Allan Corduner

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Allan Corduner (/kɔːrˈdjnər/;[1] born 2 April 1950) is a British actor. Born in Stockholm to a German mother and a Russo-Finnish father, Corduner grew up in a secular Jewish home in London. After earning a BA (Hons) in English and Drama at Bristol University he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has worked extensively on stage, TV, and film, both in the UK and in the United States. His voice is familiar from many BBC radio plays, audio books and TV documentaries.

Allan Corduner
Allan Corduner publicity photo
Corduner in 2012
Born (1950-04-02) 2 April 1950 (age 74)
Stockholm, Sweden
Years active1973–present
Spouse
Juha Leppäjärvi
(m. 2013)

Corduner made his feature film debut in Yentl, with Barbra Streisand and Mandy Patinkin. Of his 44 films, he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Sir Arthur Sullivan in Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy. He also voiced Gehrman the first hunter in the 2015 video game Bloodborne.

Early life

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Corduner grew up in a secular Jewish home in North London with his parents and younger brother.[2] His mother had escaped to Great Britain from Nazi Germany with her family in 1938. His father was born in Helsinki, Finland, of a Finnish-born mother and a Ukrainian-born father. Corduner's parents first settled in Stockholm, where he was born, but the family moved to London when he was one year old.[citation needed]

Interest in arts and music was always encouraged at home, and Corduner's early ambition was to become either an orchestra conductor or a concert pianist. He attended University College School in Hampstead, London. Although Corduner developed into a skilled jazz and classical pianist, musical aspirations had taken second place by the time he went to study at Bristol University and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[citation needed]

Acting career

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Corduner has worked extensively in theatre in London's West End and on Broadway, television as well as in film. He has also appeared in several BBC Radio plays including The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Insignificance, and Fanny and Alexander.

His voice is familiar to listeners of audio books including The Book Thief. TV appearances include Exile, ITV's Midsomer Murders, Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing on the Edge, and as Andrea Verrocchio in seasons 1 and 2 of the Starz original series Da Vinci's Demons. He appears on seasons 5 and 6 of the Showtime TV series Homeland.

After drama school, Corduner's first two years as a professional actor were spent playing a wide variety of parts at Newcastle Repertory Theatre. Spells at the Birmingham Rep and the Actors' Company followed, until Corduner returned to London to make his West End debut in Mary O'Malley's Once a Catholic at the Wyndham's Theatre. Corduner has appeared several times at the Royal Court Theatre, in plays such as Three Birds Alighting on a Field, Fucking Games, Ice Cream, and most notably Caryl Churchill's satirical Serious Money, which subsequently transferred to London's West End and Broadway in New York.

He garnered acclaim on Broadway for the role of Etches in the musical Titanic. In February 2014, he played Etches again in a one-off concert version of Titanic at Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall) in New York, re-uniting him with the original cast of the musical. He played Fritz Litten in Mark Hayhurst's Taken at Midnight, first at Chichester Festival Theatre, and subsequently at Theatre Royal Haymarket in West End.

One of his first film roles was in Yentl in 1982, with Barbra Streisand. He is probably best known for his portrayal of Sir Arthur Sullivan in Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy (1999), his first leading role in a feature film. Corduner's film work spans a variety of genres, such as action-adventure film Defiance, horror comedy film Burke and Hare,[3] and western Medicine Men. Recent films include Woman in Gold (2015) and Tár (2022).

Voice acting

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Corduner's voice is familiar to listeners of BBC radio plays such as Insignificance, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Fanny and Alexander. He was also the subject of BBC Radio 3 Private Passions.[4]

Corduner has provided voices for various video game characters, notably the first, second, third and fifth Harry Potter video games (namely as, among others, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Fillius Flitwick and Argus Filch). He also voiced Apus, the pet parrot belonging to Queen Cassiopeia, the primary antagonist, for the English version of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White White which was released in February 2013. In 2015, Corduner voiced Gehrman, the First Hunter in Bloodborne.[5]

Audiobooks and narration

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Corduner is also known for solo narration of TV documentaries such as Fish Warrior for the National Geographic Channel, and various audiobooks for Simply Audiobooks, notably The Book Thief and Inkdeath.[6] He also narrated Magyk written by Angie Sage and produced by Harper Audio. He has received two Earphones Awards by AudioFile His narration of "Anna and the Swallow Man" earned the Odyssey Award in 2017.

