Tom Ellis

**Tom Ellis** is a Welsh actor, known for playing Dr. Oliver Cousins in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders and as Gary Preston in Miranda. He is known to audiences in the United States for two American television shows in which he plays the title character, USA Network's Rush (as William Tell Rush) and Fox's Lucifer (as Lucifer). He was also Sam in the BBC Three comedy Pulling.

## Early life

Ellis was born in Cardiff, the son of Marilyn Jean (Hooper) and Christopher John Ellis. His father, sister and uncle are all Baptist ministers, with his uncle, Robert Ellis, being principal of Regent's Park College, Oxford, which his father also attended. Ellis attended High Storrs School in Sheffield during his education and was a French horn player in the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra. Tom went on to study BA Dramatic Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which was previously named Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).

## Career

Other notable roles include Gary Preston in a hit TV show Miranda aired on BBC co-side with Miranda Hart from November 9, 2009 to January 1, 2015 , Justyn in Channel 4's *No Angels* and Thomas Milligan in the series three finale of the BBC One science-fiction television programme *Doctor Who*. In July and August 2009, Ellis starred in ITV comedy drama *Monday Monday* with Fay Ripley. He was also cast as Detective Inspector Bland in *Agatha Christie's Poirot*. Ellis was the star of the USA network series *Rush*, playing a Hollywood physician. In February 2015, it was announced that Ellis was cast as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox Television drama *Lucifer*, based on the comic with the same name, which premiered on 25 January 2016.

## Trivia

* Proposed to girlfriend Tamzin Outhwaite on her birthday in November 2005.
* 8 years younger than ex-wife Tamzin Outhwaite.
* Supports Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.
* Has 3 sisters.
* Is good friends with James McAvoy; he introduced him to his future wife Tamzin Outhwaite.
* Became a father for the 1st time at age 26 when his ex-girlfriend Estelle Morgan gave birth to their daughter Nora Ellis in May 2005.
* Became a father for the 2nd time at age 29 when his [now ex] wife Tamzin Outhwaite gave birth to their daughter Florence Elsie Ellis on 17 June 2008.
* Became a father for the 3rd time at age 33 when his [now ex] wife Tamzin Outhwaite gave birth to their daughter Marnie Mae Ellis on 1 August 2012.
* Enjoys playing golf.
* Born on the same date as Rachel McAdams.
* Son of Marilyn Jean (Hooper) and Christopher John Ellis, a Baptist minister. His uncle Robert Ellis is also a Baptist minister, and is the Principal of Regent's Park College, Oxford. His sister is also a Baptist minister.
* His ancestry is English, along with Welsh and Cornish.
* Before booking his first acting role at age 22 on the series Kiss Me Kate, he was a French horn player for the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra.
* He also had film roles in Buffalo Soldiers (2001) and Vera Drake (2004).
* He acted alongside Anna Chancellor in the short-lived series Suburban Shootout.
* He was married to Tamzin Outhwaite from 2006 until 2014. In June 2019, he married Producer Meaghan Oppenheimer. He has a total of three daughters.