Tom Ellis (actor)
{{Short description|Welsh actor (born 1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{For|other people named Thomas or Tom Ellis|Thomas Ellis (disambiguation){{!}}Thomas Ellis}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tom Ellis
| image = Tom Ellis in 2022.jpg
| caption = Ellis in September 2022
| birth_name = Thomas John Ellis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|11|17}}
| birth_place = Cardiff, Wales, UK
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2000–present
| children = 4
| height = 1.91m
| spouse = {{unbulleted list
| {{marriage|Tamzin Outhwaite
|2006|2014|end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|Meaghan Oppenheimer
|2019}}
}}
}}
Thomas John Ellis (born 17 November 1978) is a Welsh actor. He first became known for playing Gary Preston in the BBC One sitcom Miranda (2009–2015) before achieving wider recognition for his role as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox urban fantasy series Lucifer (2016–2021), also appearing in the Arrowverse franchise crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths" (2019).
Early life
Thomas John Ellis was born in Cardiff on 17 November 1978, the son of Marilyn Jean (née Hooper) and Christopher John Ellis.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbcamerica.com/blogs/10-things-you-never-knew-about-tom-ellis-star-of-lucifer-and-miranda--46974 |title=10 Things You Never Knew About Tom Ellis, Star of 'Lucifer' and 'Miranda' |work=BBC America |date=10 September 2020 |access-date=28 June 2021}} He has three sisters, one of whom is his twin. His father, uncle, and one of his sisters are all Baptist ministers.{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Emma |date=25 October 2016 |title=Miranda's Tom Ellis on mixing his religious upbringing with playing the Devil in Lucifer |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/mirandas-tom-ellis-on-mixing-his-religious-upbringing-with-playing-the-devil-in-lucifer/ |accessdate=28 June 2016 |work=Radiotimes}} Shortly after his birth, the family left Wales for England and settled in Sheffield,{{cite web |title=Well known alumni |url=https://highstorrs.co.uk/alumni/well-known-alumni |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119134151/https://highstorrs.co.uk/alumni/well-known-alumni |archive-date=19 November 2023 |access-date=17 June 2020 |publisher=High Storrs School}} where he attended Sheffield's High Storrs School and played the French horn in the city's youth orchestra.{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Emma |date=23 September 2015 |title=The Devil in Tom Ellis |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/tom-ellis |access-date=17 June 2020 |work=Interview Magazine}} He later earned a BA in Dramatic Studies from Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Career
Ellis' breakout role was that of Gary Preston on the BBC One sitcom Miranda (2009–2015). He also appeared as King Cenred on the BBC fantasy series Merlin (2008), Justyn in Channel 4's No Angels, and Thomas Milligan in the Doctor Who episode "Last of the Time Lords". He has appeared in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, the sketch comedy show The Catherine Tate Show, and the medical drama Holby City. In July and August 2009, he starred in the ITV comedy drama Monday Monday.{{cite magazine | last=Hibberd |first=James |title=TV's Pilot Season Goes (Very) High-Concept |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=22 February 2013|page=26 |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/02/15/tvs-pilot-season-goes-very-high-concept/}}{{cite web | url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3334347/dc-comics-lucifer-pilot-finds-star-fox/ |title=DC Comics' "Lucifer" Pilot Finds Its Star At FOX |last=Thompson |first=Zac |date=2 March 2015 |website=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=3 February 2019}} He was cast as Detective Inspector Bland in Agatha Christie's Poirot.
