Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Michael Kitchen

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Years active
  
1971–present

Spouse
  
Rowena Miller (m. 1988)

Nationality
  
British


Role
  
Actor

Name
  
Michael Kitchen

Siblings
  
Jeffrey Kitchen

Michael Kitchen in fierce look while wearing a black sleeve

Full Name
  
Michael R. Kitchen

Born
  
31 October 1948 (age 75) (
1948-10-31
)

Occupation
  
Actor, television producer

Parents
  
Arthur Ernest Kitchen, Elsie Betty Kitchen

Movies and TV shows
  
Similar People
  
Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell, Julian Ovenden, Anthony Horowitz, Simon Curtis

Michael kitchen


Michael Kitchen (born 31 October 1948) is an English actor and television producer, best known for his role as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in the ITV drama series Foyle's War 2002 until 2015. He also played the role of Bill Tanner in two James Bond films and John Farrow in BBC Four's comedy series Brian Pern.

Contents

Michael Kitchen in fierce look while wearing a black sleeve

the guilty michael kitchen 1 7


Early life

Michael Kitchen sitting and talking while wearing a black suit and white long sleeve

Kitchen was born in Leicester, Leicestershire. As a young boy (circa 1960) he was head chorister in the Church of the Martyrs choir, where he was a regular soloist. He attended the City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School, where he appeared on stage in a production of Cymbeline. He worked with the National Youth Theatre and the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1969, while still at RADA, he won the "Emile Littler Award" for 'outstanding talent and aptitude for the professional theatre'.

Television and film

Michael Kitchen smiles while wearing a gray suit, black necktie, and white long sleeve outdoor

Kitchen was discovered at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) by talent agent Peter Froggatt of Plant & Froggatt Ltd. In the early 1970s, Kitchen appeared in small roles in films such as Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971) and the Hammer film Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) before becoming a fixture of British television. His early TV appearances include roles in Play for Today (Hell's Angels by David Agnew, 1971), Thriller, The Brontes of Haworth 1973 in which he played Branwell Bronte. Tales of the Unexpected and Beasts. He then played the role of Martin in the original 1976 production of Dennis Potter's Brimstone and Treacle, Peter in Stephen Poliakoff's Caught on a Train, Edmund in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of King Lear, the Antipholi in the same series' production of The Comedy of Errors, Private Bamforth in the 1979 BBC television play of The Long and the Short and the Tall, Larner in the film Breaking Glass (1980), Rochus Misch in The Bunker (1981), Berkeley Cole in the film Out of Africa (1985), the King of the United Kingdom in To Play the King (1993), an English land agent during the Irish Famine in The Hanging Gale (1995), and a recurring role as Bill Tanner in the Pierce Brosnan Bond films GoldenEye (1995) and The World Is Not Enough (1999). His later films include The Russia House (1990), Fools of Fortune (1990), Enchanted April (1992), The Trial (1993), Fatherland (1994), Doomsday Gun (1994), The Hanging Gale (1995), Kidnapped (1995), Mrs Dalloway (1997), The Railway Children (2000), Proof of Life (2000), Lorna Doone (2001) and My Week with Marilyn (2011).

Michael Kitchen in fierce look while wearing a white long sleeve in black and white

From 2002 to 2015, Kitchen starred in the ITV mystery-drama Foyle's War as the lead character, DCS Christopher Foyle. He was also a producer for the show.

Other noted appearances include The Buccaneers as Sir Helmsley Thwaite (1995), Dandelion Dead (1994), A Royal Scandal (1996), The Last Contract (Sista Kontraktet,1998) a Swedish film about the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme, Paul Abbott's Alibi in 2003, Andrew Davies' dramatisation of Falling in 2005, ITV's three-part drama series Mobile (2007) and Channel 4's phone hacking comedy Hacks (2012). He has guest-starred in roles in other popular British television shows such as The Professionals, Minder, Chancer, Inspector Morse, A Touch of Frost, Between the Lines, Pie in the Sky and Dalziel and Pascoe.

