Robert Lindsay

Robert Lindsay Stevenson (born 13 December 1949), known professionally as Robert Lindsay, is an English actor. He has appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in musical theatre, and is the recipient of a British Academy Television Award, a Tony Award, and two Laurence Olivier Awards.

Lindsay's most notable roles on television were playing Wolfie in Citizen Smith (1977–1980), Micky Noades in Give Us a Break (1983–1984), and Ben Harper in My Family (2000–2011). His other screen credits include Get Some In! (1975–1977), Much Ado About Nothing (1984), Bert Rigby, You're a Fool (1989), G.B.H. (1991), Hornblower (1998–2003), Jericho (2005), Friends and Crocodiles (2006), and Gideon's Daughter (2006).

Early life Lindsay was born 13 December 1949, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, He was one of three children and his father was a World War II veteran, having been on a minesweeper.

Lindsay attended Gladstone Boys' School, in Ilkeston, then enrolled in the drama department of Clarendon College in Nottingham. He graduated in 1970 with an Acting (RADA Diploma).

Career Lindsay's early career included roles in British films such as That'll Be The Day (1973), Three for All (1975), and Adventures of a Taxi Driver (1976). He came to prominence as the cockney Teddy Boy Jakey Smith in the ITV comedy series Get Some In! (1975–1977), that was based on National Service life in the RAF. In 1977, he landed the starring role as delusional revolutionary Wolfie Smith in the BBC sitcom Citizen Smith (1977–1980).

Lindsay won roles in the BBC Television Shakespeare series, including Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981), for which he won an Olivier Award, He continued to have success on television, and played the leading role in Alan Bleasdale's dark comedy serial G.B.H. (1991), In 2003, he appeared in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous, In 2009, he played the protagonist, Maddox, from the Radio 4 comedy Electric Ink by Alistair Beaton. He played the same role in Grace of Monaco.

In 2016, Lindsay recurred on the second season of the ABC fairy tale-themed musical comedy series Galavant as Chester Wormwood, an evil wizard/wedding planner.

In 2017, Lindsay played Hermann Einstein in the National Geographic TV series Genius. He also played Jack Cardiff in Prism at the Hampstead Theatre. In 2020, he appeared in the series McDonald & Dodds.

Personal life In 1974, Lindsay married Cheryl Hall, who later appeared opposite him in Citizen Smith. They divorced in 1980, when he started a long-term relationship with actress Diana Weston, with whom he has a daughter, Sydney Laura Stevenson, and who co-starred with him in three episodes of My Family. He married English actress, dancer, and television presenter Rosemarie Ford on 31 December 2006.

Lindsay is known for his left-wing political beliefs, usually describing himself as a staunch socialist, and has marched in support of miners. He is a passionate supporter of the Labour Party, but an outspoken critic of then Prime Minister Tony Blair's controversial decisions to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003, saying that he was "furious" and feeling disillusioned with mainstream politics: "You see those images of Iraq and Afghanistan and Lebanon, don't you? And I suspect somewhere, when he goes home at night and the kids are in bed, he must go, 'Jesus, what have I done?'"

In 2011, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was treated surgically.

Lindsay has suffered from depressive episodes and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder in winter months for most of his life. He has spoken publicly about his positive experiences with light therapy and counselling, saying that "they really do work".

