Jonathan Cake

Jonathan Cake(born 31 August 1967) is an English actor who has worked on various TV programmes and films. His notable screen roles include Jack Favell inRebecca(1997),Oswald MosleyinMosley(1997),Japhethin the NBC television filmNoah's Ark(1999), Tyrannus in the ABC miniseriesEmpire(2005) and Det.Chuck Vanceon the ABC drama seriesDesperate Housewives(2011–2012).
Cake was born inWorthing,Sussex.  His father was a glassware importer and his mother a school administrator.
He was the youngest of three boys.
When he was four years old he was invited on stage during a traditional Britishpantomimefor children. This exposure ignited his interest in the performing arts. By the age of eight Jonathan had taken drama classes and took part in plays. As a teenager he toured Britain with London'sNational Youth Theatre.
After leaving school Cake studied English atCorpus Christi College, Cambridge. He became a rugby player in college and graduated in 1989. He attended a two-year training programme at theBristol Old Vic Theatre School, then trained with theRoyal Shakespeare Company.
In 1992, Jonathan Cake appeared inWilliam Shakespeare's playAs You Like It, aRoyal Shakespeare Companyproduction at theRoyal Shakespeare TheatreinStratford-upon-Avon. He also performed the play at theBarbican Theatrein London in 1993. Also that year, he appeared in a Royal Shakespeare Company production ofChristopher Marlowe'sTamburlaine the Great. He then appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company inWallenstein,The OdysseyandBeggar's Opera.
In 1995, Cake acted in theShared ExperienceTheatre Company production ofGeorge Eliot's novelThe Mill on the Flossat London'sLyric Theatre.  Cake branched out to the screen when he landed a guest spot in the British TV comedy seriesPress Gangin 1993. He made his first television film appearance alongsideJasper CarrottandAnn Brysonin BBC'sCarrott U Likein 1994 and broke into the film business the following year with a small role in the American filmFirst Knight.
After appearing in episodes ofFrank Stubbs PromotesandGoodnight Sweetheart, Cake was cast as Gareth in the BBC seriesDegrees of Error(1995), oppositeBeth Goddard,Julian GloverandPhyllida Law. He then played Ewan in two episodes of the seriesGrange Hill(1996), Nat in two episodes ofCold Lazarus(1996), and Hattersley in the TV miniseries adaptation ofAnne Brontë'sThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall(1996). He was also cast in the TV filmsNightlife(1996, withKatrin CartlidgeandJane Horrocks),The Girl(1996) and the 1996 pilot episode ofWings(a planned remake of theAmerican show of the same title, withUna Stubbs). Also in 1996, Cake was inTrue Blue, a British sports film based on the bookTrue Blue: The Oxford Boat Race MutinybyDaniel TopolskiandPatrick Robinson, and in an episode ofThe Thin Blue Line.
Cake next worked inCows(1997), played Jack Favell in the 1997 Anglo-German miniseriesRebecca, based onthe 1938 novelof the same name byDaphne du Maurier, and portrayed Peter Templer in a TV miniseries adaptation ofAnthony Powell'sA Dance to the Music of Time(1997), which starredJames Purefoy,Simon Russell BealeandPaul Rhys. He also guest starred inJonathan Creek(1997). The next year, he starred inMosley, which was based on the life of British fascistOswald Mosley. He also portrayed Regan Montana in the TV filmDiamond Girland co-starred withAdrian Dunbarand Susan Vidler in the TV seriesThe Jump(both 1998). The actor closed the decade portraying Japheth in the NBC TV filmNoah's Ark(1999). He also worked withMaria AitkenandLeslie Granthamin the British TV filmThe Bench(1999).
In 2000, Cake played Andrew Pryce-Stevens inHonest. He revisited the stage with work inBaby Doll(2000), an adaptation ofthe film of the same namebyTennessee Williams, and was handed the Barclays Best Actor Award for his performance. The play performed first at theRoyal National Theatreand then in London'sWest End.
Cake next appeared as Randolph Cleveland in an episode ofDr. Terrible's House of Horrible(2001), co-starred withLara BelmontandTeresa Churcherin the television thrillerThe Swap(2002), starred as Jack Wellington in the short-lived Fox seriesThe American Embassy(2002), and was cast as Andrea in the British filmThe One and Only(2002). Still in 2002, Cake made hisBroadwaydebut in the leading role ofJasonin theEuripidesplayMedea.
Cake appeared in the Canadian television filmRiverworld(2003), portrayedDr. Mengelein the Showtime TV filmOut of the Ashes(2003), and portrayed John Christow in the 2004 episode "The Hollow" ofAgatha Christie's Poirot. He starred as Jason Shepherd in the filmFallen(2004), appeared as Dr. Malcolm Bowers in an episode of NBC'sInconceivablecalled "Sex, Lies and Sonograms" (2005), and portrayedAlastair Campbellin the TV filmThe Government Inspector(2005). He was also cast as a gladiator named Tyrannus in the ABC historical TV seriesEmpire, which ran from 28 June 2005 to 26 July 2005.
Cake played the recurring role of Roy in the ABC short-lived drama seriesSix Degrees(2006–07). He appeared in an episode ofExtrascalled "SirIan McKellen" (2006) and played Marshall Crawford in the TV filmThe Mastersons of Manhattan(2007).
On stage, Cake played Father Flynn inJohn Patrick Shanley's playDoubt(2005) at thePasadena Playhouse. He then performed inCoriolanus(2006) at London'sShakespeare's Globe, and was cast inCymbeline(2007) at theVivian Beaumont Theaterin New York City.
In 2008, Cake played Rex Mottram inBrideshead Revisited. He had a two episode role inLaw & Order: Criminal Intent, alongside his real life wife Julianne Nicholson. The next year, he appeared as Bishop in the ABC TV filmCaptain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas, starringJodelle Ferland,Charlie McDermottandHal Holbrook. He played Cole Barker in two episodes of the NBC seriesChuckcalled "Chuck Versus the Beefcake" and "Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon". Cake appeared as Marcus Woll in theLaw & Orderepisodes "Boy Gone Astray" and "For the Defense".
In 2010, Cake teamed up withPedro Miguel Arcein the American filmKrews, by Hilbert Hakim. The same year, he also played Mark Easterbrook in the TV filmMarple: The Pale Horse, starringJulia McKenzieasMiss Marple. Cake appeared asMark Antonyin the Royal Shakespeare Company's  production ofAntony and Cleopatrain 2013.  In 2017 he played the Duke in theTheatre for a New Audienceproduction ofMeasure for Measure
In 2021, Cake had a recurring role onStargirlasShade.
On 24 September 2004 Cake married American actressJulianne Nicholsonin Italy. The couple have two children: a son, Ignatius Cake, born 30 August 2007, and a daughter, Phoebe Margaret Cake, born 30 April 2009.Cake was previously engaged to British actressOlivia Williams; the relationship ended after seven years.