Эрик Томпсон: Жизнь и карьера актера

English actor (born 1939)

Eric "Ricky" Tomlinson (born 26 September 1939) is an English actor. He is best known for his television roles as Bobby Grant in the soap opera Brookside (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker (1993–2006) and Jim Royle in The Royle Family (1998–2012). He also played the titular character in the 2001 football mockumentary Mike Bassett: England Manager.

Eric Tomlinson was born on 26 September 1939 at Burleigh House in Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, and has lived in Liverpool nearly all his life. His father was a baker and he was born in Bispham because, just after the outbreak of World War II, his mother Peggy was evacuated there over concerns that Liverpool would be bombed. He attended Walton Technical College in Walton, after passing an exam when he was just 13. His favourite subject was English. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Tomlinson played banjo in bands known as the Guitanjos, Hobo Rick & The City Slickers, and Hobo Rick and the Hi Free Three. For a time, the band's pianist was John "Duff" Lowe, a former member of Beatles forerunner the Quarrymen.

A plasterer by trade, he worked on various building sites for many years.

As an actor he appeared as Bobby Grant in the soap opera Brookside from the show's inception in 1982 until being written out in 1988, followed by DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and as Jim Royle in the sitcom The Royle Family. In 2002 Tomlinson starred in the BBC Series Nice Guy Eddie playing a Liverpool private investigator. Using down to earth cases — actually based upon real life ones from Liverpool private investigator Tony Smith — the show also starred Tom Ellis and John Henshaw. Tomlinson featured heavily in series two of Paul Abbott's series Clocking Off, in a BAFTA nominated episode written by Danny Brocklehurst. Tomlinson has fronted a series of television adverts for the utility company British Gas. In January 2010, he began to appear in a series of advertisements for the frozen food chain Farmfoods. In 2017, he provided a voiceover for an advert for McCain Foods. On 19 June 2006, Tomlinson made his début as the guest celebrity in Dictionary Corner on the long running UK Channel 4 game show Countdown. In December 2006, he presented a programme in Channel Five's Disappearing Britain series entitled "When Coal Was King". In March 2007, Tomlinson presented BBC's One Life: Guilty My Arse, detailing his version of the "Shrewsbury Two" case, in which he compared his political activism as a trade unionist to the work of the suffragettes. The BBC broadcast a programme in its Who Do You Think You Are? series 13 on Tomlinson's ancestors, which traced his family back through a number of carters working around Liverpool at a time when the city was a bustling port. In 2020, Tomlinson, alongside his Royle Family co star Ralf Little, presented a travel series called Ricky & Ralf's Very Northern Road Trip for Gold. In 2023, Tomlinson appeared at Eurovision 2023 reciting a poem dedicated to the Beatles. He also reprised his role as the character Bobby Grant, and was seen putting up Ukrainian themed bunting outside the Grant home on Brookside Close.

Tomlinson has also starred in several films, notably Mike Bassett: England Manager, Raining Stones and Hillsborough, a made for TV film about the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, in which he portrayed John Glover – the father of victim Ian Glover. In 2017, Tomlinson starred in the LGBT short film Tellin' Dad (2017) (co starring actor Carl Loughlin as his son) which was the first LGBT project he has been involved in and followed the journey of his son building up courage to come out to him. The film was released on DVD, Amazonplay and distributed by Peccadillo Pictures worldwide on several platforms and on their Boys on Film DVD collection.

Tomlinson is also a keen banjo and harmonica player, and has played the instruments in many episodes of The Royle Family. In 2001 he teamed up with fellow Brookside actor Michael Starke and other friends for his own rendition of well known folk songs including "It's a Long Way To Tipperary" and a cover of Shane MacGowan and The Popes' "Are You Lookin' at Me?" that reached No. 28 in the UK Singles Chart in 2001. A CD album entitled Music My Arse was released the same year, peaking at No. 127 in the UK Albums Chart. He released a single at Christmas 2006 entitled "Christmas My A*se" which reached No. 25.

