Jamie St John Bamber Griffith (born 3 April 1973), known professionally as Jamie Bamber, is a British actor, known for his roles as Lee Adama in Battlestar Galactica and Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin in the ITV series Law & Order: UK. He also had a supporting role as 2nd Lt. Jack Foley in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, as Lieutenant Archie Kennedy in the Hornblower series and was a regular on the British series Ultimate Force and Peak Practice. In 2013, Bamber starred in the TNT medical drama Monday Mornings and, in 2014, in the Sky 1 drama The Smoke.
Jamie Bamber | |
|---|---|
 Bamber at the Phoenix Comicon in May 2012 | |
| Born | Jamie St John Bamber Griffith 3 April 1973 Hammersmith, London, England |
| Education | St Paul's School |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | Kerry Norton |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editBamber was born on 3 April 1973 in Hammersmith, London, England, to Ralph and Elizabeth Griffith. His father is from the United States and his mother is from Northern Ireland.[1] At the time Bamber was born, his father was an American management consultant.[2] Bamber has five brothers and one sister, actress Anastasia Griffith.[3]
Bamber was educated at St Paul's School in London, and graduated with a first in Modern Languages (Italian and French) from St John's College, Cambridge, before attending and graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He is fluent in both Italian and French, having spent part of his childhood in Paris.[4] Bamber appeared in the 1994 student film Shifting Sands.[5]
Acting career
editBattlestar Galactica
editBeginning in 2003, Bamber starred as Lee 'Apollo' Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica that started as a miniseries and served as a backdoor pilot for the 2004 television series on the US Sci Fi Channel (now Syfy). The show received critical acclaim and received a Peabody Award[6] plus a number of nominations in its four-season run; Bamber was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television for Battlestar Galactica in 2004.
In the role of Lee Adama, Londoner Bamber speaks with an American accent which is frequently cited for its accuracy;[7][8] he credits being exposed to his father's American accent from childhood. He also darkened his hair, in an effort to more closely resemble Edward James Olmos, who plays his character's father. Reciprocally, Olmos wore contact lenses with blue irises to match Bamber's eyes.[9]
Bamber wrote the foreword for Titan Books' Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion Season Three by David Bassom. Of the show's dramatic resonance, he said:
... that's what good drama lets us do. It allows us to see and to feel things we otherwise would not. And great drama allows us to do that on every level: the psychological, the personal and the political. I am proud to say that in the pared down world of Battlestar Galactica there is no plot, no character and no relationship that does not breathe the oxygen of all three levels at once.[10]
Other television roles
edit
Bamber is also well known for his role as DS Matt Devlin, the younger partner of veteran detective DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) on Law & Order: UK for the show's first five series, from 2009 to 2011.[11][12]
He played Lieutenant Archibald "Archie" Kennedy in the ITV series Hornblower, appearing in five of the eight television films in which Kennedy (rising in ranks from midshipman to fourth lieutenant) has a much expanded role from that essayed in C.S. Forester's novels. Bamber also appeared as a trainee doctor in the final series of long running ITV soap Peak Practice, and portrayed an SAS officer in Ultimate Force; it was on a break from the latter, which he subsequently revealed was a job that he was not entirely happy with,[13] that he traveled to Los Angeles and read for Battlestar Galactica.
Bamber guest starred in the second season premiere of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse where his character is wed to Echo (played by Eliza Dushku) during one of her missions; he also reunited with his Battlestar Galactica co-star Tahmoh Penikett in the episode.[14] In the BBC's Outcasts, Bamber portrayed a hot-tempered expeditionary leader amongst colonists of a distant planet in the late 21st century; though he had been offered a larger part in the series, he elected to take the supporting role in part because he was wary of following up Battlestar Galactica with another sci-fi series that bore a few similarities.[15] Other TV series in which he has made guest appearances include CSI: Miami, NCIS, House, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, The Last Detective, Body of Proof, Perception, Rizzoli & Isles, and the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.
He played the role of detective Caolán Longstreet in 17th Precinct,[16] a pilot by Galactica creator Ronald D. Moore described as a police drama which takes place in a world governed by magic. The pilot was not picked up by NBC for the fall 2011 season; it would have also re-united him with his Galactica co-stars James Callis[17] and Tricia Helfer.[18]
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Bamber starred as neurosurgeon Dr. Tyler Wilson in Monday Mornings, the David E. Kelley-produced series for TNT, co-executive-produced by Sanjay Gupta and based on his novel of the same name.[19] The series debuted in February 2013; it was cancelled after one season.[20] In 2014 he played the lead role of Kev Allison, a London firefighter struggling to keep his personal and professional relationships together after a life-altering accident on the job, in The Smoke, a Kudos Television drama for Sky1 in the UK.[21]
He currently has supporting roles in two UK series: Marcella, returning for a second series in 2018; and Fearless. He also plays a recurring role in the 2018 STARZ series Counterpart and starred as Colonel Alexander Coltrane in the Cinemax series Strike Back. He plays Archie Hughes, Martha's business partner and ex-fiance, in the BBC TV series Beyond Paradise, which started airing in 2023.