Kitchen played Richard Crane in Reckless and John Farrow in the mockumentary The Life of Rock with Brian Pern.

Theatre

Kitchen is also a noted actor in British theatre. His roles have ranged from Ptolemy in Caesar and Cleopatra at the Belgrade Theatre in 1966 to Will in Howard Brenton's Magnificence at the Royal Court in 1973 to William Hogarth in Nick Dear's The Art of Success in 1986–87.

He played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet for the RSC at Stratford and was a member of the National Theatre Company and the Young Vic, where he played Iago in Othello. In 1974 he appeared at Laurence Olivier's National Theatre in the play Spring Awakening opposite Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Beryl Reid and Cyril Cusack. Later he appeared opposite Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, directed by Peter Hall. In 1981 he played Melchior, the manservant of Zangler, in Tom Stoppard's play On the Razzle. In 1984 he played the cabin steward Dvornicheck in Tom Stoppard's play Rough Crossing.

Filmography

Actor
2020
The Kemps: All True (TV Movie) as
Harvey Stickles
2017
Brian Pern: A Tribute (TV Movie) as
John Farrow
2016
The Collection (TV Series) as
Frederic Lemaire
- The Scent (2016) - Frederic Lemaire
2014
The Life of Rock with Brian Pern (TV Series) as
John Farrow
- The Thotch Reunion (2016) - John Farrow
- Festivals and Fans (2016) - John Farrow
- Bi-Polar Polar Bear Aid (2014) - John Farrow
- The Day of the Triffids (2014) - John Farrow
- Jukebox Musical (2014) - John Farrow
- Death of Rock (2014) - John Farrow
- Middle Age of Rock (2014) - John Farrow
- Birth of Rock (2014) - John Farrow
2002
Foyle's War (TV Series) as
Christopher Foyle
- Elise (2015) - Christopher Foyle
- Trespass (2015) - Christopher Foyle
- High Castle (2015) - Christopher Foyle
- Sunflower (2013) - Christopher Foyle
- The Cage (2013) - Christopher Foyle
- The Eternity Ring (2013) - Christopher Foyle
- The Hide (2010) - Christopher Foyle
- Killing Time (2010) - Christopher Foyle
- The Russian House (2010) - Christopher Foyle
- All Clear (2008) - Christopher Foyle
- Broken Souls (2008) - Christopher Foyle
- Plan of Attack (2008) - Christopher Foyle
- Casualties of War (2007) - Christopher Foyle
- Bleak Midwinter (2007) - Christopher Foyle
- Bad Blood (2006) - Christopher Foyle
- Invasion (2006) - Christopher Foyle
- A War of Nerves (2004) - Christopher Foyle
- They Fought in the Fields (2004) - Christopher Foyle
- Enemy Fire (2004) - Christopher Foyle
- The French Drop (2004) - Christopher Foyle
- The Funk Hole (2003) - Christopher Foyle
- War Games (2003) - Christopher Foyle
- Among the Few (2003) - Christopher Foyle
- Fifty Ships (2003) - Christopher Foyle
- Eagle Day (2002) - Christopher Foyle
- A Lesson in Murder (2002) - Christopher Foyle
- The White Feather (2002) - Christopher Foyle
- The German Woman (2002) - Christopher Foyle
2013
Clowning Around (Short) as
Clive Davies Head of Clowns UK (voice)
2012
White Heat (TV Mini Series) as
Jack (Present Day)
- The Sea of Trees (2012) - Jack (Present Day)
2012
Hacks (TV Movie) as
Stanhope Feast
2011
My Week with Marilyn as
Hugh Perceval
2007
Mobile (TV Mini Series) as
David West
- The Boss (2007) - David West
- The Soldier (2007) - David West (uncredited)
- The Engineer (2007) - David West
2005
Falling (TV Movie) as
Henry Kent
2003
Crisis (Short) as
Dr. Adams
2003
Alibi (TV Movie) as
Greg Brentwood
