Simon Callow
Simon Phillip Hugh Callow CBE (born 15 June 1949) is an English actor. Known as a character actor on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including an Olivier Award and Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for two BAFTA Awards. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to acting by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. Callow rose to prominence originating the title role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the 1979 Peter Shaffer play Amadeus, for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination. Callow joined the Miloš Forman 1984 film adaptation, this time portraying Emanuel Schikaneder. In 1992, Callow won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical for Carmen Jones. As an actor, he won acclaim for his comedic roles in A Room with a View (1985) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) earning a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination for each. Other notable roles include in Maurice (1987), Howards End (1992), Shakespeare in Love (1998), and The Phantom of the Opera (2004). His television roles include Tom Chance in the Channel 4 series Chance in a Million (1984) and The Duke of Sandringham in the series Outlander from 2014 to 2016. He portrayed Napoleon in The Man of Destiny (1981), and Charles Dickens in numerous television projects. He has also appeared on numerous shows such as Midsomer Murders, Rome, Angels in America, Doctor Who, Galavant, Hawkeye, and The Witcher. Callow was born on 15 June 1949 in Streatham, South London, the son of Yvonne Mary (née Guise), a secretary and Neil Francis Callow, a businessman. His father was of French descent and his mother was of Danish and German ancestry. His father left when Simon was 18 months old, and he was brought up by his mother and grandmothers. He and his mother travelled to Northern Rhodesia (now called Zambia) when he was nine to try and reconcile with his father. This did not happen and Callow was sent for three years to boarding school in South Africa. He and his mother returned to Britain when he was twelve. He was raised as a Catholic. Callow was a student at the London Oratory School in West Brompton, and then went on to study briefly at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland, where he was active in the gay liberation movement.[5] He gave up his degree course after a year to take a three-year acting course at the Drama Centre London. He made his first film appearance in 1984 as Schikaneder in Amadeus. The following year, he appeared as the Reverend Mr Beebe in A Room with a View. His first television role was in the Carry On Laughing episode "Orgy and Bess" in 1975, but it was cut from the final print. He starred in several series of the Channel 4 situation comedy Chance in a Million, as Tom Chance, an eccentric individual to whom coincidences happened regularly. Roles like this and his part in Four Weddings and a Funeral brought him to a wider audience. Callow portrayed Pliny the Elder in CBBC's 2007 children's drama series, Roman Mysteries in the episode "The Secrets of Vesuvius". He played Armand Duquesne in Marvel's Hawkeye on Disney+.
Filmography
Eternal Return
as Malcolm
Eternal Return
as Malcolm
The Man with the Plan
as William Beveridge
The Man with the Plan
as William Beveridge
Amadeus: The Making of a Masterpiece
as Himself
Amadeus: The Making of a Masterpiece
as Himself
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
as Self
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
as Self
Aguska
as Patrick Carter
Aguska
as Patrick Carter
It's Christmas!
as Samuel
It's Christmas!
