Danny Dyer
{{Short description|English actor (born 1977)}}
{{For|his daughter|Dani Dyer}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Danny Dyer
| image = Danny Dyer Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2023.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Dyer at Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2023
| birth_name = Danial John Dyer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|7|24}}
| birth_place = London, England
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|presenter}}
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Joanne Mas|3 September 2016}}
| children = 3, including Dani
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is an English actor and presenter. Dyer's breakthrough role was as Moff in Human Traffic (1999), with other notable roles Billy the Limpet in Mean Machine (2001) and as Tommy Johnson in The Football Factory (2004). Following the success of The Football Factory, Dyer was often typecast in "hard man" roles, although it was this image that allowed him to present The Real Football Factories, its spin-off, The Real Football Factories International and Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men. Dyer has also worked in theatre, having appeared in three plays written by Harold Pinter, with whom he had a close friendship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-on-earth-did-harold-pinter-and-danny-dyer-become-such-good-friends|title=How on earth did Harold Pinter and Danny Dyer become such good friends? | The Spectator|first=James|last=Walton|website=www.spectator.co.uk|date=24 September 2020 }}
In 2013, Dyer joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders, in the role of Mick Carter, and remained in the series until 2022. He had previously turned down a role in 2009 and, in his 2010 autobiography Straight Up, said he would not join the cast until he was "fat, bald and fifty".{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/danny-dyer-harold-pinter-play-tickets-eastenders-bbc-history-dani-career-a8766341.html |title='I'm gonna go save a couple of lepers': The cult of Danny Dyer |last=Pollard |first=Alexandra |date=6 February 2019 |work=The Independent |access-date=26 January 2020}} He won the Serial Drama Performance award at the National Television Awards in 2015, 2016, and 2019. From 2019 until 2022, he presented the BBC game show The Wall. Since 2024, he has starred in the television series Mr. Bigstuff and Rivals, winning the British Academy Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance for the former.
Early life
Danial John Dyer{{efn|Given name shown on Dyer's passport in the opening credits of The Real Football Factories International.}}{{efn|According to his autobiography, Straight Up, his father misspelled his name as "Danial" when filling out his birth registration.Dyer, Danny (2010). Straight Up: My Autobiography p. 3.}}{{Cite news |last=Twigger |first=Will |date=13 January 2021 |title=Danny Dyer reveals his unique real name is Danial – and blames 'off his nut' dad |work=The Daily Mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/danny-dyer-reveals-real-name-23312899 |access-date=24 January 2021}} was born in the Custom House area of London{{cite book|last=Dyer|first=Danny|title=Straight Up: My Autobiography|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4NHLrsKM0vUC&pg=PA5|publisher=Cornerstone Digital|isbn=978-0-09-955298-7|page=5|chapter=2: I Feel Love|quote=I was born on 24 July 1977 in Custom House in London's East End...|date=30 September 2010}} on 24 July 1977, to Christine (née Meakin) and Antony Dyer. He has a younger brother, Tony (born 1979), and sister, Kayleigh (born 1986).England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007 His parents split up when he was nine and he was raised by his mother in Custom House. He began acting when he was a teen, and was bullied at school so badly by his peers that he lied about taking acting classes.{{cite news |title=Danny Dyer says he was bullied at school for pursuing an acting career |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/danny-dyer-reveals-he-was-subject-to-homophobic-abuse-at-school-because-he-wanted-to-be-an-actor-a6717651.html |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=The Independent |date=2 November 2015 |language=en}}
In 2016, Dyer's family history was the subject of a Series 13 episode of the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, where it was revealed that his family hails from the Poplar area of London.{{cite web|url=https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/danny-dyer/|title=Danny Dyer|date=18 June 2020 |publisher=Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine|access-date=2 December 2021}} Census records showed many of them working in the manual occupations connected to the docks on the River Thames.