# David Westhead

David William Logan Westhead (born 1 June 1963) is an English actor.

## Early life

Westhead was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire. He studied drama at Bristol University before going on to RADA, from where he graduated in 1987, after which he joined the Actors' Touring Company.

## Career

He is notable as having been a member of the regular cast of The Bill, Criminal Justice, Blackeyes, Stanley and the Women, Bramwell, The Silence, Life Begins, The Lakes, Grafters, The Time of Your Life and W1A. He has also had guest appearances in Wycliffe (Wycliffe and the Pea Green Boat as Freddie Tremaine), Doctor Who (The Shakespeare Code, as William Kempe), Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me as Charlie, Foyle's War (A War of Nerves), Midsomer Murders (The House in the Woods), Agatha Christie's Poirot (Cards on the Table) and Lewis (The Gift of Promise). He has also appeared in the film Mrs Brown (as the Prince of Wales), and onstage he has played Tristan Tzara in a 1993 British production of Travesties, which The Observer review said "David Westhead's Tzara [is] blissfully adept and funny".
David has for many years been a leading actor with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National Theatre, and The Royal Court Theatre. His credits include the BAFTA nominated Donovan Quick, Wilde, Stage Beauty, 'Beyond the Sea', Golden Globe winning Gideon's Daughter, Wallis & Edward, 'Beneath the Skin', Emmy Award winning The Lost Prince, 'She's Gone', 'The Time of Your Life', 'The Key', 'Safe House', 'The Lakes', Turning World, Grafters, 'The Unknown Soldier', My Fragile Heart, Blackeyes. David has the title role in "Suicide Man" and has appeared in "The Real McCoy" for the BBC in the Cape Flats Townships of South Africa. In 2010 he starred as Frank Evans in the BBC's flagship drama "The Silence".
In 2002 he and two colleagues founded Wilton Pictures, a production company specialising in making documentaries.
Also a lecturer in drama it was whilst he was teaching in South Africa that he met a group of disadvantaged youngsters with potential as photographers. Along with professional photographer John Cole – who, like David, lives in Brighton – he put them on an eight-week crash course in photography, enabling them to make a professional living from it. The exhibition of their work, entitled 'Wembley to Soweto', was exhibited at London's South Bank in July 2011. He received the Media Society's 2013 bursary award for this project.
In 2014, he played Neil Reid in W1A.
In 2016, Westhead played the role of Tony Blair's minder in the BBC television film Reg. In 2016, he appeared in the Netflix comedy series Lovesick.
He played Prime Minister John Vosler in the 2018 BBC series Bodyguard.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Mrs Brown | Bertie, Prince of Wales | |
| 1997 | Wilde | Edward Carson | |
| 1997 | Daylight Robbery | Alf | Short films |
| 1999 | Between Dreams | | Short films |
| 2001 | Queen's Messenger | Sir Desmond Grey | |
| 2004 | Stage Beauty | Harry | |
| 2004 | Beyond the Sea | Dr. Fields | Uncredited role |
| 2009 | Suicide Man | Frank Richards | Short film |
| 2011 | The Iron Lady | Labour Shadow Minister | |
| 2011 | Nancy, Sid & Sergio | DI Palmer | Short films |
| 2011 | The North London Book of the Dead | Boss | Short films |
| 2012 | Los Jack Machine | (voice) | Short films |
| 2013 | Dun Punkin: Ep.1 - 'Boys Will Be Boys' | The Cook | Short films |
| 2017 | The Fox and the Rabbit | Francis's Father | Short films |
| 2020 | If It's Not too Late | Jimmy | Short films |
| 2021 | Dust to Dust | Peter Woods | Short films |
| 2022 | Enola Holmes 2 | Henry Lyon | |
| 2024 | Alice | Dominic Halford | Short film (completed) |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Jenny's War | Navigator | Episodes 1–4. Uncredited role |
| 1989 | Blackeyes | Mark Wilsher | Miniseries; Episodes 2–4 |
| 1991 | Stanley and the Women | Stillsman | Miniseries; Episodes 1–4 |
| 1994 | Wycliffe | Freddie Tremaine | Series 1; Episode 6: "The Pea Green Boat" |