Credits Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Love Story Colin Episode: "Finders Keepers" The Roses of Eyam Francis Thornley Television film ITV Sunday Night Theatre Sam Episode: "A Question of Everything" 1974 Centre Play Toby Episode: "Hurt Hawks" 1975 Ken Episode: "Letter from a Soldier" Thriller Policeman at roadblock Episode: "The Crazy Kill" Doctor on the Go Harrison Episode: "What's Op Doc?" Whodunnit? Dave Episode: "Pop Goes the Weasel" 1975–1977 Get Some In! Jakey Smith Series regular. Series 1–4; 27 episodes 1977 The Good Life Reform School Youth Episode: "Our Speaker Today" 1977–1980 Citizen Smith Wolfie Smith Main Character. Series 1–4; 30 episodes 1980–1984 BBC Television Shakespeare Various roles 4 episodes 1981–1982 Seconds Out Pete Dodds Series regular. Series 1 & 2; 13 episodes 1983 King Lear Edmund Television film 1983–1984 Give Us a Break Micky Noades Series regular; 8 episodes 1984 Jackanory Storyteller 5 episodes: "The Kitchen Warriors: Parts 1–5" 1989 Confessional Thomas Kelly Mini-series; 4 episodes 1990–1993 Nightingales Carter Series regular. Series 1 & 2; 13 episodes 1991 G.B.H. Michael Murray Mini-series; 7 episodes 1994 The Wimbledon Poisoner Henry Farr Mini-series; 2 episodes 1995 Strange Landscape The Divine Comedy Episode: "The Circles of Light" Jake's Progress Jamie Diadoni Mini-series; 8 episodes 1996 The Office Norman Platt Television film Tales from the Crypt Glynn Fennell Episode: "Ear Today... Gone Tomorrow" Brazen Hussies Billy Bowmans Television film 1996–2000 Brambly Hedge Narrator 8 episodes (UK version) 1998 In Your Dreams 1 episode 1998–2000 The Canterbury Tales Harry Bailey (voice) Animated version; 2 episodes 1998–2003 Hornblower Captain Sir Edward Pellew Series regular; 8 episodes 1999 Oliver Twist Fagin Mini-series; 3 episodes Secrets of the Ancients Narrator Docuseries; 5 episodes 2000 Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings Various characters Television Special Jack the Ripper: An On-Going Mystery Narrator Television documentary film 2000–2011 My Family Ben Harper Main role. Series 1–11; 118 episodes 2001 Hawkins Luke Hawkins Television film Don't Eat the Neighbours Rabbit (unknown episodes) Eddy and the Bear Bear (voice) 2002 Out of Eden Narrator Television documentary film 2003 Seven Wonders of the Industrial World Docuseries; 7 episodes Absolutely Fabulous Pete Episode: "Schmoozin'" 2005 Friends and Crocodiles William Sneath Television film Space Race Narrator Docuseries; 2 episodes A Very Social Secretary Tony Blair Television film Gideon's Daughter Sneath Jericho D.I. Michael Jericho Mini-series; 4 episodes Unsolved History Narrator Docuseries; episode: "Unstoppable Wave" 2006 Extras Himself Episode: "Jonathan Ross" 2007 The Trial of Tony Blair Tony Blair Television film 2010 The One... Ronnie Animal Agent 2011 George and Bernard Shaw George 2011–2012 Spy The Examiner Series regular. Series 1 & 2; 17 episodes 2012 Falcón Pablo Ortega Mini-series; episode: "The Silent and the Damned" 2013–2015 Atlantis Daedalus 6 episodes 2015 Bull Rupert Bull 3 episodes 2016 Galavant Chester Wormwood Series 2; 8 episodes 2017 Genius Hermann Einstein 2 episodes: "Einstein: Chapters One & Three" Bounty Hunters Nigel Walker 4 episodes The Secret Life of Owls Narrator Docuseries; 2 episodes 2018 Plebs Crassus Episode: "The Accident" 2020 McDonald & Dodds Max Crockett Episode: "The Fall of The House of Crockett" 2022 Dodger William Lamb Episode: "Christmas" 2024 Sherwood Franklin Warner Series 2; 6 episodes Generation Z Morgan Series regular; 6 episodes 2026 Big Mood Mark Series 2; 2 episodes: "Leagues" & "Hands" Missed Call Andrew Taylor 5 episodes

Theatre

Awards and nominations BAFTA TV Awards Year Category Work Result 1992 Best ActorG.B.H. 1996Jake's Progress 2002 Best Comedy PerformanceMy Family Olivier Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. 1985 Best Actor in a MusicalMe and My Girl 1997Best Actor in a Musical Oliver! 2022Anything Goes Tony Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. 1987 Best Actor in a MusicalMe and My Girl Other awards