{{cite web|title=The National Archives historical censuses from 1841 to 1911|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/census-records/|website=The National Archives|access-date=23 November 2016}} Further research found that Dyer is a descendant of Thomas Cromwell{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/14/danny-dyer-related-two-kings-thomas-cromwell-eastenders-william-the-conqueror-edward|title=Danny Dyer discovers he is related to two kings and Thomas Cromwell|date=14 November 2016|website=The Guardian}} and of Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Henry VIII's third wife Jane Seymour. Elizabeth married Cromwell's son Gregory Cromwell and, with the Seymour family's assertion to be descended from Edward III (Dyer's 25th generation ancestor), the line can be traced back to William the Conqueror and Charlemagne. In response, geneticist Adam Rutherford argued that an English person being descended from a Plantagenet king was "not remarkable", musing that "almost every Briton" can claim such descent.{{cite news|first=Olivia|last=Rudgard|title=It's not just Danny Dyer who is related to royalty – we all are, geneticist says|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/not-just-danny-dyer-related-royalty-geneticist-says/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/not-just-danny-dyer-related-royalty-geneticist-says/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=27 June 2017|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}
Career
=Television=
Dyer was discovered at a local school by an agent who auditioned him for the part of Martin Fletcher in the Granada Television series Prime Suspect 3 (1993), beginning his acting career at 16. He also appeared on television in episodes of Cadfael (1994), A Touch of Frost (1995), Loved Up (1995), Thief Takers (1996), Highlander and Soldier Soldier (both 1997).{{cite web|url=http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/tv.html |title=Television |publisher=Danny Dyer |access-date=28 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820111843/http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/tv.html |archive-date=20 August 2008 }} His many other television roles include appearances in the 2003 Channel 4 drama Second Generation, directed by John Sen; as Malcolm, main character Michelle's stepfather, in Skins;{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/skins/cast-crew/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011041043/http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/skins/cast-crew/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2007|title=Dyer Guest Starring in Skins Series|website=Radio Times|publisher=BBC Magazines, Ltd|access-date=11 October 2008}} as a football player in the second series of Hotel Babylon; and as Matt Costello in what was supposed to be the pilot episode for Breathless,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/U7912881|title=Member Profile: David Bowen: Biography|website=Film Network|publisher=BBC|year=2007|access-date=18 October 2008}} a BBC two-part television series in development from BBC Northern Ireland, renamed first Blood Rush and then Kiss of Death, when it premiered on BBC One as a one-part drama on 26 May 2008.{{cite press release|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/10_october/26/blood.shtml|title=Louise Lombard, Lyndsey Marshal and Danny Dyer Star in Kiss of Death – A New Crime Drama for BBC One|publisher=BBC Press Office|date=21 May 2008|access-date=25 October 2008}}
Beginning in 2007, Dyer became the presenter of The Real Football Factories and The Real Football Factories International, a TV documentary series on Bravo, for which he travels, in the former throughout the United Kingdom and in the latter throughout the world, to meet and interview football club fans and hooligans. In Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men, "a gritty and hard-hitting documentary series that sees him venturing into the dark depths of the British underworld and hunting down some of the most notorious and feared men in Britain today", began airing on Bravo in the United Kingdom on 20 October 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/interviews/danny-dyer.php|author=Danny Dyer|title=Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men|format=Video clip interview|publisher=Virgin Media|date=20 October 2008|access-date=25 October 2008}}
In April 2009, he turned down a role in EastEnders, stating that although he thought the role sounded good, he did not think he could cope with the pressure of additional publicity.{{cite journal|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0420/eastenders.html|title=Danny Dyer turns down EastEnders role|journal=RTÉ.ie|date=20 January 2009|access-date=20 April 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090421153146/https://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0420/eastenders.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2009}}
In February 2012, Dyer appeared as a paramedic in an episode of Casualty. In March 2013, Dyer appeared as a guest on Celebrity Juice. Dyer appeared in the sixth series of Hollyoaks Later in October 2013, as The White Man. On 1 October 2013, the BBC announced that Dyer had been cast in EastEnders from Christmas 2013, as Mick Carter, the new landlord of The Queen Victoria pub.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24339870|title=Danny Dyer to take over EastEnders' Queen Vic|work=BBC News|access-date=1 October 2013|date=October 2013}} After he began appearing as Carter, Dyer said that he had been offered and had turned down the part of Carl White, who was eventually played by Daniel Coonan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-danny-dyer-i-turned-down-carl-white-role/|title=EastEnders: Danny Dyer – I turned down Carl White role|website=Radio Times}} In February 2017, it was announced that Dyer would be taking a "short break" from EastEnders.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39002451 |title=Danny Dyer taking 'short break' from EastEnders, BBC confirms|work=BBC News|date=17 February 2017}} In January 2022, it was announced that Dyer had quit EastEnders after over eight years in the role of Mick Carter.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/09/danny-dyer-to-leave-eastenders-after-nine-years-bbc-confirms|title=Danny Dyer to leave EastEnders after nine years , BBC confirms|date=9 January 2022|work=The Guardian}}
