Leon Lopez (born 30 August 1979 in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

) is a British actor, television and film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model, best known for playing the role of Jerome Johnson in the

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

soap opera ''

Brookside Brookside may refer to: Geography Canada * Brookside, Edmonton * Brookside, Newfoundland and Labrador * Brookside, Nova Scotia United Kingdom * Brookside, Berkshire, England * Brookside, Telford, an area of Telford, England United States * Bro ...

'' from 1998 to 2002. He also played the role of Linford Short in the BBC's ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'' in 2016. His first feature film as a director, ''Soft Lad'', premiered at the

East End Film Festival The East End Film Festival was one of the UK's largest film festivals. Founded in 2000 and operating in various venues across East London, the festival focused on emerging British, Eastern European, and Asian films. It ceased operations on March ...

in 2015. His musical background includes being part of numerous vocal harmony groups and he is now becoming a well known performer in the world of Theatre, and Musical Theatre in London's West End.

Early and personal life

Lopez is a former student of the

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Liverpool is a port city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population of (in ), Liverpool is the administrative, cul ...

, established by Sir

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

. His mother is from

and of Spanish descent and his father is Jamaican. Lopez is gay.

Directing

Film

Lopez's

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

directing credits include his debut feature film ''Soft Lad'' (2015). A micro budget self funded feature starring

Daniel Brocklebank Daniel Brocklebank (born 21 December 1979) is an English actor, best known for portraying the roles of Ivan Jones in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' (2005–2006), and Billy Mayhew in ITV's other long-running soap ''Coronation Street'' (20 ...

Jonny Labey Jonny Labey (born 15 January 1993) is a British actor, known for portraying the role of Paul Coker (EastEnders), Paul Coker on the BBC One, BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Early life Labey is from Grouville, Jersey. He attended Grouville School ...

, Suzanne Collins, Craig Stein and Laura Ainsworth. It was released by Peccadillo Pictures on 9 November 2015 after a string of various UK cinema screenings. In 2018, he directed a second feature film called 'Out of Time' for Foot in the Door Films. To date he has also directed several short films including his award-winning short 'The Definition of Lonely', starring Nick Hayes and Lucas Rush, which premiered at the OutWest Film Festival in 2015 and is featured on the "Soft Lad" DVD extras. Other short films include 'Almost Saw The Sunshine' starring Munroe Bergdorf, which premiered at Downtown Urban Arts Festival where it was nominated for Best Short Film award and was acquired by

Dekkoo Dekkoo is a Philadelphia-based subscription streaming service with a focus on LGBT+ related content, particularly by and for gay men. It features a mixture of programs from other sources and original content, and derives its income from subscriptio ...

and Peccadillo Pictures and available on

Amazon Prime Amazon Prime (styled as prime) is a paid subscription service of Amazon which is available in many countries and gives users access to additional services otherwise unavailable or available at a premium to other Amazon customers. Services inclu ...

streaming services. 'Ménage' Starring

Adele Silva Adele Silva (born 19 November 1980) is an English actress. She played the role of Kelly Windsor in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' on and off from 1993 to 2011. In 1989, she had a minor role in the final classic series ''Doctor Who'' story ' ...

, Suzanne Collins and Craig Stein, which premiered at the Kino Film Festival in 2016. He also appeared in the documentary 'Let's Talk About Gay Sex And Drugs' which was part of the official selection for the 2016 BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival. His production company ''Brown Boy Productions'' was set up in 2012, and is currently in development of a further 2 feature films and a TV series called ''Trade''.

Television

Television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

directing credits include numerous episodes of

's flagship soap opera ''

Hollyoaks ''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which originally began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside''. From 2005 to 2023, episodes h ...

'' for

Lime Pictures Lime Pictures, formerly known as Mersey Television, is a British television production company, founded by producer and writer Phil Redmond in the early 1980s. It produces drama and entertainment shows for the international market, including ' ...

. He is also a regular director for ITV's award-winning serial drama ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...

'' and in January 2021 also began directing episodes of ITV's ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

''.

Acting

Television and Film

Lopez's

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

credits include appearances in episodes of ''

Mersey Beat ''Mersey Beat'' was a music publication in Liverpool, England in the early 1960s. It was founded by Bill Harry, who was one of John Lennon's classmates at Liverpool Art College. The paper carried news about all the local Liverpool bands, and ...