as Samuel
Alec Guinness: A Class Act
as self
Alec Guinness: A Class Act
as self
Merchant Ivory
as Self
Merchant Ivory
as Self
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2
as Cavendish
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2
as Cavendish
Dodger Special: Coronation
as Archbishop of Canterbury
Dodger Special: Coronation
as Archbishop of Canterbury
Murder Ballads: How to Make It in Rock 'n' Roll
as Richard O'Keefe
Murder Ballads: How to Make It in Rock 'n' Roll
as Richard O'Keefe
Doctor Jekyll
as Journalist
Doctor Jekyll
as Journalist
Surprised by Oxford
as Dr. Sterling
Surprised by Oxford
as Dr. Sterling
The Pay Day
as Gates
The Pay Day
as Gates
American: An Odyssey to 1947
as Self
American: An Odyssey to 1947
as Self
The Fringe, Fame and Me
as Self
The Fringe, Fame and Me
as Self
The Marvellous Maggie Smith: A Celebration
as Self
The Marvellous Maggie Smith: A Celebration
as Self
Judi Dench: Our National Treasure
as Narrator
Judi Dench: Our National Treasure
as Narrator
The Amazing Mr. Blunden
as Mr. Blunden
The Amazing Mr. Blunden
as Mr. Blunden
Alexander Pope: Rediscovering a Genius
as Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope: Rediscovering a Genius
as Alexander Pope
Nutcracker Delights: English National Ballet
as Narrator
Nutcracker Delights: English National Ballet
as Narrator
The Dead Room
as Aubrey Judd
The Dead Room
as Aubrey Judd
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
They'll Love Me When I'm Dead
as Self
They'll Love Me When I'm Dead
as Self
Blue Iguana
as Uncle Martin
Blue Iguana
as Uncle Martin
Born Silly
as Narrator (voice)
Born Silly
as Narrator (voice)
Grindsploitation 3: Video Nasty
Grindsploitation 3: Video Nasty
The Man Who Invented Christmas
as Leech
The Man Who Invented Christmas
as Leech
Victoria & Abdul
as Mr. Puccini
Victoria & Abdul
as Mr. Puccini
50 Years Legal
as Self
50 Years Legal
as Self
Hampstead
as Judge
Hampstead
as Judge
Viceroy's House
as Cyril Radcliffe
Viceroy's House
as Cyril Radcliffe
Mindhorn
as Himself
Mindhorn
as Himself
There's Something About Romcoms
as Self
There's Something About Romcoms
as Self
Golden Years
as Royston
Golden Years
as Royston
Creditors
Creditors
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
as Self - Narrator (voice)
The First Silent Night: The Christmas Carol That United the World
as Self - Host - Narrator
The First Silent Night: The Christmas Carol That United the World
as Self - Host - Narrator
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles
as Self - Actor and Welles' Biographer
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles
as Self - Actor and Welles' Biographer
Miss in Her Teens
as The Author
Miss in Her Teens
as The Author
The Sarah Millican Television Programme - Best of Series 1-2
as Self
The Sarah Millican Television Programme - Best of Series 1-2
as Self
Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story
as Dickie Attenborough
Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story
as Dickie Attenborough
Shakespeare's Sonnets
Shakespeare's Sonnets
Being Shakespeare
Being Shakespeare
Acts of Godfrey
as Godfrey
Acts of Godfrey
as Godfrey
The British Guide to Showing Off
as Self
The British Guide to Showing Off
as Self
Late Bloomers
as Richard
Late Bloomers
as Richard
Love's Kitchen
as Guy Witherspoon
Love's Kitchen
as Guy Witherspoon
Art of Freedom
as Self
Art of Freedom
as Self
Ice
as Prime Minister
Ice
as Prime Minister
The Unforgettable Harry Secombe
as Self
The Unforgettable Harry Secombe
as Self
Save Our Bacon
as The Swinesbury's Boss (voice)
Save Our Bacon
as The Swinesbury's Boss (voice)
Orson Welles Over Europe
as Self - Presenter
Orson Welles Over Europe
as Self - Presenter
Theatreland
as Self
Theatreland
as Self
Maggie Smith at the BBC: a portrait
as Self
Maggie Smith at the BBC: a portrait
as Self
Chemical Wedding
as Haddo
Chemical Wedding
as Haddo
Arn: The Knight Templar
as Father Henry
Arn: The Knight Templar
as Father Henry
Ripley Under Ground
as Dean Bentliffe
Ripley Under Ground
as Dean Bentliffe
Surveillance 24/7
as St John
Surveillance 24/7
as St John
How Gay Sex Changed the World
as Self