In June 2018, Dyer appeared as a guest panellist on Good Evening Britain, a one-off spin-off show of Good Morning Britain, to discuss Britain's exit from the European Union. Dyer described it as a "mad riddle that no one knows what it is" and called former Prime Minister David Cameron a "twat".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/danny-dyer-brexit-full-transcript-good-evening-britain-piers-morgan-susanna-reid-jeremy-corbyn-a8422576.html |title=Danny Dyer's Brexit rant in full: Read the actor's frank thoughts on David Cameron and Britain's EU withdrawal |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |date=29 June 2018 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 July 2018}} In August 2018, Dyer began narrating MTV reality series, True Love or True Lies.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a863440/true-love-or-true-lies-real-fake-couples-when-is-it-on-how-to-watch-online/|title=True Love or True Lies: Who is real and who is FAKE?|last=Turner|first=Laura Jane|date=17 August 2018|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB|access-date=23 January 2019}} In 2019, Dyer appeared in a history documentary, titled Danny Dyer's Right Royal Family. The two-part series premiered on BBC One on 23 January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/danny-dyers-right-royal-family-review|title=Danny Dyer's Right Royal Family is a right royal mess|last=McGurk|first=Stuart|website=British GQ|date=22 January 2019|access-date=23 January 2019}} Also that year, Dyer co-presented True Love or True Lies on MTV alongside daughter Dani, as well as beginning his presenting role on The Wall on BBC One.{{Cite news|url=https://tv.bt.com/tv/tv-from-bt/true-love-true-lies-danny-dyer-voiceover-danni-dyer-presenter-channel-air-date-format-11364404502399|title=True Love or True Lies? Romance, deceit and Danny Dyer – 3 reasons you need to watch Dani Dyer's MTV gameshow|work=BT|access-date=4 November 2020}} After he announced his departure from EastEnders, it was subsequently confirmed that Dyer would also be leaving The Wall.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/danny-dyer-quits-bbcs-wall-27074902|title=Danny Dyer quits The Wall ahead of EastEnders exit as he joins BBC rival channel|first=Rose|last=Hill|date=26 May 2022|work=Daily Mirror}}{{better source needed|reason=tabloid|date=March 2025}}
=Film=
File: Danny Dyer at Upton Park, 02 Oct 2010.jpg
Dyer is known for his "bad boy" or "hard man" roles in film.{{cite news |title=Danny Dyer wants to abandon 'hard man' image |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6441486/Danny-Dyer-wants-to-abandon-hard-man-image.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6441486/Danny-Dyer-wants-to-abandon-hard-man-image.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 October 2009}}{{cbignore}} Dyer's first film role was in Human Traffic (1999).{{cite web|url=http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/film.html |title=Film |publisher=Danny Dyer |access-date=26 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820111802/http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/film.html |archive-date=20 August 2008 }} His subsequent movie work includes Mel Smith's High Heels and Low Lifes (2001) and starring roles in Borstal Boy (2000), Mean Machine (2002) and in four films by the British film director Nick Love: Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001); The Football Factory (2004); The Business (2005); and Outlaw (2007). Among other film roles, he also appeared as the character Steve in Christopher Smith's Severance (2006); as Hayden in Adulthood (2008); and as himself in the feature documentary Tattoos: A Scarred History.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tattoosascarredhistory.com/home.html|title=Tattoos: A Scarred History|website=www.tattoosascarredhistory.com|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406202157/http://www.tattoosascarredhistory.com/home.html|url-status=dead}}
In 2008, he finished filming his roles as Pete and Tom in City Rats and 7 Lives, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/index.html|title=Welcome|publisher=Danny Dyer|access-date=25 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914003504/http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/index.html|archive-date=14 September 2008}} April 2009 saw the straight to DVD release of City Rats. Later that year, Dyer completed filming on Jack Said, a Brit noir thriller in which he played Nathan alongside Ashlie Walker, Terry Stone, David O'Hara and Simon Phillips, which was released in November 2009. This film is the prequel to Jack Says, which was released in 2008, and starred Mike Reid.
