Personal details
Official sites :
Born:
- Birthday: 1971-08-22
- Born Place: Leicester, England, UK
Also Known As:
Ρίτσαρντ Άρμιταζ, 리차드 아미티지, 李察·阿米塔吉, ریچارد آرمیتاژ
Richard Armitage
Richard Crispin Armitage, born on August 22, 1971, in Huncote, Leicestershire, England, is a distinguished English actor and author, widely recognized for his captivating performances across film, television, and theatre. From a young age, Armitage displayed a keen interest in music, playing the cello and flute. At 14, he secured a grant to attend Pattison College in Coventry, an independent school specializing in the performing arts, where he focused on drama and dance. This rigorous training instilled in him a discipline he credits for his professional success. After school, he briefly joined a circus in Budapest to gain his Equity Card and then pursued a career in musical theatre in the UK, performing in productions like Cats and 42nd Street.Feeling a need for more truthful storytelling, Armitage returned to formal training, graduating from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 1998. His early post-drama school work included a brief, uncredited appearance in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and various stage roles, including an 18-month tour with the Royal Shakespeare Company.Armitage's career truly took off in British television. He gained significant recognition for his first leading role as the brooding mill owner John Thornton in the BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South (2004). This was followed by his popular portrayal of the villainous Guy of Gisborne in the BBC series Robin Hood (2006–2009) and the complex MI5 agent Lucas North in Spooks (2008–2010).However, it was his powerful and nuanced performance as Thorin Oakenshield, the Dwarf king and leader, in Peter Jackson's epic "The Hobbit" film trilogy (2012–2014) that brought him immense international fame and a dedicated global fanbase. His portrayal garnered critical acclaim, including a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Film Actor.Since "The Hobbit," Armitage has continued to take on diverse and challenging roles. In film, he appeared as Heinz Kruger in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), as a storm chaser in Into the Storm (2014), and as a charming jewel thief in Ocean's Eight (2018). On television, he has starred in the US spy thriller series Berlin Station (2016–2019), and garnered praise for his work in various Netflix mystery thrillers based on Harlan Coben's novels, including The Stranger (2020), Stay Close (2021), and Fool Me Once (2024), as well as Obsession (2023).Beyond live-action, Armitage is also a highly sought-after voice actor, lending his distinctive baritone to numerous audiobooks, video games (such as Be'lakor in Total War: Warhammer III), and animated series like Castlevania (as Trevor Belmont). In 2022, he ventured into a new creative realm by publishing his debut thriller novel, Geneva, showcasing his talent beyond acting. Richard Armitage remains a formidable presence in the entertainment industry, celebrated for his intense performances, commanding voice, and consistent ability to captivate audiences.