How Gay Sex Changed the World
as Self
Phantom of the Opera: Behind the Mask
as Self
Phantom of the Opera: Behind the Mask
as Self
The Madness of Boy George
as Narrator (voice)
The Madness of Boy George
as Narrator (voice)
Reviving Harry Lime
as Himself
Reviving Harry Lime
as Himself
The Curse of King Tut's Tomb
as George Russell
The Curse of King Tut's Tomb
as George Russell
Men of Mystery
as Himself
Men of Mystery
as Himself
A Tribute To Ismail Merchant
as Self (archive footage)
A Tribute To Ismail Merchant
as Self (archive footage)
Revisiting Brideshead
as Narrator
Revisiting Brideshead
as Narrator
Rag Tale
as Cormac Rourke
Rag Tale
as Cormac Rourke
The Best Man
as Big-Time Publisher
The Best Man
as Big-Time Publisher
The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
as Mr. Wroth
The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
as Mr. Wroth
Bob the Butler
as Mr. Butler
Bob the Butler
as Mr. Butler
The Phantom of the Opera
as Andre
The Phantom of the Opera
as Andre
George and the Dragon
as King Edgar
George and the Dragon
as King Edgar
Thank You, Doctor Rey
as Bob
Thank You, Doctor Rey
as Bob
Bright Young Things
as King of Anatolia
Bright Young Things
as King of Anatolia
Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens
as Galileo
Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens
as Galileo
The Mystery of Charles Dickens
as Charles Dickens
The Mystery of Charles Dickens
as Charles Dickens
Thunderpants
as Sir John Osgood
Thunderpants
as Sir John Osgood
Christmas Carol: The Movie
as Charles Dickens / Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
Christmas Carol: The Movie
as Charles Dickens / Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
No Man's Land
as Colonel Soft
No Man's Land
as Colonel Soft
Deadly Appearances
as Rick Spencer
Deadly Appearances
as Rick Spencer
Around The World In 80 Days
as Phileas Fogg (voice)
Around The World In 80 Days
as Phileas Fogg (voice)
Animated Epics: Don Quixote
as Don Quixote
Animated Epics: Don Quixote
as Don Quixote
Notting Hill
as Simon Callow (uncredited)
Notting Hill
as Simon Callow (uncredited)
Bedrooms and Hallways
as Keith
Bedrooms and Hallways
as Keith
The Scarlet Tunic
as Captain Fairfax
The Scarlet Tunic
as Captain Fairfax
The Woman In White
as Count Fosco
The Woman In White
as Count Fosco
Victory
as Zangiacomo
Victory
as Zangiacomo
Moses
as Meneptah II (voice)
Moses
as Meneptah II (voice)
James and the Giant Peach
as Grasshopper (voice)
James and the Giant Peach
as Grasshopper (voice)
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
as Vincent Cadby
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
as Vincent Cadby
Jefferson in Paris
as Richard Cosway
Jefferson in Paris
as Richard Cosway
England, My England
as Charles II
England, My England
as Charles II
Four Weddings and a Funeral
as Gareth
Four Weddings and a Funeral
as Gareth
Camp Christmas
Camp Christmas
Femme Fatale
as Vicar Ronnie
Femme Fatale
as Vicar Ronnie
Soft Top Hard Shoulder
as Eddie Cherdowski
Soft Top Hard Shoulder
as Eddie Cherdowski
Howards End
as Music and Meaning Lecturer (uncredited)
Howards End
as Music and Meaning Lecturer (uncredited)
The Trials of Oz
as John Mortimer
The Trials of Oz
as John Mortimer
The Crucifer of Blood
as Inspector Lestrade
The Crucifer of Blood
as Inspector Lestrade
Old Flames
as Nathanial Quass
Old Flames
as Nathanial Quass
Manifesto
as Police Chief Hunt
Manifesto
as Police Chief Hunt
The Reluctant Dragon
as Dragon (voice)
The Reluctant Dragon
as Dragon (voice)
Maurice
as Mr. Ducie
Maurice
as Mr. Ducie
Cariani and the Courtesans
as Raimondi
Cariani and the Courtesans
as Raimondi
The Christmas Tree
as Jacob Weinberg
The Christmas Tree
as Jacob Weinberg
A Room with a View
as The Reverend Mr. Beebe
A Room with a View
as The Reverend Mr. Beebe
Honour, Profit & Pleasure
as George Frideric Handel
Honour, Profit & Pleasure
as George Frideric Handel
The Man of Destiny
as Napoleon
The Man of Destiny
as Napoleon
Instant Enlightenment Including VAT
as Maximillian
Instant Enlightenment Including VAT
as Maximillian
The Reformation of Sister Edith
as Abbot Pentecost
The Reformation of Sister Edith
as Abbot Pentecost