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1-29 of 29
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Ruth Connell is a Scottish actress with a career that spans film, television, and theatre.
She will next be seen in the upcoming DC series 'Dead Boy Detectives,' created by Steve Yockey and produced by Greg Berlantti and Neil Gaiman, as well as Adam Sigal's 'Nandor Fodor and The Talking Mongoose' opposite Simon Pegg and Minnie Driver. These projects follow a six-season run on the CW's hit series 'Supernatural,' where she starred as the fan-favorite 'Rowena,' the Queen of Hell.
Connell began her career as a dancer and performed in several productions with Scottish Ballet, including 'The Nutcracker,' in which she played the lead role of "Clara." After working with dance companies including Jazz Art UK and The Curve Foundation, she trained as an actor gaining a BA (Hons) at Rose Bruford College in London and was Critics Choice for her graduation showcase.
In 1998 Connell made her film, debut in 'The Soldier's Leap' and appeared in an array of film and television projects in the UK. After filming ITV's Above Their Station with Denis Lawson, she began working in LA on such features as the award winning indie film, 'Folklore.'
Connell built up a strong theatre profile in both the UK and US, as well, playing lead roles in award winning productions such as Goethe's Faust (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh), Men Should Weep (UK No1 National Tour), and No Mean City (Citizens Theatre Glasgow). She was nominated for BroadwayWorld's "Best Leading Actress" for her performance as a female Captain Hook in Peter Pan The Boy Who Hated Mothers at Noah Wylie's The Blank Theatre in Los Angeles. She can also be heard as the voice of 'Princess Merida' for Disney/Pixar in several Brave recordings and video games.- Alongside Ben Turpin, diminutive Scots-born Jimmy Finlayson was, arguably, the most instantly recognisable of the many clowns of silent screen slapstick who made their living as comic foil to stars like Laurel & Hardy, or Harold Lloyd. The perpetually exasperated, squinting, bald-pated master of the 'double-take and fade' with the walrus (fake) moustache began his working life as an apprentice in his father's iron foundry. Not finding this much to his liking he decided on a mercantile career and enrolled at Edinburgh University. There, he befriended the actor John Clyde, who, before long, talked him out of business and into acting. So, Jimmy quit university and found a job as small part character player with the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh. Soon after, he began to work in comedy with a local repertory company and in music hall, appearing in plays written by Harry Lauder's brother - and fellow Scotsman - Alec.
A year later (in 1911), Jimmy crossed the Atlantic to appear on Broadway in the West End cast of "Bunty Pulls the Strings", followed in 1912 by "The Great Game". Buoyed by success, he decided to stay in America and embarked on a nationwide tour in vaudeville, again accompanied by Alec Lauder. Ending up in California after four years on the road, Jimmy decided to settle in Hollywood. He was joined there by his younger brother Bob who eventually became a camera technician. In 1916, Jimmy was given a few minor roles at L-KO, but it was not until 1920 that he signed a three-year contract with Mack Sennett. It is by no means certain that Finlayson was ever one of the original Keystone Kops, though he certainly donned police uniform for several of his two-reelers and appeared as a Kop in both Stout Hearts and Willing Hands (1931) and Hollywood Cavalcade (1939). In several of his early films, he was also co-starred with Ben Turpin, invariably playing the part of the villain or straight man to Turpin's cross-eyed antics.
Jimmy's prospects improved when he joined Hal Roach at Culver City in 1923. He started off as the antagonist in several of Stan Laurel's early solo efforts, but Roach -- recognising his potential -- attempted to elevate him to first billing. Stan Laurel turned director for three short films with Jimmy as the nominal lead: Yes, Yes, Nanette (1925), Chasing the Chaser (1925) and Should Husbands Pay? (1926). Since these failed to propel Finlayson into the first comedic echelon, he was instead briefly touted as one third of a starring trio alongside Laurel and Oliver Hardy. However, this idea was quickly abandoned, and, by 1928, Jimmy had comfortably settled into his niche as antagonist or mainstay comic support. By this time he had rather perfected his inimitable mannerisms: the long double-take, the squint, one-eyed stare and raised eyebrow, usually followed by a palpable state of near-apoplexy. Much of the joy in anarchic comedies like Big Business (1929) is derived precisely in the anticipation of the 'civilised', well-ordered violence which is about to take place when Laurel & Hardy square off against Finlayson.
