Rudolph Walker
Biography
Rudolph Walker is a Trinidadian-British actor who was born in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago and started acting as a child, joining Derek Walcott's theater workshop in Trinidad. He left Trinidad at 21 and went to Britain, where his earliest television role was a policeman in a 1965 episode of The Wednesday Play. He became one of the first Black actors regularly seen on British television, known for comedic roles in Love Thy Neighbour, which ran from 1972 to 1976, The Thin Blue Line, and Ali G Indahouse. His other credits include Doctor Who, On the Buses, Mr. Bean, Black Silk, and the films 10 Rillington Place, King Ralph (1991), Bhaji on the Beach (1993), and Let Him Have It. Since 2001 he has played Patrick Trueman in EastEnders, winning a British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2018. He also provided voice work for Teletubbies and appeared in stage productions of Play Mas and Othello.
87years old
Turns 88 on September 28in 350 days
- Born Trinidad and Tobago
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as Rudolph Malcolm Walker
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 23 years1970 to 1993
Every film, newest first
- 1993Bhaji on the BeachIMDb rating 6.4
- 1991King RalphIMDb rating 5.4
- 1973A Warm DecemberIMDb rating 6.2
- 1970All the Right NoisesIMDb rating 6.1
Genres
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Early training
Walker joined Derek Walcott's Trinidad Theatre Workshop as its youngest member, after starting to act at age eight in primary school.
A change of course
Walker planned to move to the United States, but actor Errol John, then in Trinidad doing a play, persuaded him to go to Britain instead because the training there was thought better.
First role
In the episode "Fable" of the British series The Wednesday Play, which aired 27 January 1965, Walker played a policeman, marking his earliest television role.
Beyond film
Walker took the title role in Shakespeare's Othello on stage, working with directors David Thacker and Charles Marowitz. He also played Caliban in The Tempest, directed by Jonathan Miller.
Behind the camera
Walker launched The Rudolph Walker Foundation on his 70th birthday to help disadvantaged youths starting out in entertainment, and it runs a drama award contested by London schools.
Rudolph Walker movies on Netflix
Worked with
Rudolph Walker made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Goodman's page
John Hurt's page
Marianne Stone's page
Peter O'Toole's page
Joely Richardson's page
Sidney Poitier's page
David S. WardDirector, 1 film, 1991
All films by David S. Ward
Gurinder ChadhaDirector, 1 film, 1993
All films by Gurinder Chadha
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.