In 2009, he shot several horror films including Doghouse under the direction of Jake West, and Basement under the direction of Asham Kamboj.{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34305/danny-dyer-locked-basement|title=Danny Dyer Locked in the Basement|publisher=DreadCentral|first=Steve|last=Barton|date=30 October 2009}} He played one of the lead roles in the British vampire film Dead Cert.{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38254/dead-cert-update-and-new-exclusive-stills|title=Dead Cert Update and New Exclusive Stills|publisher=DreadCentral|first=Steve|last=Barton|date=29 June 2010}} In June 2010, he was cast for the lead role in the remake of the British horror film The Asphyx,{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37991/exclusive-concept-art-and-casting-news-the-asyphyx-remake|title=Exclusive Concept Art and Casting News: The Asphyx Remake|publisher=DreadCentral|first=Steve|last=Barton|date=14 June 2010}} but it failed to secure production finance and was indefinitely shelved. Dyer co-starred with Anna Walton in Deviation, a British dark thriller written and directed by J. K. Amalou.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/deviation_2012|title=Deviation|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=13 March 2025}}
In 2012, Dyer played the lead role in Ray Cooney's Run for Your Wife. Upon release in 2013, it was savaged by critics, who described it as one of the worst British films of all time. The film took in a mere £747 during its opening weekend.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/dire-news-for-danny-as-run-for-your-wife-takes-paltry-747-at-box-office-8503603.html|title=Dire news for Danny as Run For Your Wife takes paltry £747 at box office|website=The Independent|date=20 February 2013|first=Nick|last=Clark}}
=Theatre=
Dyer has performed on stage, most notably in two plays written and directed by 2005 Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter: as the Waiter in the London première of Celebration (2000), at the Almeida Theatre, which transferred to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, in New York, as part of the Harold Pinter Festival held there in July and August 2001;{{cite web|url=http://www.haroldpinter.org/plays/plays_celebration.shtml|title=Celebration: Premiere|publisher=Harold Pinter|access-date=11 October 2008}} and as Foster in the revival of No Man's Land (1975), at the Royal National Theatre, in London, during 2001 and 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.haroldpinter.org/plays/plays_nomansland5.shtml|title=No Man's Land (2001): Royal National Theatre, London|publisher=Harold Pinter|access-date=7 November 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.filmbug.com/db/341694|title=Danny Dyer: Biography|publisher=Filmbug (filmbug.com)|date=1 January 2000|access-date=11 October 2008}} In March 2008, he played Joey in a revival of Pinter's The Homecoming (1964), directed by Michael Attenborough, at the Almeida Theatre, in London.{{cite web|url=http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/oct07/homecoming19oct07.htm|title=Pinter's Homecoming at Almeida from 31 January 2008|website=London Theatre Guide – Online|publisher=Londontheatre.co.uk|access-date=11 October 2008|archive-date=9 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209030653/http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/oct07/homecoming19oct07.htm|url-status=dead}} [Corrected title] He also performed in Peter Gill's play Certain Young Men (1999) in London. From 9 September 2009 to 3 October 2009, Dyer appeared as Sid Vicious in a new play called Kurt and Sid in London's West End at the Trafalgar Studios.
