Michael Kitchen

Michael Roy Kitchen (born 31 October 1948) is an English actor and television producer, best known for his starring role as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in the ITV drama Foyle's War, which ran for nine series between 2002 and 2015. He also played the role of Bill Tanner in two James Bond films opposite Pierce Brosnan, and that of John Farrow in BBC Four's comedy series Brian Pern.

Early life Michael Roy Kitchen was born in Leicester, to parents Arthur and Betty Kitchen. He attended the City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School, At age 15, he was selected to attend several weeks' training at the National Youth Theatre. After school, he completed a year at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.

An opportunity arose when Leicester City Council offered him a grant to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.

Career

Television and film Kitchen's film career started in 1971 with an appearance in the film Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971), and the Hammer film Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972). He played the role of Duffy, a renegade former member of an organised crime network.

His other roles at this time include Larner in the film Breaking Glass (1980),

His later films include The Russia House (1990),

Between 2002 and 2015, he starred in the award-winning ITV mystery-drama Foyle's War as the lead character Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle; he was also a producer for the show, which comprised nine series.

Kitchen has guest-starred in roles in other popular British television shows such as Minder,

He played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet for the RSC at Stratford and was a member of the National Theatre Company and the Young Vic, where he played Iago in Othello. In 1974 he appeared at Laurence Olivier's National Theatre in the play Spring Awakening opposite Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Beryl Reid and Cyril Cusack. Later he appeared opposite Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, directed by Peter Hall. In 1981 he played Melchior, the manservant of Zangler, in Tom Stoppard's play On the Razzle. In 1984 he played the cabin steward Dvornicheck in Stoppard's play Rough Crossing.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1971 Unman, Wittering and Zigo Bungabine Drama 1972 Dracula A.D. 1972 Greg Horror1980 Breaking Glass Larner Drama, Musical 1985 Out of Africa Berkeley Romantic drama 1989 Dykket Bricks Thriller 1990 Fools of Fortune Mr Quinton Rom-Com The Russia House Clive Thriller 1992 Enchanted April George Briggs Drama 1995 GoldenEye Bill Tanner Thriller 1997 Mrs Dalloway Peter Walsh Romantic drama 1998 The Last Contract ("Sista Kontraktet") John Gales alias Ray Lambert Thriller (Swedish) 1999 The World Is Not Enough Bill Tanner Action adventure 2000 New Year's Day Robin Drama Proof of Life Ian Havery Thriller 2011 My Week with Marilyn Hugh Perceval Biopic drama

Television