Steve Speirs (born Steven Roberts; 22 February 1965) is a Welsh actor and writer who has appeared in films such as '' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' and '' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest''.

Early life

He was born as Steven Roberts in Troed-y-rhiw, a village now in the borough of

Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil () is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of K ...

, Wales, and went to school at Afon Taf High School where he found a taste for drama. He joined the National Youth Theatre of Wales and studied drama at

Loughborough University Loughborough University (abbreviated as ''Lough'' or ''Lboro'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public university, public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university sinc ...

. He says he took his stage name, Speirs, from the surname of a lecturer at college.

Career

Since graduating from university, Speirs has played Sloan in ''

Eragon ''Eragon'' is the first book in ''The Inheritance Cycle'' by American fantasy writer Christopher Paolini. Paolini, born in 1983, began writing the novel after graduating from home school at the age of fifteen. After writing the first draft for ...

'', Andy Fellows in '' Making Waves'' and with

Ricky Gervais Ricky Dene Gervais ( ; born 25 June 1961) is an English comedian, actor, writer, television producer and filmmaker. He co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the British television sitcoms ''The Office (British TV series), The Office'' (2001–2003) ...

in '' Extras'', as well as playing Captain Tarpals in '' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' and having a small role in '' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest''. He appears in '' Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire'', a comedy fantasy series in which he plays Loquasto, an oafish servant, "who belongs to a race of pig-like creatures known as Grobble". He wrote his first film, ''Caught in the Act'', in 2008 and starred in it as the lead character. Based on his memories of growing up in south Wales, it was filmed in the Merthyr Tydfil area. Speirs often goes by the name of "Dullard" in honour of his role in ''Extras'', as he considers the character a mirror of himself. Speirs also appeared in the Gervais and

Stephen Merchant Stephen James Merchant (born 24 November 1974) is an English comedian, writer, director, and actor. He was the co-writer and co-director of the British TV comedy series ''The Office (British TV series), The Office'' (2001–2003), and co-writer ...

film '' Cemetery Junction'' released in 2010, a part which was written particularly for him. Speirs also starred as the bouncer at Mother McOakley's Tavern in '' Burke and Hare'', a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

black comedy Black comedy, also known as black humor, bleak comedy, dark comedy, dark humor, gallows humor or morbid humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally ...

directed by

John Landis John David Landis (born August 3, 1950) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for directing comedy films such as ''The Kentucky Fried Movie'' (1977), ''Animal House, National Lampoon's Animal House'' (1978), The Blues Brothers (f ...

and released (in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

) in October 2010. He also starred in a CBBC show called Sadie J where he portrayed Sadie's dad, a mechanic. Other roles which Speirs is known for include his portrayal of Bernard Bresslaw in '' Cor, Blimey!'', Big Alan Williams in '' Stella'' and Colour Sergeant Wormwood in '' Sharpe's Peril''. He also appears as a postman on the last episode of Miranda season 3. Speirs played depressed geography teacher and caretaker Mr Gareth Barber in the

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...

sitcom '' Big School'' for two series in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, Spiers played PC McClintock in the Christmas TV film '' Gangsta Granny'', an adaptation of the book written by

David Walliams David Edward Williams (born 20 August 1971), known professionally as David Walliams (), is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television personality. He is best known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series '' Little ...

. He played the role of Dad in the 2014 TV film '' The Boy in the Dress'', also written by Walliams. In 2015, he appeared in the TV spin off ''

The Bad Education Movie ''The Bad Education Movie'' is a 2015 British comedy film directed by Elliot Hegarty and written by Freddy Syborn and Jack Whitehall. The film is based on Whitehall's sitcom of the same name, and follows a similar plot-line, with young teach ...

'' playing Don alongside the main cast of '' Bad Education'' as well as many other guests in the movie. The same year, he also appeared in the pilot of the radio sitcom '' Ankle Tag'', which went on to air three series in 2017, 2018 and 2020. In 2016, he appeared in

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 ...

comedy series '' Upstart Crow'' playing ''

Richard Burbage Richard Burbage (6 January 1567 – 13 March 1619) was an English stage actor, widely considered to have been one of the most famous actors of the Globe Theatre and of his time. In addition to being a stage actor, he was also a theatre owne ...

'' , the actor and leader of Will's acting company. He has continued in this role for three series (2016, 2017 and 2018) with two Christmas spin-offs in 2017 and 2018 and in the London West End in Elton's stage version of the show titled

The Upstart Crow ''The Upstart Crow'' is a stage play by Ben Elton developed from his BBC TV sitcom ''Upstart Crow''. Production history The play, directed by Sean Foley (director), Sean Foley, began previews at the Gielgud Theatre in West End theatre, London' ...

. He has created, written and starred in The Tuckers for BBC Wales and BBC iPlayer. In 1998, he appeared in the video for the Super Furry Animals song

Ice Hockey Hair ''Ice Hockey Hair'' is an EP by the Welsh alternative rock band Super Furry Animals, released in 1998. The record contains four songs which the band felt did not fit in with either their previous album, 1997's '' Radiator'', or its follow-up '' ...

Personal life

Speirs lived in

Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...

, East Sussex, but now resides in Cardiff, South Wales. He has two sons, Jack and Lewes with his first wife. He remarried, had his son, Max and had a daughter, Amelie with his second wife Joanna. His brother is opera singer Jeffrey Lloyd Roberts. He is also a cousin of comedy actor Ben Miller.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Steve Speirs
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Spiers, Steven 1965 births Living people Alumni of Loughborough University Welsh male film actors Welsh male television actors Actors from Merthyr Tydfil Male actors from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough