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Tony Gardner
Actor

Tony Gardner

10 Jan 1964Born
62Age
50Credits
Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester, England, UKBirthplace

Biography

Tony Gardner (born 10 January 1964) is an English actor and doctor. He sits on the national governing body of the actors' trade union Equity.

He attended St Augustine's Catholic College in Trowbridge. Gardner qualified as a physician at Guy's Hospital in 1987, then as a general practitioner in 1993. He combined medicine and comedy during the 1990s as half of the award-winning comedy duo Struck Off and Die with Phil Hammond.

Gardner eventually left medicine to become an actor, starring in a number of TV commercials, including that for the Renault Mégane.

Read the full biography

He reached prominence playing Brian Johnson in CITV's My Parents Are Aliens (episodes of which he also wrote) and Michael, the café owner in Jack Dee's BBC sitcom Lead Balloon. In 2009–10 he starred in three plays directed by Sir Peter Hall. In 2011 he played Professor Tony Shales in the Channel 4 series Fresh Meat. Between 2012 and 2020, he played John in five series of the critically acclaimed romantic drama series Last Tango in Halifax. The programme attracted impressive ratings for BBC One, with the third series posting an average of 7.8 million viewers.

Between 2013 and 2015, he appeared as Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Smith in three series of the wartime comedy Bluestone 42, about a British bomb disposal detachment in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick. He appeared as Dan Miller MP in the BBC political comedy The Thick of It. He was a main character of the music video "Giant Peach" by Wolf Alice. He appeared in a variety of roles in Tracey Ullman's Show from 2016. He also appeared in an episode of the Netflix show, Lovesick, portraying Dylan’s father at surprise wedding anniversary party.

In January 2021, Gardner appeared in S11E1 of Not Going Out as a neighbour to Lee and Lucy. He then appeared again in S12E4 in 2022.

Known for

Filmography

  1. TBAA Little GreyFilm: Grey
  2. 2022Sister Boniface MysteriesSeries: Martin Hubbard (1 episode)
  3. 2021BritneySeries: Bobby (1 episode)
  4. 2021The LarkinsSeries: Alec Norman (11 episodes)
  5. 2019Horrible Histories: The Movie — Rotten RomansFilm: Antonius
  6. 2018Death on the TyneFilm: Justin Valentine
  7. 2018InnocentSeries: Chief Supt. Hillman (3 episodes)
  8. 2017Tracey Breaks the NewsFilm: Various
  9. 2016Minutes Past MidnightFilm: Detective Inspector Jack Bailie (segment Crazy for You)
  10. 2016Young HyacinthFilm: Claude Cooper-Smith
  11. 2015TrippedSeries: Henry (3 episodes)
  12. 2014LovesickSeries: Julian (1 episode)
  13. 2013The Escape ArtistSeries: Trevor Harris (3 episodes)
  14. 2013Big Bad WorldSeries: Dr Tim (1 episode)
  15. 2013Crazy for YouFilm: Detective
  16. 2013PlebsSeries (1 episode)
  17. 2013Bluestone 42Series: Lieutenant Colonel Smith (20 episodes)
  18. 2013Father BrownSeries: Monsignor Russo (1 episode)
  19. 2012Last Tango in HalifaxSeries: John (24 episodes)
  20. 2012Cockneys vs ZombiesFilm: Clive
  21. 2012GatesSeries: Aiden (5 episodes)
  22. 2012StellaSeries (10 episodes)
  23. 2011Death in ParadiseSeries: Ian Matlock (1 episode)
  24. 2011Fresh MeatSeries: Professor Tony Shales (16 episodes)
  25. 2010VexedSeries: Andy (neighbour) (1 episode)
  26. 2009Mad Sad & BadFilm: Graham
  27. 2009May Contain: NutsFilm: Philip Russell
  28. 2009May Contain NutsSeries (2 episodes)
  29. 2008Moving WallpaperSeries: George (1 episode)
  30. 2007Spinners and LosersFilm: Dan Miller
  31. 2007Blaired VisionFilm: Narrator
  32. 2007M.I. HighSeries: Prime Minister (1 episode)
  33. 2006Not Going OutSeries: Stuart (2 episodes)
  34. 2006Lead BalloonSeries: Michael (27 episodes)
  35. 2005The Thick of ItSeries: Dan Miller (5 episodes)
  36. 2005Doctor WhoSeries: Douglas (1 episode)
  37. 2004The Lenny Henry ShowSeries (16 episodes)
  38. 2001The Armando Iannucci ShowsSeries: Television Executive #1 (8 episodes)
  39. 2001Double Income, No Kids YetSeries: Andy (6 episodes)
  40. 1999My Parents Are AliensSeries: Brian Johnson, Writer (106 episodes)
  41. 1999People Like UsSeries: John (1 episode)
  42. 1998Cold FeetSeries: Roger (1 episode)
  43. 1997Sunnyside FarmSeries (6 episodes)
  44. 1997Midsomer MurdersSeries: Russell Grundy (1 episode)
  45. 1997Grown UpsSeries: Murray (6 episodes)
  46. 1996Crossing the FloorFilm: TV Interviewer
  47. 1995RestorationFilm: Gallant
  48. 1993Joking ApartSeries: Lawyer, Michael (1 episode)
  49. 1990Drop the Dead DonkeySeries (1 episode)
  50. 1986LovejoySeries: Jonathan (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.