=Selected other work=
Dyer is the voice of Kent Paul in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).{{cite web|url=http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/other.html |title=Other Work |publisher=Danny Dyer |access-date=26 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207022914/http://www.dannydyer.co.uk/other.html |archive-date=7 December 2008 }} He also appears in The Twang's 2007 video for "Two Lovers".{{Citation|last=Polydor|title=The Twang – Two Lovers (Official Video)|date=20 August 2007|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_C24ygT1FM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917203150/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_C24ygT1FM&mode=user&search= |archive-date=17 September 2007 |url-status=dead|access-date=14 February 2019}}
I Believe in UFOs: Danny Dyer, a documentary that sees Dyer journey to various "UFO hotspots" in the UK and the US in hope of experiencing a UFO sighting, was broadcast on BBC Three on 26 January 2010.{{cite web|url=http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?tab=tvradio&q=danny%20dyer%20ufo&scope=all|title=BBC TV & Radio Programmes |publisher=BBC|access-date=9 February 2010}} In 2016, he appeared in drag in the Lucy Rose music video for "Nebraska".{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/danny-dyer-stars-in-lucy-rose-video-for-nebraska-a6930811.html|title=Danny Dyer stars in Lucy Rose music video for 'Nebraska'|website=The Independent|date=15 March 2016|access-date=13 February 2017}} In 2020, he began co-hosting Sorted with the Dyers, a podcast alongside daughter Dani.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/16/top-life-advice-from-danny-dyer-and-dani-dyer-podcasts-of-the-week|title=Top life advice from Danny Dyer – and Dani Dyer: podcasts of the week|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 November 2020}}
In 2021, along with Will Mellor, Dyer recorded a new version of "Vindaloo" for NHS Charities.{{Cite tweet |number=1403333729502830599 |user=NHSCharities |title=Thank you to @Mellor76 @lemontwittor @PaddyMcGuinness @MrDDyer @Rowetta @Deliveroo who have officially released #VindalooTwo to kick off the #Euro2020! ⚽ Money raised will make a difference to #NHS staff and patients across the UK. |author=NHS Charities}} In January 2022, Dyer quit EastEnders so that he could accept an offer to appear on a Sky series.{{cite news |last1=Watts |first1=Halina |title=Danny Dyer quits EastEnders after being poached by Sky – plunging soap into crisis |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/danny-dyer-quits-eastenders-after-25893066 |access-date=8 January 2022 |work=Daily Mirror |publisher=(Reach plc) |date=8 January 2022}}
In May 2025 Dyer was the castaway for BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7875y27y08o |title=Danny Dyer continued rehab after letter from daughter |first=Annabel |last=Rackham |website=BBC News |date=11 May 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/11/danny-dyer-says-harold-pinter-death-sent-him-into-spiral-of-madness |title=Danny Dyer says Harold Pinter's death sent him into 'spiral of madness' |first=Tom |last=Ambrose |website=theguardian.com |date=11 May 2025}}
Personal life
Dyer resides in Debden, Essex.{{cite web|last=Tobin| first = Edmund| title = Actor targeted by Golden Triangle car thieves|newspaper=Epping Forest Guardian| date = 4 November 2009|url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/4719016.LOUGHTON__Danny_Dyer_latest_victim_of_car_thieves/| access-date = 29 May 2011}} He began dating Joanne Mas in 1992 but they separated after the birth of their first daughter, future television personality Dani Dyer, in 1996. They began dating other people, but soon started an affair with each other and decided to reconcile.{{cite news |last1=Alex |first1=Susannah |title=Danny Dyer once had an affair with wife Joanne Mas |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a863567/danny-dyer-reveals-affair-wife-joanne-mas-brought-them-back-together/ |access-date=2 January 2019 |work=Digital Spy |date=9 August 2018}} Dyer and Mas eventually married on 3 September 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/first-picture-danny-dyers-wedding-8766222|title=First picture of Danny Dyer's wedding as EastEnders co-star posts photo from boozy bash online|website=The Daily Record|date=4 September 2016}} after she proposed to him in March 2015.{{cite news | url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/02/its-war-danny-dyers-engagement-leads-to-twitter-row-with-katie-hopkins-5085138/ | title=It's war: Danny Dyer's engagement leads to Twitter row with Katie Hopkins | work=Metro | date=2 March 2015 | access-date=4 March 2015 | last=Graham|first= Daniella}} They also have a second daughter and a son.