2001
Always and Everyone (TV Series) as
Jack Turner
- The Last Will and Testament of Robert Kingsford (2002) - Jack Turner
- Death of an Everyday Occurance (2002) - Jack Turner
- Out of Time (2002) - Jack Turner
- The Protege (2002) - Jack Turner
- A New Breed (2002) - Jack Turner
2000
Second Sight: Parasomnia (TV Movie) as
Bruce Roddam
2000
Lorna Doone (TV Movie) as
Judge Jeffreys
2000
Proof of Life as
Ian Havery
2000
New Year's Day as
Robin
2000
The Secret World of Michael Fry (TV Mini Series) as
Herbie
- Episode #1.2 (2000) - Herbie
- Episode #1.1 (2000) - Herbie
2000
The Holocaust on Trial (TV Movie documentary) as
Prof. Richard Evans
2000
Masterpiece (TV Series) as
Father
- The Railway Children (2000) - Father
2000
The Railway Children (TV Movie) as
Father
1999
Oliver Twist (TV Mini Series) as
Mr Brownlow
- In Which All Is Revealed- (1999) - Mr Brownlow
- Wherein Oliver Is Educated by His Friend Fagin and Delivered Over to Mr. William Sikes (1999) - Mr Brownlow
- Containing Fresh Discoveries, and Shewing That Surprises, Like Misfortunes, Seldom Come Alone (1999) - Mr Brownlow
- Wherein It Is Shewn How Oliver Twist Came to Be Born in Such Sad Circumstances (1999) - Mr Brownlow
1999
The World Is Not Enough as
Tanner
1998
Dalziel and Pascoe (TV Series) as
Philip Swain
- Bones and Silence (1998) - Philip Swain
1998
Reckless: The Sequel (TV Movie) as
Richard Crane
1998
The Last Contract as
Ray Lambert
1997
A Royal Scandal (TV Movie) as
Lord Malmesbury
1997
Mrs Dalloway as
Peter Walsh
1997
Sunnyside Farm (TV Series) as
Letchworth
- He's Heavy, He's My Brother (1997) - Letchworth
- The Madness (1997) - Letchworth
- God Has Smiled Down on Me (1997) - Letchworth
- Home and Away with the Neighbours (1997) - Letchworth
- A Rare Visitor (1997) - Letchworth
- Dracula and a Woman (1997) - Letchworth
1997
Reckless (TV Mini Series) as
Richard Crane
- Episode #1.6 (1997) - Richard Crane
- Episode #1.5 (1997) - Richard Crane
- Episode #1.4 (1997) - Richard Crane
- Episode #1.3 (1997) - Richard Crane
- Episode #1.2 (1997) - Richard Crane
- Episode #1.1 (1997) - Richard Crane
1997
Harry Enfield and Chums (TV Series) as
David the Director
- Episode #2.6 (1997) - David the Director
1996
Wilderness (TV Mini Series) as
Luther Adams
- Episode #1.2 (1996) - Luther Adams
- Episode #1.1 (1996) - Luther Adams
1996
A Touch of Frost (TV Series) as
Jonathan Meyerbridge
- The Things We Do for Love (1996) - Jonathan Meyerbridge
1994
Pie in the Sky (TV Series) as
Dudley Hooperman
- Money Talks (1995) - Dudley Hooperman
- The Best of Both Worlds (1994) - Dudley Hooperman
1995
Biography (TV Series documentary) as
Narrator
- The Gettys: A Tragedy of Riches (1995) - Narrator
1995
GoldenEye as
Bill Tanner
1995
Kidnapped (TV Movie) as
William Reid
1995
The Hanging Gale (TV Mini Series) as
Captain William Townsend
- Episode #1.4 (1995) - Captain William Townsend
- Episode #1.3 (1995) - Captain William Townsend
- Episode #1.2 (1995) - Captain William Townsend
- Episode #1.1 (1995) - Captain William Townsend
1995
The Buccaneers (TV Mini Series) as
Sir Helmsley Thwaite
- Plunder (1995) - Sir Helmsley Thwaite
- Capture (1995) - Sir Helmsley Thwaite
- Ambush (1995) - Sir Helmsley Thwaite
- Conquest (1995) - Sir Helmsley Thwaite
- Invasion (1995) - Sir Helmsley Thwaite
1995
Dirty Old Town (TV Movie) as
Jeremy Swain
1994
Dandelion Dead (TV Mini Series) as
Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong
