Kai Owen

Kai Owen (born 4 September 1975) is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in Torchwood and Pete Buchanan in Hollyoaks.

Background and personal life Owen was born in the town of Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley in North Wales, where his family still lives. His father Mark is a GMB union official and his mother Yvonne is a cleaner at the British Legion Club. He attended Mountview Theatre School, London for three years, graduating in 1998.

He ran the 2009 London Marathon for the children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent, and also ran the Virgin London Marathon on 25 April 2010. He is a patron of Llandudno Youth Musical Theatre. In 2009 he guested as Harri in the second series of Y Pris and as violent loan shark Craig Turner in Pobol Y Cwm (one episode, broadcast 11 September 2009; he appeared in a similar guest role in the show in August and in October 2012).

Owen's first appearance on English-language UK television came in 2001, when he appeared as Buster Edwards in the episode Dog Dago Afternoon of series Fun at the Funeral Parlour. In 2003 he guested in an episode of BBC One television series Casualty In 2005 he played the character of Dave 'Shiner' Owen in all six episodes of the series Rocket Man, a BBC One television series about a man trying to launch his dead wife's ashes into space.

2006 saw Owen cast as recurring character Rhys Williams in Torchwood, a spin-off from the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role for which he has become most renowned. He was elevated to star billing for the third series, broadcast on BBC One in summer 2009, reflecting his growing role in the series. He reprised his role in the fourth series of Torchwood - Torchwood: Miracle Day, broadcast during summer 2011.

Owen appeared in an episode of Celebrity Ready Steady Cook with Torchwood co-star Tom Price (Andy) (recorded 26 August 2009, broadcast 8 January 2010).

In 2011, Owen appeared in the first episode of the third series of Being Human as Bob, leader of a dogging pack. He appears in the 14th episode of the seventh series of long running BBC school drama Waterloo Road as former rugby pro Ken Watling. He appeared in an episode of the 2012 Kay Mellor drama The Syndicate, broadcast on BBC One.

In 2015, Owen joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks playing Pete Buchanan, the ex-partner of Reenie McQueen (Zöe Lucker) and a perpetrator of child abuse. In preparation for the role, he liaised with the NSPCC. After portraying the role until a year later, he made a brief return in 2018. He is also set to reprise the role in April 2021.

Filmography Television

Narration/Radio Year(s) Title Role Notes 2007 Ying Tong: a Walk with the Goons Harry Secombe Radio Play by Roy Smiles 2009 "The Dead Line" Rhys Williams Torchwood Radio Plays (BBC Radio 4) 2011 "The Devil and Miss Carew'" Ghost TrainNarrator Torchwood audiobook Department X First Born 2012 Army of One 2015–present Torchwood Rhys Williams Big Finish Productions 2017 Tracks Ifan BBC Cymru Wales

Stage Year(s) Title Role Notes 1998 The Tempest Ariel Performed at Stafford Castle 2005 Life of Ryan... and Ronnie Ronnie 2006 A Chorus of Disapproval Crispin Usher 2008 Adam & Steve Adam 2012 As You Like It Charles Clwyd Theatr Cymru 2025/26 Cinderella Dandini Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent