Mark Addy

Biography

Mark Addy (born in York, 14 January 1964) is an English actor who has built a career across film, television and theatre. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, he is best known as a supporting performer, moving easily between comedy, adventure and fantasy.

His early work was in television. After his first appearance in 1987 in The Ritz, he took parts in British and American series such as The Thin Blue Line and Married... with Children. He played Bill Miller in the CBS sitcom Still Standing, which ran from 2002 to 2006, using an improvised American accent. In 2009 he was cast as King Robert Baratheon in the HBO adaptation of George R. R. Martin's novels, Game of Thrones, a role that brought him a wide audience. His character was killed off in the first season after a hunting accident involving a wild boar.

In film, his breakthrough was The Full Monty (1997), the British comedy that earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and whose cast shared a Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding ensemble. He then took parts in films of varying scale, including Jack Frost (1998), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), where he played Fred Flintstone, A Knight's Tale (2001), The Time Machine (2002), Around the World in 80 Days (2004) and Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (2010), in which he played Friar Tuck.

On stage he appeared in Donkeys' Years, which marked his West End debut, and at the National Theatre in Much Ado About Nothing opposite Zoe Wanamaker. Later he appeared in larger productions such as Mary Poppins Returns (2018) and Downton Abbey (2019), in which he played Mr. Bakewell.

His legacy lies in British ensemble comedy and in a steady presence on British television. He remains active in recent productions, including the series The Rig (2023), and his career reflects a long commitment to character work rather than to leading roles alone.

Key films

• The Full Monty (1997): the British comedy that brought him wider recognition and a BAFTA nomination.
• A Knight's Tale (2001): plays Roland in this medieval adventure with a comic tone.
• The Time Machine (2002): plays David Philby in the adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel.
• Robin Hood (2010): appears as Friar Tuck in Ridley Scott's version.