'' and ''

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...

'' for the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

, ''The Court Room'', ''

Tut TUT can refer to: *''Tramways & Urban Transit'' magazine *Altaic languages (ISO 639 alpha-3, tut) *''The Unquestionable Truth'', 2005 Limp Bizkit album *''The Unbelievable Truth (radio show), The Unbelievable Truth'', a comedy panel show on BBC radi ...

'', ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'', the lead role of Tanktop in '' Hollyoaks: In the City'' as well as starring for 4 years as Jerome Johnson in the

hit soap opera ''

''. He has appeared in a number of

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

s, including ''Profanity'', ( a ''Giant Leap Films'' production,) as well as appearing in the

's serial drama ''

Doctors Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to: Titles and occupations * Physician, a medical practitioner * Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree ** Doctorate ** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...

''. In February 2012, Leon performed a cameo role in the independent British film ''The Quiet One'' set in Birmingham. In 2015, he starred alongside Sir Ben Kingsley in

Spike TV Paramount Network is an American basic cable television channel and the flagship property of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global, who operates it through the MTV Entertainment Group. The network's headquarters are locate ...

's mini series

where he played the role of Sete. He also starred in hard hitting short film ''G O'Clock'' which premiered at BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival film festival in 2016. in 2016 he then went on to appear as a recurring character Linford Short in the UK soap opera

Theatre

Lopez has toured the UK as "The Childcatcher" in a run of ''

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'' is a 1968 children's film, children's Musical film, musical fantasy film directed by Ken Hughes and produced by Albert R. Broccoli. It stars Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Gert Fröbe, Anna Quayle, ...

'' and appeared in numerous

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

s. In Autumn 2007, he played the role of "Collins" in the West End revival of ''

Rent (musical) ''Rent'' (stylized in all caps) is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson. Loosely based on the 1896 opera ''La bohème'' by Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Illica, and Giuseppe Giacosa, it tells the story of a group of impov ...

'' - ''

remixed'' produced by William Baker. On 13 August 2008, he appeared in a limited run of '' Piaf'' at the

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic direc ...

opposite Elena Roger. He then went on to appear at The

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...

, London in the role of "Deity" in Tarell Alvin McCraney's "Wig Out!" directed by Dominic Cooke which ran from November 2008 to January 2009. May 2009 he took on the role of "Michael" in

Jonathan Larson Jonathan David Larson (February 4, 1960 – January 25, 1996) was an American composer, lyricist and playwright, most famous for writing the musicals ''Rent (musical), Rent'' and ''Tick, Tick... Boom!'', which explored the social issues of mult ...

's Tick, Tick... BOOM! at The

Duchess Theatre The Duchess Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, London, located in Catherine Street near Aldwych. The theatre opened on 25 November 1929 and is one of the smallest West End theatres with a proscenium arch. It has 494 ...

, in London's West End.. Autumn 2009 he was a part of the grand relaunch of

Derby Playhouse Derby Playhouse was a theatre production company based in Derby, England and the former name of the theatre which it owned and operated from its opening in 1975 until 2008, when the company ceased operating after a period in administration. The th ...

Theatre, appearing in the rock musical "The Pro's, Con's and a Screw" alongside "

Kidulthood ''Kidulthood'' (stylised known as ''KiDULTHOOD'') is a 2006 British teen crime drama film directed by Menhaj Huda from a screenplay by Noel Clarke. It stars Aml Ameen, Red Madrell, Adam Deacon, Jaime Winstone, Femi Oyeniran, Madeleine Fairley, ...

" star

Adam Deacon Adam Steven Deacon (born 4 March 1983) is an English actor. He is known for his lead role in the films '' Kidulthood'', sequel ''Adulthood'', and for his directorial debut, '' Anuvahood''. Career Deacon was brought up by his English mother in S ...

In February 2010 Lopez appeared opposite

Leslie Caron Leslie Claire Margaret Caron (; born 1 July 1931) is a French and American actress and dancer. She is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award, two BAFTA Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards. Caron b ...

