Larry Lamb
English actor (b. 1947)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lawrence Douglas Lamb (born 1 October 1947)[1] is an English actor and radio presenter. He played Archie Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Mick Shipman in the BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey and Ted Case in the final series of the BBC drama New Tricks. He also appeared on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2016.
- Actor
- radio presenter
Larry Lamb | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lawrence Douglas Lamb 1 October 1947 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouses | Anita Wisbey
(m. 1969; div. 1970)Linda Martin
(m. 1979; div. 1996) |
| Partners |
|
| Children | 4, including George |
Early life
Lamb was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, to Jessie White and Ronald Douglas Lamb, the eldest of four including his brother, Wesley, and a sister Penelope. Lamb had a turbulent childhood; he was verbally abused by his father and often had to keep his parents from fighting.[2]
In 2011, Lamb participated in the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? and discovered that he is descended from a line of proprietors of a well-known travelling menagerie, Day's Menagerie, and a lion tamer named Martini Bartlett.[3]
Lamb attended Edmonton County School and on leaving school he worked as a lorry driver's mate (assistant) for, at that time, the UK's largest Waste Paper Merchant, J & J Maybank. Later, he worked as an encyclopaedia salesman,[4] before joining the oil industry, which resulted in his working in Libya and Canada, where he attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. This developed his amateur interest in acting to a professional level, and he performed at Canada's Stratford Festival in 1975–1976. Lamb is distantly related to Edward Buckton Lamb (1806–1869), a Victorian architect who designed St Martin's Gospel Oak and St Mary Magdalene Church in Addiscombe.
Career
Acting
After returning to Britain from Canada, Lamb became a regular cast member, along with Kate O'Mara, in the BBC's North Sea ferry-based soap Triangle (1981–83), in which he played Matt Taylor, the ship's chief engineer.
Other credits include The New Avengers, The Professionals, Fox, Minder, Lovejoy, Get Back, A Touch of Frost, Our Friends in the North, Taggart, Casualty, Kavanagh QC, Spooks, Midsomer Murders, and The Bill.
Between 2007 and 2010, Lamb appeared in Gavin & Stacey playing Gavin's father, Michael "Mick" Shipman. He returned to the role for a Christmas special in 2019 and again for the show finale in 2024.[5]
In 2008, Lamb began playing Archie Mitchell, the father of Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders. He based his portrayal of Archie on his own father.[6] He left the show in April 2009, but returned in July the same year, around the same time that Danniella Westbrook returned to her role of Archie's niece, Sam Mitchell. Archie was killed off in a murder story line at Christmas, 2009. In 2009, Lamb starred alongside Liam Cunningham in Blood: The Last Vampire, in the role of General McKee. On 19 February 2010, Lamb appeared with his son, George Lamb, in EastEnders Live: The Aftermath, after Stacey Slater was revealed to be Archie's killer in the closing moments of the 25th-anniversary live episode.
In April 2011, BBC Learning launched "Off By Heart Shakespeare", a school-recital contest for secondary school pupils. For the project, Larry took on the role of Jaques from the play As You Like It, and delivered the speech: "All the world's a stage".[7]
It was announced that Lamb would join the cast of New Tricks as Ted Case in series 12.
Lamb's films include Buster and Essex Boys. In 1983, he had a small speaking role in Superman III.
In September 2023, Lamb appeared in the Channel 5 drama series The Inheritance, appearing alongside Samantha Bond, Jemima Rooper, Gaynor Faye, Robert James-Collier and Adil Ray.[8]
Theatre
Theatre work includes:
- Educating Rita as Frank - Dir. Jeremy Sams - Chocolate Factory
- The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder as Maurice - Dir. Sarah Frankcom - National Theatre
- Fool for Love as Old Man - Dir. Lindsay Posner - Apollo West End/NIMAX
- The Price as Victor - Dir. Sean Holmes - Tricycle/Apollo West End/National Tour
- Hamlet as Claudius - Dir. Steven Pimlott - RSC
- The Prisoner's Dilemma as The Professor - Dir. Michael Attenborough - RSC
- Art as Marc - Dir. Rachel Kavanaugh - Wyndhams West End
- Inherit the Wind as Drummond - Dir. Dan Crawford - King's Head
- Nine as Guido - Dir. David Leveaux - Donmar
- The Sisters Rosensweig as Kantlowitz - Dir. Michael Blakemore - Old Vic/Greenwich
- Butterfly Kiss as Teddy - Dir Steven Pimlott - Almeida
- Lulu as Rodrigo - Dir. Jonathan Kent - Almeida
- La Musica as Him - Dir. Joseph Blatchley - Hampstead
- Making It Better as The Husband - Dir. Michael Rudman - Hampstead/Criterion West End
- A Madhouse in Goa as Niko/Oliver - Dir. Robert Alan Ackerman - Hammersmith/Apollo West End
- Greenland as Brian - Dir. Simon Curtis - Royal Court
- Insignificance as The Ball Player - Dir. Max Stafford-Clark - Royal Court
- Seduced as Raul - Dir. Les Waters - Royal Court
- Filomena as The Plumber - Dir. Franco Zefirelli - Lyric West End]
- Comedians as George McBrian - Dir. Mike Nicholls - Music Box/Broadway
Other work
In 2013, Lamb began presenting a regular Sunday morning show on LBC. He is an occasional reporter for the BBC programme The One Show. Lamb took part in Gareth's All Star Choir in 2014, as part of the BBC's Children in Need appeal.
