Tom Ellis


Biography

Welsh actor Tom Ellis used his smoldering presence to excellent effect on television series in the United Kingdom and America, most notably "EastEnders" (BBC One, 1985- ) and "Lucifer" (Fox, 2016- ). Born Thomas John Ellis on November 17, 1978 in Cardiff, Wales, he was raised in a religious household with numerous ministers in its number, including his father, sister and uncle. Ellis att...

Biography

Welsh actor Tom Ellis used his smoldering presence to excellent effect on television series in the United Kingdom and America, most notably "EastEnders" (BBC One, 1985- ) and "Lucifer" (Fox, 2016- ). Born Thomas John Ellis on November 17, 1978 in Cardiff, Wales, he was raised in a religious household with numerous ministers in its number, including his father, sister and uncle. Ellis attended High Storrs School and played French horn with the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra before devoting his energies to acting. He began appearing in minor roles on television in 2000, and soon added turns in British-made features like "High Heels and Low Lifes" (2001) before earning his breakout role as Dr. Oliver Cousins on the long-running soap "EastEnders." The upstanding doctor enjoyed a lengthy and tumultuous relationship with Kacey Ainsworth's long-suffering Little Mo on the series before the pair called it quits and Ellis departed the series after a single year's work in 2006. That same year, he also became involved off-screen with fellow "EastEnders" star Tamzin Outhwaite, whom he married in 2006; the couple had two children in 2008 and 2012 before splitting in 2013. During this period, Ellis worked steadily in guest roles on television, and also starred as comedian Miranda Hart's love interest on her BBC Two series "Miranda" (2009-2015). In 2013, he made his American television debut as Robin Hood on "Once Upon a Time" (ABC, 2011- ), which preceded his first Stateside starring role as a drug-addicted doctor on "Rush" (USA Network, 2014). The following year, Ellis scored his star-making role in America as the titular Prince of Darkness in "Lucifer," a drama based on a character and graphic novel co-created by Neil Gaiman. In the series, Ellis' Lucifer comes to Earth largely to alleviate the boredom of ruling Hell, and becomes a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department while also operating a nightclub. The wry, racy series launched its third season, which introduced Tom Welling to its cast of characters, in 2017.

Life Events

2000

Nabbed his first TV role as a guest star on "Kiss Me Kate"

2001

Appeared in "Buffalo Soldiers"

2003

Appeared in the Craig Ferguson-directed musical comedy "I'll Be There"

2004

Nabbed a small role in "Vera Drake"

2005

Landed a recurring role on the series "No Angels"

2006

Played Dr. Oliver on the British soap opera "EastEnders"

2006

Cast as P.C. Haines on "Suburban Shootout"

2007

Had a small guest role on "Doctor Who"

2008

Played the Apostle Philip on mini-series "The Passion"

2009

Nabbed a starring role in the thriller "Masterwork"

2009

Played Gary Preston on TV series "Miranda"

2010

Nabbed a supporting role on the fantasy series "Merlin"

2014

Played the lead character on USA's "Rush"

2014

Starred in the short film "The Place We Go to Hide"

2015

Had a guest spot on the horror TV series "The Strain"

2015

Landed his breakout role in America on the supernatural series "Lucifer"

2015

Cast as the Devil himself on the supernatural crime drama "Lucifer"

Bibliography