In 2006, Tomlinson toured to theatres across the UK with his show An Evening with Ricky Tomlinson where he was interviewed about his life by Elton Welsby. During 2008 and 2009, Tomlinson took his Laughter Show theatrical revue on a UK tour with fellow comedians Tony Barton, Duncan Norvelle and Pauline Daniels. In 2009, he took a lead role as the Head Judge in the "VMH Club Star Talent Trail", a local talent based competition held at the VMH Club in Garston. A large number of North West based performers entered the competition, which was ultimately won by 14 year old Shaun Walsh from Liverpool. In May 2010, Tomlinson opened his own cabaret club the Green Room, in Liverpool, teaming up with brothers Richard and Simon Wallace, from Liverpool production company Red Hot Media, to open the 250 seater cabaret lounge on Duke Street. In March 2011 Tomlinson appeared in an advertising campaign for UK retail chain The Range.

He had three children with his first wife. In 2003, he published an autobiography, entitled Ricky, which spent five weeks at the top of the UK best selling new books chart. In the book, Tomlinson admitted to having affairs as well as describing in detail his time in prison. On 19 October 2007, Tomlinson had quadruple heart bypass surgery at Liverpool's Cardiothoracic Centre. Consultant cardiac surgeon Aung Oo said: "The operation went according to plan and he is now recovering within the hospital's critical care unit." Tomlinson suffers from nodular prurigo, which was the subject of an interview in the Daily Mirror in October 2013. Tomlinson still resides in Liverpool, stating "I will never, ever move away from Liverpool, I love it here."

In March 2017, Tomlinson claimed during an interview that the late journalist, broadcaster and game show host Richard Whiteley had been an undercover agent for the British security services and had assisted them in securing his 1973 imprisonment by co presenting a television documentary called Red Under the Bed, which was critical of his political and trade union activities and had swayed the jury. The CCRC cited the documentary and its possible influence on the jury when announcing its decision to refer the cases of Tomlinson and others to the Court of Appeal. The charity provides babies on Special Care Baby Units with milk from donor mothers, significantly improving their chances of survival and long term development. He said: "Due to my own recent experiences with my health, I know how much hospitals and appeals appreciate help and assistance. This is such an important service which can help so many families and I'm very honoured to be the patron." In November 2010, it was reported that Tomlinson had donated £1 million to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool two years previously.

In October 2014, Tomlinson was awarded the Freedom of Liverpool.

YearTitleRoleNotes1981Play for TodayDennisEpisode: "United Kingdom"1982Crown CourtClerk of Court3 episodesBoys from the BlackstuffHospital DoctorEpisode: "George's Last Ride"1982–1988BrooksideBobby Grant193 episodes1989Dear SarahWarder #1Television film1993The BillRay HickeyEpisode: "Home to Roost"1994Where the Buffalo RoamGlyn HunterTelevision film1995The All New Alexei Sayle ShowMan Selling Chicken in PubEpisode: #2.21994–1995RoughnecksCinders13 episodes1994–1996CrackerWise15 episodes1996HillsboroughJohn GloverTelevision film1997The FixGordonTelevision film10x10Episode: "Johnny Watkins Walks on Water"1998–2002Playing the FieldJim Pratt29 episodes1998–2012The Royle FamilyJim Royle25 episodes1999DockersMacca MacaulayTelevision filmCold FeetCabbieEpisode: #2.5The Greatest Store in the WorldSantaTelevision filmHooves of FireSanta Claus (voice)Television film2000Safe as HousesLawrence DavidsonTelevision film2001Clocking OffRonnie Anderson4 episodesNice Guy EddieEddie McMullenTelevision filmMy Beautiful SonUncle AlfredTelevision film2002Nice Guy EddieEddie McMullen6 episodes2004Dalziel and PascoeRowan PriestleyEpisode: "The Price of Fame"Monkey TrousersVarious rolesTelevision film2004–2005Down to EarthTony Murphy18 episodes2005Mike Bassett: ManagerMike Bassett6 episodes2006Animal SpiesTed (voice)Television series2008StepdadGrandadTelevision film2013Great Night OutWarren6 episodesComic Relief: Red Nose Day 2013Jim RoyleTelevision film2013–2014In the FleshKen Burton4 episodes2016The Last DragonslayerMoobinTelevision film2019MatopulasTerry McGlocklinTelevision film2020Ricky & Ralf's Very Northern Road TripHimself6 episodes. With Ralf Little2022The WitchfinderCrockettEpisode: #1.52024Ricky, Sue and a Trip or TwoHimself3 episodes. With Sue Johnston