In 2016, he appeared in the sixteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[9] He became the 6th celebrity to be voted out of the jungle in the 2016 series.[10]
Personal life
Lamb's first marriage was to Anita Wisbey, with whom he had a daughter, Vanessa Lamb (born 1969).[11] Lamb stated on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! that Vanessa has a daughter. Lamb's second marriage was to Linda Martin, with whom he has a son, radio DJ and television presenter George Lamb (born 1979).[11]
Lamb was in a relationship with Clare Burt from 1996 to 2014. They had two daughters, Eloise Alexandra (born 1998), and Eva-Mathilde (born 2003).[11] As of 2017, Lamb resided in Cornwall, and was in a relationship with artist Marie Hugo.[11]
Lamb's autobiography Mummy's Boy was published in 2011.[12] In 2025 he published his debut novel All Wrapped Up.[13]
Awards and nominations
Lamb won the award for Best Villain at the 2010 British Soap Awards.[14]
Bibliography
- —— (2011). Mummy's Boy (autobiography). Coronet Books. ISBN 978-1444715279.
- —— (2025). All Wrapped Up (novel). Softwood Books. ISBN 9781838173562.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Superman | 1st Reporter | |
| 1983 | Superman III | 2nd Miner | |
| 1984 | Flight to Berlin | Specialist Dale Sizemore | |
| My Friend Washington | Ben Carlson | Original title: Mon ami Washington | |
| 1985 | Shadey | Dick Darnley | |
| Underworld | Roy Bain | ||
| 1986 | Ubac | Larry | |
| 1987 | Hearts of Fire | Jack Rosner | |
| 1988 | Buster | Bruce Reynolds | |
| 1998 | Place Vendôme | Christopher Makos | |
| 2000 | Essex Boys | Peter Chase | |
| One of the Hollywood Ten | Will Geer | ||
| 2001 | Home Sweet Home | (voice) | Documentary film |
| 2004 | Deadlines | Paul Baker | |
| Fakers | Harvey Steed | ||
| 2009 | Blood: The Last Vampire | General McKee | |
| 2011 | Two Minutes | William | Short films |
| 2013 | Verona | Capulet | |
| 2014 | Rose, Mary and Time | Barney's Dad | |
| Beachcomber | Stephen | ||
| 2015 | Meet Pursuit Delange: The Movie | Sam Walters | |
| The Briny | Peter | Short film | |
| 2017 | The Hatton Garden Job | Brian Reader | |
| Rise of the Footsoldier 3: The Pat Tate Story | Mr. Harris | ||
| 2019 | Brighton | Derek | |
| 2021 | Me, Myself and Di | Clifford | |
| 2022 | Old Windows | Harry | Short film |
| Hounded | Gregory | ||
| 2025 | The 7th Man | Narrator |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The New Avengers | Williams | Series 2; episode 6: "Trap" |
| 1979 | Hazell | Ned Barrow | Series 2; episode 12: "Hazell and the Public Enemy" |
| The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game | Steve | Episode 5: "Horsenap" | |
| 1980 | Armchair Thriller | CPO Chalky White | Series 2; episodes 7–10: "Dead Man's Kit: Parts 1–4" |
| Fox | Joey Fox | Episodes 1–13 | |
| The Professionals | Jack Craine | Series 4; episode 2: "Wild Justice" | |
| 1981–1983 | Triangle | Matt Taylor | Series 1–3; 78 episodes |
| 1982 | Saturday Night Thriller | Albert | Episode 3: "A Gift of Tongues" |
| 1983 | Jemima Shore Investigates | Max Highams | Episode 11: "The Damask Collection" |
| 1984 | Minder | Greg Collins | Series 4; episode 6: "If Money Be the Food of Love, Play On" |
| The World Walk | Watkins | Television film | |
| 1985 | Christopher Columbus | Don Castillo | Mini-series; episodes 1–4 |
| 1986 | Boon | Alan Prendergast | Series 1; episode 7: "Northwest Passage to Acock's Green" |
