Simon Merrells is an English film, television and stage actor best known for his portrayal of Marcus Licinius Crassus in Spartacus: War of the Damned.
Simon Scott Merrells | |
|---|---|
| Born | Epping, Essex, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Relatives | Jason Merrells (brother) |
Early life
editMerrells was born in London, three years before his brother Jason Merrells. [1] He started drama school, but soon left to work as a minicab driver to fund travelling to Mexico, where he painted. He became involved in fringe theatre in Brighton, where his brother was living, when he returned to England.[2][3]
Career
editStage
editMerrells appeared with his brother Jason in a production of The Comedy of Errors in 2007, playing twins.[4]
Merrells has worked with director Steven Berkoff several times, first in a world tour of the play Coriolanus. In 2009, he played Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, directed by Berkoff.[2] Variety said that "Compact and bristling with contained energy, Simon Merrells has the right physicality to play Terry but never quite emerges from Brando’s long shadow";[5] The Independent said he "brings his own brand of studied vulnerability and sullen pride to the part".[6]
Merrells performed as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at the Liverpool Playhouse in 2007, and starred as Oedipus in another Berkoff production at the same venue in 2011.[2] He was nominated for a Stage Award for Best Actor for that role.[7] Later that year he played detective Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep; The Stage said he was "charismatic" but "a touch too suave and slick".[8]
He has appeared on television in London's Burning as DSO Griggs, Family Affairs (as bouncer Conrad Williams),[2][3] and Merseybeat.[4]
Film and television
editIn 2009, Merrells had a lead role in the 2009 film, Invisible Eyes. In 2010, he portrayed Ben Talbot, brother of Lawrence Talbot in remake of The Wolfman.[9] In 2013, he portrayed the Roman commander Marcus Licinius Crassus in the Starz series Spartacus: War of the Damned. He had to undergo a strict diet and four-week fitness boot camp in preparation for the role, losing 21 lbs.[10] Also that year, he portrayed character Mark Vega in the British horror film Judas Ghost. He also plays The Founder in the 2013 American remake of The Tomorrow People.
In 2014, Merrells starred in a small sci-fi film named Index Zero as Kurt, a main character, and two films in 2015, Billionaire Ransom (originally titled Take Down) and Victrix. In 2015, Merrells guest-starred in the Syfy channel series Dominion as a dyad named Julian. Also in 2015 Merrells starred in a futuristic short film called The Leap as an enforcement agent whose job it is to stop people trafficking on an interplanetary scale. In 2016, Merrells was cast as Tancrede de Hautville in the History channel's series Knightfall, which premiered in the United States in December 2017.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Invisible Eyes | Dan |
| 2010 | The Wolfman | Ben Talbot |
| 2013 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | Marcus Licinius Crassus |
| 2013 | Judas Ghost | Mark Vega |
| 2014 | Index Zero | Kurt |
| 2014 | The Tomorrow People | Hugh Bathory / The Founder |
| 2015 | Billionaire Ransom | Jonathan Tilton-Scofield |
| 2015 | Dominion | Julian |
| 2016 | Victrix | Marius |
| 2017–18 | Legends of Tomorrow | Julius Caesar |
| 2017–19 | Knightfall | Tancrede de Hautville |
| 2018 | 12 Monkeys | Andrus |
| 2019 | Good Omens | Leslie the International Express Man |
| 2022 | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Watchwarden Revion |
References
edit- ^ "Brothers' double trouble". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Catherine (4 February 2011). "Actor Simon Merrells talks about taking on the role of Oedipus and working with Steven Berkoff". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ a b Davis, Laura (16 February 2011). "Simon Merrells on starring as Oedipus in Steven Berkoff's new Liverpool Playhouse production". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ a b Clayton, Emma (30 October 2007). "Brothers' double trouble". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Fricker, Karen (29 April 2008). "Review: "On the Waterfront"". Variety. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Walker, Lynn (6 August 2008). "On The Waterfront, Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Festival: Up front and fiery". The Independent. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Smith, Alistair (August 2011). "Previous winners Guy Masterson and NTS in running for Stage Edinburgh Awards". The Stage. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Tripney, Natasha (28 October 2011). "The Big Sleep". The Stage. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ "Check Out 'The Wolfman' On Blu-ray & DVD June 1". Starpulse. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Dehority, Sam. "A Spartacus Fitness Transformation". Men's Fitness. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
External links
edit- Simon Merrells at IMDb
- Simon Merrells On Playing Crassus, Huffington Post (video interview)