Film
editBamber played the starring role in the 2008 film Pulse 2: Afterlife, a direct-to-DVD sequel to 2006's Pulse.[22] Earlier he starred in The Devil's Tattoo (known as Ghost Rig in the US) along with Kerry Norton, who was later to become his wife.
He made his French-language acting debut in 2012 in Martin Valente's Un jour mon père viendra,[23] portraying the American fiancé of the female lead played by French pop star Olivia Ruiz. According to Bamber, his character is loosely based on Andre Agassi.[24] Most recently, he co-starred in the 2017 French romantic comedy L'Embarras du Choix alongside Alexandra Lamy and Arnaud Ducret.
In May 2011, Bamber completed filming John Doe: Vigilante, an Australian production directed by Kelly Dolen. The film was released in the United States on 21 March 2014.[25]
On 9 June 2015, Variety announced that Jamie Bamber, Kellan Lutz, Jesse Williams, and Jess Weixler had joined the cast of a thriller film titled Money, directed by Martin Rosete and produced by Atit Shah.[26]
Stage and radio
editBamber's stage appearances include Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 at the Bristol Old Vic in 2002;[27] and in 2005 he appeared as Mephistopheles in Dr. Faustus;[28] at the Liverpool Playhouse.
He has also acted in radio serials; major roles include Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited and Philip in Where Angels Fear to Tread for BBC Radio 4.[29]
Personal life
editBamber is married to English actress and singer Kerry Norton who played Ishay, Doc Cottle's assistant, on Battlestar Galactica. The couple have three daughters.[30]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Devil's Tattoo | Tom | Released as Ghost Rig in the US |
| 2008 | Pulse 2: Afterlife | Stephen | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2012 | Un jour mon père viendra | Stephen Astarti | |
| 2012 | Filly Brown | Sam | |
| 2012 | Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse | Robin Hood (voice) | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2013 | Before I Sleep | Paul | |
| 2014 | John Doe: Vigilante | John Doe | |
| 2015 | The Better Half | Jeff Ryan | |
| 2015 | Numb | Will | |
| 2016 | Money | John | |
| 2016 | A New York Christmas | Sam Martin | |
| 2017 | L'Embarras du choix | Paul | |
| 2018 | Inferno: Skyscraper Escape[31] | Tom Bronson | |
| 2019 | The Car : Road to Revenge | Caddok | |
| 2022 | Titanic 666 | Professor Hal Cochran | [32] |
| 2022 | The Lair | Major Roy Finch |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2001 | Hornblower | Lieutenant Archie Kennedy | 5 episodes |
| 1999 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Lord Tony Dewhurst | Episode: "The Scarlet Pimpernel" |
| 2000 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Ralph Paton | Episode: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" |
| 2000 | Lady Audley's Secret | George Talboys | Television film |
| 2001 | Bob Martin | James | Episode: "Big Break" |
| 2001 | Band of Brothers | 2nd Lt. Jack Foley | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 2001–2002 | Peak Practice | Dr. Matt Kendal | 8 episodes |
| 2002–2003 | Ultimate Force | Cpt. Dennis "Dotsy" Doheny | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | Daniel Deronda | Hans Meyrick | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 2003 | Battlestar Galactica | Lee 'Apollo' Adama | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2004–2009 | Main role; 68 episodes | ||
| 2007 | Battlestar Galactica: Razor | Television film | |
| 2007 | Cold Case | Jack Kimball | Episode: "Blood on the Tracks" |
| 2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Bryan Curtis | Episode: "The Walk-In" |
| 2007 | The Last Detective | Luke Clayhill | Episode: "Dangerous' Liaisons" |
| 2009–2011 | Law & Order: UK | DS Matt Devlin | Main role (series 1–5); 32 episodes |
| 2009 | Dollhouse | Martin Klar | Episode: "Vows" |
| 2011 | Outcasts | Mitchell Hoban | Episode: "Episode 1" |
| 2011 | CSI: Miami | Ronnie Hale | Episode: "Blown Away" |
| 2011 | House | Bob Harris | Episode: "The Confession" |
| 2012 | Body of Proof | Aiden Welles | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Perception | Dr. Michael Hathaway | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Monday Mornings | Dr. Tyler Wilson | Main role; 10 episodes |
| 2014 | The Smoke | Kev Allison | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Rizzoli & Isles | Paul Wescourt | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | NCIS | Jake Malloy | 6 episodes |
| 2015 | The Messengers | Vincent Plowman | 3 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Marcella | DI Tim Williamson | 14 episodes |
| 2017 | Fearless | Matthew Wild | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Counterpart | Eric Burton | Episode: "The Crossing" |
| 2019–2020 | Strike Back | Colonel Alexander Coltrane[33] | 19 episodes |
| 2021 | Innocent | Sam Wright | Main role[34] |
| 2022 | DI Ray | DCI Martyn Hunter | Miniseries, 5 episodes[35] |
| 2022 | Signora Volpe | Adam Haines | 2 Episodes |
| 2023 | Beyond Paradise | Archie Hughes | 5 Episodes |
| 2023 | Cannes Confidential | Harry King | Main role; 6 Episodes |
| 2023 | Who Is Erin Carter? | DI Jim Armstrong | 2 episodes |
Web
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Star Trek Continues | Mr. Simone | Episode: "Pilgrim of Eternity" |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Star Wars: The Old Republic | Additional Voices |
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | The Local Population |
| 2013 | Dead Rising 3 | Simon Merkin |
References
edit- ^ "The Smoke". PressReader. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Storm, Jo (October 2007). Frak You!: The Ultimate Unauthorized Guide to Battlestar Galactica. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55490-301-6.