Greta Scacchi Greta Scacchi ( , ; born 18 February 1960) is an actress. Born in Italy to a British-Italian couple, she was raised in Britain and finally settled in Australia, becoming a naturalized citizen. Scacchi had her first leading role in the romanti ...

and

Lambert Wilson Lambert Nicolas Wilson (; né Willson, 3 August 1958) is a French actor and theatre director. He is a seven-time Cesar Award nominee, four for César Award for Best Actor, Best Actor and three for César Award for Best Supporting Actor, Best Sup ...

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

's musical ''

A Little Night Music ''A Little Night Music'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film '' Smiles of a Summer Night'', it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a ...

'' at The Chatelet Theatre in Paris, playing the role of Frid. His latest show, John Adams' Broadway-style show '' I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky'' at

Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford East (formerly known as Theatre Royal Stratford East) is a 460 seat Victorian producing theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company, famously associated with di ...

, London, opened in July 2010 and was a huge critical success, gaining several 4-star reviews in national papers such as ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' and ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

''. He then started rehearsing for a new production of '' Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens'' in aid of The

Terrence Higgins Trust Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns about and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health. In particular, the charity aims to end the transmission of HIV in the UK; to support and empower people living with HIV, to ...

at The Shaw Theatre, London Lopez was selected to perform as Brit in the second national tour of

Ben Elton Benjamin Charles Elton is a British comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director. One of the major figures in the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, his early stand-up style was Left-wing politics, left-wing political satire ...

and

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

's smash hit rock musical ''

We Will Rock You "We Will Rock You" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1977 album '' News of the World'', written by guitarist Brian May. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it number 330 of " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA it p ...

''. He starred ''WWRY'' at Bristol Hippodrome on 29 October 2011 and performed as Britney Spears.

Reality TV

In 2007 Lopez appeared in the second series of the

Reality TV Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 199 ...

programme '' Soapstar Superstar'' where he caught the attention of the music industry after being the seventh person to be voted off the series and was immediately signed to "Celebrity Records". Leon has been a contestant on both ''Celebrity

Fear Factor ''Fear Factor'' is an American stunt/ dare game show that first aired on NBC from 2001 to 2006 and was initially hosted by comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan. The show was adapted by Endemol USA from the original Dutch series titled '' ...

'' and '' Soapstar Superchef''. He has also worked as a

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces or hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people ...

Music

Debut album - 'Moving On'

Since signing his record deal, Leon has teamed up with

Take That Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Barlow is the group's lead singer ...

star

Gary Barlow Gary Barlow (born 20 January 1971) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He is the lead singer of the pop group Take That. Barlow is one of the United Kingdom's most successful songwriters, having writ ...

and producer Rod Gammons to co-write his debut album 'Movin On'. His first single 'Love Got in the Way' was released in August 2007. His first studio album 'Moving On' was released 1 February 2010.

2nd studio album

He is currently writing his 2nd album with producer Paul James which is set to be an 'electro' inspired concept album.

Performances

Leon also sang at the opening ceremony of the 2002

Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, which consists mostly, but not exclusively, of territories of the former British Empire. The event was first held in 1930 ...

held in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

, live to over 500 million viewers worldwide. Lopez has also performed his single on daytime television shows such as ''

Loose Women ''Loose Women'' (known as ''Live Talk'' from 2000 to 2001) is a British talk show that broadcasts on ITV weekdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The show focuses on a panel of four female presenters who interview celebrities, talk about aspects of ...

'' and performed at numerous concerts.

Achievements

As part of his first pop group A:M, Leon was nominated for

MOBO Modern Baseball (sometimes abbreviated as MoBo) was an American emo band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consisting of Bren Lukens, Jake Ewald, Sean Huber, and Ian Farmer. The band formed in 2012 at Drexel University and released their first ...

AWARD for best unsigned act as well as winning numerous awards such as Holstein Pills Discovers and the

Liverpool Echo The ''Liverpool Echo'' is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales – a subsidiary company of Reach plc and is based in St. Paul's Square, Liverpool, England. It is published Monday through Sunday, and is Liverpool's da ...

Arts award for 'Best Unsigned Act'.

References

External links

*
Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Leon Living people 1979 births 20th-century English LGBTQ people 21st-century English LGBTQ people Alumni of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Black British male actors English male soap opera actors English people of Jamaican descent English people of Spanish descent English gay actors Black British LGBTQ people Male actors from Liverpool