- Episode #1.4 (1994) - Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong
- Episode #1.3 (1994) - Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong
- Episode #1.2 (1994) - Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong
- Episode #1.1 (1994) - Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong
1992
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (TV Series) as
Polixenes / Narrator
- The Winter's Tale (1994) - Polixenes (voice)
- Hamlet (1992) - Narrator (voice)
1994
Fatherland (TV Movie) as
Jaeger
1994
Doomsday Gun (TV Movie) as
Doctor Christopher Cowley
1993
To Play the King (TV Mini Series) as
King
- Episode #1.4 (1993) - King
- Episode #1.3 (1993) - King
- Episode #1.2 (1993) - King
- Episode #1.1 (1993) - King
1993
Between the Lines (TV Series) as
Roger Boshier
- The Fifth Estate (1993) - Roger Boshier
1993
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV Series) as
Lloyd George
- Paris, May 1919 (1993) - Lloyd George
1993
The Trial as
Block
1993
The Good Guys (TV Series) as
Graham Croxley
- Old School Ties (1993) - Graham Croxley
1992
Boon (TV Series) as
Donald Blake
- Shot in the Dark (1992) - Donald Blake
1992
The Guilty (TV Movie) as
Steven Vey
1992
Hostage as
Fredericks
1992
Inspector Morse (TV Series) as
Russell Clark
- The Death of the Self (1992) - Russell Clark
1992
The Advocates (TV Series) as
James McCandlish
- Episode #2.3 (1992) - James McCandlish
- Episode #2.2 (1992) - James McCandlish
- Episode #2.1 (1992) - James McCandlish
1992
Lovejoy (TV Series) as
David Herbert
- Kids (1992) - David Herbert
1991
Stay Lucky (TV Series) as
Ray Monk
- Shingle Beach (1991) - Ray Monk
1991
Enchanted April as
George Briggs
1991
Chancer (TV Series) as
Roman
- Sacrifice (1991) - Roman
- Fall (1991) - Roman
1991
The War That Never Ends (TV Movie) as
2nd Athenian Representative
1990
The Russia House as
Clive
1990
Fools of Fortune as
Mr. Quinton
1989
Ball-Trap on the Cote Sauvage (TV Movie) as
Smiley Face
1989
Crossing to Freedom (TV Movie) as
Major Diessen
1989
Screen One (TV Series) as
Bill English
- Home Run (1989) - Bill English
1989
Dykket as
Bricks
1989
Theatre Night (TV Series) as
David
- Benefactors (1989) - David
1989
The Justice Game (TV Series) as
Tim Forsythe
- Episode #1.4 (1989) - Tim Forsythe
- Episode #1.3 (1989) - Tim Forsythe
- Episode #1.2 (1989) - Tim Forsythe
- Episode #1.1 (1989) - Tim Forsythe
1989
Minder (TV Series) as
Maltese Tony
- Fiddler on the Hoof (1989) - Maltese Tony
1985
The Browning Version (TV Movie) as
Frank Hunter
1985
Out of Africa as
Berkeley
1985
Love Song (TV Movie) as
William Hatchard
1984
Freud (TV Mini Series) as
Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow
- The World as Dream (1984) - Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow
- The Secret of Dreams (1984) - Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow
- In the Name of the Gods (1984) - Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow
1984
Weekend Playhouse (TV Series) as
Ed
- As Man and Wife (1984) - Ed
1984
Still Life (TV Movie) as
Bob
1983
The Comedy of Errors (TV Movie) as
Antipholus of Ephesus / Antipholus of Syracuse
1983
BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) as
Acaste
- The Misanthrope (1983) - Acaste
1982
King Lear (TV Movie) as
Edmund
1971
Play for Today (TV Series) as
Stephen / Alan / Dick Foster
- A Room for the Winter (1981) - Stephen
- The Reporters (1972) - Alan
