Colin Salmon

Colin Roy Salmon was born on 6 December 1961 in Bethnal Green, London, England, the son of Sylvia Ivy Brudenell Salmon, a nurse.{{cite web |title=Who is Colin Salmon? Meet the James Bond star joining EastEnders |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/colin-salmon-actor-explained-eastenders/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=7 January 2024}}{{Cite web|url= https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/ykjfaMlUB0Joc-vjeJQXE3cCaLQ/appointments|title=Colin Roy SALMON|date=22 May 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/bond-star-colin-salmon-reveals-he-suffered-serious-case-of-covid-19-40800353.html|title=Bond star Colin Salmon reveals he suffered serious case of Covid-19|last=Green|first=Alex|work=Irish Independent|date=29 August 2021|access-date=4 May 2022}} He is of Jamaican descent.[http://www.filmreference.com/film/78/Colin-Salmon.html Colin Salmon Biography (1961–)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013020253/http://www.filmreference.com/film/78/Colin-Salmon.html |date=13 October 2007 }}. Retrieved 9 August 2011. He grew up in Luton and attended Ashcroft High School.[http://ashcrofthighschool.co.uk/student-performances/ "The new Ashcroft; Grand opening"]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203114838/http://ashcrofthighschool.co.uk/student-performances/ |date=3 December 2014 }}, Ashcroft High School.

On leaving school, Salmon became the drummer in the punk rock band the Friction, which he formed along with three friends from high school.Ogg, Alex (2006), "Friction", in No More Heroes: A Complete History of UK Punk from 1976 to 1980, Cherry Red Books, {{ISBN|978-1-901447-65-1}}, pp. 254–255. The band released a 7-inch EP, a live cassette, a cassette-EP and performed regularly around Luton in 1979 and 1980. Salmon briefly worked with another band, the Tee Vees, and was also a singer and trumpeter in Luton-based band Catch in the mid-1980s.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp1H9KC4L4E |title=Fade to Grey Catch 1984 Live at the Red Lion Luton – YouTube |website=www.youtube.com |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121181733/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp1H9KC4L4E |archive-date=21 January 2022 |url-status=dead}} He plays trumpet and has his own jazz quartet, playing at venues such as the Dorchester Grill Room and at events such as the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.Pete Lewis, [http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/276/colin_salmon_swimming_against_typecasti... "Colin Salmon: Swimming Against Typecasting" (interview)], Blues & Soul, April 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911140938/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/276/colin_salmon_swimming_against_typecasti... |date=11 September 2012 }}.

Speaking about his quartet to Pete Lewis of the magazine Blues & Soul, in an interview prior to their performance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in May 2008, Salmon stated: {{cquote|In terms of recording, we've done none. We've mostly just done very occasional performances – usually at very special events. You know, keeping a consistent band going is a bit like getting the Aston Martin out the garage – you have to run it every now and then! And what's made that particularly difficult in the last year, for example, is that I've literally just spent an entire 12 months travelling the world acting – from China through to Montreal to Botswana. But, having said that, with the children being older I do have more time when I am at home these days. So we have been able to do some rehearsing together. And, while we've always mostly performed standards, I have actually for the first time written some new stuff in time for this upcoming Cheltenham gig.}}

Salmon is known for his role as Charles Robinson, a character in the James Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.{{cite news|title=Colin Salmon Licence to Thrill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/dGpTqzTlrVt7hgbWnW1tFn/colin-salmon |work=BBC |date=2020 }} He made his feature debut in 1992 as Sgt. Robert Oswald in the British mini-series Prime Suspect 2. Salmon also played Note Makoti in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and David Tyrel in the Sky One UK television series Hex. He appears as himself in the sixth episode of the BBC Three comedy, Little Miss Jocelyn.

On February 28th 1996 - Sebastian Bird in Silent witness, series one, episode 4, part 2.

