Personal details
Born:
- Born Place: UK
Howard Saddler
Howard Saddler is a British actor known for his versatile work across television, film, and theater, with a career spanning nearly three decades. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and first established himself in the 1990s with appearances in series such as Grange Hill and The Bill. He gained significant recognition for his role as Oliver in the original UK version of The Office (2001), where he played the only Black employee at the Wernham Hogg Slough branch, frequently serving as a foil to David Brent’s awkward attempts at political correctness. Saddler is also well-known to soap opera audiences for his role as Les Boulter in Family Affairs (2003–2005) and more recently for his recurring portrayal of the villainous Pastor Gideon Clayton in EastEnders (2023–2024). His extensive television credits include roles in The Witcher, The Ark, My Lady Jane, Black Cake, Grace, Holby City, Judge John Deed, and Waking the Dead. On stage, he has a strong background in Shakespearean theater, having performed in productions of Othello, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Much Ado About Nothing for companies such as the Moving Theatre and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. He is set to appear as the character Cal in the upcoming horror film Return to Silent Hill (2026).