In February 2015, Ellis was cast as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox series Lucifer, based on DC Comics' publication and character of the same name, which premiered on 25 January 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/91275/lucifer-tom-ellis-gets-horns/ |title=Lucifer – Tom Ellis Gets His Horns |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=27 February 2015 |website=Dread Central |access-date=3 February 2019}} The show later moved to Netflix. On 23 June 2020, it was announced that Netflix had renewed the show for a sixth and final season.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/everything-sucks-cancellation-lucifer-rescued-shadowhunters-future-netflix-tca-1202436231/ |title=Netflix Chief On Cancelling 'Everything Sucks' & 'Lady Dynamite', Rescuing 'Lucifer' & 'Shadowhunters' Future – TCA |last1=Nellie |first1=Andreeva |date=29 July 2018 |work=Deadline|access-date=21 January 2019}} He reprised the role of Lucifer during The CW's The Flash episode of the Arrowverse crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths".{{cite web | last1=Moore |first1=Trent |title=Surprise! Crisis on Infinite Earths crossed over with Netflix's Lucifer with a perfect cameo |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/surprise-crisis-on-infinite-earths-crossed-over-with-netflixs-lucifer-with-a-perfect-cameo |website=SYFY WIRE |access-date=11 December 2019 |date=10 December 2019}}
In 2021, Ellis won the Tell-Tale TV Award for Favorite Actor in a Cable or Streaming Sci-fi/Fantasy/Horror Series.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 May 2021 |title=The 2021 Tell-Tale TV Awards: Results! 'Julie and the Phantoms,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Lucifer,' and 'WandaVision' Among Winners |url=https://telltaletv.com/2021/05/the-2021-tell-tale-tv-awards-results-julie-and-the-phantoms-greys-anatomy-lucifer-and-wandavision-among-winners/ |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=telltaletv.com |language=en-US}} He starred as war correspondent Nick in the Netflix romantic comedy film Players (2024).
In April 2025, Ellis was cast as the leading role in the upcoming CBS series CIA, which picked up the series.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=22 April 2025 |title='FBI' Offshoot 'CIA' Starring Tom Ellis Ordered Straight-To-Series By CBS For 2025-26 Season |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/fbis-cia-spinoff-tom-ellis-series-order-cbs-1236373504/ |access-date=22 April 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}
Personal life
In 2006, Ellis married English actress Tamzin Outhwaite, to whom he was introduced by actor James McAvoy.{{cite web |title=Tamzin Outhwaite breaks silence after ex-husband Tom Ellis remarries |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2019060573808/tamzin-outhwaite-breaks-silence-ex-husband-tom-ellis-remarries/ |publisher=Hello! magazine |access-date=18 October 2021 |date=5 June 2019}} They had two daughters together before she filed for divorce in September 2013, citing adultery after he admitted to having an affair with an unnamed co-star while filming Gothica.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-10 |title=Tamzin To Divorce Hubby After 'One-Night Stand' |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/10/tamzin-outhwaite-divorce-tom-ellis_n_3898225.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McNally |first=Kelby |date=2013-09-10 |title=Tamzin Outhwaite 'files for divorce from Tom Ellis, citing adultery' |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/428327/Tamzin-Outhwaite-files-for-divorce-from-Tom-Ellis-citing-adultery |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McNally |first=Kelby |date=2013-09-19 |title='We're all moving forward' Tom Ellis speaks out about Tamzin Outhwaite |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/430622/We-re-all-moving-forward-Tom-Ellis-speaks-out-about-Tamzin-Outhwaite-split |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}} The divorce was finalised in April 2014. Ellis also has a third daughter from an earlier relationship.{{cite web |last=Crosbie |first=Eve |date=27 May 2021 |title=Lucifer star Tom Ellis looks almost unrecognisable in first-ever television role |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20210527114160/lucifer-star-tom-ellis-early-career-throwback/ |accessdate=28 June 2021 |work=Hello Magazine}}
Ellis married American screenwriter Meaghan Oppenheimer on 2 June 2019,{{Cite web | url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1046233/lucifer-star-tom-ellis-marries-meaghan-oppenheimer-in-star-studded-ceremony |title=Lucifer Star Tom Ellis Marries Meaghan Oppenheimer in Star-Studded Ceremony |last=Heller |first=Corrine |date=3 June 2019 |website=E! News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Nichola |date=2021-06-02 |title=Lucifer's Tom Ellis shares never-before-seen wedding photo with wife Meaghan |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210602114441/lucifer-tom-ellis-wedding-photo-wife-meaghan-oppenheimer/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=HELLO! |language=en}} and their daughter was born via surrogate in November 2023.{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Sam |title=Actor Tom Ellis and wife welcome baby daughter via surrogate |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/actor-tom-ellis-wife-welcome-28080138 |website=Wales Online |access-date=11 November 2023 |language=en |date=10 November 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2001