In 2006 he appeared in the eighth series of the ITV drama Bad Girls as Senior Medical Officer Dr. Rowan Dunlop. He played Dr. Moon in two episodes ("Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead") of the fourth series of the long running science fiction television series Doctor Who.{{cite news|title=New guest stars announced for series 4. |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2008/01/24/52354.shtml |work=bbc.co.uk |date=24 January 2008 |access-date=2008-01-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127142514/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2008/01/24/52354.shtml |archive-date=27 January 2008 }} (Subsequently, there were rumours that he would take on the coveted lead role of The Doctor in 2008 after David Tennant, but the role went to Matt Smith.)[https://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/colin-salmon-fi/ "Colin Salmon Fishes for Doctor Who Role"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106045639/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/colin-salmon-fi/ |date=6 November 2012 }}, Underwire. Wired.com In 2020, writer Steven Moffat stated he envisioned Salmon's character as a future incarnation of the Doctor.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-colin-salmon-moon/|title=Doctor Who: Steven Moffat reveals there's a secret future Doctor hidden in one of his old episodes|website=Radio Times|date=2 May 2020|access-date=7 April 2021}}

Salmon has also recorded the role of Kerr Avon in the audio series of Blake's 7.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14871430-Blakes-7-Rebel|title= Discogs:Blake's 7 – Rebel|website= Discogs|year= 2007}} Salmon played James "One" Shade in the film Resident Evil (2002) and reprised the role as a clone version in the 2012 sequel Resident Evil: Retribution. Salmon also played Oonu, squad leader of the Skybax in the 2002 mini-series Dinotopia. His other film credits include Captives (1994), Frantz Fanon: Black Skin White Mask[http://www.newsreel.org/nav/title.asp?tc=CN0036&s=frantz%20fanon "Frantz Fanon: Black Skin White Mask"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212015348/http://www.newsreel.org/nav/title.asp?tc=CN0036&s=frantz%20fanon |date=12 February 2011 }}, California Newsreel. (a documentary directed by Isaac Julien in which Salmon plays the French psychiatrist, philosopher and revolutionary, Frantz Fanon) (1996), The Wisdom of Crocodiles (1998), Fanny and Elvis (1999) and My Kingdom (2001).

In 2007, Salmon appeared in the season finale of the ITV2 series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, playing a client of the protagonist, a call girl named Hannah Baxter. In the 2008 film Clubbed, a film about nightclub bouncers in Coventry in the 1980s, Salmon plays one of the main characters, Louis.

In 2009, Salmon appeared in the UK version of the popular American drama Law & Order, as barrister Doug Greer in the episodes "Buried" and "Community Service". In 2012, Salmon appeared in Death in Paradise, as killer/businessman Leon Hamilton/Vincent Carter. He starred in the thriller film Exam, directed by Stuart Hazeldine.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18216|title=Trailer for UK Thriller 'Exam' Drops in a Little Late|publisher=BloodyDisgusting|access-date=28 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201011804/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18216/|archive-date=1 December 2009|url-status=live|date=2009-11-28}}

Salmon was one of the celebrity contestants on the tenth series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff. He was eliminated as a result of the "dance-off" in Week 5, in which he competed against Richard Arnold. In 2015, he played a fictional version of himself in the Netflix series Master of None, alongside Aziz Ansari's main character. On 9 May 2015, Salmon gave a reading at VE Day 70: A Party to Remember in Horse Guards Parade, London. In 2018, he portrayed the role of Chudleigh Pomeroy in Mortal Engines.

