Christopher Ravenscroft (born 1946) is an English actor, best known for his recurring role as DI Mike Burden in ''

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries ''The Ruth Rendell Mysteries'' is a British television crime drama series, produced by TVS and later by its successor Meridian Broadcasting, in association with Blue Heaven Productions, for broadcast on the ITV network. Twelve series were bro ...

'', the ITV adaptation of

Ruth Rendell Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, (; 17 February 1930 – 2 May 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. Rendell is best known for creating Chief Inspector Wexford.The Oxford Companion ...

's Inspector Wexford mysteries.

Biography

Ravenscroft was born in Hampstead,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, and was the star of a number of school plays. He went to

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree- ...

to study law where he did some more theatre and soon decided that he would rather be an actor than a lawyer, and trained at the

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is a drama school in Bristol, England. The institution provides training in acting and production for careers in film, television and theatre. BOVTS is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. ...

. While working at the

Liverpool Playhouse The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actres ...

in the early 1970s he met his future wife, Caroline Smith, who was associate director at the time. He currently lives in Chiswick, West London.

Filmography

Film

*'' Henry V'' (1989) as Montjoy *'' Tom and Thomas'' (2002) as Frederick Lord *'' The Football Factory'' (2004) as Tamara's Father *'' The Man Who Knew Infinity'' (2015) as J.J. Thomson

Television

*''

John Halifax, Gentleman ''John Halifax, Gentleman'' is a novel by Dinah Craik, first published in 1856. The novel was adapted for BBC Radio 4 in 1970 and on television on BBC in 1974. Plot summary The action is centred on the town of Tewkesbury, scarcely disguised ...

'' (1974) as Edwin *'' Coronation Street'' (1978) as Police Sergeant *''

The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is se ...

'' (1982) as Stapleton *''

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'' or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (or also ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the ...

'' (1982) as Frank Cheeryble *''The Fourth Arm'' (1983) as Kuper *''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...

'' (1988) as Orsino *''

'' (1987-2000) as Det. Insp. Mike Burden *'' Midsomer Murders'' (2002) as Dr. Rupert Bradshaw *''

The Courtroom ''The Courtroom'' is a British legal drama created by Phil Redmond, which aired between June and December 2004. Music was composed and performed by Steve Wright. The programme was notable for starring many former British soap stars, particular ...

'' (2004) as Tim Portland *'' The Shell Seekers'' (2006) as Colonel Mellaby *'' Doctors'' (2008) as Howard French *''Doctors'' (2012) as Jeff McAllistair *''Doctors'' (2016) as Phillip Langley *''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, ...

'' (2018) as Judge *''

Casualty Casualty may refer to: *Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster **Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare * The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...

'' (2019) as William Miller

Stage

*'' Royal Shakespeare Company ''season 1980-1982, playing Lepidus in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, ...

'', Antonio in ''

'' and in ''

Baal Baal (), or Baal,; phn, , baʿl; hbo, , baʿal, ). ( ''baʿal'') was a title and honorific meaning "owner", "lord" in the Northwest Semitic languages spoken in the Levant during antiquity. From its use among people, it came to be applied t ...

''. *''

'', as Mobbs, Snobb, Lenville and Frank Cheeryble, a Royal Shakespeare Company production that was also recorded on DVD (1981-1982) *'' Royal Shakespeare Company ''season 1984-1985 as Rosencrantz in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', Montjoy in '' Henry V'', Antonio in ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...

'', Richmond in '' Richard III'' and Pain in '' Crimes in Hot Countries'' by

Howard Barker Howard Barker (born 28 June 1946) is a British playwright, screenwriter and writer of radio drama, painter, poet, and essayist writing predominantly on playwriting and the theatre. The author of an extensive body of dramatic works since the 197 ...

. *''

'', as Orsino, directed by

Kenneth Branagh Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh (; born 10 December 1960) is a British actor and filmmaker. Branagh trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and has served as its president since 2015. He has won an Academy Award, four BAFTAs (plus ...

Riverside Studios Riverside Studios is an arts centre on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, England. The venue plays host to contemporary performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production. Having closed for redevelopment i ...

. (1987) Also televised. *'' Macbeth'', as Banquo, Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by

Adrian Noble Adrian Keith Noble (born 19 July 1950) is a theatre director, and was also the artistic director and chief executive of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1990 to 2003. Education and career Noble was born in Chichester, Sussex, England. After le ...

. (1993) *'' Oleanna'', as John, at

Wolsey Theatre The New Wolsey Theatre is an award-winning producing theatre with a café & bar in Ipswich, Suffolk. It is a midsized regional theatre, having a seating capacity of 400. History It replaced The Arts Theatre, the town's much loved and respecte ...

Ipswich. (1995) *'' The Woman in Black'' at the Apollo Theatre London. (2001-2002) He played the lead role of Arthur Kipps. *''

Educating Rita ''Educating Rita'' is a stage comedy by British playwright Willy Russell. It is a play for two actors set entirely in the office of an Open University tutor. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, ''Educating Rita'' premièred at The Wa ...

'' (2003)Review of Educating Rita
/ref> by Willy Russell in which he starred as Frank. Derby Playhouse and other theatres. *'' The Tempest'', in which he played Prospero, Liverpool Playhouse (2005) * ''Alison's House'' (2009) by Susan Glaspell in which he played Mr Stanhope, Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond. * ''The Doll's House'' (2013) by Ibsen in which he played Dr Rank, Theatre Royal, Bath. *'' Bedroom Farce'' (2009), West Yorkshire Playhouse *'' Alison's House'' (2009),

Orange Tree Theatre The Orange Tree Theatre is a 180-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south-west London, which was built specifically as a theatre in the round. It is housed within a disused 1867 primary school, built in Victorian Gothic style. T ...

* ''The Promise'' (2013) by Ben Brown in which he played Herbert Asquith, Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond. * '' Comedy of Errors'' (2010), Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park * ''The Conspirators'' (2011) by Vaclav Havel in which he played Dykl, Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond. * ''

The Winslow Boy ''The Winslow Boy'' is an English play from 1946 by Terence Rattigan based on an incident involving George Archer-Shee in the Edwardian era. The incident took place at the Royal Naval College, Osborne. Background Set against the strict c ...

'' (2012), in which he played Arthur Winslow. Various theatres. He won a Manchester Theatre Award for this role. * ''Good Grief'' (2012), in which he played The Suit, Kings Theatre, Edinburgh and various other theatres. * ''The Stepmother'' (2013) by Githa Sowerby in which he played Eustace Gaydon, Orange Tree Theatre Richmond. * ''The Man Who Pays the Piper'' (2013) by G.B. Stern in which he played Dr Fairley, Orange Tree Theatre ,Richmond. * ''Dances of Death'' (2013) by Strindberg in which he played Kurt, Gate Theatre London. * ''Storm in a Flower Vase'' (2013) by Anton Burge in which he played Shav, Arts Theatre, London. * '' The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith'' (2014) by Arthur Wing Pinero in which he played Duke of St Olpherts, Jermyn Street Theatre London. * ''The Cocktail Party'' (2015) by T.S. Eliot in which he played Alex, The Print Room, London. * ''High Society'' (2015) Old Vic Theatre, London. * ''The Humble Boy'' (2018) by Charlotte Jones in which he played Jim, Orange Tree Theatre ,Richmond.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ravenscroft, Christopher 1946 births Living people English male television actors English male stage actors