Dyer has been open about his drug use. In his autobiography, he stated, "I've always taken drugs and I probably always will, but there's a difference between having the odd crafty bump up the snout as a reward for a job well done and letting it rule your life."{{cite web|title=Danny Dyer: 'I'll always take drugs'|website=Independent.co.uk|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/danny-dyer-ill-always-take-drugs-2106558.html|year=2010}} He has advocated for the legalisation of cocaine because he argues that banning it has not worked.{{cite web|title=Danny Dyer 'thinks cocaine should be made legal'|url=http://lifestyle.one/closer/celebrity/news/danny-dyer-thinks-cocaine-made-legal/|year=2011}}
Dyer has been an outspoken critic of former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron. In 2018, he referred to Cameron as a "twat" on live television, while also expressing contempt for Nigel Farage and Brexit.{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Halina |date=29 July 2018 |title=Danny Dyer on why he changed mind about Brexit and 'f***ing hates' David Cameron |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/danny-dyer-brexit-interview-changed-12998659 |website=mirror}} He voted for Brexit, but later changed his mind and considered himself to be a "poster boy" for the campaign to stop it.
A lifelong football fan, Dyer supports West Ham United. In December 2007, he became the chairman of Kent League side Greenwich Borough after appointed by club president, fellow actor Tamer Hassan. He said, "I just love football and the chance of being involved with a club is like a dream come true."{{cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/topsport/display.var.1918366.0.danny_dyer_joins_real_football_factory.php|title=Danny Dyer Joins Real Football Factory|publisher=News Shopper Online|date=23 December 2007|access-date=12 October 2008}} The appointment was actually a publicity stunt to raise the profile of the club.Revealed in interview on BBC Radio 4 programme Loose Ends broadcast 12 September 2009 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mj64q]{{better source needed|date=June 2021}}
In 2016, Dyer travelled to Sierra Leone to take part in Sport Relief. He said, "I don't know what to expect when I go over there, but I'm hoping that it will make some kind of difference. It's an honour to be asked."{{cite web | url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-14/eastenders-star-danny-dyer-on-his-sport-relief-mission-to-sierra-leone---im-a-very-emotional-person-so-im-going-to-be-a-mess | title=EastEnders star Danny Dyer on his Sport Relief mission to Sierra Leone – "I'm a very emotional person, so I'm going to be a mess" | website=Radio Times | date=14 January 2016 | access-date=14 January 2016 | author=Brown, David}}
In 2011, Dyer released an autobiography titled Straight Up.{{cite book | last=Dyer | first=Danny | title=Straight Up | publisher=Arrow | date=21 July 2011 | isbn=978-0-09-955298-7}} In 2016, he released a second autobiography titled The World According to Danny Dyer: Life Lessons from the East End.{{cite book | last=Dyer | first=Danny | title=The World According to Danny Dyer | publisher=Quercus Publishing | date=18 October 2016 | isbn=978-1-78429-741-1}}
Filmography
=Film=
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| Moff | |
| The Trench
| Lance Cpl. Victor Dell | |
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| Charlie Milwall | |
| Greenfingers
| Tony | |
| rowspan="5" | 2001
| Francis | |
| High Heels and Low Lifes
| Danny | |
| Mean Machine
| Billy the Limpet | |
| Tabloid
| Joe Public | |
| Is Harry on the Boat?