- Hell's Angel (1971) - Dick Foster
1981
Towards the Morning (Short)
1981
Maybury (TV Series) as
Martin Charlton
- Indoor Games (1981) - Martin Charlton
1981
The Long and the Short and the Tall (TV Movie) as
Pte. Bamforth
1981
Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) as
Arthur
- The Best of Everything (1981) - Arthur
1981
The Bunker (TV Movie) as
Rochus Misch
1979
BBC2 Playhouse (TV Series) as
Peter / Rose S.J.
- Caught on a Train (1980) - Peter
- School Play (1979) - Rose S.J.
1980
Bedroom Farce (TV Movie) as
Nick
1980
Lady Killers (TV Series) as
Reverend Father M'Enery
- Not for the Nervous (1980) - Reverend Father M'Enery
1980
Breaking Glass as
Larner
1980
Festival: The Misanthrope (TV Movie) as
Acaste
1979
The Professionals (TV Series) as
Duffy
- Runner (1979) - Duffy
1978
No Man's Land (TV Movie) as
Foster
1977
Romance (TV Series) as
Maurice Rossiter
- House of Men (1977) - Maurice Rossiter
1976
A Divorce (TV Movie) as
Laurence
1976
Brimstone and Treacle (TV Movie) as
Martin Taylor
1976
Beasts (TV Mini Series) as
Bob Curry
- What Big Eyes (1976) - Bob Curry
1976
ITV Sunday Night Drama (TV Series) as
Ken
- Enemy (1976) - Ken
1974
Thriller (TV Series) as
Ian / George Newton
- Sleepwalker (1976) - Ian
- Once the Killing Starts (1974) - George Newton
1975
Centre Play (TV Series) as
The Student
- The Imp of the Perverse (1975) - The Student
1975
Savages (TV Movie) as
Carlos Esquerdo
1975
Churchill's People (TV Series) as
John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
- A Bill of Mortality (1975) - John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
1975
The Wide World of Mystery (TV Series) as
George Newton
- Once the Killing Starts (1975) - George Newton
1974
The Early Life of Stephen Hind (TV Series) as
Stephen Hind
- Episode #1.3 (1974) - Stephen Hind
- Episode #1.2 (1974) - Stephen Hind
- Episode #1.1 (1974) - Stephen Hind
1974
ITV Playhouse (TV Series) as
Tommy
- A Kind of Bonus (1974) - Tommy
1974
Seven Faces of Woman (TV Series) as
Archie
- St Martin's Summer (1974) - Archie
1974
Fall of Eagles (TV Mini Series) as
Trotsky
- Absolute Beginners (1974) - Trotsky
- The Last Tsar (1974) - Trotsky (uncredited)
1974
Jackanory Playhouse (TV Series) as
King Thrushbeard
- King Thrushbeard and the Proud Princess (1974) - King Thrushbeard
1973
Marked Personal (TV Series) as
Simon
- Episode #1.12 (1973) - Simon
- Episode #1.11 (1973) - Simon
1973
Love Story (TV Series) as
Roy
- Audrey Had a Little Lamb (1973) - Roy
1973
Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (TV Series) as
Herbert White
- The Monkey's Paw (1973) - Herbert White
1973
The Brontës of Haworth (TV Mini Series) as
Branwell Brontë
- Rewarding Destiny (1973) - Branwell Brontë
- Delusion's Song (1973) - Branwell Brontë
- Home and Abroad (1973) - Branwell Brontë
- The Little King (1973) - Branwell Brontë
1973
Crime of Passion (TV Series) as
Philippe Villon
- Chantal (1973) - Philippe Villon
1973
Late Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Paul
- Susan (1973) - Paul
1973
Country Matters (TV Series) as
Henry Batley
- The Four Beauties (1973) - Henry Batley
1972
New Scotland Yard (TV Series) as
Peter Coppard
- Hoax (1972) - Peter Coppard
1972
ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series)
- The Web (1972)
1972
Dracula A.D. 1972 as
Greg
1971
Unman, Wittering and Zigo as
Bungabine
1971
Z Cars (TV Series) as
Ray Hall
