Richard Elis

Richard Elis (born 1975) is a Welsh actor.

Career He trained at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and graduated in 1996, aged 21. Days before he graduated, Elis was asked to audition for London casting agents and was subsequently cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as the serial's first Welsh character, Huw Edwards. Elis was initially only scripted to appear in three episodes, but the producers liked the portrayal and his contract was extended. Elis remained in the soap for three years, leaving in 1999 as he feared typecasting. He has also appeared in a variety of adverts for products and brands such as Wicked, Bisto, McLeans, Sky, Peugeot, Renault, a Dutch milk company in the Netherlands and notably in the WKD adverts. In May 2023, he appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Darren Warner.

Elis is married to Pobol Y Cwm actress Tonya Smith, who plays Yvonne in the Welsh-language soap opera. They married in 1998 and have two daughters.