Rafe Spall Biography

Rafe Spall photo

Born: March 10, 1983

RAFE SPALL

Date of Birth: March 10, 1983

The son of British character actor Timothy Spall (who might be best known for his role as Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter movies), Rafe Spall was born in London, England. He made his film debut at age 18 in the independent movie Beginner's Luck (2001). The TV movies Out of Control (2002) and The Lion in Winter (2003) were followed by his first major motion picture—Universal's comedy horror Shaun of the Dead (2004).

In 2006, Spall received critical acclaim for his performance as Edward Rochester opposite Rebecca Hall in the BBC adaptation of Jean Rhys' novel Wide Sargasso Sea.

Over the next few years, Rafe continued to work both in TV and film, including the romantic drama A Good Year, directed Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard, before reuniting with Shaun of the Dead's Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg for their new film, the police comedy Hot Fuzz (2007), alongside Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy.

In 2009 Spall starred in the thriller The Scouting Book for Boys, which previewed to critical acclaim at the London Film Festival. Rafe also starred as William Holman Hunt in Desperate Romantics, a six-part BBC drama that follows the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.

The following year he played the title character in the Channel 4 comedy series Pete Vs Life, which was promptly renewed for a second season, then portrayed William Shakespeare in the Elizabethan drama Anonymous (2011), alongside Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave. He also played a supporting role in One Day (2011), starring Anne Hathaway. Rafe has also filmed the feature Earthbound, a sci-fi romance in which he plays the lead character.

His other television credits include the role of Roger Bassington in ITV's Marple: Why didn't they ask Evans?, the BBC drama Rather You than Me, The Chatterley Affair, Cracker, The Romantics, and The Rotter's Club. For his work in He Kills Coppers, Rafe was nominated for an RTS Television Award.

Rafe has also worked extensively in theater, including Just a Bloke and Alaska at the Royal Court, The Knight of Burning Pestle at the Young Vic, John Gabriel Borkman at the Donmar Warehouse and If There Is, I Haven't Found It Yet at The Bush.

Spall also starred in Ridley Scott's Prometheus (2012) alongside Charlize Theron, followed by Ang Lee's Life of Pi (2012). Next he appeared in the films I Give It a Year (2013), The F Word (2013), and The Big Short (2015).

He was also seen in the Steven Spielberg animated reboot The BFG (2016), the family adventure flick Shallows and Amazons (2016), and the drama Mum's List (2016).

Most recently, he played Agent C opposite Chris Hemsworth in Men in Black: International(2019).

Rafe married South African actress Elize du Toit on August 14, 2010.

Filmography:

Mum's List (2016)
Shallows and Amazons (2016)
The BFG (2016)
The Big Short (2015)
Get Santa (2014)
I Give It a Year (2013)
The F Word (2013)
Life of Pi (2012)
Earthbound (2012)
Prometheus (2012)
Anonymous (2011)
One Day (2011)
Sus (2010)
The Scouting Book for Boys (2009)
A Good Year (2006)

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