| 1995 | N7 | James | Television film |
| 1995 | Witness Against Hitler | Leo Lange | Television film |
| 1996 | The Bill | PC Mick Sampson | Series 12; Episode 25: "Confession" |
| 1996 | Bramwell | Paul Mills | Series 2; Episode 1: "The Rule of Thuggery" |
| 1997 | Turning World | Danny Miller | Episode 3 |
| 1997–1999 | The Lakes | Arthur Thwaite | Main cast; Series 1 & 2; 5 episodes |
| 1998 | The Unknown Soldier | Jeff Quinn | Episodes 1–3 |
| 1999 | Grafters | Nick Costello | Main cast; Series 2; Episodes 1–8 |
| 2000 | Where the Heart Is | Mike | Series 4; Episode 2: "No Regrets" |
| 2000 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Peter Deller | Series 5; Episode 4: "Above the Law" |
| 2000 | My Fragile Heart | DCI Peter Murray | 2-part miniseries |
| 2000 | Donovan Quick | George Mackie | Television film |
| 2000 | McCready and Daughter | DCI Alan Kendall | Television film (pilot for series) |
| 2001 | McCready and Daughter | DCI Alan Kendall | Episodes 1–5 |
| 2002 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Van Den Meer | Episode: "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" |
| 2002 | Always and Everyone | Phillip Mallett | Series 4; Episode 4: "Against the State" |
| 2002 | Safe House | Father | Television film |
| 2003 | The Lost Prince | Fred | 2-part miniseries |
| 2003 | William and Mary | Alistair Harper | Series 1; Episode 2 |
| 2003 | Servants | Mr. Prothero | Miniseries; Episode 2 |
| 2003 | The Key | Neath | Miniseries; Episodes 1–3 |
| 2003 | Blue Dove | Malcolm Sharp | Miniseries (unknown episodes) |
| 2004 | Family Business | Tom Williams | Episode 2 |
| 2004 | She's Gone | Peter Vine | Television film |
| 2004 | Foyle's War | Mark Talbot | Series 3; Episode 4: "A War of Nerves" |
| 2004–2006 | Life Begins | Brian Middleton | Series 1–3; 10 episodes |
| 2005 | Beneath the Skin | Dominic Hintlesham | Television film |
| 2005 | Born and Bred | Silas Craddock | Series 4; Episode 10: "Someone to Watch Over Me" |
| 2005 | Rose and Maloney | Wallace Canford | Series 3; Episodes 1–3: "Carl Callaghan", "Annie Johnson" and "Alan Richmond" |
| 2005 | Midsomer Murders | Gerry Moore | Series 9; Episode 1: "The House in the Woods" |
| 2005 | Wallis & Edward | Ernest Simpson | Television film |
| 2006 | Gideon's Daughter | Bill | Television film |
| 2006 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Superintendent Jim Wheeler | Series 10; Episode 2: "Cards on the Table" |
| 2007 | Wild at Heart | Bennett | Series 2; Episode 3: 2.3 |
| 2007 | Doctor Who | William Kempe | Series 3; Episode 2: "The Shakespeare Code" |
| 2007 | The Time of Your Life | Dave | Miniseries; Episodes 1–6 |
| 2008 | Criminal Justice | Barry Coulter | Series 1; Episodes 1–5 |
| 2009 | Moving Wallpaper | Gareth | Series 2; Episode 6: "Renaissance Part VI" |
| 2009 | New Tricks | Mike Barnes | Series 6; Episode 5: "Death of a Timeshares Salesman" |
| 2009 | Murderland | Tony Philips | Miniseries; Episodes 1–3. Uncredited role |
| 2010 | The Silence | Superintendent Frank Evans | Miniseries; Episodes 1–4 |
| 2011 | The Runaway | Ron Carver | Miniseries; Episodes 1 & 2 |
| 2011 | Lewis | Leon Suskin | Series 5; Episode 4: "The Gift of Promise" |
| 2011 | Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me | Charlie Archer | Television film |
| 2012 | DCI Banks | Gareth Lambert | Series 2; Episodes 1 & 2: "Strange Affair": Parts 1 & 2 |
| 2013 | Silent Witness | DI Bob Cherry | Series 16; Episodes 7 & 8: "Legacy – Part 1 & "Part 2" |
| 2014 | Endeavour | Val Todd | Series 2; Episode 1: "Trove" |
| 2014 | Common | Barnes-Williams | Television film |
| 2014–2020 | W1A | Neil Reid | Series 1–4; 14 episodes |
| 2015 | The Coroner | Grantham Naseby | Series 1; Episode 6: "Capsized" |
| 2016 | Jericho | Jonas Sorsby | Episode 4 |
| 2016 | Reg | Tony Blair's minder | Television film |
| 2016 | Lovesick | Alexander | Series 2; Episode 5: "Isabel" |
| 2017 | Loaded | Lawyer | Episode 1: "Lawsuit" |
| 2018 | Bodyguard | Prime Minister John Vosler | Episodes 2–4 |
| 2024 | Strike | Grant Ledwell | Series 6; Episodes 1–4 |

