Patrick Geoffrey Ryecart (born 9 May 1952) is an English actor.

Early life and career

Ryecart was born in Warwick, Warwickshire. His first West End appearance was in

Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

's '' Candida'' at the

Albery Theatre Albery is a name. It may refer to: Given name * Albery Allson Whitman (1851−1901), African American poet, minister and orator Surname * A. S. Albery, British politician * Bronson Albery (1881−1971), English theatre director and impresario * Do ...

, playing the young poet Marchbanks opposite

Deborah Kerr Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 192116 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr (), was a Scottish actress. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first person from Scotland to be no ...

, directed by

Michael Blakemore Michael Howell Blakemore AO OBE (18 June 1928 – 10 December 2023) was an Australian actor, writer and theatre director who also made some films. A former Associate Director of the National Theatre, in 2000 he became the only individual to ...

. Among a string of fine reviews, Bernard Levin in the ''

Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...

'' described his performance as "supernova" and that he had not seen "such a talent in embryo since the young

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

". Ryecart has continued working in theatre, television and film (his last film role Lord Wigram in ''

The King's Speech ''The King's Speech'' is a 2010 historical drama film directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler. Colin Firth plays the future King George VI who, to cope with a stammer, sees Lionel Logue, an Australian speech and language ther ...

'') with lead roles in the classics of Shaw, Sheridan, and Shakespeare to light comedies, TV situation comedy, thrillers and musicals. Among his notable credits in London are Jack Absolute in ''

The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 List of Maverick ...

'', with

Michael Hordern Sir Michael Murray Hordern (3 October 19112 May 1995) was an English actor. He is best known for his Shakespearean roles, especially King Lear. He often appeared in film, rising from a bit part actor to leading roles; by the time of his death ...

as his father and

Geraldine McEwan Geraldine McEwan (born Geraldine McKeown; 9 May 1932 – 30 January 2015) was an English actress, who had a long career in film, theatre and television. Michael Coveney described her, in a tribute article, as "a great comic stylist, with ...

as Mrs Malaprop, and Lord Goring in Peter Hall's ''

An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...

''. He has acted on many British television shows since the mid-1970s including '' Lillie'', ''

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

'', '' The Professionals'', ''

Minder A minder is the person assigned to guide or escort a visitor, or to provide protection to somebody, or to otherwise assist or take care of something, i.e. a person who " minds". Government-appointed persons to accompany foreign visitors are of ...

(Series 7 episode 5)'', ''

Rumpole of the Bailey ''Rumpole of the Bailey'' is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, a middle-aged London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, ...

'', ''

Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comedy-drama mystery fiction, mystery series, based on the Lovejoy (novel series), novels by John Grant (Lovejoy), John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six ser ...

'', '' Coming Home'' 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 '' ...

''. In 1986 he appeared in the ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'' serial '' The Trial of a Time Lord'' in the '' Mindwarp'' segment. He was one of the lead characters in the BBC TV comedy series '' The High Life'' playing Captain Hilary Duff. He played Hugo Latimer in the BBC series '' Trainer''. In 1996 he appeared in ''

Agatha Christie's Poirot ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'', or simply ''Poirot'' (), is a British mystery drama television programme that aired on ITV from 8 January 1989 to 13 November 2020. The ITV show is based on many of Agatha Christie's famous crime fiction series, wh ...

'' episode, "

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" as Charles, returning to the series in 2013 as Sir Anthony Morgan in " The Labours of Hercules". In 1996 he worked 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 ...

in ''My Son My Son'' and in 1997 was in the Dalziel & Pascoe episode ''Ruling Passion''. He played Mr. Crane-Bolder in ''Catherine Cookson’s Rag Nymph'' a TV Mini-Series (1997). He appeared in ''Midsomer Murders'' "The Night of the Stag" as Anthony Devereux (2011). He has appeared in many mini series for the U.S. He played Sir Hugh Bodrugan in the 2015 BBC series of '' Poldark''. In 2016, he played the role of the Duke of Norfolk in the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

series ''

The Crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

''. His extensive theatre credits include '' The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B'' by J P Donleavy in London's West End, which he also produced, first playing Balthazar to Simon Callow's playing Beefy, (who was later replaced by Billy Connolly). Numerous tours include "Donkeys Years", "Rebecca", "Tunes of Glory" and "The Millionairess" opposite

Raquel Welch Jo Raquel Welch (; September 5, 1940 – February 15, 2023) was an American actress. Welch first gained attention for her role in ''Fantastic Voyage'' (1966), after which she signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her con ...

. He also produced, at the Garrick Theatre London (and later redirected for tour and the Edinburgh Festival 2011) "Jus' like That!" the highly successful affectionate tribute to the great Tommy Cooper, written by John Fisher. His film credits include '' A Bridge Too Far'' (1977), '' Silver Dream Racer'' (1980), '' Arthur the King'' (1985), ''

Prisoner of Honor ''Prisoner of Honor'' is a 1991 British television film, made-for-television drama (film and television), drama film directed by Ken Russell and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Oliver Reed and Peter Firth. It was made by Warner Bros. Television and d ...

'' (1991), '' Parting Shots'' (1999) and ''

'' (2010).

Personal life

Ryecart was married to English actress

Marsha Fitzalan Lady Marcia Mary Josephine Fitzalan Howard (born 10 March 1953), known as Marsha Fitzalan, is an English actress. Personal life Born in 1953, Marcia Fitzalan-Howard was the third daughter of Major-General Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of No ...

, the third daughter of 17th Duke of Norfolk, from 4 July 1977 until their divorce in 1995. The couple met at the drama school, The Webber Douglas Academy. They have three children. Ryecart lives in London.

Partial filmography

*'' A Bridge Too Far'' (1977) - German Lieutenant *'' Silver Dream Racer'' (1980) - Benson *''

Silas Marner ''Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe'' is the third novel by English author George Eliot, pen name of Mary Ann Evans. It was published on 2 April 1861. An outwardly simple tale of a linen weaver, the novel is notable for its strong realism a ...

'' (1985) - Godfrey Cass *'' Tai-Pan'' (1986) - Captain Glessing *'' Goldeneye: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming'' (1989) - Ivar Bryce *''Arms and The Man'' (1989) - Sergius Seranoff *'' Twenty-One'' (1991) - Jack *''

'' (1991) - Maj. Esterhazy *'' Parting Shots'' (1999) - Cleverley *''

'' (2010) - Lord Wigram *''Showreel'' (2011) - Gilbert *''Candle to Water'' (2012) - Cy *''The Contract'' (2016) - Greg *''

'' (2017-2019) - The

Duke of Norfolk Duke of Norfolk is a title in the peerage of England. The premier non-royal peer, the Duke of Norfolk is additionally the premier duke and earl in the English peerage. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the t ...

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ryecart, Patrick English male stage actors English male television actors 1952 births Living people English male film actors Alumni of the College of the Venerable Bede, Durham Male actors from Warwickshire People from Warwick Actors from Warwick District