good Karma Hospital. In 2018, he was Peter Carr in Unforgotten. In 2021, he starred as Frank Stevenson in The Syndicate. In 2023, he appeared in the play The Crown Jewels in London.

Spoof Show Appearance

On April 1, 2006, a BBC Three show called Neil Morrissey's Secret was aired. It was a spoof, meaning it was a fake documentary made for fun. It pretended that Neil had a secret life in Jordan and had invented a special anti-ageing cream. Even though it was shown on April Fool's Day, some people believed it was real!

Business Ventures

Neil Morrissey has also been involved in several business projects, especially in the hospitality industry.

Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn, which Neil Morrissey partly owned

The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston

Hotels and Pubs

Neil bought several properties in the village of Laugharne, Wales, in 2004. These included Brown's Hotel. Later, he also partly owned the Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn in Marton, North Yorkshire. From this pub, he helped create the Morrissey Fox range of real ale.

New Pubs

After some earlier business challenges, Neil went on to own a chain of pubs in Staffordshire. These included The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston and The Old Bramshall Inn in Bramshall. The Old Bramshall Inn opened as a Neil Morrissey pub in June 2018.

Personal Life

Neil Morrissey married Amanda Noar in 1987. They have a son, born in 1989, and later divorced in 1991. He was also engaged to actress Elizabeth Carling.

Tattoos

Neil has several tattoos on his arms. He has said that some of these tattoos were done by other boys when he was at the children's home.

Other Interests

In 2006, Neil received an honorary degree from Staffordshire University. He is a big fan of the football team Crystal Palace. In 2011, he even helped create a special real ale for the club called Palace Ale.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Studio albums

Singles