Personal life

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Corduner's mother was from Berlin, Germany, and his father was born in Finland. He was born in Stockholm but grew up in London.[7]

Corduner and his partner Juha Leppäjärvi met in 2006 in London, formed their civil partnership in December 2009, and married in New York City in August 2013. Corduner is a trustee of the children's arts charity Anno's Africa.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 Savage Messiah Newspaper Vendor Uncredited
1979 Phoelix
Follow the Star Shepherd Television film
1981 Sredni Vashtar Mortimer Short film
1982 The Return of the Soldier Pianist
1983 Yentl Shimmele
1985 Bad Medicine Dr. Diaz the Bus Driver
1986 Valhalla Loke English version, Voice only
1987 Mandela Benny Television film
Hearts of Fire Music Executive
1988 Talk Radio Vince
1989 Fat Man and Little Boy Franz Goethe
The Fairy Queen Quince Television film
1991 Edward II Poet
1992 Carry On Columbus Sam
1993 Heart of Darkness Verme Television film
1994 A Business Affair Dinner Guest
Nobody's Children Ion Television film
1995 Voices Oscar Butterworth
1996 Norma Jean & Marilyn Billy Wilder Television film
Indian Summer Therapist
Gadgetman Professor McNeil Television film
Soup Einstein Short film
1997 Love in the Ancient World Member at Platon's Guest Meal Television film
1998 The Impostors Captain
1999 Topsy-Turvy Arthur Sullivan
2000 Joe Gould's Secret Francis McCrudden
Gladiator Trainer
2001 Zoe Rupert
Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) Big Bob
Me Without You Max
The Grey Zone Miklós Nyiszli
The Search for John Gissing Francois "Fuller" Feulliere
2002 Food of Love Joseph Mansourian
Moonlight Mile Stan Michaels
The King's Beard Voice role
2004 De-Lovely Monty Woolley
La Femme Musketeer Aramis Television film
The Merchant of Venice Tubal
Vera Drake Psychiatrist
2005 Bigger Than the Sky Kippy Newberg
A Higher Agency Manager Short film
Against Nature Des Esseintes Short film
The Strange Case of Sherlock Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle Herbert Greenhough Smith Television film
Friends and Crocodiles Marcus Television film
The White Countess Samuel Feinstein
2007 The Last Days of the Raj Lord Ismay Television film
The Waiting Room Fiona's Dad
Fred Claus Dr. Goldfarb
2008 Defiance Shimon Haretz
2009 Mr. Nobody Dr. Feldheim
2010 Lennon Naked Arthur Janov Television film
Burke & Hare Nicéphore Niépce
2011 A Thousand Kisses Deep Buddy
2012 We'll Take Manhattan Alex Liberman Television film
An Enemy To Die For Martin
47 Orchard Street Hirsch Short film
The Sweeney Doctor
2013 The Funeral Rabbi Stephen Short film
Closer to the Moon Flaviu
2014 Admendment Anthony Short film
2015 Woman in Gold Gustav Bloch-Bauer
2016 Florence Foster Jenkins John Totten
The Book of Gabrielle Saul
2017 Disobedience Moshe Hartog
2018 Miss Dalí Captain Moore
Operation Finale Gideon Hausner
2022 Mosquito Ozwald Godfrey
Tár Sebastian Brix
Count Magnus Deacon Television film
2023 The Offering Saul

