Alun Armstrong is a prolific English character actor.
Armstrong grew up in County Durham in North East England. He first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began in the early 1970s, he has played, in his words, "the full spectrum of characters from the grotesque to musicals... I always play very colourful characters, often a bit crazy, despotic, psychotic."
His numerous credits include six different Dickens adaptations and seven series as eccentric ex-detective Brian Lane in New Tricks.
Armstrong is also an accomplished stage actor who spent nine years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He originated the role of Thénardier in the London production of Les Misérables and he won an Olivier Award for playing the title role in Sweeney Todd.
Known For
Van Helsing
(2004)
Cardinal Jinette
The Mummy Returns
(2001)
Baltus Hafez
Braveheart
(1995)
Mornay
Sleepy Hollow
(1999)
High Constable
Eragon
(2006)
Uncle Garrow
Patriot Games
(1992)
Owens
Krull
(1983)
Torquil
A Bridge Too Far
(1977)
Cpl. Davies
The Duellists
(1977)
Lacourbe
Van Helsing: The London Assignment
(2004)
Cardinal Jinetta (voice)
Onegin
(1999)
Zaretsky
Oliver Twist
(2005)
Magistrate Fang
Split Second
(1992)
Thrasher
White Hunter, Black Heart
(1990)
Ralph Lockhart
The Saint
(1997)
Inspector Teal
Get Carter
(1971)
Keith
Full Filmography
Acting
Get Carter
(1971)
Keith
The 14
(1973)
Tommy
Only Make Believe
(1973)
Michael Biddle
The Eyes Have It
(1973)
Mike
The Sex Victims
(1973)
George
Easy Go
(1974)
First docker
The Likely Lads
(1976)
Tommy
The Duellists
(1977)
Lacourbe
Risking It
(1977)
Richard Clewes
Shooting the Chandelier
(1977)
Brodovich
Our Day Out
(1977)
Mr. Briggs
A Bridge Too Far
(1977)
Cpl. Davies
All Day on the Sands
(1979)
Measure for Measure
(1979)
Provost
Fear of God
(1980)
Trahearne
The French Lieutenant's Woman
(1981)
Grimes
Mr Moon's Last Case
(1983)
Narrator
Krull
(1983)
Torquil
The House
(1984)
Mr. Smeth
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
(1985)
Singer
Number One
(1985)
Blackpool Police Sergeant
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
(1985)
Maxwell Randall, The Green Baize Vampire
That Summer of White Roses
(1989)
Nineteen96
(1989)
Det. Supt. Frank Burroughs
The Childeater
(1989)
Stefano
A Night on the Tyne
(1989)
Willy
Sticky Wickets
(1990)
Evans
The Widowmaker
(1990)
Dad
Looking After Number One
(1990)
Dick
White Hunter, Black Heart
(1990)
Ralph Lockhart
London Kills Me
(1991)
John Stone
American Friends
(1991)
Dr. Weeks
Patriot Games
(1992)
Owens
Split Second
(1992)
Thrasher
Blue Ice
(1992)
Osgood
Black Beauty
(1994)
Reuben Smith
MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday
(1994)
Capshaw
Doggin' Around
(1994)
Charlie Foster
An Awfully Big Adventure
(1995)
Uncle Vernon
Braveheart
(1995)
Mornay
Sorry About Last Night
(1995)
Mickey
Les Misérables: 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
(1995)
Thenardier
Brazen Hussies
(1996)
Jimmy Hardcastle
Breaking the Code
(1996)
Mick Ross
Witness Against Hitler
(1996)
Pastor Harold Poelchau
The Saint
(1997)
Inspector Teal
With or Without You
(1999)
Sammy
Onegin
(1999)
Zaretsky
G:MT Greenwich Mean Time
(1999)
Uncle Henry
Sleepy Hollow
(1999)
High Constable
Aristocrats
(1999)
Lord Holland
Harrison's Flowers
(2000)
Samuel Brubeck
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper
(2000)
Asst. Chief Const. George Oldfield
Proof of Life
(2000)
Wyatt
7 Up 2000
(2000)
Himself - Narrator
Strictly Sinatra
(2001)
Bill
The Mummy Returns
(2001)
Baltus Hafez
Score
(2001)
George
Inquisition
(2002)
Martin
Paradise Found
(2003)
Camille Pissarro
It's All About Love
(2003)
David
Carrie's War
(2004)
Mr. Samuel Evans
When I'm Sixty-Four
(2004)
Jim
Van Helsing: The London Assignment
(2004)
Cardinal Jinetta (voice)
Van Helsing
(2004)
Cardinal Jinette
Millions
(2004)
Saint Peter
Oliver Twist
(2005)
Magistrate Fang
The Girls Who Came to Stay
(2006)
Bob Jenkins
Eragon
(2006)
Uncle Garrow
The Dinner Party
(2007)
Jim
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story
(2008)
Ernest Whitehouse
Les Misérables - 25th Anniversary in Concert
(2010)
Monsieur Thenardier (1985 Cast)
Golden Years
(2016)
Sid
Possum
(2018)
Maurice
Funny Cow
(2018)
Lenny
Out of Innocence
(2019)
Detective Callaghan
The Nicky Nack
(2021)