Neil Pearson facts for kids

Neil John Pearson (born April 27, 1959) is a talented British actor. He is well-known for his many roles on television. You might have seen him in popular shows like Drop the Dead Donkey, Between the Lines, Waterloo Road, and In the Club. He also appeared in all three Bridget Jones movies! Besides acting, Neil is also very interested in old books. He even deals in rare books, especially those from writers who lived in Paris between the two World Wars.

Neil Pearson's Life and Career

Growing Up and Learning to Act

Neil Pearson grew up in London, in areas called Battersea and Balham. His father, who fixed car bodies, left home when Neil was five years old. His mother worked as a legal secretary. Neil went to Woolverstone Hall School near Ipswich, where he first discovered acting. From 1977 to 1980, he studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

His Acting Career on Stage, TV, and Film

Neil Pearson started his acting career on stage. In 1984, he performed in a play called Loot in London. Later, he got a part in the TV comedy show Chelmsford 123. He also appeared in That's Love. In 1986, he was the narrator for the animated children's series The Poddington Peas.

Becoming a Household Name

Neil became very famous for two big TV roles. He played Dave Charnley, an associate editor and gambling addict, in the comedy Drop the Dead Donkey. He also starred as Detective Superintendent Tony Clark in the exciting thriller Between the Lines from 1992 to 1994. For his role in Between the Lines, he was even nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor in 1994.

Other Notable Roles

Since then, Neil has played many different characters. He was Dr. Jameson in Rhodes (1996) and Jack Green in the children's show The Magician's House (1999). He also played Trevor Heslop in Trevor's World of Sport (2003) and journalist John Diamond in A Lump in My Throat (2003).

He has also been in several films. These include The Secret Rapture (1993), Fever Pitch (1997), and the popular Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). He continued his role as Richard Finch in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). He is even set to appear in the upcoming Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy film in 2025.

In 2009, Neil played Michael Caddick, a choirmaster, in the BBC drama All the Small Things. He also appeared in episodes of popular detective shows like Midsomer Murders and Lewis. In 2013, he was in an episode of Death in Paradise. From 2014 to 2015, Neil became a regular on Waterloo Road, playing the new headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald. More recently, he appeared in Father Brown (2020) and The Reckoning (2023).

Radio Work

Neil has also acted in many BBC Radio Dramas. He was in the comedy series Vent and played Detective Lennart Kollberg in adaptations of the Martin Beck novels. He even played the famous detective Inspector Morse in House of Ghosts: A Case for Inspector Morse. He also helped create The Missing Hancocks, a radio series that recreated old episodes of Hancock's Half Hour that had been lost.

Beyond Acting: Books and Interests

Neil Pearson is also an expert in old and rare books. He wrote a book about a publisher named Jack Kahane, called Obelisk: A History of Jack Kahane and the Obelisk Press. In 2011, he opened an online bookshop that specializes in books about theater. He is especially interested in writers who lived in Paris between the two World Wars.

Personal Interests and Charity Work

Neil is very interested in politics and has supported the Labour Party in the past. He has also strongly supported the National Council for One Parent Families. He even raised £32,000 for this charity on a celebrity version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

He enjoys playing Texas hold 'em poker and has even played in big tournaments. Neil is also a big fan of the football team Tottenham Hotspur and often goes to their home games. In 2007, he helped raise money to fix up the Bristol Old Vic Theatre.

Filmography

Key

Denotes works that have not yet been released

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Oi for England	Napper	Television film
1983	Privates on Parade	Pianist
	Submariners	'Cock' Roach	Television film
1988	The Bell-Run	Joe Glover	Television film
1989	Work Experience	Greg	Short film
1993	The Secret Rapture	Patrick Steadman
1995	Latin for a Dark Room	William	Short film
1997	Fever Pitch	Mr. Ashworth
1998	Heaven on Earth	Richard Bennett	Television film
1999	Bostock's Cup	Gerry Tudor	Television film
	The Mystery of Men	Julian Wyatt	Television film
2001	Bridget Jones's Diary	Richard Finch
	Trance	Brendan	Television film
	A Lump in My Throat	John Diamond	Television film
2003	The ... Cruise	Rob	Television film
2004	Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason	Richard Finch
2005	The ... Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt	Rob	Television film
2006	The ... Cruise III: The Scattering	Rob	Television film
	The Kindness of Strangers	Joe Farrelly	Television film
2007	Clapham Junction	Frank Winterton	Television film
	Frankenstein	Professor Waldman	Television film
2008	Pictures	Matthew	Short film
2010	On Expenses	Hugh Tomlinson	Television film
2014	The Portrait	Roger	Short film
2016	ID2: Shadwell Army	Dave
	Bridget Jones's Baby	Richard Finch
2017	In Extremis	Doctor
2025	Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy	Richard Finch	Post-production

Television