David Schofield

David Schofield (born 16 December 1951) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Ian Mercer in the films Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007). Other credits include An American Werewolf in London (1981), Gladiator (2000), From Hell (2001), Valkyrie (2008), The Wolfman (2010), Da Vinci's Demons (2013), The Last Kingdom (2015–2017), Darkest Hour (2017), Mary Magdalene (2018), and Mad Heidi (2022).

Early life Schofield was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England on 16 December 1951, one of ten children in a working-class family. He attended St. John Fisher and Thomas More R.C. Primary School, along with his brother, Peter. His first acting experience was at Manchester Boys' School at the age of 12. In 1967 he was accepted as student assistant stage manager at a local repertory theatre. He worked in every department as a prop-maker, sound-man, writer, stage sweeper, waiter and tea-maker, putting in 14-hour days, six days a week. After two seasons, at the age of 19, he became a student of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, which he left early to pursue his path as a working actor.

Career Film and television Schofield earned credits in TV series such as Band of Gold, Footballers' Wives, and his other films include The Dogs of War (1980),

In 2022, he starred in a main role as Heidi's grandfather :de:Alpöhi in the Swiss comedy horror film Mad Heidi (2022). He developed the posture of, and performed the role of John Merrick, in the Bernard Pomerance play The Elephant Man for its premiere in 1977. He worked with Daniel Craig and Jason Isaacs in the National's 1993 production of Angels in America.

Radio In 2001–02 Schofield appeared as Javert in a BBC radio adaptation of Les Misérables. Since 2007 he has played Frank Twist in the BBC Radio 4 drama series Brief Lives set in a Manchester legal practice. In 2011, he played Tellwright in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Anna of the Five Towns.

Selected filmography

Theatre John Merrick, The Elephant Man at the Hampstead Theatre (1977) and at the Royal National Theatre, London (1981)