| Brad | |
| 2003
| Wasp | Dave | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2004
| Free Speech | Mark | |
| The Football Factory
| Tommy Johnson | |
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael | Larry Haydn | |
| The Business
| Frankie | |
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| The Other Half | Mark Lamanuzzi | |
| Severance
| Steve | |
| rowspan="3" | 2007
| Outlaw | Gene Dekker | |
| Straightheads
| Adam | |
| The All Together
| Dennis Earle | |
| 2008
| Hayden | |
| rowspan="9" | 2009
| Pete | |
| Malice in Wonderland
| Whitey | |
| Doghouse
| Neil | |
| Jack Said
| Nathan | |
| Dead Man Running
| Bing | |
| Just for the Record
| Derek La Farge | |
| Pimp
| Stanley | |
| The Rapture
| Wraith | |
| Catwalk
| Photographer | |
| rowspan="4" | 2010
| Basement | Gary | |
| Devil's Playground
| Joe | |
| Dead Cert
| Roger Kipling | Cameo |
| The Last Seven
| Angel of Death | |
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| Rains | |
| Freerunner
| Mr. Frank | |
| 7lives
| Tom | |
| 2012
| Deviation | Frankie | |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| John Smith | |
| Vendetta
| Jimmy | |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Blood Shot | Phillip | Also known as In a Heartbeat |
| The Hooligan Factory
| Jeff | Cameo |
| 2015
| Assassin | James | |
| rowspan="3"|2025
| Jack | |
| Christmas Karma
| TBA | Upcoming film |
| Tinsel Town
| TBA | Upcoming film{{cite magazine|last=Ritman|first=Alex|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/tinsel-town-film-rounds-out-cast-1236306439/|title=Derek Jacobi, Mawaan Rizwan, Meera Syal, Danny Dyer, Alice Eve and Lucien Laviscount Among Bumper Lineup Joining Sky Christmas Comedy 'Tinsel Town' (EXCLUSIVE)|magazine=Variety|date=14 February 2025|access-date=14 February 2025}} |
| TBA
| Jimmy Banks |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| Martin Fletcher | Episode: "Prime Suspect 3" |
| The Bill
| Darrell Hughes | Episode: "Unlucky for Some" |
| 1994
| Cadfael | Bran | Episode: "The Leper of St. Giles" |
| rowspan="4" | 1995
| Shaun Everett | Episode: "Dead Male One" |
| Crown Prosecutor
| Shane Cassidy | Season 1, episode 5 |
| Loved Up
| Billy | Television film |
| Children's Ward
| Tony | Season 8, episode 3 |
| rowspan="4" | 1996
| Tom | Episode: "Heartstones, Part 2" |
| Thief Takers
| Alec | Episode: "The Outcasts" |
| Screen Two
| Bert | Episode: "Loving" |
| The Bill
| Gavin Parker | Episodes: "Home Truths" and "Merrily on High" |
| 1996–1997
| Bramwell | Danny | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 1997
| Ain't Misbehavin{{'}} | Young Ronnie | 3 episodes |
| Highlander
| Andrew Baines | Episode: "Avatar" |
| Soldier Soldier
| Gary Fox | Episodes: "Line of Departure" and "Sounds of War" |
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| Dead Casual | Wayne | Television film |
| Foyle's War
| Tony Lucciano | Episode: "A Lesson in Murder" |
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| Darren Evans | Episodes: "Greed" and "Unfaithful" |
| Second Generation
| Jack | Television film |
| 2004
| Yankie | 6 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| MIT: Murder Investigation Team | Marc Sharaff | Episode: "Sexual Tension" |
| Rose and Maloney
| Danny | Episode: "Carl Callaghan" |
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| All in the Game | Martin | Television film |
| The Real Football Factories
| Himself | 6 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2007
| The Real Football Factories International | Himself | 10 episodes |
| Hotel Babylon
| Dave Osbourne | Season 2, episode 2 |
| Skins
| Malcolm | Episodes: "Cassie" and "Michelle" |
| 2008
| Matt Costello | Television film |
| 2011
| Mongrels | Himself | Cameo |
| 2012
| Casualty | Rossy | Episode: "Love Is" |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| Plebs | Cassius | Episode: "The Gladiator" |
| Power to the People
| Marc Cannon | Episodes: "Ops Populus" and "Keeping the Faith" |
| Hollyoaks Later
| The White Man | 4 episodes |
| 2013–2022
