Jamie Parker

Early life

Parker was born in Middlesbrough, Cleveland, on 14 August 1979 and brought up in Darlington. He attended Loretto School before training in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), from which he graduated in 2002.{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2006/oct/08/theatre.broadway | access-date = 5 November 2006 |access-date=5 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110000345/http://www.rada.org/grad02/par.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2006 |access-date=5 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005004947/http://www.andallthechildrencried.co.uk/btc/castandcrew.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= 5 October 2006

Career

Parker originated the role of Scripps in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys. He was involved in The History Boys from the play's first reading, initially reading the part of Rudge{{cite book | author-link = Alan Bennett | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522214558/http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id%3D412505 | access-date = 5 November 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-date =2011-05-22 | access-date = 17 October 2006 | access-date = 17 October 2006

In 2008, he appeared as Werner von Haeften in the film of the historical thriller Valkyrie. He can also be seen in the BBC/HBO production of Parade's End.

In 2011, he appeared at Chichester in Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with fellow History Boy Samuel Barnett. The production subsequently moved to London for a West End engagement. In the autumn of 2012 he appeared as Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. In the first part of 2013 he appeared in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Proof and in Candida at the Theatre Royal, Bath. He played the role of Mike Connor in High Society at The Old Vic in London. He also sang several numbers in the Late Night Sinatra concert given by the John Wilson Orchestra during the 2015 BBC Proms season at London's Royal Albert Hall.

In 2015, he appeared alongside his fellow History Boys co-stars in the film adaptation of Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van. He had a cameo as an estate agent.

He originated the role of Harry Potter in the original West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, London. On 9 April 2017 Parker won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the play. He reprised his performance on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre in 2018, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play.

In 2023, he took the stage as Benjamin Button in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Southwark Playhouse in London. The show opened on 22 May and closed on 1 July.

Later in 2023, he played Dan Goodman in the Donmar Warehouse's production of the musical Next to Normal. He reprised the role for the show's West End transfer in 2024.

Shakespeare

In 2009 he played Oliver in As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe.

He returned in 2010 to play Prince Hal in both Henry IV Part 1 and Henry IV Part 2. His musical talents were further exhibited (briefly) when he played a wooden recorder in an early tavern scene.

During the spring of 2012 he toured the UK in the Globe production of Henry V, a production which subsequently played at Shakespeare's Globe on London's Southbank during the summer of 2012 thereby completing his traversal of the Prince Hal story arc in Shakespeare's history plays at the Globe. Parker was also featured in two of the six episodes of the BBC Four's production Shakespeare Uncovered (2012). Each episode explored and revealed the extraordinary world and works of William Shakespeare and the still-potent impact they have today. The series combined interviews with actors, directors and scholars, along with visits to key locations, clips from some of the most celebrated film and television adaptations, and illustrative excerpts from the plays staged specially for the series at Shakespeare's Globe in London.

He played Hamlet in BBC Radio 4's production of Hamlet, directed by Marc Beeby. It was first broadcast in March 2014.

He also played Mark Antony in BBC Radio 4's production of Julius Caesar, directed by Marc Beeby, first broadcast in July 2018.

Personal life

He married actress Deborah Crowe in 2007, with whom he has a son, William.

Parker's great-grandfather was the English footballer Alf Common.

Selected credits

Theatre

Radio

Television

Film

References

References

1. (10 April 2017). "Former Musselburgh pupil Jamie Parker's portrayal of Harry Potter wins him Best Actor at Olivier Awards". East Lothian Courier.
2. "John Smythe: theatre reviews: NZIAF-THE HISTORY BOYS: More is more".
3. "Home".
4. (7 April 2017). "Olivier Awards 2017: The full list of winners and nominees". The Telegraph.
5. McPhee, Ryan. (2017-08-02). "Original Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Trio to Reunite on Broadway; Additional Casting Announced {{!}} Playbill".
6. PBS. ''Shakespeare Uncovered'', New York Public Media, 2013. [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/shakespeare-uncovered/about/ ''Shakespeare Uncovered: About''] {{Webarchive. link. (31 December 2014)
7. "IMDB – Jamie Parker – Biography".
8. (10 April 2017). "Darlington actor helps create theatre history with Harry Potter play".
9. "IMDB – Jamie Parker – Other works".
10. "The Gondoliers or The King of Barataria".
11. Benedict, David. (5 June 2008). "Variety – The Revenger's Tragedy".
12. "RadioListings – Life Class".
13. "American Experience – Alexander Hamilton – The Film and More – PBS".
14. BBC Four. ''Shakespeare Uncovered: Derek Jacobi on Richard II'', Episode 3 of 6, BBC, 30 June 2012. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01km7f9 ''BBC Shakespeare Uncovered'']
15. BBC Four. ''Shakespeare Uncovered: Jeremy Irons on the Henrys'', Episode 5 of 6, BBC, 8 July 2012. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ktf9j ''BBC Shakespeare Uncovered'']
16. Schneider, Michael. (February 27, 2025). "Bill Nighy Joins Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham in Amazon Prime Video Action Series 'Ride or Die' (EXCLUSIVE)".