Neil Pearson facts for kids

Neil John Pearson (born 27 April 1959) is a British actor. He is well-known for his roles on television. He was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor in 1994 for his work in the TV series Between the Lines. He also appeared in popular shows like Drop the Dead Donkey, Waterloo Road, and In the Club. You might also recognize him from the Bridget Jones films. Besides acting, Neil Pearson is also a dealer in old and rare books. He specializes in books by writers who lived in Paris between the World Wars.

Neil Pearson's Early Life

Neil Pearson grew up in London, in areas called Battersea and Balham. His father left home when Neil was five years old. His mother worked as a legal secretary. Neil went to a boarding school called Woolverstone Hall School in Suffolk. This is where he first discovered his love for acting. Later, from 1977 to 1980, he studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Neil Pearson's Acting Career

Neil Pearson has had a long and varied acting career. He has worked in plays, television shows, and movies.

Early Acting Roles

One of Neil's first acting jobs was in 1984. He appeared in a play called Loot at the Lyric Theatre in London. He also got a part in the TV comedy Chelmsford 123. In 1986, he was the narrator for the animated series The Poddington Peas.

Famous TV Roles

Neil Pearson became very well-known for two specific TV roles. He played Dave Charnley, an associate editor, in the comedy show Drop the Dead Donkey. This show was very popular from 1990 to 1998. He also starred as Detective Superintendent Tony Clark in the thriller series Between the Lines from 1992 to 1994. This role earned him a BAFTA TV Award nomination.

Other TV and Film Appearances

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

In films, he appeared in The Secret Rapture (1993) and Fever Pitch (1997). He is also known for playing Richard Finch in all four Bridget Jones movies. In 2009, he played Michael Caddick in the BBC drama All the Small Things. He has also made guest appearances in popular detective shows like Midsomer Murders and Lewis. In 2013, he was in an episode of Death in Paradise.

From 2014 to 2015, Neil Pearson joined the cast of Waterloo Road. He played Vaughan Fitzgerald, the new headteacher. In 2020, he appeared in an episode of Father Brown. More recently, in 2023, he played Eric Morley in the miniseries The Reckoning.

Radio Drama Work

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

Neil Pearson's Book Business

Beyond acting, Neil Pearson is an expert in old and rare books. He wrote a book about a publisher named Jack Kahane. In 2011, he opened an online bookshop. His shop specializes in books about theater. He is especially interested in books by writers who lived in Paris between the World Wars.

Neil Pearson's Personal Interests

Neil Pearson is interested in politics and has supported the Labour Party in the UK. He has also 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 poker, especially Texas hold 'em. He even took part in a World Series of Poker Europe event in London in 2007. Neil is also a big fan of the Tottenham Hotspur football team 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

Film Roles

Television Roles