Hari Dhillon (Punjabi: ਹਰੀ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ (Gurmukhi)) is an American television, film and stage actor, best known for playing Michael Spence in British television medical drama series Holby City.[1] His name has also been spelled Hari Dillon and Harry Dillon.

Hari Dhillon
Hari Dhillon at the 2019 TIFF premier of Bad Education
Hari Dhillon at the 2019 TIFF premier of Bad Education
Born1968 (age 55–56)
Other namesHari Dillon
Harry Dillon
Hari Jamil Dillon
OccupationActor
Years active1990s-present
TelevisionHolby City, This is Us

Early life and education

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Dhillon was born[2] and raised in San Francisco, California. He spent nine months of his childhood in India.[3] He took one acting class at UC Berkeley in his senior year at San Francisco State University. After graduation, he worked as a prison AIDS educator in California and Hawaii before setting up a theatre company in San Francisco with friends. In 1994, he attended drama school in the United Kingdom.[3]

Career

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Dhillon originally appeared in Holby City in 2001 as recurring minor character Dr. Sunil Gupta, before returning in November 2007 as consultant Michael Spence.[4] Dhillon took an 'extended break' from Holby City on December 17, 2013, after Michael was forced to leave his post by new CEO, Guy Self (John Michie).[5]

On June 19, 2014, it was announced Dhillon would be returning to Holby City as Michael for a short stint in late 2014.[6] During this time, Dhillon also starred alongside Amanda Mealing on Casualty.

His appearances in US TV shows include Medium, Charmed, Without a Trace, The Loop,[7] and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[8] He also had minor, unnamed roles in the films Cradle 2 the Grave, Wit and Entrapment. He also starred in the Broadway debut of the Ayad Akhtar play, Disgraced.[9]

Filmography

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Television

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Year(s) Title Role Notes
1997 Dream Team
2000 Arabian Nights Prince Hussain
2000 Trial & Retribution 1 episode
2001 Lawless Heart
2001 Holby City Dr Sunil Gupta Recurring role
2002 The Agency 1 episode
2003 She Spies 1 episode
2005 Charmed 2 episodes
2005 Medium 1 episode
2006 Mr. Nice Guy
2007 Without a Trace 1 episode
2007 The Loop 5 episodes
2007–2014 Holby City Michael Spence Regular role
2014 Casualty Episode: "Entrenched"
2014 The Mentalist 1 episode
2015 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Attorney Varma Episode: Granting Immunity
2015 The Mysteries of Laura Swami Sanjay Episode: "The Mystery of the Exsanguinated Ex"
2016 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Agent Deepak Singh Episode: Harvested
2016 Midsomer Murders Reece Dexter Episode: Breaking the Chain
2016 Madam Secretary Foreign Minister/Prime Minister Episodes: Connection Lost/ Render Safe
2017 This Is Us Sanjay Jahiri 4 episodes
2018 Billions Michael Panay
2019 Death in Paradise Jay Carver Episode: S8:E8
2021 Alex Rider Ed Pleasance 6 episodes
2023 The Serial Killer's Wife Maxwell

Film

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Theatre

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Awards and nominations

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Dhillon was nominated to the long-list of the 2010 National Television Awards in the category for "Best Drama Performance".[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Holby City character Michael Spence". BBC. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  2. ^ "Star's girlfriend is worried about his new love: 5 minutes with Hari Dhillon". Glasgow Evening Times. 2008-01-09. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  3. ^ a b c Zeenat Moosa (2009-11-23). "Hari Dhillon - Holby City and the National Television Awards (interview)". The Asian Today. Archived from the original on 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  4. ^ "Familiar face at Holby". Metro. 2007-10-31. Archived from the original on 2012-09-29. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  5. ^ "Holby City actor takes break from show". Digital Spy. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Dhillon to reprise role as Michael Spence" Archived 2014-06-21 at the Wayback Machine, digitalspy.co.uk; accessed October 25, 2014.
  7. ^ "Hari Dhillon partial filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  8. ^ "Scoop: Law & Order: SVU on NBC". broadwayworld.com. April 8, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Isherwood, Charles (October 23, 2014). "When the Soul Must Be Heard". Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  10. ^ Paul Taylor (2002-07-02). "Mother Teresa Is Dead, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court, London". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  11. ^ Robert Hurwitt (2004-05-05). "Rape metaphor pervasive in fuzzy "Drifting Elegant"". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  12. ^ Terry Morgan (2004-11-11). "A Perfect Wedding (review)". Backstage West. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  13. ^ Harvey, Dennis (March 9, 2006). "theater review: Morbidity and Mortality". Variety. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  14. ^ Terry Morgan (2004-11-11). "Douglas Theatre Opens for Mee". Backstage West. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  15. ^ Dennis Harvey (2006-10-17). "Drifting Elegant". Variety. Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
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