- ^ April MacIntyre (15 August 2007). "A chat with FX 'Damages' Anastasia Griffith". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
- ^ "Biography: Jamie Bamber". TCM.com.
- ^ Shifting Sands official website Archived 5 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, with video clips of Bamber
- ^ ""Battlestar Galactica" Wins Peabody Award". TV Fodder. 7 April 2006.
- ^ "Today's Pop Five: MamaChockley's top American accents". USA Today. 28 January 2011.
- ^ "The Best And Worst Fake American Accents From Scifi's Army Of Brits". io9. 4 August 2008.
- ^ "Edward James Olmos faking eye color". Battlestar Blog. 27 March 2005. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010.
- ^ Bassom, David; Bamber, Jamie (foreword) (August 2007). Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion Season Three. Titan Books. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-8457-6478-4.
- ^ Dos Santos, Kristin; Jennifer Godwin (20 July 2008). "Exclusive: Holy Frak! Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber to Star in Law & Order: UK". Watch with Kristin. E! Online. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
- ^ Walmsley, Clare. "Law & Order gets UK makeover", BBC News, 22 February 2009.
- ^ "Jamie Bamber Galactica.TV Interview, MegaCon 2007". Galactica.tv. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ Phillips, Jevon (25 September 2009). "'Dollhouse': Jamie Bamber talks about his marriage to Eliza Dushku's Echo". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Jamie Bamber Talks 'Battlestar Galactica,' 'Outcasts' and 'Law & Order: UK'". AOL TV. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ "PILOT CASTINGS: Rob Huebel Gets Fox's 'Family Album' After FX Passes On 'USS Alabama', Jamie Bamber To '17th Precinct'". Deadline. 15 February 2011.
- ^ "Enrique Murciano, Rebecca Mader & James Callis Among Latest Pilot Cast Additions". Deadline. 3 March 2011.
- ^ "'Battlestar' Alumna Tricia Helfer Joins Ron Moore's NBC Pilot '17th Precinct'". Deadline. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011.
- ^ "'PILOT CASTINGS: Jamie Bamber In 'Chelsea General', Two Join Sarah Silverman Comedy'". Deadline Hollywood. 2 February 2012.
- ^ "'TNT Picks Up David E. Kelley/Sanjay Gupta Medical Pilot 'Monday Mornings' To Series'". Deadline Hollywood. 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber Cast In Sky1′s 'The Smoke'". TV Wise. 23 March 2013..
- ^ Barton, Steve (22 September 2008). "Pulse 2". Dread Central. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ Un jour mon père viendra, uniFrance
- ^ "A quick chat with Jamie Bamber". What's On TV. 6 September 2010.
- ^ "John Doe: Vigilante – In Theaters 3.21.14!". Main Street Films. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ Hopewell, John; Mayorga, Emilio (9 June 2015). "Bamber, Lutz, Williams, Weixler Set For Money". Variety.
- ^ "SciFi Channel Bio: Jamie Bamber". Archived from the original on 6 December 2010.
- ^ Review of Dr. Faustus from thestage.co.uk
- ^ "Jamie Bamber".
- ^ "'The Internet's Sexiest Guys'". People Magazine. 15 November 2006.
- ^ Summer, Eric (2017), Crystal Inferno, Claire Forlani, Jamie Bamber, Riley Jackson, retrieved 3 February 2018
- ^ Donato, Matt (14 April 2022). "Tubi's Horror Titanic 666 Goes Down with the Ship". Paste. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ Petskidate=May 31, 2018, Denise (31 May 2018). "'Strike Back': Jamie Bamber & Yasemin Allen Join Cast As Season 6 Production Begins". Deadline. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "ITV announce a second series of hit series, Innocent". ITalkTelly. 21 September 2020.
- ^ "Meet the cast of ITV thriller DI Ray". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
External links
edit
- Jamie Bamber at IMDb
- Jamie Bamber at TV Guide