Jimmy appeared in some of the best two-reelers Roach made at MGM, and was subsequently involved as an integral part in most of Laurel & Hardy's feature films, standing out in Pardon Us (1931), Our Relations (1936) , and, above all, as the perfidious Mickey Finn in Way Out West (1937). He also appeared opposite other leading comics, including Charley Chase in, among others, Hasty Marriage (1931) and His Silent Racket (1933) - on occasion even without wearing his famous whiskers. It is now generally acknowledged that another of Jimmy's screen mannerisms -- his drawn-out, frustration-borne exclamation "d'ohhhhh" -- famously inspired Dan Castellaneta's Homer Simpson, uttering his suitably shortened trademark, "d'oh".
With the era of madcap comedy drawing to a close, Jimmy Finlayson continued on in movie bit parts and walk-ons, often with credits like 'loafer' or 'Scottish Farmer with Mustache'. Illness brought about his retirement in 1951. He died two years later from a heart attack at his home in Hollywood. - Actor
- Soundtrack
Mr Douglas was born on 7th March 1933 in Falkirk, Scotland, attending Falkirk High School and Edinburgh College of Art before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London . His earliest television parts were as the young hero in two adaptations of Walter Scott novels 'Redgauntlet' and 'Rob Roy' , the latter with a young Samantha Eggar, and has subsequently appeared in a vast array of roles, apart from the inevitable Scots 'go to' parts - 'Taggart', 'Monarch of the Glen' - but also in 'Middlemarch' as idealistic Dr Lydgate, 'Poldark' as the red coat captain anxious to trap Ross Poldark, a sinister charmer in 'Poirot: the ABC Murders' as well as continuing dramas like 'Kavanagh QC' and 'East Enders'. Having made his stage debut at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre and with wide experience in rep his stage roles include 'Absurd Person Singular' directed by its author Alan Ayckbourn at the Whitehall theatre, London and in 'Medea' with Dame Diana Rigg, both in London and on Broadway whilst he has played the key role of Colin Firth's father in all of the Bridget Jones films to date. Donald Douglas lives near Toulouse in France and one of his neighbours is Robin Ellis, who appeared with him in 'Poldark.'- Producer
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Brian Russell was born in 1944 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He is a producer, known for Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984), Spellbinder (1988) and From the Hip (1987). He has been married to Cheryl Ladd since 3 January 1981. He was previously married to Brenda Russell.- Actor
- Writer
- Composer
Probably most well known for his stint on EastEnders (1985) as maths teacher Rod Morris, Forbes Masson was due to go into the family gravestone business until he decided to head off to drama school instead. There he met Alan Cumming and they went on to create the characters for which they initially became famous, Victor and Barry, the trendy (but resting) thespians from Kelvinside. After successes at the Edinburgh Fringe in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the duo then created a pilot for their own sitcom, The High Life (1994), set in the fictitious airline, Scotia Air. Unfortunately, this was cancelled after only one series and the double act soon split up, as Cumming headed for the US. Since then, Masson has not been resting on his laurels, concentrating mainly on theatre, including writing and directing two musicals, Stiff (1999) and Mince! (2001).- Director
- Editor
- Writer
Brian Welsh was born on 10 August 1981 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He is a director and editor, known for Beats (2019), In Our Name (2010) and Glasgow Girls (2014).- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Gary Alexander Wales was born in Falkirk, Scotland, to Carol Avery on September 29th, 1995. He grew up in Bo'ness, Scotland until the age of 12 years old. Wales & his family then moved to County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 2007. He studied at the City of Armagh High School, where he took part in two musicals playing both main characters in Oliver and Grease, and then went on to study at the Southern Regional College in Armagh studying Performing Arts where he was granted both his Level 2 & Level 3 BTEC Diplomas.
