Tony Gardner
Born: 1964-01-10 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester, England, UK
Known For: Acting
Biography
Tony Gardner (born 10 January 1964) is an English actor and doctor. He sits on the national governing body of the actors' trade union Equity. He attended St Augustine's Catholic College in Trowbridge. Gardner qualified as a physician at Guy's Hospital in 1987, then as a general practitioner in 1993. He combined medicine and comedy during the 1990s as half of the award-winning comedy duo Struck Off and Die with Phil Hammond. Gardner eventually left medicine to become an actor, starring in a number of TV commercials, including that for the Renault Mégane. He reached prominence playing Brian Johnson in CITV's My Parents Are Aliens (episodes of which he also wrote) and Michael, the café owner in Jack Dee's BBC sitcom Lead Balloon. In 2009–10 he starred in three plays directed by Sir Peter Hall. In 2011 he played Professor Tony Shales in the Channel 4 series Fresh Meat. Between 2012 and 2020, he played John in five series of the critically acclaimed romantic drama series Last Tango in Halifax. The programme attracted impressive ratings for BBC One, with the third series posting an average of 7.8 million viewers. Between 2013 and 2015, he appeared as Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Smith in three series of the wartime comedy Bluestone 42, about a British bomb disposal detachment in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick. He appeared as Dan Miller MP in the BBC political comedy The Thick of It. He was a main character of the music video "Giant Peach" by Wolf Alice. He appeared in a variety of roles in Tracey Ullman's Show from 2016. He also appeared in an episode of the Netflix show, Lovesick, portraying Dylan’s father at surprise wedding anniversary party. In January 2021, Gardner appeared in S11E1 of Not Going Out as a neighbour to Lee and Lucy. He then appeared again in S12E4 in 2022.
Filmography
2022
- Sister Boniface Mysteries as Martin Hubbard
2021
- The Larkins as Alec Norman
- Britney as Bobby
2019
- Horrible Histories: The Movie — Rotten Romans as Antonius
2018
- Innocent as Chief Supt. Hillman
- Death on the Tyne as Justin Valentine
2017
- Tracey Breaks the News as Various
2016
- Minutes Past Midnight as Detective Inspector Jack Bailie (segment Crazy for You)
- Young Hyacinth as Claude Cooper-Smith
2014
- Lovesick as Julian
2013
- Father Brown as Monsignor Russo
- Plebs
- Bluestone 42 as Lieutenant Colonel Smith
- The Escape Artist as Trevor Harris
- Crazy for You as Detective
2012
- Stella
- Last Tango in Halifax as John
- Cockneys vs Zombies as Clive
- Gates as Aiden
2011
- Death in Paradise as Ian Matlock
- Fresh Meat as Professor Tony Shales
2010
- Vexed as Andy (neighbour)
2009
- May Contain Nuts
- Mad Sad & Bad as Graham
2008
- Moving Wallpaper as George
2007
- M.I. High as Prime Minister
- Spinners and Losers as Dan Miller
- Blaired Vision as Narrator
2006
- Not Going Out as Stuart
- Lead Balloon as Michael
2005
- Doctor Who as Douglas
- The Thick of It as Dan Miller
2004
2001
- The Armando Iannucci Shows as Television Executive #1
1999
- My Parents Are Aliens as Brian Johnson
- People Like Us as John
1998
- Cold Feet as Roger
1997
- Midsomer Murders as Russell Grundy
- Sunnyside Farm
1996
- Crossing the Floor as TV Interviewer
1995
- Restoration as Gallant
1993
- Joking Apart as Lawyer
1990
1986
- Lovejoy as Jonathan