In 2023, Salmon joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders as George Knight, a newly introduced co-owner of the Queen Vic.{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/28/colin-salmon-leads-new-eastenders-family-as-queen-vic-owners-confirmed-18515818/|work=Metro|first=Stephen|last=Patterson|title=EastEnders spoilers: TV legend Colin Salmon leads new family as Queen Vic owners are confirmed|access-date=29 May 2023|date=28 March 2023}}

Salmon is a patron of the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust and the Richard House Children's Hospice and an ambassador for The Prince's Trust.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130315091236/http://www.tedxhousesofparliament.com/2013/speakers/colin-salmon "Colin Salmon, Actor"], TEDx Houses of Parliament. He is also the chairman of governors at St Anne's Nursery.[http://www.avondalepark.rbkc.sch.uk/Documents/Avondale%20&%20St%20Anne's/Avondale%20Park%20Primary%20and%20St.%20Anne's%20Nursery.pdf "Avondale Park Primary and St. Anne's Nursery"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202305/http://www.avondalepark.rbkc.sch.uk/Documents/Avondale%20%26%20St%20Anne%27s/Avondale%20Park%20Primary%20and%20St.%20Anne%27s%20Nursery.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. He is involved in the Notting Hill Carnival and is the dance captain of the Fox Carnival Band.[http://www.foxcarnival.com/History/FoxCarnivalBand/WhoIsInvolved.html "Who Is Involved"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111070030/http://www.foxcarnival.com/History/FoxCarnivalBand/WhoIsInvolved.html |date=11 January 2016 }}, Fox Carnival Band.

Salmon married visual artist Fiona Hawthorne[http://www.fionahawthorne.com/Biography/Biography.html Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218052045/http://www.fionahawthorne.com/Biography/Biography.html |date=18 February 2015 }}, Fiona Hawthorne website. in 1988 and the couple have four children.{{cite web|url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp65514/colin-salmon|title=Colin Salmon (1965–), Actor|website=National Portrait Gallery|location=London|access-date=30 October 2021}}Maureen Coleman, [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bond-actor-colin-salmon-reveals-secret-of-his-success-a-beloved-northern-irish-wife-28922641.html "Bond actor Colin Salmon reveals secret of his success... a beloved Northern Irish wife"], Belfast Telegraph, 16 November 2012.

In September 2010, Salmon was invited by his friend Samuel L. Jackson to Switzerland for Shooting Stars Benefits 2010 Golf Tournaments.[http://www.wewomen.com/news-celebrities/samuel-l-jackson-swings-for-charity-s862169.html "Samuel L. Jackson swings for charity"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111070030/http://www.wewomen.com/news-celebrities/samuel-l-jackson-swings-for-charity-s862169.html |date=11 January 2016 }}, weWomen, 23 September 2010. The golf competition raised money for the Samuel L. Jackson Foundation and the Swiss Red Cross to go towards a new hospital in Takéo Province, one of Cambodia's poorest provinces. In 2009 he became a co-founder of Cage Cricket with Trevor McArdle.[http://www.cagecricket.com/2013/08/05/cage-cricket-features-on-bbc-breakfast/ "Cage Cricket Features on BBC Breakfast"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150117162937/http://www.cagecricket.com/2013/08/05/cage-cricket-features-on-bbc-breakfast/|date=17 January 2015}}, Cage Cricket, 5 August 2013.

In an August 2021 interview, Salmon spoke about how becoming ill with COVID-19 had affected him and his family, praising doctors for having saved his life.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/20210829120554/colin-salmon-exclusive-interview-health/ |title=James Bond star Colin Salmon opens up about near-death experience – EXCLUSIVE|magazine=Hello!|date=29 August 2021|access-date=30 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-james-bond-star-colin-salmon-felt-he-was-slipping-away-during-battle-with-coronavirus-12395063|title=COVID-19: James Bond star Colin Salmon felt he was 'slipping away' during battle with coronavirus|website=Sky News|date=30 August 2021|access-date=30 October 2021}}

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Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century English male actors

Category:21st-century English male actors

Category:Male actors from Luton

Category:Black British male actors

Category:English male film actors

Category:English male soap opera actors

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English male television actors

Category:English male voice actors

Category:English people of Jamaican descent

Category:Male actors from London

Category:People educated at Ashcroft High School

Category:Actors from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Category:People from Bethnal Green