| Uniformed Officer |
| Buffalo Soldiers
| Squash |
| 2003
| Ivor |
| 2004
| Police Constable |
| 2005
| {{sortname|The|Best Man|dab=2005 film}} | Groom |
| 2006
| Calon Gaeth | Edward |
| 2008
| Zak |
| 2019
| Dr. Todd |
| 2024
| Players | Nick Russel |
| 2025
| Jason |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2000
| Ben | Episode: "Kate's Niece" |
| rowspan="2"|2001
| {{sortname|The|Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby|dab=2001 film}} | John Browdie | Television film |
| Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story
| Bigger boy 1 | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2001–2002
| Frank Bennett | Main role |
| rowspan="2"|2002
| Bungee jump instructor | Episode: "Fear of Bungee" |
| Linda Green
| Marko | Episode: "Viva Espana" |
| rowspan="2"|2003
| Timothy | Television film |
| Holby City
| David Jones | Episode: "Endgame" |
| 2004
| Dr. Phillip Ryder | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="6"|2005
| Alex | Episode: "The Irredeemable Brain of Dr Heinrich Hunsecker" |
| Doctors
| Ricky Adams | Episode: "Slim Chance" |
| Midsomer Murders
| Lee Smeeton | Episode: "Midsomer Rhapsody" |
| Waking the Dead
| Harry Taylor | Episode: "Straw Dog" |
| Love Soup
| Mike | Episode: "Take Five" |
| ShakespeaRe-Told
| Claudio | Episode: "Much Ado About Nothing" |
| 2005–2006
| Justyn | 4 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2006
| 29 episodes |
| Pulling
| Sam | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2006–2007
| PC Haines | Main role |
| {{sortname|The|Catherine Tate Show}}
| Detective Sergeant Sam Speed | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| Casualty | Joe Kelsall | Episode: "Combat Indicators: Part 1" |
| Doctor Who
| Tom Milligan | Episode: "Last of the Time Lords" |
| rowspan="3"|2008
| Nick Fisher | 2 episodes |
| {{sortname|The|Passion|dab=TV serial}}
| 4 episodes |
| Harley Street
| Dr Ross Jarvis | 5 episodes |
| 2009
| Steven McColl | Main role |
| 2009–2015
| Miranda | Gary Preston | Main role |
| rowspan="3"|2010
| Dappers{{Citation needed|date= September 2023}} | Marco | Episode: "Proper Job" |
| Merlin
| Cenred | 4 episodes |
| Accused
| Neil McGray | Episode: "Liam's Story" |
| rowspan="2"|2011
| Max Burr | Main role |
| {{sortname|The|Fades|dab=TV series}}
| Mark Etches | Main role |
| rowspan="4"|2012
| Father Jacobs | Episode: "Fear" |
| Playhouse Presents
| Bill | Episode: "The Other Woman" |
| Gates
| Mark Pearson | 5 episodes |
| {{sortname|The|Secret of Crickley Hall|dab=TV series}}
| Gabe Caleigh | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2013
| S2 Episode 19 "Lacey" |
| Agatha Christie's Poirot
| Detective Inspector Bland | Episode: "Dead Man's Folly" |
| Gothica
| Television film |
| rowspan="2"|2014
| Mr. Ogmore | Television film |
| Rush
| Dr. William Rush | Main role |
| 2015
| {{sortname|The|Strain|dab=TV series}} | Rob Bradley | Episode: "Identity" |
| 2016–2021
| Lucifer | Lucifer Morningstar / Michael Demiurgos | Main role |
| rowspan="2"|2018
| Oscar Wilde (voice) | Episode: "V Is for Mystery"{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20180214fox20/ |title=Family Guy [Deleted] |date=11 March 2018 |website=The Futon Critic|access-date=3 February 2019}} |
| Queen America
| Andy | 2 episodes |
| 2019
| {{sortname|The|Flash|dab=2014 TV series}} | Lucifer Morningstar | Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three" |
| rowspan="2"|2022
| Michelin Man (voice) | Episode: "May Cause Indecision...Or Not" |
| The Great North
| Rick Chateau (voice) | Episode: "Dick, Rick, Groom Adventure" |
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| GodCat (voice) | 9 episodes |
| Tell Me Lies
| Oliver |
| 2025
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| Washington Black {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} | Christopher 'Titch' Wilde | Post-production |
| rowspan="2" |{{TableTBA}}
| style="background:#FFFFCC;" | FBI/CIA {{dagger |
| CIA Agent Hart Hoxton
| Pre-production
|-
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| Second Wife {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}}
| Jacob
| Pre-production
|}
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} |Denotes works that have not yet been released |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm0255124}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Tom}}
Category:20th-century Welsh male actors
Category:21st-century Welsh male actors
Category:Alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Category:Male actors from Cardiff
Category:People educated at High Storrs School
Category:Welsh expatriates in Canada
Category:Welsh male film actors