- Eldred Worple Character Guide - July 11, 2022
- Julie Walters Bio - July 5, 2022
- Rupert Grint Bio - July 4, 2022
Timothy Spall is a British actor born in 1957. He is a well-known personality for playing many different roles in his career. One of his most notable is Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter series.
He became a household name in Britain in 1983 after his role in the comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. As well as acting, Spall has also directed six movies of his own.
During this bio, you will learn everything you need to know about the man behind Scabbers.
I will tell you about his family life, personal hobbies, movies you may not know he starred in, and much more.
Timothy Spall Quick Facts
Full Name | Timothy Leonard Spall |
Birth Date | 27th of February 1957 |
Birth Place | Battersea, London |
Nick Name | Unknown |
Nationality | British |
Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
Siblings | Richard Spall (Brother) Matthew Spall (Brother) |
Children | Rafe Spall (Son) Pascelle Spall (Daughter) Mercedes Spall (Daughter) |
Partner / Spouse | Shane Spall (Wife) |
Highest Grossing Movies (top 5) | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow: Part One – $1,328,766,590 Alice in Wonderland – $1,025,491,110 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two: $952,601,389 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: $929,411,069 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: $886,746,240 |
Salary | Unknown |
Net Worth | $4 Million |
Social Media | No know social media account |
Awards Won | 1999 – Best Actor 2002 – NBR Awards 2010 – Best Actor Ensemble in a Motion Picture 2011 – Best Actor 2014 – Best Actor 2015 – Best Actor 2016 – Outstanding Achievement 2017 – Festival Prize 2019 – Best Actor 2021 – Best Actor |
Last Updated | June 2022 |
Timothy Spall Birthplace
Spall was born in Battersea. A large district in London.
Timothy Spall Parents
Timothy was born to his mother, Sylvia R., a hairdresser, and his father, Joseph Spall, a postal worker.
Timothy Spall Early Life
There isn’t much information available to the public about Timothy’s early life. Maybe he’s a very private person. What we know is that he attended National Youth Theater and RADA. He was awarded the prestigious Bancroft Gold Medal as the most promising actor in his year group.
Timothy Spall Professional Career
Spall first began his acting career in the theater. He performed in shows such as The Merchant, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Three Sisters, The Knights of the Burning Pestle, and St Joan.
In 1973, he made his film debut in Quadrophenia though I don’t think he was widely recognized for this role. He first became a name on people’s screens when he played the awkward character Barry Taylor in all of the series episodes of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He also played Kevin in Outside Edge and Aubrey, the terrible chef in Life is Sweet.
Since he became a well-known actor, he has had many other roles, and he has been in Crusoe, Secret,s, and Lies Shooting the Past, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The King’s Speech, The Last Samurai, All or Nothing, Rock Star, Topsy-Turvy, Vanilla Sky and Shooting the Past.
In 1991, Spall was a guest star in the series Red Dwarf, and in 1993, he appeared in a Scottish comedy series called Rab C. Nesbitt.
For the 1986 movie, Gothic, Timothy performed the lead vocals with the song “The Devil is an Englishman” (2). In the film, he also portrayed the character of John William Polidori.
In 2004, Timothy received an OBE in the 2000 New Year Honors (1)
For the 1986 movie, Gothic, Timothy performed the lead vocals with the song “The Devil is an Englishman” (2). In the film, he also portrayed the character of John William Polidori.
In 2004, we saw Peter Pettigrew for the first time (well, that we knew of). He had been in the movies previously, but instead of being played by Spall, he was a rat.
In 2005, he starred as Albert Pierrepoint in Pierrepoint, also known as The Lasthangman.
He had a slight change in roles in 2006, when he did the voice of Phil Collins’ manager, Barry Micklethwaite, in the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
In 2007, Spall starred as Nathaniel in the live-action Disney movie, Enchanted, and then in the same year, he worked alongside Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman in the musical production from Tim Burton, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (3) (another of my personal favorites, though Spall’s character creeps me out big time)
In 2009, he portrayed Georgie Godwin in a British TV drama called The Fattest Man in Britain. This also starred Jeremy Kyle and received high-praised reviews. (4)
In 2010, he had the honored role of Winston Churchill in the movie, The Kings Speech, which is where he shared the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
In 2012, Spall had a role in the movie The Rise, also known as Wasteland. In the same year, he played Charlie Morgan in the quirky romance thriller film, Comes a Bright Day.
In 2014, Spall won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of Mr. Turner. He also this year played David Irving in the film Denial. (5)
In 2019, Spall had the title role of Davies in the play Caretaker. This was performed at the Old Vic theater in London.
He portrayed Major Alistair Gregory in the acclaimed dramatic movie Spencer in 2021. Spall was shown in some psychological scenes with Kristen Stewert playing Princess Diana.
Fun Fact: Timothy Spall and Gary Oldman both portrayed Winston Churchill in two films, The King’s Speech and the Darkest Hour.
Timothy Spall Videos
Timothy talks about his dramatic weight loss and explains it is no secret:
Video: Timothy Spall says there’s no magic trick to his weight loss | Daily Mail Online
An interview with Timothy Spall and talking about getting his OBE:
Timothy Spall OBE character actor – Bing video
Listen to what Timothy has to say about his role in Mr. Turner
Timothy Spall Interview Mr. Turner & Film Awards – Bing video
The moment Peter Pettigrew is discovered:
Prisoner of Azkaban-Peter Pettigrew. – Bing video
If You’re a Collector of all Things Potter, Check This Out: Best Harry Potter Stickers
Timothy Spall Present Projects
Spall has recently finished filming three movies that haven’t been released yet, called Bolan’s Shoes, The Pale Blue Eyes, and Fearless Flyers, and is currently filming a television series called The Sixth Commandment.
Timothy Spall Family [Spouse / Partner, Kids]
Spall married his wife Shane in 1981. The two have three children together. The youngest is Mercedes, born in 1985, then Rafe, born in 1983, now an actor; and the oldest is Pascale, born in 1976.
Timothy Spall Dating and Relationship History
It is suspected that Timothy had at least one serious relationship before his current marriage. Although it is unknown who his partner was. The couple was never engaged and never had any children.
Timothy Spall Controversies or Scandals
Spall was diagnosed with Leukemia the day before he was due to fly to the Cannes Film Festival with his wife, Shane. He was told he had only three days to live but made a full recovery.
Here is what Timothy had to say about his battle with cancer.
“One day, after the doctors thought I’d relapsed and were about to have a bone marrow transplant, I watched Shane pegging up the washing in the garden. She was just carrying on.
“All of a sudden, I thought, ‘F*** this. I’m having people tell me I might not… live’.
“I went down there and said to her, ‘I’m going to tell you something, darling. I’m not going to die. I just decided. It’s tough, but I know you know I’m not.”
He added: “Surviving a serious illness gives you an understanding that life is very much about other people. I don’t think Turner, a genius who was obsessed with his work, did that as well as he wanted to. He tried to consider other people, but he found it incredibly hard.
“I’m lucky. I’ve learned that there’s no point in just living for yourself.”
Timothy Spall Net Worth and Career Earnings
Timothy’s current net worth stands at $4 – $5 Million. It is believed that he made around $60,000 from his roles in the Harry Potter movies.
Timothy Spall Real Estate & Residence History
The worth of Timothy’s real estate is not common knowledge, nor is his current residence. All we know is that he lives somewhere in Forest Hill in London.
Fun Fact: He is the owner of a Dutch barge. He and his wife sailed around the British Isles as part of a British TV series called Timothy Spall: Back at Sea. (6)
Timothy Spall’s Famous Quotes
- “You can make as many films as you like, but if nobody wants to put them on, then what’s the point?”
- “You can’t live your life in a state of profundity because you’re never going to get anything done, and you’re just profound.”
- “There’s nothing like a bit of unemployment to kick the stuffing out of you when things are going well.”
- “I’m working class and want people to know I am not unintelligent and all the other cliches that come with it.”
- “I was always insecure about the way I looked.”
- “It doesn’t bother me one iota that most of my career has been playing people who are not that, well, let’s say people wouldn’t aspire to be like them.”
- “Never fear being a petty fool; it means you ain’t anything.”
- “I know I work quite hard at making people like me.”
Timothy Spall Filmography & Full Credits
- 1978 – The Life Story of Baal
- 1979 – Quadrophenia
- 1979 – SOS Titanic
- 1981 – The Cherry Orchard
- 1981 – The Three Sisters
- 1981 – Say No to Strangers
- 1982 – Oliver Twist
- 1982 – The Missionary
- 1985 – The Bride
- 1985 – Dutch Girls
- 1986 -Gothic
- 1986 -Body Contact
- 1987 – The Nihilist’s Double Vision
- 1988 – Dream Demon
- 1988 – Crusoe
- 1988 – To Kill a Priest
- 1988 – Journey’s End
- 1988 – David Macauley: Pyramid
- 1990 – White Hunter Black Heart
- 1990 – 1871
- 1990 – The Sheltering Sky
- 1990 – Life is Sweet
- 1990 – The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
- 1991 till 1995 – Multiple TV dramas and series
- 1996 – Secrets and Lies
- 1996 – Hamlet
- 1998 – The Clandestine Marriage
- 1998 – Still Crazy
- 1998 – The Wisdom of the Crocodiles
- 1998 – Neville’s Island
- 1999 – Topsy Turvy
- 2000 – Love’s Labor’s Lost
- 2000 – Hand’s Up
- 2000 – Vatel
- 2000 – Chicken Run
- 2000 – Rough for Theater
- 2001 – Intimacy
- 2001 – The Old Man Who Read Love Stories
- 2001 – Perfect Strangers
- 2001 – Lucky Break
- 2001 – Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise
- 2001 – Rock Star
- 2001 – Vanilla Sky
- 2001 – Ivor the Invisible
- 2002 – All or Nothing
- 2002 – Last Rumba in Rochdale
- 2002 – Nicholas Nickleby
- 2003 – My House in Umbria
- 2003 – Eating for Two
- 2003 – Gettin’ Square
- 2003 – The Last Samurai
- 2004 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- 2004 – Bosom Pals
- 1983 – 2004 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
- 2005 – Cherished
- 2005 – Mr. Harvey Lights and a Candle
- 2005 – Pierrepoint
- 2006 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 2006 – Mysterious Creatures
- 2007 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- 2007 – Death Defying Acts
- 2007 – Enchanted
- 2007 – A Room with a View
- 2007 – Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- 2007 – Oliver Twist
- 2009 – Heartless
- 2009 – Desert Flower
- 2009 – Wake Wood
- 2009 – From Time to Time
- 2009 – The Fattest Man in Britain
- 2009 – 10 Minute Tales
- 2010 – Alice in Wonderland
- 2010 – Jackboots on Whitehall
- 2010 – Reuniting the Rubins
- 2010 – The King’s Speech
- 2010 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One
- 2011 – My Angel
- 2012 – Comes a Bright Day
- 2012 – Sofia
- 2012 – The Syndicate
- 2012 – Sinbad
- 2012 – Upside Down
- 2012 – Ginger and Rosa
- 2012 – The Rise
- 2012 – Love Bite
- 2012 – Room on the Broom
- 2013 – The Love Punch
- 2014 – Blandings
- 2014 – 9 Kisses
- 2015 – The Enfield Haunting
- 2015 – Cider with Rosie
- 2015 – Sucker
- 2015 – Fungus the Bogeyman
- 2016 – Alice Through the Looking Glass
- 2016 – Away
- 2016 – The Journey
- 2016 – Denial
- 2016 – Stanley, a Man of Variety
- 2017 – The Party
- 2017 – The Changeover
- 2017 – Electric Dreams
- 2017 – Finding Your Feet
- 2018 – Early Man
- 2019 – This Time Away
- 2019 – The Corrupted
- 2019 – Hatton Garden
- 2019 – Summer of Rockets
- 2019 – Mrs. Lowry and Don
- 2019 – Perpetual Grace LTD
- 2020 – It Snows in Benidorm
- 2020 – Grizzly II: The Concert
- 2021 – The Last Bus
- 2021 – Spencer
- 2021 – The Obscure Life of the Grand Duke of Corsica
- 2022 – The Pale Blue Eyes
- 2022 – Bolan’s Shoes
- 2022 – Fearless Flyers
- 2023 – The Sixth Commandment
Timothy Spall’s Role in Harry Potter
A Bit About Peter Pettigrew
Peter was a weak boy, as he was a weak man. He did not possess any of the characteristics that most Gryffindors did. He was not brave, and he was not courageous, so it is unclear why the Sorting Hat put him into Gryffindor in the first place. Maybe the hat misjudged his admiration for Sirius and James as signs that he belonged in the same house.
He latched onto the famous students and lived derivatively through their success. Despite his oddness and lack of abilities, his friends did care a lot for Pettigrew. This is why they were even more hurt by his eventual betrayal.
Read More: Peter Pettigrew Character Bio
Thoughts and Experiences
Timothy Spall has spoken about how important it was to him to be part of a movie series that, to that generation at the time, was like a religion. He said being involved with the magical movie series was a great feeling.
He loved filming the reveal of Scabbers scene because it meant he got to work with actors who he called “the best in Britain.”
What Timothy Has To Say
The following quote is from Timothy Spall as he explains his thoughts on being involved in the Harry Potter series with some of the best actors in Britain:
“It wasn’t until afterward that I realized there was Gary, David Thewlis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, and myself. All of the same generations, with Daniel Radcliffe, and all funny and playing public schoolboys, boys that go to paid school, but all from working-class backgrounds. All these are actors that I think are amongst the best in Britain, so I was rather delighted by that. Also, the fact that these are three, and Daniel was a delightful boy, a young actor then, a young man and an up-and-coming actor, that these three are not only three of my contemporaries, but three of my favorite actors and three of the people I’ve always felt like, ‘This is great.'”
J.K. Rowling’s Thoughts on Peter Pettigrew
J.K. Rowling said that Pettigrew’s switch of sides was because “out of cowardice he will stand in the shadow of the strongest person.” (7). She said that James and Sirius only allowed him to be their friend “in a slightly patronizing way.”
FAQs
Answer: Percy found Scabbers when he was a young boy and kept him as his pet. He then stayed in the family and was passed down to Ron.
Read More About Percy: Percy Weasley Bio
Answer: Timothy expressed his delight after filming Harry Potter and was honored to work alongside some of Britain’s best actors. (8)
Answer: Since he got the all-clear in the same year as his diagnosis (1996), he has been in remission. (9)
Bonus Read: Daphne Greengrass Bio
Research Citations
- BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Spall, and Steadman collect OBEs
- Thomas Dolby – Wikipedia
- Beadle Bamford | Villains Wiki | Fandom
- The Fattest Man in Britain (TV Movie 2009) – User Reviews – IMDb
- Denial (2016) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb
- BBC Four – Timothy Spall: All at Sea
- 2000: Accio Quote!, the largest archive of J.K. Rowling interviews on the web (Accio-quote.org)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Pt. 2 – Interview Timothy Spall – Bing video
- Actor Timothy Spall on ‘aggressive’ cancer diagnosis – symptoms | Express.co.uk