He studied at the National Stage Theatre School in County Tyrone from 2012 to 2015, taking part in a National Tour across Northern Ireland for Black 47, A New Musical based around the Irish Famine which reached record sales and news publications in the United States.
In 2017 after he completed his studies, he and his family moved back to his hometown in Scotland where he started his Production company GAW Films creating material throughout Scotland. In 2021 GAW Films partnered with DP Productions with David Penman.- Colin Campbell was born on 20 March 1883 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), The Wife of Monte Cristo (1946) and The Secret of Treasure Island (1938). He died on 25 March 1966 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Tommy Douglas was born on 20 October 1904 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Great Debate (1974) and 90 Minutes Live (1976). He was married to Irma Dempsey. He died on 24 February 1986 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- David Paisley grew up in Glen Village near Falkirk with his mother and his five brothers. Shy and with low self-esteem David was bullied at primary school because of his poor background. Even though he had 'a few girlfriends' he was always more aware that he was attracted to boys and at 15 headed to a gay youth group where he eventually met his first boyfriend. At 17, he went to Glasgow University to study Physics (and later to Caledonian university to study Optometry) where he began to become more confident and at 18, finally came out to his family who were very supportive, even helping him start a grassroots website to combat the "Keep the Clause" campaign. It was during his gap year that David got his first taste of acting when he appeared in a community workshop, but he was unsure about pursuing acting as a career, and continued to stay at university until he heard about an open audition for a show called Tinsel Town. After a lot of coaxing from friends he auditioned and landed the part of 17-year-old Ryan Taylor who falls in love with a man twice his age. The role brought him into the public eye and after appearing in the second series of Tinsel Town (as well as landing a guest spot on As If and appearing in a few theatre productions) David landed the part of gay midwife Ben Saunders in BBC1's popular medical soap Holby City. During his time on the show, his character became involved in one of the show's first major 'cross-over' storylines with its sister show Casualty, where his kiss with his on-screen boyfriend attracted 114 complaints from viewers. But having relocated to London, David soon began to miss his friends, family and partner and decided to leave the show in 2003 to move back up to Glasgow. David and his boyfriend Alex, then went traveling for year in Brazil, giving him some time off. Now back in the UK, next up for David is trying to help get the film adaptation of David Leavitt's While England Sleeps up and running, in which he will take the lead role of Edward Phelan.
- Composer
- Actress
- Music Department
Ms. Fraser has been described as having "the voice of God", and as "an utterly unique performer whose swooping, operatic vocals relied less on any recognizable language than on the subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotion. Fraser is primarily known as the vocalist for the Cocteau Twins, a Scottish rock group formed in Grangemouth, Scotland, 1981, and separated in 1997. Their lush and atmospheric wall of sound coupled Fraser's seraphic vocals leave the group a legacy as distinguished pioneers of the 1980s musical subgenre dream pop. In 2008, music magazine Q awarded Cocteau Twins the 'Q Inspiration Award'. Apart from the Cocteau Twins, Fraser provided her vocal talents to the compositions of masters such as Michael Kamen, Howard Shore, Peter Gabriel, Elliot Goldenthal and Craig Armstrong.- Kaye Adams was born on 28 December 1962 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. She is an actress, known for Dark Sense (2019), Backstage (1999) and The People Versus (2000).
- Ronnie Letham was born on 10 September 1949 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Saint (1997), Ain't Misbehavin' (1997) and Hamish Macbeth (1995). He died on 27 March 2008 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK.
- Allan Sharpe was born on 13 January 1949 in Falkirk, West Lothian, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Magdalene Sisters (2002), Before A Wedding and The Near Room (1995). He died on 5 June 2004.
- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Jock Easton was born on 27 April 1912 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Good-Time Girl (1948), The Steel Bayonet (1957) and The Story of William Tell (1953). He died in 1980 in Brighton, Sussex, England, UK.- Brian Marjoribanks was born in 1942 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK. He is an actor, known for United! (1965) and Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962).
- Jay Jackson was born on 19 April 1958 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He is an actor, known for Haunted (1993), Sequestered (2014) and Rosamunde Pilcher (1993).
