Sean Pertwee

Sean Carl Roland Pertwee (born 4 June 1964) is an English actor, narrator and producer. His credits include Chancer, Leon the Pig Farmer (1992), Cadfael (1994), Bodyguards (1997), Event Horizon (1997), Stiff Upper Lips (1998), Soldier (1998), Cleopatra (1999), Love, Honour and Obey (2000), Dog Soldiers (2002), Julius Caesar (2003), Ancient Rome: The Rise And Fall of an Empire – Caesar (2006), Doomsday (2008), Honest (2008), Devil's Playground (2010), Four (2011), Wild Bill (2011), Elementary (2013–2014), Howl (2015), Gotham (2014–2019), Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse (2020), You (2023), Silent Witness (2024), and The Night Caller (2024).

Early life Pertwee was born on 4 June 1964 in Hammersmith, London He later studied acting at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 1986.

Career Theatre Pertwee joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and toured with them for three years. During this time, he appeared in Titus Andronicus at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (1987),

In 1994, he appeared as Hugh Beringar alongside Derek Jacobi in the first series of the television series Cadfael. In 1997, he starred alongside Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Joely Richardson, and Jason Isaacs in the space based science fiction horror film Event Horizon (1997). In 1998, he starred alongside Kurt Russell in the science fiction action film Soldier (1998). and starred alongside them in Love, Honour and Obey (2000). Pertwee became known for his portrayal of grimacing death, particularly in the Neil Marshall Werewolf film Dog Soldiers (2002), a skill which led to him being awarded 'Best Death Face' at Bristol Old Vic.

He appeared in the film Devil's Playground (2010), a horror film directed by Mark McQueen, starring alongside Danny Dyer, Jaime Murray, and Craig Fairbrass. Pertwee appeared in the Nazi zombie film The 4th Reich which he filmed in 2010, directed by Shaun Smith.

In 2014, he was cast in Fox's TV series Gotham, a series presenting an origin for the characters of the Batman franchise. Pertwee portrays Alfred Pennyworth, an ex-special forces soldier from London who works as the Wayne family's loyal butler. After Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered, he becomes guardian and mentor to the future Batman.

In 2024, he played Detective Inspector John Flynn in Silent Witness in the episodes "Death by a Thousand Hits" Part 1 and 2. He played a late night disc jockey in Channel 5's four part mini-series The Night Caller, broadcast in 2024. He starred alongside John Hurt as Brother Proteus in the animated film Ultramarines: The Movie (2010) a Warhammer 40,000 Movie.

Pertwee has been in several dramatic works for BBC Radio 4, including playing the actor Oliver Reed in the play Burning Both Ends by Matthew Broughton in 2011.

Personal life Pertwee married Jacqueline Jane "Jacqui" Hamilton-Smith, a make-up artist, daughter of Anthony Hamilton-Smith, on 12 June 1999 at the House of Lords. His wife gave birth to twins, in 2001. They were born prematurely; one died four days later.

Politics

Pertwee presented a television party political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party in the 2010 UK general election.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes/ 1991 Coping with Cupid Peter Short 1992 Leon the Pig Farmer Keith Chadwick 1995 Blue Juice J.C. ID Martin 1997 Event Horizon Pilot Smith 1998 Soldier Mace 1999 Cleopatra Brutus 2000 Five Seconds to Spare Piers Love, Honour and Obey Sean 2002 Equilibrium Father The Magnificent Eleven Pete Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa SFO Steve Stubbs 2015 Howl Train Driver Tony 2020 The Reckoning Moorcroft 2022 The Invitation Mr. Fields 2024 Duchess Danny Oswald

Television

Theatre

Radio Year Title Role 2011 Burning Both Ends Oliver Reed 2008 Fable II Additional Voices 2009 Killzone 2 Colonel Mael Radec 2010 Fable III Captain Saker 2012 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Colonel Mael Radec 2013 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Peter Chamberlaine 2026 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced Peter Chamberlaine