| Regular role; 1145 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| True Love or True Lies | Himself / Presenter | |
| All Round to Mrs. Brown's
| Himself | Season 2, episode 1 |
| 2019
| Danny Dyer's Right Royal Family | Himself | Main role |
| 2019–2022
| The Wall | Himself / Presenter | |
| 2020
| EastEnders: Secrets from the Square | Himself | Episode: "Mick and Linda" |
| 2021
| Himself / Participant | Christmas special{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012wq4|title=The Wheel Christmas Special|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2021}} |
| rowspan="5" | 2023
| Cheat{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81342716|title=Cheat|website=netflix.com|access-date=27 February 2023}} | Himself / Host | |
| Scared of The Dark{{cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/find-out-who-scared-dark|title=Scared of The Dark|website=channel4.com/press|access-date=26 March 2023}}
| Himself / Host | |
| Absolutely Dyer: Danny & Dani do Italy
| Himself |
| Heat
| Steve Cameron | Main role{{cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/heat-release-date-plot-cast-trailer-and-all-we-know-about-danny-dyers-new-drama|title=Heat: release date, plot, cast, trailer and all we know about Danny Dyer's new drama|last=Lamacraft|first=Tess|date=3 March 2023|publisher=What to Watch|access-date=5 March 2023}} |
| Henpocalypse!
| Himself | |
| rowspan="3" | 2024
| The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer | Himself |
| Celebrity Gogglebox
| Himself | Series 6 regular |
| Danny Dyer: How To Be A Man{{cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-documentary-explores-modern-masculinity-actor-danny-dyer|title=Channel 4 documentary explores modern masculinity with actor Danny Dyer|website=channel4.com/press|accessdate=30 March 2024}}
| Himself | Documentary series |
| rowspan="2" | 2024–present
| Lee | Main role{{cite web|url=https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/up-next-2024-first-look-at-danny-dyer-and-ryan-sampson-in-mr-bigstuff-|title=Up Next 2024: First Look at Danny Dyer and Ryan Sampson in Mr Bigstuff|publisher=Sky Group|access-date=24 June 2024}} |
| Rivals
| Freddie Jones | Main role{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/victoria-smurfit-and-aidan-turner-star-in-adaptation-of-racy-jilly-cooper-novel/42398147.html|newspaper=The Irish Independent|title=Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner star in adaptation of racy Jilly Cooper novel|date=21 March 2023}} |
| 2025
| The Dyers' Caravan Park | Himself |
=Video games=
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2002
| rowspan="3" | Kent Paul | |
| 2004
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | |
| 2021
| Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Archival recordings |
=Music videos=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist |
|---|
| 2016
| "Nebraska" |rowspan=2|Lucy Rose |
| 2024
| "Sail Away" |
Stage
- Certain Young Men (1999), by Peter Gill
- Celebration (2000), by Harold Pinter
- No Man's Land (2001–2002 revival), by Harold Pinter
- The Homecoming (2008 revival), by Harold Pinter
- Kurt and Sid (2009), by Roy Smiles
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Danny Dyer}}
{{Wikiquote|Danny Dyer}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Danny Dyer
|list =
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance}}
{{NTA Outstanding Serial Drama Performance}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dyer, Danny}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:English autobiographers
Category:English football chairmen and investors
Category:English game show hosts
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male soap opera actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male video game actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English sports journalists
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Newham
Category:Male actors from London
Category:Television personalities from the London Borough of Newham
Category:Male actors from Essex
Category:Best Male Comedy Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners