Richard Shelton (actor)

Acting

With a long acting career spanning film, TV and theatre, Shelton was nominated as 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the hard-hitting drama, 'Rat Pack Confidential' in London's West End. Shelton has appeared as the series regular, Dr Adam Forsythe in one of the UK's most watched long-running drama's Emmerdale. In the US, Shelton has guest starred in 'House of Lies' and 'Jane the Virgin'. International movies include 'My Week with Marilyn', 'Joker Game', 'I Capture the Castle', 'iCommit', 'The Rehearsal' and 'Brash Young Turks' (nominated as Best Film, London Film Awards). In the multi award winning horror film, 'Do Not Disturb' Shelton received two nominations as 'Best Supporting Actor' from the London Horror Film Awards and the Chicago Horror Film Awards.

Film and TV

Shelton is best known to audiences in the US for his portrayal of Mr Benson in House of Lies (Showtime) starring Don Cheadle. In the UK, Shelton is a household name after playing the charmingly murderous Dr Adam Forsythe between 2005 and 2006 in the long-running drama Emmerdale on British TV. His confused character, Adam, was welcomed into the community, where he charmed them and cared for his long-suffering wife, Stephanie Stokes, played by Lorraine Chase. In the most-watched episode on British TV at the time, Adam murdered his brother-in-law and was caught trying to escape, which led to his arrest and ultimate demise.

Shelton also played Inspector Rossi in Eastenders (BBC) and Nick in Family Affairs.

Shelton's film work includes playing Monsieur Harvey in the Academy Award-nominated film My Week with Marilyn (Harvey Weinstein), the Crooner in I Capture the Castle, Nick in The Wrong Stuff starring Josh Duhamel, Leonardo in Checkmate, Dr Fulton in Stuck, Conrad Holmes in Brash Young Turks, Howard Marks in the WW2 Japanese cult movie Joker Game, Trigorin in The Rehearsal and Nick in Swinging with the Finkles. His very first film acting role was as the embodiment of death in the 1980s low-budget classic Dance of Death, in which he played a mysterious and evil black-hatted dancer whose appearance and subsequent scary dance resulted in the rapid death of whomsoever witnessed it, in the style of 'The Ring'.

Theatre

Shelton's Best Actor in a Leading Role-nominated performance as Frank Sinatra in Rat Pack Confidential, (West End, London) brought him to the attention of the British nation. Shelton's expansive theatre credits include Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar, Launcelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice, Sebastian in The Tempest at the Bridewell Theatre, London, where Shelton was a co-founder. Shelton's break-through role was as Young Scrooge in Scrooge the Musical at the Dominion Theatre (London, West End and international tour) playing opposite Academy Award winner Anthony Newley as Old Scrooge. Shelton also played the title role of Jumping Jack Flash in the rock musical Carnaby Street (Arts Theatre, West End, London). Other roles include Sandy MacKendrik in Whisky Galore (Nottingham Playhouse/UK Tour), Harry Bright in Mamma Mia (international tour) when he performed for His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, Captain Compass in The Magic Boat (Polka Theatre), Teddy Bompass in How She Lied to Her Husband (Edinburgh International Fringe Festival), Tim in Last Time a King (La Bonne Crepe) and Hindlay in the international tour of Wuthering Heights. Shelton took his sell-out one-man show iCroon to the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival for two consecutive years.

Music

Shelton is quoted as saying "Music is my passion. A life without music is inconceivable to me."

As a solo artist, Shelton recorded his most recent album An Englishman in Love in L.A. at the world famous Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, featuring 13-tracks including the title track by 'BBC Young Composer of the Year' Alex Rudd and lyrics by Jenifer Toksvig. Other songs include the original ballad "Over Like the Roses" by Martin Newell, a ballad version of "It's Not Unusual", "Smile", "Young at Heart" and "She Loves Me".

Shelton also recorded his album Top Cat at London's Abbey Road with a 65-piece orchestra featuring classics including 'My Way', 'From Russia with Love', 'Bring Me Sunshine' and original songs 'Grenadine and Blue' and 'Autumn in Soho Square' by Martin Newell.

Shelton has performed by Royal Command for Prince Charles at Windsor Castle, Sir Elton John at the White Tie and Tiara Ball, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Colliseum Theatre in London, home of the English National Opera, the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Big Band on Friday Night is Music Night, headlined at the world famous jazz club Ronnie Scott's in London and countless live national and international TV and radio performances. Shelton's impression of Neil Diamond in Celebrity Stars in their Eyes was one of the most watched Christmas shows on TV.

Frank Sinatra

Shelton is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading interpreters of Frank Sinatra. Following his acclaimed performance in Rat Pack Confidential, he has performed with orchestras and bands across the world, evoking the charisma and musicality of one of the world's greatest icons.

Following his sell-out The Main Event concert at London's Cadogan Hall with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Shelton is producing a festival of music called A Very Good Year with the US Grant Hotel, San Diego in June 2015 celebrating the centenary of Sinatra's birth by presenting three evenings of Sinatra music. In Behind Those Blue Eyes Shelton is joined by Sinatra's musicians including Mike Lang (piano), Chuck Berghoefer (bass) and Gregg Field (drums) and in a masterclass session, Shelton presents what it takes to 'become' one of the greatest singers and an Academy Award winning actor while the musicians discuss what it was like to work alongside Sinatra and other greats. The second evening Franks Way focuses on the saloon music of Sinatra. The Main Event-Our Way is a 16-piece big band special and recreates the energy of Sinatra's post-retirement comeback show at Madison Square Garden, New York in 1974.

In August 2016, Shelton produced and starred in the critically acclaimed, 4 and 5-star reviewed sell-out show, 'Sinatra and Me' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Interwoven with song, the show examines the 20 incredible synchronicity's between him and Frank Sinatra.

Awards

Critics

Charity

Shelton is a tireless fundraiser for breast cancer charities, since his mother died of the condition when he was 12 years old. Shelton has sung with the BBC Big Band and BBC Concert Orchestra for the Moon Walk Breast Cancer Charity in London's Hyde Park and for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and 'Tickled Pink'. He also organised a big-band fundraiser event for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, raising tens of thousands of pounds. His connection to MND is through his step-mother, who was living with the condition until 2006.

Early life

The son of a self-made builders merchant from Wolverhampton in the middle of England, Shelton's early show-business interests were forbidden and he was instructed to 'get a trade'. Shelton trained in international hotel management and before becoming an actor, Shelton had a very successful hotel career, eventually working as commercial director of sales at InterContinental Hotels.

Other

Shelton also writes motivational workshops for clients, including Microsoft, Corus (British Steel), InterContinental Hotels Group and has presented many corporate events nationally and abroad. He recently wrote and directed an adaptation on a Harry Potter theme for the world-leading pharmaceutical company Phadia.