Born:
February 27, 1957
in
London
Best Known For:
Playing Barry in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Early-life:
Timothy Leonard Spall was born on February 27, 1957, in London, and brought up on a Battersea council estate. As a teenager, he considered joining the Army, but changed his mind after playing the Cowardly Lion in his school's version of The Wizard of Oz. He applied for Rada because his drama teacher - on whom he had a secret crush - suggested he should become an actor. He was named the most promising actor of 1978 when he left the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).
Career:
Spall appeared on stage with Birmingham Rep and the Royal Shakespeare Company before his movie debut in 1979's Quadrophenia. His big break came playing Barry in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet in 1983. He received Bafta TV nominations for Our Mutual Friend, Shooting The Past and Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise. Other memorable projects include Secrets and Lies, Life Is Sweet, Topsy-Turvy, Vanilla Sky, Still Crazy, Frank Stubbs Promotes and several of the Harry Potter movies. He received an OBE in 1999. Always in demand, more recent work includes Pierrepoint, The Street, Enchanted, Oliver Twist, The Damned United, The Fattest Man in Britain, The King's Speech, The Syndicate, and Mr Turner.
Quote:
"I'm a decent, jolly, fat guy."