| Slip-Up | Ronald Arthur Biggs | Television film. Alternative title: The Great Paper Chase | |
| 1987 | Theatre Night | The Sergeant | Series 2; episode 1: "The Devil's Disciple" |
| Sunday Premiere | Terry Stewart | Episode: "Harry's Kingdom" | |
| 1988 | Due fratelli | Mauro Barberi | Mini-series; episodes 1–3 |
| 1989 | Twist of Fate | Davi | Mini-series; Parts I & II. Original / UK title: Pursuit |
| 1990 | The Paradise Club | James Dexter | Series 2; episode 6: "Lord of the Files" |
| A Little Piece of Sunshine | Desmond Hannah | Television film | |
| 1991 | ScreenPlay | Ron Bannister | Series 6; episode 2: "Broke" |
| 1992 | Lovejoy | Gerald Somers | Series 3; episodes 12 & 13: "Highland Fling: Parts One & Two" |
| Between the Lines | Dennis Ralston | Series 1; episode 12: "Nobody's Fireproof" | |
| Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery | Kenneth Noye | Television film | |
| 1992–1993 | Get Back | Albert Sweet | Series 1 & 2; 15 episodes |
| 1994 | In Suspicious Circumstances | Weldon Atherstone | Series 4; episodes 9 & 10: "Death Scene: Parts 1 & 2" |
| White Goods | Jonnie Dow | Television film | |
| Screen One | Ken | Series 6; episode 7: "Doggin' Around" | |
| The Wimbledon Poisoner | Dr. Donald Templeton | Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2 | |
| 1995 | A Touch of Frost | Mike Ross | Series 3; episode 3: "Dead Male One" |
| Class Act | Jimmy Hunt | Series 2; episode 2 | |
| 1996 | Our Friends in the North | Alan Roe | Mini-series; episodes 6 & 7: "1979" & "1984" |
| Annie's Bar | Terry Dunning | Episodes 1–10 | |
| Strangers | Leonard | Episode 2: "The One You Love" | |
| 1997 | The Missing Postman | Trevor Ramsay | Television film |
| 1998 | Supply & Demand | Det. Supt. Simon Hughes | Mini-series; episodes 1–6 |
| 1999 | The Blonde Bombshell | Will Humphreys | Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2 |
| Taggart | Martin Strange | Series 16; episode 3: "Fearful Lightning" | |
| Casualty | Father Peter Harker | Series 14; episode 7: "Everybody Hurts" | |
| 2001 | Kavanagh QC | Alan Rainer | Episode: "The End of Law" |
| Midsomer Murders | Melvyn Stockard | Series 4; episode 4: "Who Killed Cock Robin?" | |
| 2004–2005 | The Bill | Jonathan Fox | Series 20 & 21; 20 episodes |
| 2005 | Cathedral | Thomas Becket | Mini-series; episodes 1–5 |
| Murphy's Law | George Garvey | Series 3; episodes 3–6 | |
| 2006 | Silent Witness | Max Wheaton | Series 10; episodes 5 & 6: "Body of Work: Parts 1 & 2" |
| Spooks | Iain Kallis | Series 5; episode 3: "The Cell" | |
| 2007–2010, 2019, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Mick Shipman | All 22 episodes |
| 2008–2010 | EastEnders | Archie Mitchell | 154 episodes |
| 2013 | Love and Marriage | Tommy Sutherland | All 6 episodes |
| 2015 | New Tricks | Ted Case | Series 12; episodes 2–10 |
| 2017 | The Keith & Paddy Picture Show | Dr. Houseman | Series 1; episode 1: "Dirty Dancing" |
| Mount Pleasant | Callum | Series 7; episode 1: "The Finale" | |
| 2019 | Pitching In | Frank | All 4 episodes |
| Thunderbirds Are Go | Gomez (voice) | Series 3; episode 17: "Getaway" | |
| 2023 | The Inheritance | Dennis | All 4 episodes |
| 2024 | Curfew | Rhys | All 6 episodes |
| Whitstable Pearl | Dickie Masters | Series 3; episode 4: "Prisoners of the Past" | |
| Conflict | Sir Martin Wright | Mini-series; episodes 3 & 4: "Vastarinta" & "Petos" | |
| 2025 | The Feud | Terry Dobson | Episodes 1–6 |
| Art Detectives | Ron Palmer | 4 episodes |