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Wings Harris Episode: "Never Turn Back"
Poldark Manservant Episode: "Series 2, Episode 9"
1980 Tales of the Unexpected Store Assistant Episode: "Mr Botibol's First Love"
Buccaneer Monty Bateman Recurring role; 4 episodes
The Onedin Line Auctioneer Episode: "Jonah's Luck"
1981 Roots Melvin Solomons
Diamonds Roger Marker Recurring role; 4 episodes
1983 Maybury Dr. Walker Episode: "New Gods for Old: Part 1"
1984 Cold Warrior Joachim Episode: "Bright Sting"
Freud Oscar Rie Miniseries; 2 episodes
1985 Girls on Top Benny Episode: "Hark"
1986 The Collectors Joe Kalman Episode: "Go for Gold"
1987 C.A.T.S. Eyes Morrish Episode: "Carrier Pigeon"
1988 Tales of the Unexpected Hatchard's Bookshop Assistant Episode: "The Colonel's Lady"
1990 ScreenPlay Stephen Carlinsky Episode: "Antonia and Jane"
1991 Spatz Rex Episode: "Talent Contest"
1992 The Bill George Quigley Recurring role; 2 episodes
Boon Dennis Episode: "Whispering Grass"
1993 Minder Marty Episode: "I'll Never Forget Whats'ername"
Inspector Morse Gentile Bellocchio Episode: "Twilight of the Gods"
Teenage Health Freak Dr.Lime Recurring role; 2 episodes
1994 Headhunters Saul Karkoff Episode: "The Golden Hello"
Birdland Chip Rafferty Episode: "Plan B"
The Bill Defence Barrister Episode: "Backlash"
Paris Minotti Series regular; 6 episodes
1995 An Independent Man Robert Flower Episode: "Market Forces"
1996 No Bananas Benjamin Marks Episode: "Escape"
Mad About You Osofsky Episode: "Burt's Building"
1996–1997 Nostromo Hirsch Miniseries; 4 episodes
1998 Drop the Dead Donkey Art Critic Recurring role; 2 episodes
1999 Liverpool 1 Alan Pollock Episode: "Sweet Dreams"
2000–2005 Fat Friends Leonard Harris Recurring role; 4 episodes
2001 The Way We Live Now Croll Miniseries; 4 episodes
2002 Foyle's War Carlo Lucciano Episode: "A Lesson in Murder"
Daniel Deronda Herr Klesmer Miniseries; 3 episodes
2003 Trust Michael Cohen Miniseries; 1 episode
2004 Heartbeat Gerard Lowe Episode: "In the Bleak Midwinter"
The Last Detective Maurice Leyman Episode: "Christine"
2006 Simon Schama's Power of Art Mark Rothko Episode: "Rothko"
2007 Rome Clerk Episode: "These Being the Words of Marcus Tullius Cicero"
Heartbeat Tristram Johnstone Episode: "Seeds of Destruction"
The Whistleblowers Daniel Black Episode: "Ghosts"
2008 No Heroics Shopkeeper Episode: "Supergroupie"
2010 A Passionate Woman Mr Solomon Miniseries; 1 episodes
Grandma's House Richard Episode: "The Day Simon Felt the Family Was Ready to Be Healed"[8]
2011 Zen Michelangelo Gattuso Episode: "Cabal"
Exile Geller Miniseries; 1 episode
Nazi Underworld Narrator Episode: "Hitler's Family"
2012 Midsomer Murders Michael Hipsman Episode: "A Rare Bird"
2013 Spies of Warsaw Viktor Rosen Miniseries; 4 episodes
Dancing on the Edge Mr. Wax Miniseries; 5 episodes
2013–2014 Da Vinci's Demons Andrea Verrocchio Recurring role; 11 episodes
2014 Utopia Ross Recurring role; 2 episodes
2015–2017 Homeland Etai Luskin Recurring role; 7 episodes
2016 The Musketeers Van Laar Recurring role; 2 episodes
The Collection Inspector Bompard Recurring role; 4 episodes
2017 Fearless Monty Berman Miniseries; 5 episodes
2018 Call the Midwife Arnold Gelin Episode: "Series 7, Episode 1"
FBI Victor Beniov Episode: "This Land Is Your Land"
2019 The Blacklist Aaron Meyers Episode: "The Corsican (No. 20)"
2021 Ridley Road Rabbi Leslie Lehrer Miniseries; 4 episodes

Video games

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Year Game Role Notes
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Argus Filch / Filius Flitwick / Gringotts Goblin / Quirinus Quirrell / Severus Snape Voice only
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Filius Flitwick / Lucius Malfoy / Severus Snape / Argus Filch Voice only
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Filius Flitwick / Severus Snape Voice only
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Argus Filch / Severus Snape / Basil Fronsac / Reginald Oddpick Voice only
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors Xiphos English version, voice only
2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Argus Filch Voice only
2011 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Apus English version, voice only
2014 Transformers Universe Ironhide Voice only
2015 Bloodborne Old Hunter Gehrman Voice only
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Eynzahr Slafyrsyn / Midgardsormr English version, voice only
2018 Call of Cthulhu James Fitzroy / Additional Voices Voice only
2020 Assassin's Creed Valhalla Trygve Voice only
2021 Bravely Default II Gwydion English version, voice only
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Quintus Cinna Voice only

Theatre

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Audiobooks

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References

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  1. ^ "LITTLE DID YOU KNOW The Chat Show episode 22: Allan Corduner". Peccadillo Pictures. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Interview: Allan Corduner | the Jewish Chronicle". Archived from the original on 17 November 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  3. ^ Barton, Steve (15 July 2010). "Burke and Hare - John Landis Talks Horror; New Image". Dread Central. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Allan Corduner, Private Passions - BBC Radio 3". BBC.
  5. ^ Bloodborne, 24 March 2015, retrieved 1 November 2019
  6. ^ "See All Search Results for Allan Corduner - Sort by Relevance - Page 1 | Audiobooks.com". Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  7. ^ ""His Topsy-Turvy Life" by Feinstein, Howard - The Advocate (The national homo/dyke newsmagazine), February 15, 2000". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Episode 1.5 - The Day Simon Felt The Family Was Ready To Be Healed". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  9. ^ "Samantha Spiro". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  10. ^ "The Playgoer: REVIEW: The Birthday Party". Playgoer.blogspot.com. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
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