Mark Addy

Mark Addy Johnson (born 14 January 1964), known professionally as Mark Addy, is an English actor. He is known for portraying Detective Constable Gary Boyle in the British sitcom The Thin Blue Line, Dave in the film The Full Monty, father Bill Miller in the American sitcom Still Standing, King Robert Baratheon in the HBO medieval fantasy series Game of Thrones, Fred Flintstone in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, and Hercules in the British fantasy drama series Atlantis.

Early life

Addy was born in the Tang Hall area of York, Yorkshire, and was educated in the city. His ancestors have lived in York since at least 1910, when his great-grandfather was living there. His father Ian spent his working life as a glazier at York Minster. From 1982 to 1984, Addy attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career

Addy made his first TV appearance in 1987 in The Ritz, followed in 1988 by A Very Peculiar Practice, followed by TV performances in shows such as Heartbeat, Band of Gold, Married... with Children, Peak Practice, The Thin Blue Line, Too Much Sun, Sunnyside Farm, Trollied and most recently The Syndicate for the BBC.

Mark Addy (oarsman)

Mark Addy AM (1838 – 9 June 1890) was a publican and champion oarsman, from Manchester, England, who was awarded the Albert Medal (AM), and a number of other honours, for the rescue of over 50 people from the then highly polluted River Irwell in the 19th century. The Albert Medal was later superseded by the George Cross as the highest civilian or non-combat gallantry award in the British honours system.

Early life

Addy was born in 1838 at 2, Stage Buildings, The Parsonage, an Italianate-style tenement on the banks of the River Irwell near Blackfriars Bridge in Manchester, Lancashire. His father was a boatman, also named Mark Addy, and young Mark assisted him with the family boat-hire business on the river. At the age of 13, Addy, rescued one of his friends, John Booth, who had fallen into the Irwell, which ran along the side of his house. Although Mark was himself unable to swim he effected the rescue by wading out up to his chin and pulling the lad ashore. The same boy was rescued by Addy some time later, when he fell into a pool of deep water, but this time Mark floated out on a plank to rescue him.