Pearce Quigley
British actor
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Pearce Quigley (born 16 May 1965)[1] is an English actor. His credits include the TV series Pie in the Sky, Happiness (2001–2003), Cutting It (2002–2005), Rovers (2016), Detectorists (2014–2022), The Gentlemen (2024, as John "The Gospel" Dixon), and Small Prophets (2026). He has also had roles in films, including Millions (2004), and The Way Back (2010), and Peterloo (2018). He plays Will in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Alone, and has had extensive experience on stage.
16 May 1965[1]
Pearce Quigley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pierce J. Quigley 16 May 1965[1] Salford, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
Career
Theatre
Quigley has appeared in The Seagull (Royal Court);[2] Paul (National Theatre);[3] Journey's End (Comedy Theatre);[4] My Night with Reg and Dealer's Choice (Birmingham Rep);[3] Feelgood (Hampstead and Garrick);[2] Blue Heart (Royal Court); Shopping and Fucking (Out of Joint at Gielgud, International Tour and Queen's Theatre); The Queen and I – The Royals Down Under (Out of Joint Australian tour);[3] Rat in the Skull (Royal Court and Duke of York's);[2] The Queen and I (Out of Joint at the Royal Court and Vaudeville Theatre); Road (Out of Joint at the Royal Court); Der Neue Menoza (Gate Theatre); Rope (Birmingham Rep);[2] A Jovial Crew (RSC);[4] The Winter's Tale (RSC);[4] The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC);[4] The Changeling (RSC); Abingdon Square (Shared Experience); Doctor Faustus (Globe); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Globe);[4] The Taming of the Shrew (Globe)[3][2]; and Twelfth Night (Globe, 2025).[5]
Screen
Quigley appeared in Pie in the Sky,[6] the comedy series Happiness (2001–2003),[7] the drama series Cutting It (2002–2005), Millions (2004),[6] 15 Storeys High (2004), Born Equal (2006),[6] Within the Whirlwind (2009),[6] and The Way Back (2010),[6] alongside Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, and Colin Farrell. He was in Breaking the Bank (2014),[6] Rovers (2016),[6] and Peterloo (2018),[6] alongside Rory Kinnear. From 2014 to 2022, Quigley played the part of Russell in the television sitcom Detectorists.[7] In December 2021, Quigley played the Ghost of Christmas Present in the BBC TV special We Wish You A Mandy Christmas.[8]
In 2023, he had a small part in The Full Monty and he played Albie in Episode 3 of The Reckoning.[7] He played a disgruntled cyclist in one episode of Peter Kay's Car Share.[citation needed]
In 2026 Quigley played the lead role in Small Prophets.[9] Writer and director Mackenzie Crook said:[9]
I think he's one of the funniest men I've ever met. He's a unique actor in a way that I can't quite put my finger on. His delivery is so deadpan dry ... I've only ever seen him in smaller roles, sidekick roles, and I wanted to see him front and centre in something.
Radio
Quigley is also a regular in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Alone.[7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ladder of Swords | Constable Lowe[10] | |
| Killing Dad (Or How To Love Your Mother) | Luggage attendant[10] | ||
| 2000 | The House of Mirth | Percy Gryce[10] | |
| 2004 | Millions | Community policeman[10] | |
| 2005 | Big Dippers | Perry[10] | |
| Riot at the Rite | Nicholas Roerich[10] | ||
| 2006 | Born Equal | Beggar 1[10] | |
| 2007 | Grow Your Own | Eddie[10] | |
| 2008 | Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice | Dog Trainer[10] | Two-part television movie |
| 2009 | Stalin: Reign of Terror | Yelvov[10] | |
| 2010 | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger | Poker friend[10] | |
| The Way Back | Channeler[10] | ||
| 2011 | Frankenstein's Wedding... Live in Leeds | Fred[10] | |
| 2012 | Doctor Faustus | Robin, Alexander[10] | |
| 2013 | The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe | Grumio[10] | |
| 2014 | Shakespeare's Globe: A Midsummer Night's Dream | Bottom[10] | |
| Breaking the Bank | Oscar[10] | ||
| 2015 | The Process | Martin[10] | |
| National Theatre Live: The Beaux' Stratagem | Scrub[10] | ||
| 2018 | Peterloo | Joshua[10] | |
| Shakespeare's Globe: Hamlet | Rosencrantz[10] | ||
| 2019 | The Merry Wives of Windsor: Live from Shakespeare's Globe | Sir John Falstaff[10] | |
| 2020 | Talk Radio | Barry[10] | |
| 2021 | Cuckoo | Father[10] | Short film |
| 2023 | The Critic | Mr. Morrisey[10] | |
| 2024 | Peaked | Steven[10] | |
| 2025 | Bank of Dave 2 | David H[10] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Inspector Morse | Mick McGovern | One episode[10] |
| 1991 | A Perfect Hero | Douthwaite | |
| 1992 | Growing Rich | Woodie | Six episodes[10] |
| 1993 | Prime Suspect | Red | Two episodes[10] |
| 1996 | Pie in the Sky | Alistair, Lord Pilbury | One episode[10] |
| Our Friends in the North | Detective | ||
| 1997 | The Bill | Brian Wilby | |
| New Voices | Brian | ||
| Heartbeat | Red Broadbent | ||
| 1999 | Wing and a Prayer | Trevor Pike | |
| Hippies | Policeman Eric | ||
| 2000 | That Peter Kay Thing | Ron Hibbert | |
| Queer as Folk | Graham Beck | Two episodes[10] | |
| Pay and Display | Adolf | One episode[10] | |
| 2001–2003 | Happiness | Sid[11] | Twelve episodes[10] |
| 2002–2005 | Cutting It | Eugene Eubank | Twenty-five episodes[10] |
| 2004 | 15 Storeys High | Jonathan | One episode[10] |
| New Tricks | Frank Fox | ||
| 2005 | The Virgin Queen | Henry Bedingfeld | |
| 2007 | Lead Balloon | Alan | |
| 2009 | The Thick of It | Doug Hayes | |
| 2010 | Being Human | Catholic Priest | |
| 2013 | Midsomer Murders | Colin Yule | |
| Being Eileen | Dave | ||
| 2014–2022 | Detectorists | Russell | Nine episodes[10] |
| 2015 | Together | Mark Tetherford | One episode[10] |
| 2016 | Rovers | Willy | Six episodes[10] |
| 2016–2018 | Home from Home | Ben Thistlewaite | |
| 2017 | Peter Kay's Car Share | Cyclist | One episode[10] |
| Three Girls | Peter Boyd | ||
| In the Dark | Trevor Hare | Three episodes[10] | |
| 2018 | Lovesick | Simon | |
| 2019 | Down from London | Alan | One episode[10] |
| 2020 | COBRA | Nick Dunbar | Two episodes[10] |
| Housebound | Al Allison | Eight epidodes[10] | |
| 2021 | The Wheel of Time | Master Hightower | One episode[10] |
| 2021–2025 | Mandy | Ghost of Christmas Past (2021), Lee (2025) | Two episodes[10] |
| 2022 | McDonald & Dodds | Hector Ingham | One episode[10] |
| 2023 | The Full Monty | Alan | |
| The Reckoning | Albie | Two episodes[10] | |
| 2024 | Death in Paradise | Ivan McQuillan | One episode[10] |
| The Gentlemen | Gospel John | Four episodes[10] | |
| Showtrial | Phillip Holmes KC | ||
| 2025 | Art Detectives | Charlie Filton | One episode[10] |
| 2026 | Small Prophets | Michael Sleep | Six episodes[10] |
| 2027 | The Cadburys[12] | John |