Mike Gwilym (born 5 March 1949) is a
Welsh actor.
Early life
Born in
Neath, Gwilym is the brother of actor
Robert Gwilym
Robert Gwilym (born 2 December 1956), sometimes known as Bob Gwilym, is a Welsh actor.
Robert Gwilym was born in Neath, Glamorgan, Wales, where his family owned a chain of lingerie shops. His brother, Mike Gwilym, also made his name as an actor.
...
, son of Arthur Aubrey Remington Gwilym and Renée Mathilde Eugénie Léonce Dupont.
His parents were the proprietors of a women's clothing chain in Wales and his maternal grandfather was the Belgian oil industrialist Edmond Jules Dupont from Liège. Mike Gwilym's interest in acting began while at
Wycliffe Preparatory School, but he began his acting career while at university at Oxford with the
Oxford University Dramatic Society
The Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS) is the principal funding body and provider of theatrical services to the many independent student productions put on by students in Oxford, England. Not all student productions at Oxford University ...
, and went on to join the
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
Citizens' Theatre before becoming an associate actor of the
Royal Shakespeare Company
Career
His stage debut was as 'Prince Hal' in ''
Henry IV, Part 1'' at the
Playhouse Theatre, Sheffield, UK in 1969.
Gwilym joined the
Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974; his debut in London was with that company in that year as 'Vlass' in ''
Summerfolk
''Summerfolk'' (russian: Дачники, translit=Dachniki) is a play by Maxim Gorky written in 1904 and first published in 1905 by Znaniye (''1904 Znaniye Anthology'', book Three), in Saint Petersburg. '', at the
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Aldwych in the City of Westminster, central London. It was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200 on three levels.
History
Origins
The theatre was constructed in th ...
.
He starred in many of their productions during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including ''
The Comedy of Errors
''The Comedy of Errors'' is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. ...
'', ''
King Lear
''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...
'', ''
Troilus and Cressida
''Troilus and Cressida'' ( or ) is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1602.
At Troy during the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida begin a love affair. Cressida is forced to leave Troy to join her father in the Greek camp. Meanwh ...
'', and ''
Love's Labour's Lost''. He made his television debut in the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
''. His most high-profile role was as jockey-turned-detective
'' (1986). He subsequently returned to playing classical roles on stage and screen. In the
'' in the title role.
Gwilym retired from the professional stage to the South of Spain (province of Malaga), where his parents had a summer home. From the year 2001 he has shared a home with his partner in
in the province of Cadiz.