## Theatre

| Date | Title | Role | Director | Company / Theatre |
| 1981 – 1982 | The Critic | | Richard Brandon | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1981 – 1982 | All the Interesting Characters Are Already Dead | | Frank Stirling | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1982 – 1983 | The Cuckoo and the Owl | | Oliver Neville | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1982 – 1983 | The Bloom of the Diamond Stone | | Emer Gillespie | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1983 – 1984 | Ivanov | | Oliver Neville | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1983 – 1984 | The Innocent Mistress | | Martin White | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1983 – 1984 | Four Doctors | | Edward Braun | Drama Department, Bristol University |
| 1989 – 1990 | The School for Wives | | Annie Castledine | Derby Playhouse |
| 30 November 1989 – 20 January 1990 | A Study in Scarlet | Dr. John Watson | Michael Crompton | Greenwich Theatre |
| 16 January 1992 – | All My Sons | George Deever | David Thacker | Young Vic, London |
| 21 April 1992 – | A Jovial Crew | Randall | Max Stafford-Clark | Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 1992 – 1993 | A Jovial Crew | Randall | Max Stafford-Clark | Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London |
| 22 February 1993 – 27 February 1993 | A Jovial Crew | Randall | Max Stafford-Clark | Royal Shakespeare Company / Newcastle Playhouse |
| 22 April 1993 – 1993 | A Jovial Crew | Randall | Max Stafford-Clark | Royal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London |
| 2 July 1992 – | The Odyssey | Nestor | Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 1992 – 1993 | The Odyssey | Nestor | Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London |
| 22 June 1993 – 1993 | The Odyssey | Nestor | Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London |
| 1 September 1992 – 1993 | Tamburlaine | Cosroe & Orcanes | Terry Hands | Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 14 October 1993 – 1993 | Tamburlaine | Cosroe & Orcanes | Terry Hands | Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London |
| 3 November 1992 – 1993 | The Changeling | Antonio | Michael Attenborough | Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 1992 – 1993 | The Changeling | Antonio | Michael Attenborough | Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London |
| 1 March 1993 – 9 March 1993 | The Changeling | Antonio | Michael Attenborough | Royal Shakespeare Company / Newcastle Playhouse |
| 25 May 1993 – 1993 | The Changeling | Antonio | Michael Attenborough | Royal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London |
| 4 Jan 1993 – 17 Jan 1993 | A Corpse with Feet | Performer | Ron Cook | Buzz Goodbody Studio, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 16 September 1993 – 1994 | Travesties | Tristan Tzara | Adrian Noble | Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London |
| 24 March 1994 – 4 June 1994 | Travesties | Tristan Tzara | Adrian Noble | Royal Shakespeare Company / Savoy Theatre, London |
| 22 September 1994 – 18 February 1995 | The Man of Mode | Mr. Dorimant | Max Stafford-Clark | Out of Joint and Royal Court Theatre / Royal Court Theatre, London, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, and other locations |
| October 1994 – 18 February 1995 | The Libertine | John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester | Max Stafford-Clark | Out of Joint and Royal Court Theatre / Royal Court Theatre, London, Warwick Arts Centre, and other locations |
| 13 April 1996 – 1996 | The Prince's Play | HRH The Prince of Wales | Richard Eyre | National Theatre / Olivier Theatre, London |
| 29 April 1998 – | Talk of the City | Robbie | Stephen Poliakoff | Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 10 February 1999 – | Talk of the City | Robbie | Stephen Poliakoff | Royal Shakespeare Company / Young Vic, London |
| Jan 2003 – | Almost Nothing | | | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 28 February 2007 – 24 March 2007 | Macbeth | Macbeth | Ian Brown | West Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre, Leeds |

## Audio work

Voice talent : Eric Ambler's Topkapi for BBC Radio 4 Extra