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Christopher Robson (Countertenor), born in Scotland in 1953, is recognized as one of the leading singers of his generation. Since his debut with the English National Opera in 1981 in David Freeman's ground breaking production of Monteverdi's Orfeo, he has made his mark in Opera and Concert performing music from the Middle Ages through to the Avante-Garde, and has won critical acclaim for the energy and committment of his performances. Over a period of 15 years at the ENO he sang the title role in Handel's Julius Caesar, as well as Arsamenes in Xerxes and Polinesso in Ariodante and Oberon in Midsummer Night's Dream. He gave the UK Premiere's of Akhnaten (title role) by Philip Glass and LEAR (Edgar/Poor Tom) by Aribert Reimann. In an ENO tour of the then Soviet Union in 1990, he was the first Countertenor to sing on stage in Kiev and at the Bolshoi Theatre Moscow (Xerxes).
Christopher has also sung in the UK with the Royal Opera Covent garden, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Opera Factory, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Glyndebourne Touring Opera. In the USA he has sung with Houston Grand Opera (Akhnaten, US Premiere), New York City Opera (Akhnaten), and Chicago Lyric Opera(Serse). He has also appeared in Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Sao paulo, Barcelona, Kiev, Moscow, Antwerp, and other major European opera houses with directors such as Richard Jones, David Alden, Willy Decker, Robert Carsen, Pierre Audi, Eike Grams, Robert Lehmeier, John Copley, Peter Sellars, Nicholas Hytner and Martin Duncan. He has worked with many of the major orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Academy of Ancient Music, the OAE, London Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Concentus Musicus Wien; worked with Niklaus Harnoncourt, Claudio Abbado, Mark Elder, Zubin Mehta, Sir Charles Mackerras, Ivor Bolton and Gary Bertini.
Since 1994 he has been a regular guest at the Bavarian State Opera Munich, appearing in Giulio Cesare (title role and Tolomeo), Serse (Arsamenes), The Rake's Progress (Baba the Turk), Coronation of Poppea (Arnalta), Ariodante (Polinesso) Rodelinda (Unulfo), and Die Fledermaus (Orlofsky).
World Premieres include the Refugee in Jonathan Dove's Flight (Glyndebourne), Ometh in John Casken's Golem (London), John Lunn's The Maids (London, with brother Nigel Robson in a specially created adaptation of the Genet play). In 2002 he opened the Munich Opera Festival with the K-Projekt 12/14, a specially commissioned "one-man opera" based on the writings of Kafka by Hans Jurgen von Bose.
Christopher Robson has recorded for Decca, Chandos, Harmonia Mundi, Meridien, Naxos, etc., and has frequently appeared on Radio, Television and Film. He was awarded the Muenchener Opernfestspiel Preis in 1997 and 2002 (the only person to have received the prize twice), and in 2003 he was honoured with the title "Bayerische Kammersaenger" by the Bavarian Minister of Culture in recognition of his services to Music and Opera.
Christopher currently lives with his son in East Sussex, England.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Derek Erskine was born on 21 April 1973 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Heart of Fury, Bluebird and Tracy (2017).- Adam Crozier was born on 26 January 1964 in Falkirk, Isle of Bute, Scotland, UK. He is an executive.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Calum Cormack was born on 6 July 1970 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He is an actor, known for Anna and the Apocalypse (2017), Doctor Who: Besieged (2013) and Outlander (2014). He has been married to Ann since 2011.- Brian Hurren was born on 9 October 1980 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He is an actor, known for Runrig - Party on the moor (2014), Runrig: There Must Be a Place (2021) and Geld oder Liebe (1989).
- Willie Ormond was born on 23 February 1927 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. He died on 4 May 1984.
- David Weir was born on 10 May 1970 in Falkirk, Scotland, UK.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
George Mitchell was born on 27 February 1917 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, UK. He was a composer, known for A Christmas Night with the Stars (1958), Here Come the Huggetts (1948) and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950). He was married to Dorothy Ogden and Irene Wordley. He died on 27 August 2002 in Codsall, Staffordshire, England, UK.