Jude Akuwudike

Jude Akuwudike (born 1965) is a Nigerian actor. He has mostly worked in the United Kingdom, on screen and stage.

He has appeared in productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

Early life

Born in Nigeria, West Africa, Akuwudike moved to Britain and was educated at St Augustine's College in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, an independent Roman Catholic boarding school. In 1985, he began to train for an acting career at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1987.

Career In 1988, Akuwudike played Captain Watkin Tench in Our Country's Good at the Royal Court Theatre. His first film appearance was in the same year, as a priest in A World Apart. An early leading role came in 1989 in the play The Fatherland by Murray Watts, at the Bush Theatre at Riverside, and his first significant part on television was as Sergeant Gummer in the drama serial Virtual Murder (1991).

Throughout his career, Akuwudike has worked mainly on stage, including appearing in several productions for the National Theatre, notably Not About Nightingales, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, and Ion. He has also appeared for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as working on Broadway. He has also had many roles in film and television and is a voice actor.

In 1998, in the first British production of Not About Nightingales by Tennessee Williams, directed by Trevor Nunn at the National Theatre, Akuwudike originated the part of "the Queen", a gay prisoner. In 2002 he played the black pimp in a Royal National Theatre production of Edmond, with Kenneth Branagh in the title role.

From February to May 2011, Akuwudike was Abel Magwitch in an English Touring Theatre production of Great Expectations (adapted by Tanika Gupta), with Lynn Farleigh as Miss Havisham.

In the Cary Joji Fukunaga film Beasts of No Nation (2015), Akuwudike played Supreme Commander Dada Goodblood, leader of an unnamed West African country torn by civil war.

In September 2018, it was announced that Akuwudike had been cast alongside Joe Cole and Sope Dirisu in a new Cinemax television serial called Gangs of London, then in production.

The Actor's career has been centered on stage performances which includes notable roles in movie production for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1990 ScreenPlay Thomas 1 episode: "The Land of Dreams" 1992 Virtual Murder Sergeant Gummer Series regular 6 episodes 1993 Between the Lines Custody Sergeant 1 episode: "Big Boys' Rules: Part II" 1994 The Bill Mr. Jensen 1 episode: "All Along the Watchtower" 1996-1999 Roger Roger Henry Series regular 12 episodes 1998 Heat of the Sun Elihu Mwangi Episode: "The Sport of Kings" 1999 Kavanagh QC Matthew Atta Episode: "Previous Convictions"2003 Silent Witness Malcolm Linden Episode: "Running on Empty" Holby City Derek Fletcher Episode: "Know When to Fold"2005 Bad Girls Leroy 1 episode The Last Detective Bradshaw Episode: "Towpaths of Glory" 2007 Silent Witness Willi Episode: "Suffer the Children"2009 Moses Jones Matthias Mutukula Mini-series 3 episodes The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Oswald Ranta Episode: "The Boy with an African Heart" Holby City Marvin Stewart Episode: "What Will Survive of Us" 2010 Law & Order: UK Marcus Wright Episode: "Skeletons" 2012 Holby City Gabriel Vaughan Episode: "Hail Caesar" 2013 Doctors Thomas Tembe 3 episodes 2015 Cucumber Ralph Sullivan 1 episode2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man Dr. Marghai Episode: "A Twist of Fate" Undercover Al 1 episode Friday Night Dinner Custody Sergeant Episode: "The Funeral"2017 Chewing Gum Alex Episode: "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number" Death in Paradise Tony Garret Episode: "In the Footsteps of a Killer" The A Word Vincent Daniels 3 episodes 2017-2018 Fortitude Doctor Adebimpe Recurring role 10 episodes 2018 Kiri Reverend Lipide 1 episode 2018-2020 In the Long Run Uncle Akie Series regular 7 episodes2019 Moving On Dr. Bello Episode: "Frozen" Plebs Agrippa Episode: "The Banquet"2020 Gangs of London Charlie Carter Recurring role 9 episodes On the Edge Dad Episode: "BBW" 2021 Manhunt Delroy Grant Series regular 4 episodes 2022 The Crown Sydney Johnson Episode: "Mou Mou"2023 Casualty Clark Johnson Episode: "No Regrets" Culprits Carl Marking Episode: "Circle in a Circle" 2025 Midsomer Murders Richard Clissold Episode: "Treasures of Darkness"

Stage

Games Year Title RoleNotes 2021 GTFO Dr. Abeo Dauda

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1994 Martini Rossi TMA Awards Best Supporting Actor Poor Super Man 2008 Red Rock Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Special Achievement in Acting Role Jehovah's Witness 2016 Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Favourite International Film (with Idris Elba & Ama K. Abebrese) Beasts of No Nation 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Eyimofe