- Hold Up: Part 2 (1971) - Ray Hall
- Hold Up: Part 1 (1971) - Ray Hall
1971
Man at the Top (TV Series) as
Trevor
- The Prime of Life (1971) - Trevor
1970
Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) as
Waller
- Is That Your Body, Boy? (1970) - Waller
Producer
2003
Foyle's War (TV Series) (consultant producer - 24 episodes)
- Elise (2015) - (consultant producer)
- Trespass (2015) - (consultant producer)
- High Castle (2015) - (consultant producer)
- Sunflower (2013) - (consultant producer)
- The Cage (2013) - (consultant producer)
- The Eternity Ring (2013) - (consultant producer)
- The Hide (2010) - (consultant producer)
- Killing Time (2010) - (consultant producer)
- The Russian House (2010) - (consultant producer)
- All Clear (2008) - (consultant producer)
- Broken Souls (2008) - (consultant producer)
- Plan of Attack (2008) - (consultant producer)
- Casualties of War (2007) - (consultant producer)
- Bleak Midwinter (2007) - (consultant producer)
- Bad Blood (2006) - (consultant producer)
- Invasion (2006) - (consultant producer)
- A War of Nerves (2004) - (consultant producer)
- They Fought in the Fields (2004) - (consultant producer)
- Enemy Fire (2004) - (consultant producer)
- The French Drop (2004) - (consultant producer)
- The Funk Hole (2003) - (consultant producer)
- War Games (2003) - (consultant producer)
- Among the Few (2003) - (consultant producer)
- Fifty Ships (2003) - (consultant producer)
Self
2003
Faking It (TV Series) as
Self - Narrator / Narrator
- Burlesque Special (2006) - Narrator
- Faking it- as a Stuntman (2003) - Self - Narrator (voice)
- Emergency Operator to Live TV Director (2003) - Self - Narrator (voice)
2003
Faking It (TV Series) as
Narrator (2003)
2001
Hitler's Fixer (TV Movie documentary) as
Narrator
2001
Adolf & Eva (TV Movie documentary) as
Narrator (voice)
2000
A History of Britain (TV Series documentary) as
Reader / Reading
- King Death (2000) - (voice)
- Nations (2000) - (voice)
- Conquest! (2000) - Reader (voice)
- Beginnings (2000) - Reading (voice)
1996
Modern Times (TV Series documentary) as
Narrator
- The Power and the Glory (1996) - Narrator
1995
Network First (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Narrator
- Gettys - A Tragedy of Riches: Part 2 (1995) - Self - Narrator (voice)
- Gettys - A Tragedy of Riches: Part 1 (1995) - Self - Narrator (voice)
1993
Hell in the Pacific (Documentary) as
Narrator
1981
The South Bank Show (TV Series documentary) as
Creation Performer
- Gore Vidal (1981) - Creation Performer
Archive Footage
2020
Britain's Favourite Detective (TV Special documentary) as
DCS Christopher Foyle (uncredited)
2018
Andrew Davies: Rewriting the Classics (Documentary) as
Smiley Face (uncredited)
2010
The People's Detective (TV Series documentary) as
Det. Supt. Christopher Foyle
- Wexford/Foyle (2010) - Det. Supt. Christopher Foyle
2000
The World Is Not Enough (Video Game) as
Chief of Staff Bill Tanner (uncredited)
2000
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Winds of Change (Video) as
Lloyd George
1999
Tomorrow's World (TV Series documentary)
- Bond & Beyond (1999)
1990
Washes Whiter (TV Series documentary) as
Midland Electricity Board commercial 1972 / Midland Electricity Board commercial
- The Getaway People (1990) - Midland Electricity Board commercial 1972 (uncredited)
- Big! Big! Big! (1990) - Midland Electricity Board commercial (uncredited)

References

Michael Kitchen Wikipedia